Donegal textile firms urged to work to their strengths for the future

A unique insight into Donegal's fashion and textile industry's history, growth, challenges and future development was laid out to an appreciative audience at a Local Enterprise Week event held at Crolly Distillery on Thursday evening.

It featured a number of guest speakers who took the listeners through a variety of topics from the history of the textile industry here, examples of how it developed elsewhere, and the need for developing the industry's role in the very fabric of local society in west Donegal.

The 23 events that make up this year's Enterprise Week have 'Be Inspired' as its theme and hope to offer advice, guidance and inspiration to businesses in various sectors here.

A section of the large crowd that attended Thursday evening's event in Crolly Photo: Joe Dunne

But it was textiles and the yarns that accompanied them that took centre stage in Crolly.

The Harris Tweed Authority chief executive, Lorna Macauley explained the story behind their product which came from the crofts and mills of their tiny islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland on the edge of the Atlantic.

She detailed how despite many challenges, they endeavoured to promote and maintain the authenticity, standard and reputation of their world-famous cloth.

She explained how the land and people are woven into the very fabric of the cloth, reflecting as it does the colours of the landscapes, the beauty of their vistas and the values of their people.

She pointed to challenges steering their unique island product forward, how companies here in Donegal had to be aware of things like design, brand awareness and the need to use the upcoming draft Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) legislation to protect and promote regional products that have a reputation or noted characteristics specific to that area.

Development executive with Údaras na Gaeltachta, Donnchadh Ó Baoill give a fascinating and illuminating talk on the history of Donegal tweed from a Gaeltacht perspective and how it developed through a series of triggers to be one of the main economic pushers in the area at one time.

Business and marketing consultant, Muiris Kennedy MBS also talked in great detail about the draft PGI legislation and how it could offer new and long-lasting opportunities for the craft sector in Donegal. He outlined how achieving that status was a long process but well worth it for local producers. He said it was due to be finalised and published later this year and become law by January 2024. Mr Kennedy added the craft sector is facing challenges from counterfeiting, low-priced import copies and attracting skilled staff but the new legislation would give the genuine producers a much better footing in worldwide markets.

General manager of Donegal Yarns in Kilcar, Chris Weiniger and Kieran Molloy of Molloy and Sons Weaving Ltd, Ardara both provided insightful and informative contributions into the state of the industry, the opportunities for the future and how they hoped they would be able to develop a greater awareness of the quality of the Donegal products moving into the future.

MC for the night was the fashion editor with the Irish Times, Deirdre McQuillan who praised all contributors and praised the history, innovation and entrepreneurial endeavour shown by companies in Donegal over the years.

Speaking afterward the head of enterprise at the Donegal Enterprise Office, Donegal, Brenda Hegarty said the event in Crolly helped shine a light on the creative sector and particularly the opportunity now of getting Protected Geographical Indication status.

"It's moving in at the right time given the whole push for sustainability, protecting local jobs and sustaining local enterprise," she said.