The potential of Ireland's wool industry was recently discussed in the Dáil where it was acknowledged that the product requires new markets to be generated.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Pippa Hackett said: "In one sense, the world is our oyster when it comes to wool". 

Hackett said there are "all sorts of potential areas...in product development, whether that is in the horticulture sector with compost, in pelting, or in the construction sector, where it can be added to cement or used to de-carbonise construction in that way.

"It is about generating and creating those routes to market and making sure there is a demand for these products," Minister Hackett said, adding that there are no such routes "at the moment.

"As a sheep farmer myself I know how frustrating that is," she added.

In the Dáil last week (Thursday, February 22) Kerry TD Brendan Griffin said: "There seems to be a difficulty for people exploring ideas and getting feedback.

Griffin referred to people in his constituency that have approached him with ideas, particularly regarding developments in insulation.

"They are finding it difficult, even with the assistance of other state agencies, to get anything substantial in the type of information they would need to develop a business further, access to finance and so on," he explained.

"I would encourage anyone who is interested or has an idea to engage with the Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC) because, essentially, it is its function to gather such information and come up with proposals for what would be necessary to develop an industry using Irish wool," Minister Hackett replied.

10 months after its formation, the IGWC held its first annual general meeting (AGM) at the Athlone Springs Hotel, Co. Westmeath on Friday, February 16, 2024.

Re-elected and newly elected members and their working groups are outlined below:

Management committee:

Fergal Byrne, Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA);
Kellie Rouse, Ulster Farmers Union (UFU);
Chris Weiniger, Donegal Yarns;
Kevin Dooley, Dooley Wool Merchants;
Alison Gault, Belfast School of Art, Ulster University;
Catherine Phibbs, brand and marketing development;
Pat Coffey, Coffey Wool Exports
David Heraty, Irish Sheep Shearers Association (ISSA).

Governance and fundraising (working group):

Fergal Byrne, (ICSA);
Matthew Carroll, Galway Wool Co-Op;
Sean McNamara, ICSA sheep chair;
Kellie Rouse, UFU;
Adrian Gallagher, Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) sheep chair;
Pat Byrne, The Agile Executive.

Education, outreach, brand and marketing (working group):

Alison Gault, Ulster University;
Catherine Phibbs, brand and marketing development;
Deborah Evers, strategic planning and communications;
Patrick Temple, Magee Weaving;
Rebecca Marsden, the Wool Hub and Forge Design Factory;
Alistair Armstrong, UFU;
Claire McGovern, sustainable Irish wool designer;
Zoe Daly, Ériu;
Lorna McCormack.

Research and development (working group):

Chris Weiniger, Donegal Yarns;
Kevin Dooley, Dooley Wool Merchants;
Tom Dunne, ISSA;
Phelim Molloy, Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA);
Ngaire Takano;
Eve Savage, Munster Technological University (MTU);
Catriona Power, MTU;
Dinny Galvin, West Kerry Mountain Sheep Breeders Group.

Quality and presentation (working group):

Pat Coffey, Coffey Wool Exports;
David Heraty, ISSA;
John Joe Fitzgerald, INHFA;
Jayne Harkness-Bones, Ulster Wool;
George Graham, ISSA;
Sean Moriarty, Kerry Lamb & Wool Co-Op;
Sandra King, Irish Fibre Crafters;
Tom Dunne, ISSA;
Michelle Hickey Legge, visual artist and maker.