A Step Back In Time ‘Masters In The Craft Of Rug Making’ Pioneers of Appearance Management.
With it’s dramatic Atlantic coastline stretching along the North West of Ireland, Donegal is a place of natural beauty and inspiration. Noted for it’s rugged mountain landscapes, the purple of heather on the bog, the mist on the hills, limestone cliffs sweeping down to the ocean, Donegal is a truly magical place steeped in history and traditions of folklore, dance, language, art, literature and craftsmanship.
Donegal Carpets was founded in 1898 as a manufacture of rugs; bringing jobs, satisfaction, romance and equality to the small village of Killybegs, Ireland. Last week I had the privilege of walking through the factory and seeing firsthand the craft work of the women. Though the factory today is almost empty, it still holds the mystic of its history. I felt like I stepped back in time. Maybe I did.
Our tour guide gave a complete historical and detailed description of the factory. We viewed a short educational film that explained the intricate process of hand made wool carpet. After the viewing came the onsite tour. It was spectacular!
The factory’s wood floors were creaky and worn, the only heat from overhead oil lamps. In the prime of its existence resilient workers sat on wooden benches and faced the rows of string, yarn and patterns. Primitive at best but sufficient for the women and young girls (who began learning the craft at 13) to do the hand knotting needed to create the abundantly beautiful rugs proudly called: Donegal Carpets.
As I walked through the now quiet factory, the sounds of hands tying knots, scissors clipping, yarn dust floating in the air: can be felt and imagined. Patterns and yarn colors were placed directly in front of each worker and the intenseness of the craft was evident by the quiet of the workers. No one talked while working, each person was intensely focused on creating the correct pattern. I saw some of the completed hand knotted rugs displayed in photos in the gallery and marveled at the skill and creativity of the women.
Today the factory is almost empty because rug orders have diminished. In its heyday, the factory was busy with orders from Buckingham Palace, the White House and lofty estate addresses. Many Donegal Carpets grace hallways, convention centers, reception areas and living rooms in the finest commercial buildings and notable estates. The making of each rug would take from six months to a year, thousands and thousands of hand-tied knots.
Because I work in the carpet industry and love factories, I have toured the carpet factories in Dalton, Georgia. I love the sound of the machines making fiber, creating patterns and delivering the result: carpet as we see it in our commercial buildings and homes. When I compare the two carpet making processes I come away with an abundance of appreciation for carpet, the added beauty to the room, the distinct personality of the pattern but most of all the satisfaction and contentment of the people who did the work and committed to the end product.
Killybegs, Ireland is a place of photographic beauty, the Donegal Carpet factory is one part of its history that sustained the community for a period of time. What a place, what a people, what a legacy!
Client List of Donegal Carpets
- The President of Ireland
- Dublin Castle
- Buckingham Palace
- James’ Palace
- Queen Victoria
- Belfast City Hall
- Irish Embassies Worldwide
- The Gresham Hotel
- Eltham Palace
- Royal Hospital – Dublin
- The White House
