 I was a hobby and I found a great interest in, you know, peaceful for my mind. So you weren't totally new to weaving? No, so I've been weaving Christmas bells for a while before I came to Donegal. How would you weave those who'd be different to what you're using on the course, would it? Yeah, so you use a small tabletop loom, and I've been using an ink-a-loom. And to get into it funny enough, my brother was making jewelry, like necklaces and earrings. Yeah, yeah. And he said to me one Christmas is like, you know, what are you doing? Like, what would you like to make in craft? And I wasn't doing much at the time, but I'd be fairly handy doing different things, you know? And I said, I love, I have a great interest in traditional culture and Irish dress and heritage. And I'd love to make it Christmas bells. He's like, right, so on Christmas he got me an ink-a-loom. He said, if you don't make one in a week, I'll take it off you. So that's how it started. That's how it started. All right. But eventually you decided to follow your heart and take it to the next level. Yeah, so I was researching weaving courses, and I was like, if there's any in Dublin, and then I seen this pop up online, the weaving course in Donegal. I said, you know what, I'll read up on this. I gave one of the ladies a ring in the ETB. And sure, it all just aligned right. And I said, you know, I'll apply for it. I got an interview. When I got an interview, I quit my job. I mean, I don't recommend doing that to everybody, but I got the interview. I traveled up to Kilkar. I'm lucky enough to get a place and then my journey started from there, open Kilkar. You had quit your job before you got to play. I did. So I don't recommend that to anybody. All right. Yeah. Tara, the course, first of its kind in Ireland, but I suppose it's fitting that it's here in Donegal, given our tradition of weaving. Absolutely, John. I suppose there's, you know, hundreds of years of weaving here in Donegal. And what's really interesting, I suppose, was John Hina, when we launched this three years ago, John Hina, who's a fantastic master weaver, he had pointed out, you know, every home in Kilkar in particular would have had a weaver in it at some point. And in 2019, when we were looking at it initially, we were down to single digits in this country, sorry, in this county in terms of weavers that were available. So Donegal, to be really did have a responsibility to step up, you know, to try and support the local industry. I mean, fantastic supports in the likes of McGee's, Clodin, you know, Studio Donegal, McNutts, Malayan Sons, for example, and Eddidarty. Like all of these people in the industry were really key players in helping us develop the qualification because while we could bring people into teach the weave and we wanted to make sure that it was certified and it just didn't exist. There was nowhere to go with it. So we had to get involved with the local industry with Harris Tweed and the Scottish Qualification Authority as well. So took a bit of development, but we got there and we're now in our third year of running the course. Fort One is coming up now in September. So yeah, it's been all happening and we've had fantastic results with it as well. So we're thrilled, you know, and when you can draw students from all over the country to somewhere as beautiful and as remote as Kilkar, then you're doing something right. Yeah. So, Dean, how has it been going for you? Yeah, I love it. Every day is fantastic. You know, I just love the course and being with John, especially. And John just has a wealth of knowledge. He can anything you ask him. He can make any pattern you want to know. He'll show you how to do it. Right. But the course is absolutely fab. I get to create every day. I get to work with my hands. I have the freedom to make my own decisions to make unique patterns and just play with it. Well, you brought in some samples there and I can tell them chatting to you that you obviously have a passion for this and I can tell them to work as well. It's being realised and, oh yeah, that's good. That's proper material there, isn't it? Absolutely. And it looks wonderful. The colours. Yes, thank you. There's a fab one there, big trove on top of your bed. Wow. Wow, yeah, probably you'd be in proper heat with that, wouldn't you? Oh, yeah. And it lasts forever, you know, and they're 100 per cent more, 100 per cent sustainable. It's ethical. It's going to buy the grades. There's no plastic in it, like even cotton labels. There's nothing there. That's going to be harmful to any environment or whatever. But look, they're fab. They're going to last forever. If there's something a hole in them, you can fix them. They're just, they're fab, you know. And all, all important, I suppose, in the, you know, in the direction that we're, we're heading in sustainable practice and just, not just the feel, but the smell of this fabric is wonderful. And it doesn't smell like too much like wool or sheep or anything like that. No, no, no. But you know, it's an indigenous craft and it's very important for us, especially as an Irish man and someone who comes from Ireland, proud of where he comes from. You know, we have to take it upon ourselves to preserve our own heritage, keeping indigenous craft alive. And hopefully, you know, when I'm older, if I have kids or my friends, my brother and sister, I can teach them how to wave and we can keep this going for many more generations to come. Absolutely. Keeping it alive. So going from your tabletop and the mini loom to the proper loom that you're working on now, it's, it's a big step up. But John's been a good guide and an influence and an educator. No, John's fab and you can see like these all come from John, you know, and his knowledge and even Valerie, Valerie Taylor is our sound teacher. Does the sound modules and sure, she helped me make this waistcoat. Yeah. So I was that with the help of John, let's say, you know, and then with the help of Valerie, we got the Weaver waistcoat. So and what other articles? I mean, you've put in scarfs and throws and wearing that waistcoat. So what other items and articles? Would you create? So we can do from what I have in your hand. There is a baby blanket. We call us because if even if you open it out and have a look, there's no issue, but that's a baby blanket. We make ordinary sized blankets. Then we have large trolls like this big red fellow here, the red heron bone. But especially when you take it off the loom, you can have your blankets when you type tassels or you can take it into the sound room, you know, and we can actually cut so so we can make material coats, waistcoats, bags, pouches, tote bags. You name me. You can do it with a sound machine. Yeah. Tara, it's a Scottish Qualifying Body. Is that right? Yes. It's a Scottish Qualification Authority who who have provided certification for because it just didn't exist in Ireland and Harris Tweed, you know, have been in that space for a while as well. So we adopted, we had reached out to them and they helped us in the development of getting the program certified. It's a 40 week course, John, and it is a traineeship. I suppose it's important to point out as well that, you know, the goal is not a hobby course. You know, this course has been designed to exactly that support industry. Yes, support industry in this indigenous craft. Keep it alive. You know, it's really important for Dunnegal Tweed at the moment. They're in the process of the application for the PGI, which is the Protected Geographical Indicator Status. It's also similar to that of, say, Champagne or Paramaham. So that will have a big impact as well here for Dunnegal. And so the course was developed with that in mind. So I suppose the students that we're looking for further program, we want somebody who is passionate about it, has a creative streak, is interested in the sustainable element of it as well. You know, maybe somebody who's interested in sustainable fashion. So not fast fashion, maybe interiors. The likes of that is the ID candidate. Perfect candidate indeed. Absolutely. Great spokesperson for sure. He's a stapled and Tweed already set up. And you know, obviously we want to see the industry supported and get an employment outcomes there for industry, but equally to see people like Dean who have a flair for it and want to go up and set up on their own as well that they're supported to do that too. And that is your goal, Dean, to set up your own company. Yeah, so I couldn't put a label together already called Stapled and Tweed. You see it on the blanket there now, forced labels I put together. But I'd like to, you know, like again, like I'd like to work for myself and try to do it for myself, make it for myself. And you know, it's one thing that I'm very happy doing and I'm proud of what I'm doing. And I want to give it a real good go. And Stapled and Tweed is hopefully the brand that we can make luxury homeware items. And you know, I'll go forward and I'm looking at the own classes and tailoring. So hopefully I get better at making suits and dresses and everything else and try to bring that into the label as well. But I'll take time and slow and steady and we'll get there eventually. You know, and Tara, what is the aim here? Is there for people that presume like Dean who wants to set up themselves but also to provide those for the industry? You want to go and work for designers and do other things? Absolutely. And we have, as I mentioned, you know, the companies that mentioned earlier, you know, there is a bit of succession planning that needs to be thought about to make sure that we protect and give those companies an opportunity to grow their businesses and keep the craft alive here in Donegal. So we're hoping, you know, with every program that we have some people who are happy to go in and continue to learn that skill with the experts here in the industry locally. And then you'll always have some who want to go out and work on their own and that's perfectly fine. You know, from a need-to-be perspective, they're already good outcomes but certainly we want to see more people going directly into employment in the area. So the last two years, for example, this is the third intake, we've had probably 30%, 70% split. So 30% going directly into employment with those local companies and they're actively recruiting, which is great to see. And then so far, approximately 70% of the students went out on their own. Now, we would like, this year actually, we're making a move. Hylkel Carr is the heartland of Weaving, certainly. But we've made the decision we're going to bring the course on back to letter Kenny this year and that is an attempt, I suppose, to improve accessibility to the course because Hylkel Carr is amazing, it's beautiful landscape, loads of, you know, fabulous scenery there to draw on as well from a creative point of view. And of course, all the great industry on your doorstep there. The issue for us at the moment is we struggle with, you know, transport services are not fantastic, Hylkel Carr, accommodation is obviously an issue as well. And while we've had students coming from all over the country, you know, Deans up from Dublin, we've had students in the past come from as far as Cork, we do want to see more Donegal based students as well. It's easier to attract them if it's based on letter Kenny. Exactly, and we've already seen the benefit of that. We've probably more application numbers at this point, even though the course starts in September, we've already a higher number of applicants at the moment in comparison to what we would have had this time last year and we do link that at the moment to the fact that we're bringing it back to letter Kenny. Deans, you're almost finished, therefore. What, just a couple of months to go? A couple of months left, so we're going to finish my time in Hylkel Carr nearly now, it's time for classroom and being inside. I might get one or two days back up there, but at the moment we're on work placement. So I have a gap now at the moment. This week I was down at the college doing some work, but next week I'm going out to Monaghan, to a Weaver out Monaghan and I'll spend a week there. And then I'll be up in McGee's stand for a few days in the factory. And then I'll be back out to Evoge, and then Anna Naeem and down in County Mead in that boy as well. So I'll be working all over the country trying out new things. And beyond that, where is Dublin Tweed going to be based? Will it be in Dublin or here in Donegal? So, Dublin Tweed, we're working away in Donegal at the moment, making Donegal Tweed. Now, unfortunately, I have to kind of shift for accommodation at the moment. My accommodation is up now at the end of the month. So I'll have to relocate back to Dublin or County Clare where my girlfriend is. But I'll be looking to come up to Donegal and making proper Donegal Tweed, you know. But we'll give it some time before we can land back. And what about a loom? Looms don't, I'm sure they don't come shipped for a start and they're not easy to assemble. Do you have to get a loom all in one go? Yeah, so you could make a loom fairly handy if you're fairly handy, you know. So I have a few bits and bobs that I'm making a loom at the moment as well. But I was lucky enough to get a loom there about three weeks ago. I managed to get one down in Wicklow, which I believe, of all places. Right. But it was a traditional Donegal loom from Kilkar, was the traditional weaver. His name was Giuseppe, as far as I know. Not a great Donegal name. No, not a great Donegal name, but a Donegal loom all the same. Right, very good. You can find me on a staplesandtweets.ie or you can give me an email at Dean at staplesandtweets.ie or if you want to give me a ring, if you're looking for any fabric or material, 085-845-3279, and you can give me a shout there. Okay. Well listen, continued success once the course is over and way beyond that. And it's great, Tara, that a great Donegal tradition is being continued and it's looking like it's going to have a future with an increase in the numbers. Now it comes September. Absolutely, we just want to see it go from strength to strength and it really has the opportunity to do that. We're open actually now for applications, John, so I would tell people just to check out Donegal ATB's website. You do need to set up a fetch courses account and make an actual application, but that's just www.fetchcourses.ie. Go in and set up your account and if you just put in the word weaving, it'll burn up, you know, putting Donegal and weaving and you'll get the course very easy. Okay, brilliant. All right then, Dean Stapleton and Tara McGuire, thank you both. Thank you, John. Thanks for your time.