Wise Wool Project
Wise Wool facilitates workshops educating the public on wool being a valuable waste product. The Wise Wool Project is based in County Kerry, Ireland, and is funded by Creative Ireland and supported by the Kerry Arts Council.
What’s about?
Sheep farmers are told their Irish wool is worthless. It’s more expensive to shear a sheep than to sell it’s fleece and that has been the way for the past few decades. It continues to decline. Synthetic fibre is cheaper to produce in Asia. Wool is considered a category 3 “waste product” in Ireland. The “Irish wool” we see in today’s shops is not actually Irish wool. It’s a softer fiber imported from Australia and New Zealand.Could you imagine if France had all of its grapes shipped in from Australia and called it French wine?
WiseWoolProject is a community-based initiative in County Kerry, Ireland, that aims to raise awareness about wool waste and promote the use of Irish sheep wool as a valuable natural resource. Funded by Creative Ireland and the Kerry County Arts Office, the project was founded in early 2024 by Kerry Walker, Lisa Sandow, and Sandra Spethmann.
The workshops are for families who are curious about nature, crafts, and climate-friendly living.
Those interested in attending should reserve their free spots in advance.
IG: @wisewoolproject Facebook: @wisewoolproject
Upcoming events
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EWDay 2026 Conference at Meadowlands Hotel Tralee, Co Kerry
28th March 2026
11:30amPanel Discussion: ‘From Farm to Framework: The Role of Policy in Wool’s Future’
In-person:
Maria Walsh MEP
Angela Hassan-Sharp (New Zealand Ambassador to Ireland)
Sandra Spethmann (Curraghmore Farm and Wise Wool Project)
Patrick Temple (Magee Weaving)
Moderator: Tim Yeomans (Centre for Applied Bioscience Research)
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EWD 2026 – European Wool Experience at Meadowlands Hotel Tralee, Co Kerry
28th March 2026
10am – 5pmA fantastic range of wool-based crafts will be demonstrated together under one roof for free, offering a rare opportunity to see, touch and experience the skill, heritage and innovation behind Ireland’s and Europe’s wool culture.
Whether you’re discovering wool for the first time, bringing the family or returning as a seasoned maker, join us for a day of inspiration, learning and connection. Meet master craftspeople, explore time-honoured techniques alongside contemporary practices and witness the remarkable versatility of this natural fibre.
Step into a living world of fibre, creativity and tradition!
This is a free event for individuals, families and groups welcome.
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Discover Derrynane Festival 2026
6th June 2026
12 -3pmThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to announce the return of the weekend festival, ‘Discover Derrynane’ The family festival is set to showcase the rich, natural and cultural heritage of Derrynane National Historic Park and the surrounding community of South Kerry. Curated, programmed, and funded by the OPW, the festival offers a fun filled programme of free activities, walks, talks, and tours for all ages.
Past events
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Wise Wool Celebration Day 2026 at Kate Kearneys, Co. Kerry
8th November 2025
Kate Kearneys Cottage, Gap of Dunloe, Co. Kerry
11:00AM - 12:00PM: WET FELTING WORKSHOP (ALL AGES) with Wise Wool
11:30AM - 13:00PM: TABLET WEAVING workshop (12y+) with Olann & Seol
12:00PM - 12:45PM: STORYTELLING with Sean
13:30PM - 15:00pm: NEEDLE FELTING WORKSHOP (ADULTS ONLY) with Sharon Well Arts
14:00 - 14:30PM: SPINNING DEMONSTRATION
15:00pm - 16:00PM: PANEL DISCUSSION with Q&A
Booking is required for workshops only.
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Kerry Science Festival at MTU Tralee, Co. Kerry
15th November 2025
Kerry Science Festival
An Annual Celebration of STEM featuring Workshops, Talks, and Interactive Activities for all ages.
Wet Felting for children aged 6+. Lisa and Sandra from Wise Wool will share the value of wool as they teach the little ones how to wet felt raw wool together to make a square wall decoration.
We will all start together with a chat about wool, and then we will teach step by step how to create a wet felting piece. -
WeavingWorldsTogether by KerryCouncil & HSE South West
15th October 2025
10am - 4pm
The Rose Hotel Tralee, Co.Kerry
The focus of the Weaving Worlds Together project is the preservation of traditional Irish crafts on the island of Ireland working through 7 Family Resource Centres and Healthy Living Centres in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The creative activities that the social prescribing clients will take part in will be based on traditional Irish craft work including Basket Weaving/Willow Weaving, Ceramics, Textiles - wool felting, and Woodworking. This will highlight the history and culture of traditional Irish crafts and how they played a significant role in bringing communities together.
The Wise Wool project will be offering a needle felting workshop for beginner.
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DISCOVER KERRY AT THE NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025
18th September 2025 from 10am - 3pm
Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offay
Location: The DOME (Lifestyle & Tourism) - Barrow - Block 4 Row 25 St 486, Units 1-3
Kerry is a wondrous region shaped by the landscape, an inspiring place with a regenerative spirit at the heart of our warm welcome, our food, festivals and farming.
Visit the Discover Kerry stand at the National Ploughing Championships 2025 and our stand exhibitors will take you on an exciting journey through Kerry to experience the flavours of Kerry from Whiskey to Skyr yoghurt and try out raw wool felting (suitable for all ages!) with the Wise Wool Project. Find out about Kerry’s hidden gems, visitor attractions worth discovering what’s on from our festivals to standout concerts and shop the official clothing range for Puck Fair – Ireland’s oldest festival.
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Wise Wool Family Day at The Nature Hub
13th August 2025 from 11am - 1pm
The NatureHub, Gap of Dunloe
Join us for a fun and educational Family Day exploring one of Irelands most previous natural resources - wool - and its dilemma it finds itself in nowadays society.
Get hands-on with the wool process.
Try your skills at various stages - from raw wool to fleeces.
Booking required. Free event.
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Cahersiveen Arts & Music Festival
Drop In Sessions - 03. August from 3:30 - 4:30pm
Wet felting for kids.
This is a free event.
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Wet Felting at Discover Derrynane Festival 2025
Drop in sessions - 7th - 8th June 2025
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to announce the return of the weekend festival, ‘Discover Derrynane’ The family festival is set to showcase the rich, natural and cultural heritage of Derrynane National Historic Park and the surrounding community of South Kerry. Curated, programmed, and funded by the OPW, the festival offers a fun filled programme of free activities, walks, talks, and tours for all ages.
Wet Felting for children aged 6+. Lisa will share the value of wool as they teach the little ones how to wet felt raw wool together to make a square wall decoration.
No booking required.
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Festival of Wool and Cloth in Waterville, Co. Kerry
Drop In (All day) - 4th - 6th July 2024
Wet Felting for children aged 6+. Lisa and Kerr will share the value of wool as they teach the little ones how to wet felt raw wool together to make a square wall decoration.
We will all start together with a chat about wool, and then we will teach step by step how to create a wet felting piece. -
Kfest at Killorglin, Co. Kerry
11:00AM - 12:00PM 2th June 2024
Wet Felting for children aged 6+. Lisa and Kerry will share the value of wool as they teach the little ones how to wet felt raw wool together to make a square wall decoration. This is a closed workshop.
We will all start together with a chat about wool, and then we will teach step by step how to create a wet felting piece. -
Wet felting workshops at Anam Centre, Killarney, Co. Kerry
20th July 2024, 11-12PM or 12:30-13:30PM
Wet Felting for children aged 6+. Lisa and Kerry will share the value of wool as they teach the little ones how to wet felt raw wool together to make a square wall decoration.
We will all start together with a chat about wool, and then we will teach step by step how to create a wet felting piece.
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Wise Wool Celebration Day at Kate Kearneys, Co. Kerry
9th November 2024
Wise Wool Celebration at Kate Kearney's.
11am - All ages workshops
12pm - Storytelling
1:30pm - Demonstrations & Lunch
3pm - Movie Screening: Notes From Sheepland
4:15pm - Coffee & Tea Break
4:30pm - Panel Discussion
6pm - Music
Here's the schedule for the day:
11.00am - All ages workshop
12.00pm - Storytelling
1:30pm - Demonstrations/Lunch
3.00pm - ‘Notes From Sheepland’ movie
4:15pm - Coffee/Tea break
4:30pm - Panel Discussion
6.00pm - Music
This is a family free event, but booking is required for the felting workshop and the movie.
