Join Creative Ireland at this year’s National Ploughing Championships to create a unique Wall of Wool by completing short knitting and wool challenges. With varying levels and skills, these challenges are suitable for all the family to take part in to help create this unique and colourful project exploring Irish wool, heritage, and wellbeing.

Creative Ireland is very pleased to be back at the Ploughing Championships with the Wall of Wool, an audience participation project that we know will really connect with everyone visiting Ratheniska this year. We are inviting everyone to join us in the Creative Ireland tent to make their own small knitted contributions to what we know will be an amazing celebration of our indigenous wool industry and the wonderful farmers who work so hard to produce it.

In association with Kildare County Council and Wool in School, visitors are invited to test their knitting skills with a variety of techniques to create wool elements that will be crafted together to create a dynamic and engaging Wall of Wool.

The final project will be crafted together under the supervision of Michelle Hickey, Artist-in-Residence with Wool in School, and will create four representations of St Brigid’s Cloak to join in the celebration and commemoration of the legacy of St Brigid.

Michelle Hickey says about the creative project: “It is a privilege to be involved with this wonderful project for the Ploughing Championships 2023 which is Europe’s largest outdoor exhibition. I am honoured to pay tribute to one of Irelands three Patron Saints St. Brigid by designing and creating a cloak in the form of a wall of wool with my fellow creatives and visitors. The cloak will act as a shroud to protect her 1500 year legacy and will include ancient and modern techniques as well as a combination of traditional Aran knit stitches including only the very best of authentic Irish home grown wool. There will be lots of fun, a makers dream job.’’

Providing a tangible connection between heritage, creativity, wellbeing, and championing the Irish indigenous wool industry, the Wall of Wool project highlights the value of knitting as a creative past time which is beneficial for the health and wellbeing of everyone living in Ireland’s rural community.

While creating this vast project, visitors will learn about Irish wool as a natural, eco-friendly material that has been used for thousands of years in a wide variety of applications. As a renewable resource that comes from sheep, wool is a sustainable material that can be produced without depleting finite resources. Sheep also help to maintain healthy grasslands and reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, further contributing to their environmental benefits.

Lorna McCormack, CEO and Founder of Wool in School, says: “We are delighted to be a part of this imaginative project highlighting Irish wool as a creative form. The idea of a Wall of Wool encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy not only knitting but also to make and create art with this interesting and versatile medium. The intricate nature of wool almost has a mind of its own as it transforms itself into a beautiful piece of art.”

Throughout the Championships, the Wall of Wool will be created by visitors partaking in these wool challenges and will be assembled by Michelle and the Wool in School team of crafters at the Culture, Creativity, Innovation and Sport Tent.

The final project, which combines four separate wool panels, will then be displayed in various locations across the four provinces of Ireland. The Wall of Wool comprises Irish wool from Donegal Yarns, Galway Wool, Ciarán’s Yarns, and Eriu.

Check out the live performance programme for the #Ploughing2023 on the stage at Stand 360, Block 3:

Tuesday August 19th

11am Trad Group

1.00pm Wool Panel Discussion

15.00pm Music Generation Rock Band

Wednesday August 20th

11.00am Malva Ukrainian Choir

15.00pm Bass Brothers

Thursday August 21st

11.00 Trad Orchestra

12.30 Health National School Choir TBC

13.00 Malva Ukrainian Choir