Up to 1,000 people are estimated to have attended events to celebrate European Wool Day in Co. Kerry.

The annual European Wool Day conference at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee on Saturday (March 28) brought together farmers, researchers, makers, designers and policymakers.

Organised by the European Wool Exchange Foundation with local co-hosts the Irish Grown Wool Council, the Circular Bioeconomy Cluster (MTU) and the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research, the conference featured speakers from Ireland and overseas.

Topics ranged from wool value chains, the growing potential of wool in farming, design, innovation and environmental applications.

Among the highlights of the sold out conference was the wool policy discussion, which brought together Midlands North West MEP MEP Maria Walsh, Angela Hassan-Sharp, the recently appointed New Zealand Ambassador to Ireland, Sandra Spethmann of Curraghmore Farm and the Wise Wool Project, and Patrick Temple of Magee Weaving.

The day concluded with the launch of the Irish Grown Wool Almanac, compiled by Professor Alison Gault and her team at Ulster University, and officially launched by Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP.

The document, which is available online, will be a "growing resource" helping people working with wool to connect.

European Wool Day

Catherine Phibbs from the Irish Grown Wool Council told Agriland that capacity at the conference could have been doubled, due to demand for tickets.

"There's definitely been a sea change in the last two years, people are becoming more aware that wool isn't being utilised here. They are rediscovering their love of wool," she said.

"We need to get people very much aware of how they can use wool in their homes, businesses and lifestyles," Phibbs added.

Lanyards used for the conference included rope made from wool gathered on Rathlin Island.

Tim Yeomans from the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research presented an update on the Springwool project which aims to address the challenges facing the Irish wool sector, including low returns to farmers and environmental obstacles.

The project team are examining several areas, including creating compost from wool, treatment of scouring wastewater and extracting compounds from wool such as the cosmetics ingredient, ceramide.

"One of the narratives that we need to promote more is the right wool for the right application and policy is a really important part of that," he said.

Yeomans said research is important when it comes to policy decisions such as reassessing the EU classification of wool as a waste product.

He added that the heritage value of sheep farming needs to be recognised in Ireland.

Running alongside the conference was the European Wool Experience which was officially opened by former minister at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Pippa Hackett.

The fringe event for the public showcased a range of wool-based crafts, including felting, spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet and rug making.

"We had 35 stalls and each stall member was hand picked so that we could have a variety of crafts. It was very curated," Sharon Wells, fibre artist and lead project manager of the European Wool Experience, said.

"It exceeded my expectations completely, I knew there was interest and I knew that it would be really well accepted, but the numbers that arrived were way beyond what we expected," she added.

Sharon hopes the success of the event will have a ripple effect in terms of policy and inspiring wool-based events in other counties.

"I think it will put pressure on the people that will make the decisions about making wool not a waste product anymore, and hopefully then we will get some funding towards mills," she said.