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The remainder of the evening will be free for you to explore the city at your leisure before meeting back at the hotel for your welcome dinner. Overnight in Dublin, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.
After your class board your touring coach and travel to Westport, a stunning Georgian town on the banks of the Carrowbeg River. Before settling into your hotel for the night, visit June Bourke of Back to Back yarns at The Craft House. June has a flock of Suffolk and Jacob sheep at her own farm nearby and from their wool produces a magnificent homespun yarn that is available for purchase at the Craft House. Spend some time with June learning the story of this unique yarn from when it is shorn from the sheep to the finished product! Overnight in Westport, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.
After lunch (included), enjoy a knitting workshop with Ciara Ní Reachtnín. During your time with Ciara you will learn how to make the Sionann (Shannon) Shawl pattern, one of Ciara's own Celtic Mythology Designs. According to Irish Mythology, the River Shannon was named after a woman named Sionann who was the granddaughter of Lir, the Celtic god of the sea. The Shawl is knit sideways on a background of reverse stocking stitch, with a beaded lace edge representing the hazel nuts in the water and on the opposite edge, a twisting cable mimicking the flow of the River Shannon. Finally travel the short distance to Rosses Point in Sligo where you will check into your hotel. Overnight in Sligo, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.
Continue to Donegal Craft Village where time will be allowed for you to have lunch on your own or simply walk around the craft shops. Of particular interest to you may be the Weaving and Felting studios. After lunch we will pay a visit to Kathleen Meehan at her home on the beautiful Muckross peninsula. Here you will see a traditional Cottage industry, Handmade Irish Sweaters in action as you meet Kathleen and her small team of knitters that operate from her home producing quality handknit Aran sweaters which are sold at home and abroad. Continue to your hotel in Donegal town and check into your hotel where the remainder of the evening is at your leisure. Overnight in Donegal, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Included.
After lunch (included) at the cliffs travel to Glencolmcille, an area famous for its wealth of traditional Irish culture, music and prehistoric settlements. Take a tour of Glencolmcille Folk Village, a collection of several small cottages, called a ‘clachan’, resting on a hillside that overlooks the stunning Glen Bay Beach. Designed, constructed and conserved by local people, the Folk Village is one of Ireland's longest running living-history museums. Overnight in Donegal, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Included.
After your class, there will be an optional trip to Derry where you can explore this compact city on your own. Stroll along its 17th century walls which had their 400th anniversary a short time ago and see the new Peace Bridge which curves impressively across the River Foyle. You may wish to pay a visit to the Tower Museum which tells the story of Derry through colourful and interesting exhibits or St. Columb's Cathedral which is the city's oldest and most historic building. Return to Ballybofey o where the remainder of the day will be at your leisure. Why not visit McElhinneys, one of the finest department stores in Ireland. Overnight in Ballybofey Donegal, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Included.
On your journey you will also visit the remains of Dunluce Castle which is perched dramatically close to a headland that plunges directly Sea! Your day tour today ends in Belfast City where the remainder of the evening is free to check out the local bars and restaurants. Overnight in Belfast, Bed & Breakfast included.
This museum is extremely interactive, with technology bringing each period to life. Time permitting, we will also pay a visit to Mourne Alpacas outside Belfast, a family managed herd of Alpaca and pedigree angora goats that produce high quality fleeces, so much so that their motto at the farm is “We breed for heat, not for meat!” Once you have been up close and cosy with the alpacas, and had a chance for plenty of photos and questions, we will move onto the fleece. While enjoying a cuppa after all your hands on with the alpacas and the fleece, you can get a chance to see, feel and purchase quality alpaca yarns and some blend yarns, in many natural colours of the alpaca and some stunning seasonal colour ranges created from natural dyes as well. Mourne Alpacas have all their fleeces processed professionally at a dedicated mill and raw fleeces are also available for purchase for anyone who is keen to take some for home spinning. Return to Belfast where the remainder of the evening is your own. Overnight in Belfast, Bed & Breakfast included.
On your guided tour of the factory you will witness first hand all elements of Linen production from the design, weaving and hemming to the final finishing touches and ornamentation. Leaving Belfast we travel to Drogheda to meet Aine Dunne a tapestry weaver and artist, resident and working from the Boyne Valley. With Aine and her team, you will enjoy a Spinning & Tapestry Workshop; here you will be introduced to hand spinning sheep’s wool by using a drop spindle and try your hand at weaving a sample piece on a four-sided tapestry frame loom. During your time with Aine you will gain insight into her designs, weaving methods and work schedule.
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