LEADER Wool Partnership

LEADER Wool Partnership

A consortium of Local Development Companies came together under the LEADER programme to research and explore ways of increasing the value of Irish wool. The project was led by Galway Rural Development CLG, with FORUM Connemara, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership, Clare Local Development Company, North East & West Kerry Development, and North Tipperary Development Company as cooperation partners.

The Wool Partnership established two key strands of work:

• To add value to the existing wool currently produced in Ireland, developing product streams that can utilise fleeces as they are typically produced.

• To support the development of a complete value chain, from processing through to yarn and garment production, focused on high-quality fabric-grade wool.The report was undertaken by industry experts including Pat Byrne of Agile Executives, Tim Yeomans of MTU, and Ngaire Takano of Het Woolly Collectief, the group undertook a feasibility study to identify optimum pathways towards higher-value, quality-led wool production in Ireland.

The partnership aimed to reposition Irish sheep wool as a viable, sustainable commercial product.

Irish wool is regarded as a class 3 animal by product - a waste product. The partnership seeks to change that perception and reality. There is significant potential to add value across multiple sectors, including innovative product development, nature-based solutions both on and off farm, tourism-linked initiatives, environmental restoration and circular economy projects.

The aim is not solely to focus on primary agricultural output, but to stimulate wider rural enterprise, innovation and sustainable economic development linked to wool.

Wool Partnership Report Launch

On 27 February 2026, the LEADER Wool Partnership formally launched its report on the future potential of Irish wool at ATU Mount Bellew Agricultural College, County Galway.

The event brought together representatives from the six participating development companies, policymakers, industry stakeholders and rural enterprise leaders to mark the culmination of a collaborative research and feasibility process.

Proceedings opened with a welcome from Maria Heneghan, Chairperson of Galway Rural Development, Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of County Galway, and Ministerial representatives, Noel Grealish, Minister of State with responsibility for food promotion, new markets, research and development and Sean Canney, Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport, logistics, rail and ports.

Declan Rice, CEO of Kilkenny LEADER Partnership, provided an overview of the LEADER cooperation, before Dr Tim Yeomans and Pat Byrne introduced the findings of the report.

The launch formally signalled a collective commitment to strengthening the Irish wool value chain, from processing and innovation through to yarn, garments and wider rural enterprise development. It is hoped that The Wool Partnership will now move forward with feasibility work and pilots aimed at building a stronger value‑chain, from processing to high‑quality yarn and garment production, so Irish wool becomes a sustainable commercial resource.

Recommendations of the Report

The report makes the seven recommendations listed below, as well as giving a county focus on Galway, Clare, Kerry, Tipperary and Kilkenny.

• Support national wool awareness, capacity-building and skills development;

• Enable early-stage processing and aggregation infrastructure;

• Lead a national programme of pilot projects and peer-learning;

• Act as the national coordinator and convenor of a fragmented sector;

• Act as a bridge between local innovation and national policy;

• Support development of a coherent Irish wool narrative and identity;

• Position LEADER as the long-term steward of place-based wool development.

Future Work

FORUM Connemara is leading the practical application of upland wool within environmental restoration in Ireland. Through the Dúlra project we have been advancing the use of locally sourced wool in nature-based solutions, particularly in peatland and riparian restoration contexts since 2022.

We are collaborating with partners across Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, alongside national stakeholders, to promote the use of wool products, such as wool logs in bog restoration. These materials can assist with erosion control, surface stabilisation and moisture retention on degraded peatlands.

In parallel, we are trialling wool as a natural weed suppression tool in the control of invasive species, exploring its potential as a biodegradable, circular alternative to synthetic materials.

This work places upland wool at the intersection of biodiversity restoration, climate resilience and rural enterprise, demonstrating how a traditionally undervalued resource can play a meaningful role in addressing environmental challenges.