Government urged to appoint dedicated 'wool champion'
As European Wool Day approaches this week, the Irish government is being urged to appoint a 'wool champion'.
The call follows the success of the recent European Wool Day conference and European Wool Experience in Co. Kerry.
Although European Wool Day is officially celebrated on April 9 each year, the conference can take place on or before this date.
Wool champion
Catherine Phibbs of Irish Grown Wool Council was the project manager with responsibility for strategic planning and development of the conference at the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee.
She said the sell-out event reflects the growing momentum behind wool as a sustainable, innovative and culturally significant material across Europe.
"I urge the government to appoint a dedicated ‘Wool Champion’ with responsibility for the sector, working across agriculture, enterprise and environment to engage more closely with our industry to develop effective policies that will drive meaningful progress.
"European Wool Day 2026 has demonstrated the real strategic potential of wool within Europe’s sustainable future.
"The level of engagement across policy, research, industry and the general public shows that we are moving beyond conversation into coordinated action.
"This event has been a key milestone in strengthening partnerships and shaping a clear pathway for the development of a resilient and innovative wool sector," she added.
Conference
The conference brought together farmers, processors, researchers, makers, designers, policymakers and industry leaders from Ireland and across Europe.
The programme included presentations, panel discussions and knowledge exchange focused on wool’s role in sustainability, circular economy development and rural livelihoods.
"It’s very clear that we need to reframe the positioning of wool from 'waste' to the innovative opportunities it has to offer across sustainability, innovation and enterprise, we must match strong wool with the right applications.
"This shift in perspective is essential to unlocking new opportunities for the sector," Phibbs said.
The conference was formally opened by Maria Walsh MEP, who has called on the European Commission to review the Animal By-Products Regulation and introduce a lower-risk category for wool
Between the conference and the free fringe event ‘European Wool Experience’, there was representation from more than 15 countries.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP officially launched the ‘Irish Grown Wool Almanac’, representing "a key legacy" of this year’s event.
The document captures the breadth of people working with Irish grown wool across a wide range of categories.
Its purpose is to raise the visibility of those contributing to the sector, while also acting as a practical tool to help people find one another; whether to source, purchase or collaborate.
The publication was sponsored and project managed by Future Island Island, in partnership with the Irish Grown Wool Council.
