Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Traditions of spinning and weaving in Ardara County Donegal are alive and well on fair day.
At the Ardara Fair, the old customs are revived, thanks mainly to a Welsh woman who was fascinated by the intricate skills associated with weaving, a trade indigenous to the area.
Tradition has it that during the last century, fair day in Ardara County Donegal was a colourful occasion when merchants and farmers came to deal and when the business was complete the drinking and the crack took over.
Judith Hoad has written a book called 'This is Donegal Tweed' which tells the story of weaving and is published by her own company 'Shoestring Publications'. The launch of the book coincided with the Donegal Fair with the traditional crafts and clothing.
This is an ethnic textile that grew out of the needs of the people and therefore was the product of the people, the people are just an integral part of it, a part of the story.
Chairman of Magee, the world-renowned textile and clothing manufacturers, Howard Temple, spoke to RTÉ News about the challenges facing Donegal tweed in recessionary times.
Our aim and object is to keep alive this tradition which... a skill which is in Donegal and which if it was lost would be a tragedy.
Ardara has a reputation as one of the friendliest towns in the country and the community spirit here among old and young is very evident.
Local man Pat Shovelin talks about the history of Fair Day and how it has changed over the years.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 July 1987.
The reporter is Tommie Gorman.
Traditions of spinning and weaving in Ardara County Donegal are alive and well on fair day.
At the Ardara Fair, the old customs are revived, thanks mainly to a Welsh woman who was fascinated by the intricate skills associated with weaving, a trade indigenous to the area.
Tradition has it that during the last century, fair day in Ardara County Donegal was a colourful occasion when merchants and farmers came to deal and when the business was complete the drinking and the crack took over.
Judith Hoad has written a book called 'This is Donegal Tweed' which tells the story of weaving and is published by her own company 'Shoestring Publications'. The launch of the book coincided with the Donegal Fair with the traditional crafts and clothing.
This is an ethnic textile that grew out of the needs of the people and therefore was the product of the people, the people are just an integral part of it, a part of the story.
Chairman of Magee, the world-renowned textile and clothing manufacturers, Howard Temple, spoke to RTÉ News about the challenges facing Donegal tweed in recessionary times.
Our aim and object is to keep alive this tradition which... a skill which is in Donegal and which if it was lost would be a tragedy.
Ardara has a reputation as one of the friendliest towns in the country and the community spirit here among old and young is very evident.
Local man Pat Shovelin talks about the history of Fair Day and how it has changed over the years.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 July 1987.
The reporter is Tommie Gorman.
