Galway Wool Co-op links up with Donegal Yarn to deliver a high quality raw material

BY FRANCIS FARRAGHER

IT’S been one of the sad stories of the Irish sheep industry over recent years . . . the ever-decreasing value of wool with the price being paid for a fleece now less than a third of the cost of shearing the sheep.

However, the trend has been reversed by a group of sheep farmers who have found a niche in the market for the high-quality wool produced by the Galway sheep breed.

The Galway Wool Co-op has linked up with Donegal Yarn who are committed to producing ‘a higher end of the market’ wool product that is authentic, traceable and most importantly of a really high quality.

One member of the Galway Wool Co-op, Dermot Connolly from Glennavaddogue, Aughrim, near Ballinasloe, said that there was great enthusiasm for the product, with at last, producers getting a decent price for their wool.

“Great credit must go to Blatnaid Gallagher [Ballinasloe and Oranmore], who has driven this process with great enthusiasm and energy. The link-up with Donegal Yarn we hope will be lengthy and productive for both parties,” said Dermot Connolly.

With the price of wool having dropped to as low as 20c to 25c per kg, the average fleece was only returning less than a €1 to the sheep farmer – the cost of shearing a sheep comes in at around €2.50 per animal.

The Galway Sheep farmers have to guarantee an authentic and clean fleece of rolled wool for Donegal Yarn who are in return willing to pay a price believed to be in the region of €2 to €2.50 per kg – nearly 10 times above the going rate.

“This is really all about being able to deliver a top-class wool product. Over the years and generations, the Galway sheep have been renowned worldwide for the quality of their wool – it is a unique product and one that Donegal Yarn are willing to pay a premium for,” said Dermot Connolly.

A mixed farmer, who as well as keeping a small flock of Galways, also has other sheep breeds, suckler cows and horses, Dermot Connolly stresses that all of the farmers involved in the initiative are determined to produce a top-quality raw material for Donegal Yarn.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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