Creative Churchill woman Léila Worth is months away from becoming a certified weaver after honing her skills on a unique local traineeship.
Léila, 27, began to pursue her passion during the pandemic. She had studied business and sustainable fashion in London, but as lockdowns came and went, she found herself at home and drawn to Donegal’s deep-rooted textile heritage.
At the same time, Donegal College of Further Education managed by Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) had launched Ireland’s first ever Donegal Weaving traineeship. Based in Kilcar, the course is aimed at preserving the craft through a new generation of weavers.
Léila decided to take on the traineeship in 2024, after a number of years of mentorship with Master Weaver John Heena in Ardara.
By the time she enrolled she was already designing her own handwoven blankets and coats.
“Weaving is a craft to master over years, when I started selling, I realised that I needed to up my skills. I wanted to be immersed in the environment of weaving and to get the certificate since it’s [development was supported] by Harris Tweed in Scotland.”
The 41 week course was developed by Donegal College in consultation with Donegal Tweed powerhouses including Magee Clothing, McNutt of Donegal, Molloy and Sons Weaving and Studio Donegal.
Léila is most enjoying the opportunity to explore her creativity while fine-tuning her skills in the classroom and at the loom.
The course is delivered by Valerie Taylor and John Heena, who bring a vast range of experience in weaving, sewing and textiles together along with industry connections.
“It’s been really good for me because it’s given me more time to learn how to warp and use different colourways,” Léila said.
Students are tasked with creating fabric as well as makeup bags, totes, and fashion pieces like jackets. They train on the hand loom and the mini loom. In doing so, they are gaining the traditional skills such as tuning, warping, and finishing that are at risk of being lost to modern production.
Léila is studying with a view to keep the craft alive and develop her own brand and business in the future.
She has done placements in Donegal Yarns and in the coming months she will travel to Meath to study with handweaver Anna Ní Dhonnchú, one of the first students to complete the certificate in Donegal Weaving.
In early 2024, the Irish Times tipped Léila as one of the top 50 people to watch in Ireland. This media feature, while it was a pleasant surprise, it prompted her to step back and go for formal training.
“It was nice that people saw something in me, but I had never studied textiles or art. I needed these years to explore the craft and hopefully I will develop a business when things feel more grounded,” she said.
“My goal would be to find a studio and set up a website,” said Léila, while she is also keen to be part of the promotion of the craft as a part of our cultural heritage.
“I’ve met so many tourists from around the world. Their faces light up when they see the looms going,” she said.
“There is a market for handwoven Donegal tweed, just like people appreciate other crafts such as basket making and ceramics. There is room for handwoven Donegal tweed.
“That’s why this course is so important, to keep this craft alive in Donegal, and we are so fortunate to have mentors to learn all the ways.
“The weaving we are doing on the course is more of an art form. Things don’t happen overnight. John has been learning for over 50 years, I am only three years in, but I am looking forward to learning more and seeing what inspires me.”
Traineeships are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. #EUinMyRegion
This article by Donegal ETB Communications and Rachel McLaughlin originally featured on Donegal Daily.
