European Wool Experience

Free family event for European Wool Day with crafts, demos, makers, research, products and exhibits at Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry

The 'European Wool Experience' is a vibrant free, family-friendly event taking place at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee on Saturday, 28 March 2026, drop in from 10am–5pm. Celebrating Ireland's hosting of 'European Wool Day 2026', the 'European Wool Experience' is a special public event, open to all, brings together exhibitors, makers, designers and researchers from Ireland and 10+ European countries, connecting and creating a colourful, welcoming day of creativity, culture and discovery.

Taking place at the start of the Easter school holidays, it’s an ideal day out for families, friends, individuals or organised groups looking for something creative and different. Visitors can explore 35+ demonstrations, exhibitions and interactive experiences. There will be plenty of opportunities to try wool crafts firsthand, including finger knitting, crios belt weaving, spinning, weaving, wool processing and more. Meet skilled makers, discover traditional and contemporary skills, view unique heritage displays, get wool research updates and enjoy a relaxed, hands-on atmosphere suitable for children and adults alike. Drop in for an hour or stay and explore at your own pace, admission is completely free.

You can find updates full event details of listed exhibitors, demonstrators and displays here:

https://ewe.network/ewd-2026-european-wool-experience

Event details:
🇪🇺'European Wool Experience'
🗓️ Saturday 28th March 2026
⏰ 10am–5pm
📍 Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry (V92 DC83)
💸 Free entry

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Groups of 10+ can book in advance via ewd@ewe.network (subject: Group Visit)

Please note the 'European Wool Day 2026 Conference' is a separate event happening in the same hotel on the same day. That conference is a paid ticketed event which is now fully booked and operating a waiting list on Eventbrite. All conference presentations will be recorded and available to view free online from 9th April 2026 at EWE Foundation's Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@ewefoundation-europeanwool255

These events are being hosted by the initiative organisers European Wool Exchange Foundation (EWE) together with local co-hosts; Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC), Circular Bioeconomy Cluster (CBC) and Centre for Applied Bioscience Research (CABR). Sponsors include REVEIRE, Future Island Island, Donegal Yarns and Belfast Mini Mills.

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 and Maria’s Wool Shop
• Finger Knitting & Lucet Braiding: Pokari Project (Greece)
• Therapeutic Knitting EWE Foundation (includes Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Spain)
• Knitting: Carol Feller from Stolen Stitches
• Lumra Rug Making: Kerry County Museum
• Crios Belt Weaving: Jean Moran from Irish Hand Weaves
• Knitting Workshop: Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches, wool sponsored by Donegal Yarns (This workshop has been filled)
  

Display:

• Irish Grown Woollen Products: Irish Grown Wool Council
• European Woollen Products: EWE Foundation and ‘Wool is Cool‘ (Croatia)
• 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)
• Tricorne Felt Pirate Hat Kerry County Museum Collectio
• Wicklow Uplands Council
• Kerry Lamb and 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.