The first woollen mill on this site, Round Tower Tweeds, established in the 1930’s, continued the tradition of handweaving into the 1960’s when it introduced modern power looms. By the early 1970s all handweaving had ceased. A plan was put in place to move the operation to Co Galway, and a new brand, Connemara Fabrics, was created. A change of mind saw the mill continue in Kilcar, but the new name, Connemara Fabrics, remained. Two separate firms developed, in new purpose-built mills, one for the woollen spinning and one for the machine weaving, Connemara Fabrics.
By the late 1970s Connemara fabrics realised that something special had been lost with the demise of the hand weaving and so Studio Donegal was born. Kevin Donaghy was engaged to manage and develop the newly created Studio Donegal. It started in the old Round Tower mill buildings, which were almost derelict. The beginnings were humble, with the retired foreman hand weaver Michael Cannon returning to work on development with Kevin. Soon they were gaining interest with new products and Michael was training several young weavers.
In the 1980s, the textile industry in Ireland was in decline with mill closures all over the country. Connemara Fabrics was no exception to this and was finding the market increasingly difficult. In 1987 they decided to wind down Studio Donegal.
Kevin and his wife Wendy were determined to preserve the tradition of hand weaving in Kilcar, so they took the brave step of taking over Studio Donegal from Connemara Fabrics. They leased the old buildings and purchased the hand looms, and armed with courage and determination, set about achieving their goals.
The biggest challenge they faced was to establish & market. Kevin quickly realised that the way forward was to concentrate on creative design, build a brand, and let the market find them.
Today, Studio Donegal is a small woollen mill on the Wild Atlantic Way, with its own carding, spinning, hand weaving and garment making. The reins have been handed down to Tristan, Kevin and Wendy’s son, who now manages the business, which currently employs fifteen people, and is trading successfully whilst staying true to its core value of hand weaving all its tweed. Everything with the Studio Donegal label is hand woven and made in the mill in Kilcar, Co Donegal.
I just ordered a large throw for a wedding gift. I can’t think of a more perfect and useful gift for a young couple living in the state of Maine. Thank you Studio Donegal for your hard work and dedication to craft. Your story is beautiful like your county.
Great to see that you are still trading and doing well, we came across your Mill while on the Wild Atlantic Way and dropped in to the factory and shop. Great to see traditional crafts alive and thriving. Back in 2004 we purchased a couple of small blankets and a throw for my sister. The blankets are still as colourful and comfortable all these years on and happy to report that I used the throw last night! I saw the name and address on the label and the website popped up on Google, New Throw ordered just for us this time!
I visited Studio Donegal in late spring 2023 whilst on a National Geographic tour of the Ancient Isles. What a treat. Last night I was leaving a restaurant, bundled up in my Studio Donegal Muckross Cape and two people stopped me to ask where I got my stunning cape.
It is not only stunning, it is warm and soft.
What a treat to visit this studio and to learn how this old craft is kept alive and new.
Over the years I’ve purchased several garments from Studio Donegal, online from California. Even the online experience is like walking into their shop. Their email customer service is top rate, great people. Tristan, the owner, is very nice.