The Weaver's Cottages, Clonegal, Co. Carlow.

Our History
The Weavers’ Cottages, Clonegal, Co. Carlow date back to the 17th century when the spinning and weaving of wool was carried out by the inhabitants of the cottages.
The cottages became derelict for some period of time during 1998 the community of Clonegal began the mammoth task of refurbishing the cottages and during Heritage week 2000 the cottages were opened to the public. Since then spinning, weaving, lace making, crochet, butter making and bread making have been demonstrated on days during the year.
All these activities will continue along with the development of a traditional garden to the rear of the cottages.

Restoration work
Traditional methods were used in the restoration of the cottages. Lime Mortar and traditional dyes were mixed with the lime mortar to colour some of the walls. Floors were replaced to their original state by timber locally sourced. The traditional windows and doors were retained.
The garden to the rear of the cottages will be developed using traditional methods like double digging, crop rotation, composting and a selection of vegetables.

Community Involvement
The cottages are overseen by a heritage committee made up of local people that have a keen interest in local heritage. The committee of 6 meet monthly to discuss and arrange activities and events that will take place in the cottages A group of spinners and weavers meet in the cottages regularly In the past a group of local entertainers gathered to participate in music, song and storytelling sessions at the cottages but due to popularity and constraints on space they had to move to a larger venue.
The long term benefits would be to boost the local economy by attracting more tourists to the area. To revive an environmentally friendly traditional method of dying wool and gardening. To pass on the older traditions and methods of wool dying, spinning, weaving, butter making, breading making and gardening to younger generations and show how those skills and knowledge can be applied and used in today’s day to day living.
The heritage committee sees the Weavers Cottages as being an integral part of the overall development of Clonegal village becoming a leading tourist attraction in County Carlow. Clonegal Heritage committee in conjunction with Clonegal Tidy Towns Committee, Carlow Rural Tourism, Carlow County Council, The Heritage Council of Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and Fáilte Ireland are in the process of developing guided walking tours of the area and the Weavers Cottages will be the base from where the community employment participants will work from to deliver this service.
In the past the Weavers Cottages have been awarded the E.S.B. Conservation Award and the Gulbenkian Trust Award.


How to find us:

Clonegal from Rosslare:
Take the N11 to Enniscorthy and travel through Enniscorthy towards Dublin. 5 kilometres beyond Enniscorthy at the 2nd roundabout take the N80 to Carlow. Travel along the N80 to Bunclody. Go straight through Bunclody on the N80 and travel for 8 kilometers. Look out for the brown information sign for Huntington Castle and Gardens; take this right hand turn (L2024). Clonegal is 5 kilometers from this turn.

Clonegal from the M9
Leave the M9 motorway at exit 5. Take the N80 to Rosslare.17.5 kilometres from exit 5 look out for the brown information sign for Huntington Castle and Gardens; take the left hand turn (L2024). Clonegal is 5 kilometres from this turn.

Clonegal from Tullow
Go straight through Tullow on the N81. Travel on the N81 until the T - junction with the N80. Turn left towards Bunclody / Enniscorthy and travel for 4 kilometers. Look out for the brown information sign for Huntington Castle and Gardens; take the left hand turn (L2024). Clonegal is 5 kilometres from this turn.

Click on an image below (in each section) to activate Slide Show Weavers Cottages and Garden   webpage backgroup rotation codeby VisualLightBox.com v6.1 The above photographs are courtesy of Geraldine O'Boyle Heritage Week 2015 webpage backgroup rotation codeby VisualLightBox.com v6.1 The above photographs are courtesy of Nicola Gray and Geraldine O'Boyle Wool Dyeing webpage backgroup rotation codeby VisualLightBox.com v6.1 The above photographs are courtesy of Phil Rooney