Donegal has had a long and varied history with weaving companies and weavers themselves.
Southwest Donegal is home to world class textiles, products which have a global following, the craft of weaving is ingrained in the people and communities in that area.
To preserve the historical heritage of this industry, Údarás na Gaeltachta is seeking expressions of interest from people / companies to research and compile The History of Weaving in the Southwest Gaeltacht of Donegal.
The textiles and weaving industry is hugely important in creating employment and ensuring the tradition is preserved in Southwest Donegal and is an industry which is central to Údarás na Gaeltachta’s remit in the area.
Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) has developed the Traditional Weaving Course in Cill Charthaigh to recognise the significant contribution the Southwest Donegal Gaeltacht has made and continues to make to the story of weaving in the county.
Údarás na Gaeltachta and the ETB would like to collect and compile in depth knowledge into this heritage, in particular the close links which existed and still exist between Southwest Donegal and weaving.
Interested participants may wish to consider the following key topics: the history of weaving and textiles in Southwest Donegal, the historical context, the evolution of skills and materials, the story of wool including examples of folklore on the subject; an account of some of the key players in the historical development of spinning and weaving in the area:
- The role of McNelis & Co., (1870-1903) Ard an Ratha.
- The role of the Congested Districts Board.
- Alice Hart’s (1884) involvement in the development of the textile sector.
- Alexander Morton & Co’s carpet factory, which ultimately employed 600 people in four textile manufacturing factories in Killybegs, Cill Charthaigh, Anagaire and Croithlí between the 1901-1904.
- Micheál Óg Mac Pháidín’s (Cill Charthaigh) contribution to weaving in the Southwest Gaeltacht.
In addition to the expression of interest, Gaeltarra Éireann and Údarás na Gaeltachta’s involvement in the development of the textile sector will also be explored – a history which goes back many years but one which benefitted the communities and companies in which the industry was based.
Additional information can be found here and the submission date is April 5th 2022 at 16.00.
Stair ársa na Fíodóireachta in Iardheisceart Dhún na nGall le bailiú
Tá stair fhada ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ag obair le comhlachtaí agus lucht fíodóireachta. Tá scoth na dteicstílí á gcruthú in iardheisceart Dhún na nGall agus ceird na fíodóireachta go smior sna daoine agus sna pobail sna ceantair sin agus cáil dhomhanda ar na táirgí a dhéantar ann. Leis an oidhreacht ársa a bhaineann leis an earnáil sin a chaomhnú, tá Údarás na Gaeltachta ag lorg léirithe suime ó dhaoine / eagraíochtaí ar suim leo scéal na fíodóireachta in Iardheisceart Dhún na nGall a bhailiú, a eagrú agus a chur le chéile.
Is earnáil thábhachtach í earnáil na teicstíle agus na fíodóireachta atá fós ag cruthú fostaíochta agus ag coinneáil an traidisiúin beo in Iardheisceart Dhún na nGall agus is earnáil í atá lárnach d’obair an Údaráis sa cheantar.
Tá Údarás na Gaeltachta agus Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall (ETB) ag reáchtáil cúrsa i scileanna fíodóireachta i gCill Charthaigh faoi láthair chun tacú leis an earnáil tuilleadh. Ba mhaith le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus an ETB eolas níos cuimsithí a bhailiú agus a chur in eagar i dtaca leis an dlúthbhaint a bhí agus atá ag Iardheisceart Dhún na nGall le scéal na fíodóireachta.
Beifear ag iarraidh go ndíreoidh iarratasóirí ar ghnéithe macasamhail: stair na fíodóireachta i nGaeltacht Iardheisceart Dhún na nGall, an comhthéacs stairiúil i dtaca le forbairt scileanna agus ábhair, scéal na holann agus cuid den tseanchas a bhain leis, príomhghníomhairí stairiúla i bhforbairt na fíodóireachta sa gceantar:
- Scéal Neil McNelis, Ard an Ratha, a ghnó McNelis & Co (1870 – 1903).
- Beartais Bhord na gCeantar Cúng.
- Scéal Mrs Alice Harte in(1884) i bhforbairt na fíodóireachta.
- Scéal Alexander Morton & Co., a bhunaigh ceithre chomhlacht fíodóireachta cairpéid agus a d’fhostaigh 600 duine idir 1901 agus 1904, ar Na Cealla Beaga, i gCill Charthaigh, in Anagaire agus i Monarcha Chroithlí.
- An bhaint a bhí ag an Teachta Dála, Micheal Óg Mac Pháidín, as Cill Charthaigh, leis an sníomh a thabhairt go Cill Charthaigh.
Agus beifear ag iarraidh chomh maith mar chuid den léiriú suime eolas faoi Ghaeltarra Éireann agus Údarás na Gaeltachta i bhforbairt na hearnála teicstíle – stair a théann i bhfad siar ach stair a chuaigh chun tairbhe na gceantar agus na gcomhlachtaí ina raibh an earnáil sin gníomhach.
Is féidir eolas breise a fháil anseo agus tá iarratais le bheith istigh ag an 16.00 an 5ú Aibreán 2022.
