Cottage Industries in Ireland

New Zealand Tablet, 23 February 1911, Page 331

Cottage Industries in Ireland

It is surprising (says a Consular report) that the handwoven fabrics can still survive against the production* of machinery, but the Irish understand how to dye their hand-woven cloths with lichens and plants wh ch give them an inimitable effect, and their qualities of durability and appearance give them a distinct value. The centres of hand-weaving and spinning are in Donegal, Mayo, Connemara, and Kerry, where there is abundant mountain grazing for sheep with luxuriant wool and where labor is superabundant. The. leading centre, however, is Donegal, and it is estimated that £IO,OOO a year is paid to the perple of the impoverished and barren districts of Donegal for their homespun cloths. The cloth is usually sold at country fairs, where it is brought in large rolls or webs about 28 inches wide. As a loom of the necessary size could not be accommodated in the tiny cottages occupied by the people, the homespun cloths are not made in double widths. Each district in Ireland produces cloth of a distinct character. In North Donegal the cloth is heavy, weUwoyen, substantia], and generally dyed in dark colors with stripes and checks. The market for this is usually a retail one. Hie products of Castlebar resemble those‘of North Donegal, but are somewhat brighter in color. In Connemara and other parts of County Galway there is a peculiar sort of flannel of very durable quality. It is usually dyed in red, dark blue, or black; and the Galway woman presents an odd, but vividly picturesque, appearance clad in hood and cloaks made of this peculiar material. The Kerry homespuns are well made, but poor in color and pattern, vegetable dyes being seldom used. In each of the cases which have been mentioned tho cloth is produced for local use, and only the overflow reaches the outside market, but in South Donegal the case ir different, as there is an extensive homespun industry there carried on specially for the wholesale market and conducted upon business principles. There is a hereditary talent for coloring the cloths prevalent among the people of Donegal, and the cloths which come from this district are considered as beautiful as any woollen fabrics produced anywhere in Europe. There are no statistics available as to the importance of this industry. F L • Hand knitting is still able to compete against mechanical imitations and is a means of livelihood to many in the isolated regions of the country. The wild district of Kincasslough County Donegal, is an important centre. The Arran industry of Mayo produces some very fine specimens Hand embroidery, as it is done m some parts of Ireland cannot bo satisfactorily - imitated by machinery, and is a cottage industry of importance. Irish art needlework s of the best quality and will bear favorable comparison with any produced 1,1 Europe. The centre of the cabinet-makinS industry is in the vicinity of Killarnev Basket . t * S engaged in in Literfrack, County Galway’ Beaufort* Co,? 19 Kerry, and Castlecomer. County Kifkenhy.MuL County is shown in adapting the wicker-work to useful purposes! *