- E
- R
Hello, my name is Mr. Mulcahy ! I have been researching our family heritage brand ‘Ardfinnan’ since I was 12, when I also set up a Facebook page of the same name. My family ran the Ardfinnan Woollen Mills, Mulcahy Redmond & Co. which they established back in 1869. Now the last of the Mulcahy family and still living by the river Suir, it was always my passion to restore the name Ardfinnan and it’s locality, the village which remains today, with it’s deep connection to Irish history and Irish wool. I am now very close to that goal - but I need your help!
The mills ceased large scale operations in 1973 and my family possesses a 1973 made knitting machine. I have spent many years devoted to the history of the mills and am now straddling between a career and investing in producing woollen scarves to continue the craft heritage of Ardfinnan. The cost of branding and repairs to the knitting machine have erected a barrier to my goal, as well as the cost of high quality Irish knitting wool from real Irish sheep.
- I am raising funds to uphold the Ardfinnan legacy through rebuilding the Ardfinnan brand, restoring the knitting machine and supplying it with only luxury grade soft Irish wools.
Branding had incurred various potential retailing, marketing and advertising costs. The knitting machine requires a lot of work to clean and parts have to be imported from outside of the EU. The successful restoration of the machine and supply of wool will allow me to grow the business to incorporate more woollen products and long term is to have a larger loom for woven goods. I have already succeeded at weaving scarves on a hand loom, washed and milled by the banks of the river Suir.
My handwoven Ardfinnan scarve beside old-stock Ardfinnan knitting wools.
- The Ardfinnan range will be washed and milled in the soft Tipperary waters of the River Suir and made by me as the 6th generation Mulcahy of Ardfinnan.
- The use of Irish wool will support the Irish wool industry, its shepherds and spinners.
- The making of Ardfinnan woollen goods will continue the heritage that Ardfinnan has to wool since its early recorded history. William the Dyer (of wool) was recorded in the village in 1295 !
The restoration of the brand through knitted goods will allow steady growth to incorporate more woven goods in the future and a wider range of products, available in select stores and online at the Ardfinnan brand website ardfinnan.ie
- The running of the knitting machine will allow a Heritage line of scarves to be made, incorporating colours and patterns used at Ardfinnan since the birth of the woollen mills in 1869.
- The Irish woollen industry is currently growing and rediscovering new ways make sustainable use of our valuable resources.
Ardfinnan Knitting Wools heritage colourways.
I am also working on a book about the unique Ardfinnan story, which I hope to publish by Christmas 2025 along with the planned range of knitted goods.
I have set a low goal for this fundraiser so please help if you can at all - to explore more you can visit the Ardfinnan brand website at ardfinnan.ie
Disclaimer: No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.
Organizer
David M Mulcahy
Organizer