| At the Leenane sheep and wool museum some of these looms and spinning wheels are reactivated as an important part of our culture. There is an increasing awareness of the value of the hand made materials and environmentally friendly production systems. Dyeing of wool has been practised for thousands of years and the use of plants, lichens, insects and shellfish to produce a wide range of colours is a fascinating study.
The use of advanced breeding programmes to produce more meat and wool has played havoc with indigenous sheep breeds over the past 500 years. Efforts are now being made to conserve the exisiting gene pool and prevent further deterioration.
Visitors to the museum obtain a great insight into the history and importance of wool in Ireland and come away more conscious of the need to protect our heritage and our culture. |
