A man operates a large wooden loom with hanging threads while a woman watches in the background.
A man demonstrates weaving on a large wooden loom at the Sheep & Wool Centre. Courtesy aine O'Toole

Connemara Sheep and Wool Centre

📍 Letterbrickaun, Galway

🏛️ Attraction

Last updated: 23 May 2026

Overview

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Killary Fjord, the Connemara Sheep & Wool Centre in Leenane is a family-run interpretive museum dedicated to the region’s deep-rooted relationship with sheep and the wool trade. Founded in 1992 by Michael and Kathleen O’Toole, the centre combines authentic heritage displays with a lively café and a shop stocked with 100% Aran wool products. Visitors can step behind the scenes of a traditional craft that once sustained rural communities, with guided tours offering hands-on time at spinning wheels and antique looms.

History & The Craft

The centre was established to preserve the stories of Connemara’s woollen industry, which historically formed the backbone of the local economy. The museum traces the evolution of sheep farming from the Brehon Laws era through the late 19th century, when the Congested Districts Board revitalised homespun crafts across the west. The Board funded workshops in Leenane that produced fine hand-woven tweeds for domestic and export markets, with key figures like Robert McKeown of the historic Leenane Hotel helping to supply the trade.

By the 1950s, wool merchant John M. Joyce was sourcing the finest fleeces from west-coast farmers through a purpose-built Wool Store on the Westport Road. Today, the centre displays original artefacts from this era, including hand-carders, early-1900s looms and vintage photographs. A short introductory DVD, available in six languages, provides context for visitors before they explore the floor. Áine O’Toole, the current steward, continues her parents’ mission, while local craftsman Seamus demonstrates traditional techniques on machinery that has remained unchanged since the turn of the century.

What to Experience

The centre’s main draw is its interactive Woolcraft Tour, a 45-minute session that walks visitors through the entire process of transforming raw fleece into yarn. Tickets cost between €10 and €12 and include access to the museum and live demonstrations. During the tour, you will:

  • Sit at a spinning wheel and feel how fibre is drafted into thread
  • Try hand-carding a fleece using traditional tools
  • Watch raw wool become yarn on historic equipment
  • Learn the practical skills that rural families relied on for generations

Daily demonstrations run alongside the scheduled tours, showcasing carding, spinning and weaving on early-1900s machinery. During July and August, a local farmer performs a hand-shearing demonstration, offering a rare look at a pre-electric technique that requires significant skill and strength. An interactive children’s zone lets younger visitors role-play the daily tasks of a 1900s wool-making household, from fetching water to operating a simplified carder.

Natural Dyeing & Rare Breeds

A significant portion of the centre’s programming focuses on conservation and traditional colouring methods. Local farmer Orlagh manages a flock that includes Jacob, Soay and Shetland ewes, and she regularly demonstrates hand-carding, rolling and spinning using both the West of Ireland “Big Wheel” and the Donegal wheel. She explains how natural dyes are extracted from foraged materials such as bark, onion skins, gorse and lichen. The use of mordants like iron is also covered, showing how small chemical adjustments shift the final shade.

Displayed samples reveal the subtle colour palette of historic homespun tweeds: muted browns, rusts, sage greens and golden tones. The variations depend on factors like the season the gorse was harvested or the specific soil composition where the lichen grew. These demonstrations provide a tangible connection to the earthy hues that define Connemara’s traditional textiles.

Café & Shop

After working through the tours, visitors can unwind at the Killary Café (Bia Blas), which operates from 09:30 to 17:30. The menu features homemade seafood chowder, apple crumble, scones and a selection of gluten-free options. Indoor seating accommodates up to 45 guests, while outdoor tables overlook the fjord, making it a practical stop to rest and refuel.

The on-site gift shop offers a curated range of Irish wool products, including Aran jumpers, hand-loomed blankets in Seaweed, Mist and Scarlet shades, wool slippers, sheepskin rugs, natural-dyed yarns and jewellery. Non-EU residents can arrange tax-free shopping for eligible purchases. For those who miss the museum or want to purchase items after their visit, the shop operates an online store that ships worldwide year-round.

Practical Information

Opening Hours The centre operates from mid-March to October, open daily from 09:30 to 17:30.

Admission

  • Adults: €10–€12 (includes museum entry and live demonstrations)
  • Children under 12: Reduced rate (check the website for current pricing)
  • Groups of 10 or more: Discounted rates available with advance booking

Booking & Accessibility Tours can be booked online via the centre’s Woolcraft Experience page or by phone. Walk-ins are generally accommodated outside peak season, but July and August slots fill quickly, particularly for the hand-shearing demonstration. The museum, shop and café are fully wheelchair accessible. Free parking is available for cars and small buses, and modern toilets are on-site. The centre is located on the Leenaun crossroads between Westport and Galway, easily reached via the N59.

Contact

Nearby Attractions

Leenane’s position at the head of Killary Fjord makes the Sheep & Wool Centre a convenient base for exploring the surrounding landscape. Kylemore Abbey sits approximately 13 km away, while the trails of Connemara National Park are reachable within a 15-minute drive. For coastal walks, Lettergesh Beach is a short drive north; its tidal nature means visiting at low tide offers the best conditions for a stroll. Aasleagh Falls, a 15-minute walk from the village centre, provides another scenic spot close by. Many visitors combine a stop at the centre with a boat tour up the fjord to see the surrounding peaks from the water. Check the local tide tables before heading to Lettergesh Beach, and book your woolcraft tour in advance during the summer months to secure a slot at the spinning wheel.