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About Us
Our Story
A love of our heritage and our crafts brought me to where we are today, all my life I have enjoyed creating, learning and experiencing, from a young child I could be found making something… it didn’t matter what materials I was using or what the end piece was, from baking cakes to sewing and embroidering with my mother to learning how to replace handles in farm tools with my grandfather in his shed.
For as long as I can remember I have been actively involved in farm work and learned to drive a tractor as soon as I could reach the steering wheel, Easter holidays were spent planting a vegetable garden and long summers in the bog. We had a wonderful upbringing, exposed to outdoors and always believing that anything was possible if you tried hard enough.
When I finished school I got a job with An Post, it was only temporary to start with but became my career for 25 years, in the final years the longing to work full time in crafts was always on my mind, I had already set up Crafts of Ireland and was teaching crafts to small groups and all the time learning new skills myself.
For as long as I can remember I have been actively involved in farm work and learned to drive a tractor as soon as I could reach the steering wheel, Easter holidays were spent planting a vegetable garden and long summers in the bog. We had a wonderful upbringing, exposed to outdoors and always believing that anything was possible if you tried hard enough.
When I finished school I got a job with An Post, it was only temporary to start with but became my career for 25 years, in the final years the longing to work full time in crafts was always on my mind, I had already set up Crafts of Ireland and was teaching crafts to small groups and all the time learning new skills myself.
An opportunity came in late 2017 when I got the offer of accepting a severance package, I knew that it was then or never and took the plunge. Crafts of Ireland became my full time occupation and all the skills that I had learned throughout my life were being put to good use. The hours spent baking in the kitchen, the numerous craft skills and a very helpful family finally gave me the opportunity to follow my dreams.
The learning of new skills and improving of my existing skills continued. In 2018 I achieved a distinction in wool spinning from the Associated Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, I have attended lace making workshops in traditional lace and I sit in my studio in my free time perfecting theses skills to a level that allows me to pass on my knowledge.
The learning of new skills and improving of my existing skills continued. In 2018 I achieved a distinction in wool spinning from the Associated Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, I have attended lace making workshops in traditional lace and I sit in my studio in my free time perfecting theses skills to a level that allows me to pass on my knowledge.
Flax Growing
In the late 1700s flax growing was an important part of the economy of Cavan, in the area where we live most small farms grew flax, they pulled and retted the fibre before taking it to a mill to be scutched. The fibre was then taken back to the farm where it was combed and finally spun into linen thread by the female members of the families.
When spun the linen thread was brought to market where it was sold for weaving into linen fabric. In both our families there are records of flax growing, in 1796 on the flax growers list my family were growing flax in Co Longford and in the 1821 census for Cavan four members of Alan’s family are listed as flax spinners. In 2019 we planted our first patch of flax which we taken through the process and started to spin. Our plan is to continue this on a yearly basis.
When spun the linen thread was brought to market where it was sold for weaving into linen fabric. In both our families there are records of flax growing, in 1796 on the flax growers list my family were growing flax in Co Longford and in the 1821 census for Cavan four members of Alan’s family are listed as flax spinners. In 2019 we planted our first patch of flax which we taken through the process and started to spin. Our plan is to continue this on a yearly basis.
Roscommon sheep
With learning to spin wool came the desire to own our own sheep so that we could follow the entire process through on our own farm. We choose a breed of sheep that are recognised as the oldest registered native breed of sheep in Ireland, unfortunately a breed that are also in danger of extinction. This breed of sheep was first recognised in the 1880s and the Roscommon Sheep Breed Society was established in 1885.
The Roscommon Sheep breed were noted for their sheer size and for producing large fleeces of the highest quality wool. Each year we use the wool from our sheep for natural plant dyeing, spinning and weaving. A limited number of items made from their fleeces are available to purchase and we also sell fleece at different stages of preparation.
The Roscommon Sheep breed were noted for their sheer size and for producing large fleeces of the highest quality wool. Each year we use the wool from our sheep for natural plant dyeing, spinning and weaving. A limited number of items made from their fleeces are available to purchase and we also sell fleece at different stages of preparation.
Sock knitting machines
A fascination with our crafting heritage let to the purchase of our first sock knitting machine, these machines are also called circular knitting machines or CSM’s for short. The first machine was a beautiful Imperia. After much research and knitting disasters we finally figured out how it worked and the journey into using the machine to knit socks began. Once we figured out the first sock knitting machine, we were intrigued by them and by luck and constant searching we managed to acquire a number of these machines, some working, some requiring cleaning and repair.
In our collection we now have Imperia, Griswold, Golden Fleece and Harrison Circular Sock Knitting Machines, together they sit elegantly on a bench and are the only operating display of antique sock knitting machines in Ireland.
The oldest of our machines was last granted a patent in 1886 but the key period of sock making on these machines was during World War 1, Lord Kitchener was appointed Secretary of State for War in the UK and realised his soldiers would require a large quantity of good quality socks to keep them marching and to help prevent trench foot, he is also credited with contributing the method of closing the toes of the socks, a seamless method of grafting still commonly called Kitchener stitch. Today we produce high quality socks using the exact same methods, they are knit from high quality sock yarn and the toes closed by hand to produce durable, comfortable seem free socks.
In our collection we now have Imperia, Griswold, Golden Fleece and Harrison Circular Sock Knitting Machines, together they sit elegantly on a bench and are the only operating display of antique sock knitting machines in Ireland.
The oldest of our machines was last granted a patent in 1886 but the key period of sock making on these machines was during World War 1, Lord Kitchener was appointed Secretary of State for War in the UK and realised his soldiers would require a large quantity of good quality socks to keep them marching and to help prevent trench foot, he is also credited with contributing the method of closing the toes of the socks, a seamless method of grafting still commonly called Kitchener stitch. Today we produce high quality socks using the exact same methods, they are knit from high quality sock yarn and the toes closed by hand to produce durable, comfortable seem free socks.
the studio
Today from a purpose-built craft studio and tea rooms located on the family farm we entertain with afternoon tea and teach a varied selection of craft workshops. The studio is perched on a hill in stunning South Cavan looking out on the megalithic tombs of Lough Crew in nearby Co Meath. In our field we have a small flock of native, rare breed Roscommon Sheep, the oldest recognise sheep breed in Ireland and in our garden we grow a small patch of Flax to produce linen thread, a craft that was practices in this area over 200 yrs ago.
In our tea rooms you will find a 1906 Ford Model N and a 1909 Ford Model T along with various other motoring memorabilia and motorbikes. These sit among the antique furniture that we chose to reduce our environmental impact, to remain sustainable and to preserve the craftsmanship of our ancestors.
Our studio is also home to a large collection of antique crafting equipment, from the only working collection of antique sock knitting machines in Ireland, sewing machines that date from 1862 and spinning wheels that date from as early as 1795. They are interspersed with other smaller objects and books that form and interesting look at our crafting past.
In our tea rooms you will find a 1906 Ford Model N and a 1909 Ford Model T along with various other motoring memorabilia and motorbikes. These sit among the antique furniture that we chose to reduce our environmental impact, to remain sustainable and to preserve the craftsmanship of our ancestors.
Our studio is also home to a large collection of antique crafting equipment, from the only working collection of antique sock knitting machines in Ireland, sewing machines that date from 1862 and spinning wheels that date from as early as 1795. They are interspersed with other smaller objects and books that form and interesting look at our crafting past.
