The Irish Grown Wool Council will today (Monday, January 20) host a panel discussion at one of Ireland’s largest international trade shows.

Showcase – Ireland’s Creative Expo - is attended by thousands of buyers from across the world, including Ireland, the UK, USA, Mainland Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Organisers say the annual event, at the RDS in Dublin, generates millions of euros of sales orders during the show.

Showcase, now in its 50^th year, is presented on behalf of Design and Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) nationwide.

Almost 400 Irish brands are exhibited at the fair, including emerging Irish businesses supported by their LEOs.

The Irish Grown Wool Council panel discussion this afternoon will feature established and new businesses in Donegal, collaborations, heritage, innovation and the potential for Irish grown wool.

The panel will discuss efforts to secure Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for Donegal Tweed and the growing demand for sustainable, innovative uses of Irish grown wool.

The panel includes Patrick Temple, Magee Weaving; Chris Weiniger, Donegal Yarns; Léila Worth, designer and trainee weaver and Kevin Dooley, Dooleys Wool.

The discussion will be moderated by Alison Gault, Ulster University and interim chair of the Irish Grown Wool Council.

An all-island Irish Grown Wool Council was formed by bringing together stakeholders from both sides of the border to focus on improving the Irish wool sector.

The council is tasked with creating additional value in the total wool value chain and ensure that a fair proportion of that value makes it way to the primary producer.

Under the recently published draft programme for government, there is a commitment to examine the feasibility of a scouring plant for wool to develop an Irish wool brand.