Irish Grown Wool Almanac: A directory of the people, places and practices shaping Irish grown wool

The Irish Grown Wool Almanac is a strategic directory and research output documenting the contemporary landscape of the Irish wool industry. Produced by researchers at Ulster University as part of the AHRC-funded Future Island-Island (Green Transition Ecosystem) programme, this publication maps the people, places, and practices essential to a sustainable, circular wool supply chain. Launched at the European Wool Day 2026 Conference by Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP in partnership with the Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC), the Almanac provides a comprehensive audit of the "all-island" wool ecosystem. It highlights 12 key sectors, including primary producers, processing, designers, makers, and research & development. Central to the research is the valorisation of native fibres, exemplified by the Rathlin Island case study, where undervalued Rathlin Blackface fleece was transformed into traceable,place-based products. By bridging the gap between traditional heritage and design-led innovation, the Almanac serves as a vital tool for industry collaboration, aiming to restore economic value to sheep farming and support the transition toward a regenerative, bio-based economy. As an AHRC-aligned output, the Almanac serves both as a public-facing directory and as a practice-based contribution to the green transition. It extends the project’s research ethos into a collaborative format that encourages industry dialogue, to restore economic value to rural communities, and provide a roadmap for a sustainable, resilient textile infrastructure across the island of Ireland.