The ‘European Wool Experience’ is a free fringe event of European Wool Day, Tralee, Saturday 28th March 2026.
A fantastic range of wool-based crafts will be demonstrated together under one roof for free at the European Wool Experience, offering a rare opportunity to see, touch and experience the skill, heritage and innovation behind both Ireland’s and Europe’s wool culture.
Whether you’re discovering wool for the first time, bringing the family or returning as a seasoned maker, join us and drop in during the day for inspiration, learning and connection. Meet master craftspeople, explore time-honoured techniques alongside contemporary practices and witness the remarkable versatility of this natural fibre. Pop in during the day, Saturday 28th March 2026 from 10am – 5pm, individuals, families and groups welcome.
If you would like to arrange a group visit (10+ people) please email us in advance at ewd@ewe.network with the subject line ‘Group Visit’.
Step into a living world of wool, creativity and tradition!
📅 Saturday, 28 March 2026, 10am – 5pm
📍 The Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co.Kerry (Eircode V92 DC83)
💸 Free admission, drop in throughout the day
🙌Hands-on demonstrations include:
- Wool Processing: Woolstore
- Felting (wet, needle) Feltmakers Ireland, International Feltmakers Association, Wise Wool Project, Emily Thompson and Lucia Errity
- Spinning, Weaving: Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
- Wool Education: Irish Fibre Crafters & Curraghmore Farm
- Weaving: Fibreshed Ireland (supported by Design & Crafts Council, Ireland)
- Floor Loom Weaving: Olann & Seol
- Carding & Blending Batts: Fabulous Fibres
- Crochet: Too Fabulous Art & Crafts
- Finger Knitting & Lucet Braiding: EWE Foundation (Includes Hungary, Portugal, Serbia,Spain)
- Therapeutic Knitting: Pokari Project (Greece)
- Knitting: Carol Feller from Stolen Stitches
- Lumra Rug Making: Kerry County Museum
- Crios Belt Weaving: Jean Moran from Irish Hand Weaves
- Crochet: Maria’s Wool Shop
- Knitting Workshop: Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches, wool sponsored by Donegal Yarns (This workshop has been filled)
👀 Display:
- Irish Grown Woollen Products (plus European Applications): Irish Grown Wool Council
- Irish Wool Fibre Art: (Peg loom weaving, art yarn, felting) Sharon Wells
- Woven Friendship Bracelets: The Liberties Weavers
- Bog Restoration Products: Dulra Project
- Rathlin Wool Rope: Sustainable Rope (NI & UK) and Future Island Island
- Gomitolorosa4arts Woollen Pictures Gomitolorosa4Arts (Italy)
- Romanian Traditional Arts in Wool (Romania/Ireland)
- Woollen products: From ‘Wool is Cool‘ (Croatia)
- Tricorne Felt Pirate Hat Kerry County Museum Collection (see below)
- Wicklow Uplands Council
- West Kerry Wool Co-Op
- Belfast Mini Mills Small-scale modular fibre processing equipment provider (brochures and in-person expertise) (Canada)
🖼️ Exhibitions:
- Feltmakers Ireland, supported by Design & Crafts Council, Ireland
- Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, supported by Design & Crafts Council, Ireland
- Shinrone Gown. Historically correct replica of the garment found in 1843, Cangort Bog, Shinrone, Co.Offaly. Commissioned by Shinrone Heritage Group using 400 year old tailoring techniques, historical sewing methods, traditional dyeing and dressmaking using natural fibres including wool.
👩🏻🔬 Research Posters & Displays
- REVEIRE (Regenerative Value Systems for Irish Grown Wool in Ireland): Find out more about this three year research project. Assessing and regenerating the sustainability and value of Irish-grown wool to support a circular bioeconomy and inform policy and industry development. (The REVEIRE project is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.)
- Centre for Applied Bioscience Research, including SpringWool Project, a national research initiative to drive innovation, sustainability, and value in the Irish-grown wool sector, led by the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research (CABR) and Munster Technological University.
- Sheep Strength II: Using Sheep Wool to Reinforce Concrete (Won ‘Best Group’ at Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2026). Testing the feasibility of mixing different types of sheep wool with concrete as a more sustainable strengthening agent instead of polypropylene. Research by students Aoife Fadian and Jessica O’Connor from Ursuline College Secondary School, Co.Sligo.
- LEADER Wool Partnership: Recent report on Irish wool, launched 27th February 2026.
- NCAD X Avoca x Galway Avoca partnering with NCAD Textile & Surface Design Students to champion Irish grown ‘Galway Wool‘
Students were given the mission to create original pieces using Galway wool, while pushing creative boundaries in textile design.(See Avoca’s post on Instagram on 12th February 2026)
Ahoy Me Crafties!
Don’t miss the tricorne felt pirate hat, on display throughout the day! This triangular shaped, wool felt hat, dates from the early 18th century and is on display courtesy of Kerry County Museum Collection. Discovered in the 1960s by Mr. Eddie Roe, who recovered numerous artefacts from shipwrecks in Kerry. It’s sure to be a visual treasure for younger and older visitors throughout the day.
_____________________________________
Come curious, experience wool and leave inspired. Try wool IRL (In Real Life) through the hands of the people who keep these traditions thriving.
*** Programme is subject to change. Please check back here on this page for the latest updates and additions.***
And follow our social media channels Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn /
This full day of free exhibitions and demonstrations is a fringe event of the fully booked European Wool Day 2026 Conference taking place in Tralee on the same day.
The ‘European Wool Experience’ demonstrations and exhibitions are free, open to the public and you can drop in at any time from 10am – 5pm on Saturday 28th March 2026.
Please note this free day of interactive demonstrations and exhibitions is a fringe event of European Wool Day 2026 and open to the general public.
The European Wool Day 2026 Conference which runs parallel to this event is a ticketed event and tickets must be purchased in advance.
Please note if you wish to attend the European Wool Day 2026 Conference which is taking place separately on the same day, you will need to register in advance and purchase your ticket. Currently capacity has been reached for the Conference but you can apply to be on a ticket waiting list here.
Ireland announced as host country for European Wool Day 2026 Conference and Activities.
The event will bring together national and international attendees highlighting wool’s vital role in sustainability, circular economies and cultural heritage.
The initiative organisers European Wool Exchange Foundation (EWE) together with local co-hosts; Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC), Circular Bioeconomy Cluster (CBC), andCentre for Applied Bioscience Research (CABR), will host a conference for registered attendees on Saturday 28th March 2026 in the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry. There will also be a series of fringe activities taking place in Tralee for visitors and the general public. The event is also being supported by Future Island Island (an AHRC funded Green Transition Ecosystem project) and REVEIRE, alongside the co-hosts, strengthening collaboration across the wool and bioeconomy sectors. (The REVEIRE project is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.)
Additional sponsorship opportunities are available, contact ewd@ewe.network with the subject line ‘Sponsorship’.
