Mount Briscoe - Talks with Irish Farmers

We had a wonderful day at Mount Briscoe Organic Farm at their Rare and Traditional Breeds show on the 22nd of July, in Co Offaly.
www.mountbrisco...
We had lots of fun with the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
www.weavespindye.ie
Members who attended were
- The gorgeous Sandra from Meet the Wool - www.meetthewool.com
- Susan from @wildcottage - follow her on Twitter where she was Tweeting for @smallholderIRL on the day. she also has a great video on her Twitter - wi...
www.instagram....
- Mary Cooper from Markree Woolcraft, a fantastic lady with her own sheep and access to the only mohair flock in ireland!! / markreewoolcraft
and Liz O'Connor from Spin Me a Yarn Ireland on Facebook, and Instagram - / spinmeayarnireland
www.instagram....

[@Mindfulnessification]

Grace, this was awesome!!!! I think it would be awesome if someone started a scouring business in Ireland. One could raise $$$ with a “go-fund-me!”

[@rolenestone2494]

What a wonderful video - thank you for sharing - I would give 2 thumbs up if I could.

[@prairiefirebird9902]

Is Roscommon and Galway the same Irish sheep breed? Hope you were able to get some fleece. Thanks for taking us along!

[@vivettecraftsandreads2139]

Very interesting talk by Godfrey and your chat with the farmer on the lack of scouring. A question I have is with the dark wool, do they have to bleach it once spun. I’d be interested to see what it looks like once washed and spun, as you rarely see natural dark brown yarn.

[@shoelessmonk1941]

grace, you are the best ! are some sheep born to not have horns, or do they disbud them like goats? are they born with that length of tail or does the farmers wife chop them with a butchers knife? and how is beans? stacy

[@stronggirlknits2691]

This was awesome! Thank you for sharing it :)

[@jenniferoran3494]

I wonder if the hand shearer every had a sheep fall asleep cause the one he was working was so calm. I was amazed thank you for taking us with you

[@lindseycox151]

Did you get any Zwartbles or Galway fleece?

[@GraceTheBabbler]

Lindsey Cox I got a whole zwartbles fleece!

[@MarilynWiley]

Grace O'Neill Can you please explain why (i believe) you said they were Sulfix why are they so orange or golden in wool color? I thought i heard you say they spray they if so why and what is the purpose. The neighbor has a huge herd of Suffix here in Missouri USA. I know they are more for meat than the wool but to color is puzzling. I know i spelled the name wrong but Mr Google doesn’t know how to spell the Suffix name either i know there is a L in there somewhere.

[@GraceTheBabbler]

Marilyn Wiley as far as I’m aware the Suffolk sheep (named after a place in England) have their coats coloured for judging. Kind of like how bodybuilders put fake tan and baby oil on for competitions. Some judges like the colour because it differentiates the head differently. It’s a bit silly but it’s what you do to win a competition to make your stock more valuable to other farmers.

[@Melmaz32]

Yes! Please do show more of your Irish Sheep and their farmers! I have 3 Shetland sheep, watched the shearer very closely ( their backs must be aching after they are done) Its very surprising to learn that the wool is shipped to China for scouring! And that wool isn’t really ‘appreciated’ there. Your asking questions may get them thinking about small scale fiber sheep farms. I also have 10 angora goats and 4 alpacas. At times I think it would just be easier to buy the fleeces! You should contact those farmers whose sheep you are interested in and ask to buy a fleece or 2 when they shear, they may make more €/£/$ from you per fleece then sending it out. Or get a group and en-mass buy a ‘lot’ or bale together. I was so sad when I went to Ireland and did not see millions of sheep grazing over the beautiful green hills! But I truly understand the economics of it. Beef cattle and dairy cows probably do bring in more money for a farmer. Thank you for your always interesting podcasts!

[@freckledcrafts]

Loved this! We have very close friends who live just out of Dublin and have been back time and again but a few years ago I went with my husband and tried to do as much sheepy wooly touring as possible and it was so interesting. Have you been to the sheep & wool centre in leenane? Very knowledgeable woman taught us so much about the history of wool in Ireland. Just the way Irish folk talk brings me instantly back to your sweet corner of the world.

[@maeganschaefer8217]

Love love love it...thanks for taking us with you. We don't have this festival near us and love being able to see all the different animals.