ONE of Donegal’s best-known craftsmen scooped a superb prize on the Late Late Show tonight – €10,000 and a trip to the Olympics.
Delighted Eddie Doherty, who runs his own hand-weaving business in Ardara, won the prize.
And he told show host Ryan Tubridy he would be “over the moon” to be going to London with his wife Evelyn.
The TV anchor even had time to chat to Eddie about his traditional craft, telling him: “So you’re keeping it alive!”
Evelyn could be heard screaming with delight in the background.
The couple will have tickets to a number of top Olympic events.
Eddie Doherty is well known for producing crafted Donegal handwoven tweed products from Ardara.
He told Ryan Tubridy he has been weaving for more than 40 years.
Eddie learnt to weave by hand at the age of 16. Now, 40 years and two long stints with large Irish fabric companies later, he uses Donegal wool to handweave pure wool blankets and tweed at his home in Ardara.
After running a family pub for several years, Eddie returned back to his first profession, weaving in 1992. He now makes handsome blankets, rugs, capes, scarfs, waistcoats, caps, hats and slippers some in the traditional herringbone pattern, and others in large, wonderfully hued check designs.
Eddie is attracting orders from all around the world – and tourists often stop off to see him at work.
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