WEALTH July 27, 2026 0 Comments

Why Avoca’s Renewed Deal with The Galway Wool Co Op Could Rewrite the Rules of Irish Craftsmanship—and Your Investment Portfolio

Ever wonder what it takes to keep a 300-year-old weaving tradition alive in a fast-paced, digital world? Well, guess what — Avoca, Ireland’s iconic weaving mill, isn’t just resting on its historical laurels. This past July, they doubled down on their commitment by renewing their partnership with The Galway Wool Co Op, bringing people from all corners of Ireland together for the annual meitheal in Galway. Picture this: nearly 4 tons of wool, shorn from rare native sheep under the bright Irish sun, with even the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, there to witness this living heritage in action. It’s a masterclass in blending old-school craftsmanship with modern transparency and fair-trade ethics — a combo that’s not just preserving a breed on the brink of extinction but also fueling fresh creative energy through a buzzing collaboration with NCAD’s fashion students. Now, that’s what I call weaving tradition into tomorrow’s success story. Want to see how old-world grit meets new-world innovation? LEARN MORE.

Avoca, one of Ireland’s oldest operating weaving mills, has renewed its partnership with The Galway Wool Co Op following on from last year’s historic commitment.

Avoca was on site at the now annual meitheal on Saturday 18^th of July in Galway as the wool was collected from the herd of native Irish sheep.

President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, was also in attendance to witness the event which saw the indigenous rare-breed shorn on a bright, sunny day on the west coast of Ireland.

Irish wool farmers came from all four corners of Ireland for the event as almost 4 tons of wool harvested from their herds.

Avoca has purchased the majority of the harvest from The Galway Wool Co Op and remains dedicated to preserving Ireland’s textile heritage through transparency and traceability in Irish wool.

The partnership also supports a fair-trade price for farmers and contributes to protecting the native Irish breed, The Galway, once close to extinction.

Avoca is also continuing its partnership with NCAD for 2026 and will this year again work with the college on a design competition with the yarn from the meitheal at its heart.

Fashion students from NCAD will be invited to design homewares or lifestyle piece with the new yarn and the winner will have their product made by Avoca’s expert weavers before being sold in its retail stores across the country.

The winner will also receive a cash prize and work placement at Avoca HQ.

Attendees at the meitheal got the first glimpse of 2025’s winning collection by Thea Drislane which has taken inspiration from the Avoca River, near the brand’s 300-year-old mill, and the Salmon of Knowledge by incorporating nods to salmon scales into the design.

Drislane will officially launch her winning designs, a collection of coats, in-store as part of Avoca’s upcoming Autumn Winter collection.

Avoca has purchased the majority of the harvest from The Galway Wool Co Op

Speaking in Galway, Maoliosa Connell, Director of Marketing, Creative & Brand at Avoca said: “We are immensely proud to continue our partnerships with both The Galway Wool Co Op and NCAD.

“Weaving is part of the DNA of Avoca and it’s important that we support our local farmers and the future of Irish design to keep both tradition and creativity alive.”

Photo: Blatnaid Gallagher of The Galway Wool Co Op and Maoliosa Connell of Avoca