Landmark celebration to mark 50 years of Blarney Woollen Mills
Freda Hayes, CEO of Blarney Woollen Mills and Lord Mayor Cllr Fergal Dennehy with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin as he cuts the ribbon at the celebrations to mark Blarney Woollen Mills 50th anniversary.
Blarney Woollen Mills marked its 50th anniversary with an all-day celebration on September 13, with live music, events and special guests.
The festivities brought together generations of makers, visitors, and dignitaries for a day of heritage, music, and community spirit.
Blarney Woollen Mills is quite literally woven into Irish history, with the mills having survived famine, fire and recessions. It is a landmark in its own right and is the largest Irish heritage centre in the world.
The Blarney Woollen Mills we see today was founded in 1975 by Christy Kelleher, a local entrepreneur who was, in his youth, a mill boy in the very mills he later came to own.
The Mills has grown into an internationally recognised destination, offering the finest Irish knitwear, gifts, and homeware.
The 50th year celebration saw the official launch of the ‘Blarney Aran Experience’. Taoiseach Micheál Martin unveiled the experience, marking the return of live Aran knitwear production onsite for the first time in decades.
More than a showcase of knitwear, the experience is an immersive journey, by reconnecting to its roots as a knitwear manufacturer, Blarney Woollen Mills not only preserves traditional skills but also champions the revival of local manufacturing across Ireland, supporting sustainable, locally made goods and keeping centuries-old craft alive for future generations.
Guests at the event had the opportunity to watch Aran sweaters being crafted before their eyes, connecting Ireland’s deep tradition of knitwear with a modern audience.
Speaking at the launch, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “Family businesses like Blarney Woollen Mills are the heartbeat of our communities and the backbone of Irish enterprise — creating jobs, supporting local crafts and passing on tradition from one generation to the next. Their resilience and creativity keep our heritage alive while shaping Ireland’s future in a way that inspires us all.”
A sensory and educational experience, visitors will step inside the story following the wool from its raw state, all the way to the delicate hand-stitching that brings each finished piece to life.
The entire experience is free for visitors to enjoy, a living expression of the values that have guided the mill for generations. The original building, the historical Mahony’s Mill, was once a thriving centre of production, and its revival as a place of manufacturing again is a significant milestone.
Visitors also have the opportunity to personalise their own Aran sweater with a custom label, adding a name or meaningful word to create a one-of-a-kind gift or keepsake. The Blarney Aran Experience is a celebration of heritage, skill, and sustainable production – and a rare chance to see century-old techniques kept alive for the modern world.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Fergal Dennehy, also joined in with the celebration of the Blarney Woollen Mills milestone alongside local councillors, community members, suppliers, and international visitors.
“What began as a small thatched-cottage shop in 1975 has grown into a world-class retail destination,” said CEO of Blarney Woollen Mills, Freda Hayes.
“Saturday’s celebration was more than a milestone—it was a tribute to the generations of makers, suppliers, staff, and customers who have made Blarney Woollen Mills what it is today. As we return to our roots with onsite Aran knitting, we’re also looking to the future, where Irish design and sustainability remain at the heart of everything we do.” She added.
The celebration drew large crowds, and alongside the experience launch, the event held live music by Cailíní Lua, Ceol, and Pat Fitz, Irish dancing showcases from The John Lonergan Academy of Irish Dancing, supplier pop-ups and craft demonstrations, and children’s entertainment with face painting and balloon modelling.
