Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-06-01
Revival of Activities Which
Were Famous in Days Long
\ Gone By.
Linen, Boot Making, Lace and
Other Growing Man
utactures. .
AGAIN WEAVE WOOL GOODS

| From Dublin comes intelligence
that Ireland's progress in industry
in the last ten years has been no less
striking than her progress in agri-
culture, and unlike the agricultural
advance, which is due in some de-
gree to State aid, the Industrial
growth owes its origin entirely to
the new spirit of self-reliance among
the Irish people. The north of Ire
land and notably the cities of Bel
fast and Derry and their neighbor-
hoods have long been noted for their
Industrial pre-eminence. Belfast's
shipbuilding industry is the greatest
in the world. The linen manufac-
turing trade of Belfast and the
northeast Ulster towns supplies the
world with it's flax products and the
Derry shirt factories send their goods
to all parts of the earth. p
These great industries have shared
In the prosperity of Ireland, but are
not dependent on 1t, for the greater
part of their product is exported.
The true test Of the country's in
creasing industrial prosperity is the
enormous growth of small industries,
many Of which are revivals of activi-
ties for which ireland was famous in
days gone by. One of the most no.
table of these is the wooden industry.
Before the union Irish wooden goods
were famous on this side of the
water at least, but England's compe-
tition drove them out of the market,
and about all that were produced
were homespuns in small quantities.
In the last ten years small mills have
been established all over the coun-
try and Irish suitings and dress
goods are coming into their own
again. In all these enterprises sue
cess has come from the elimination
Of management expenses. The man
ayers are their own designers and
statesmen and one foreman looks
after all the processes.
The subdivision of labor, common
In larger enterprises, would be fatal
to these infant industries. The wool
Is obtained from the local farmers,
who are encouraged to breed the
right kind Of sheep, and the labor is
all drawn from the surrounding dis
tricts. Boot and shoe making is an
other industry which is reviving in
Ireland Limerick boots were once
sought after by handles all over
Europe. Then English and later
American competition destroyed the
industry, but today there are three
large factories in Limerick.
An interesting instance of the eff
feet of the Sim Fem movement on
the revival OF industry Is found in
the Kilkenny woodworkers. This en-
was started few years ago
by few young mechanics and art
lists who wished 10 revive some of
the traditional Irish forms in furni-
Lure and decoration. SO quickly did |
Il succeed that today Kilkenny fur
niture is found In all parts of ireland |
and a large export trade is growing |
lp.
Another feature of the revival is
he growth of what are known as /
home industries. There has always
been a great deal OF this in Ireland,
notably in the embroidery and sew
ng trades and 10 less extent in lace
Nearly all the en-
OF handkerchiefs. for in
Itance. is done by Irish girls in their
ZONES, and much OF the shirt maxi
ng for the Derry factories Is also
,arceled out in the same way.
In the last nine or ten years there
las been a great revival In lace max
ng. Glasses have been formed. par
icularly In the west. where girls are
aught to produce, not only the ira
Iltlonal Irish laces, but the best
ontinental patterns as we'll. Con-
ent schools have been particularly
clive in this revival.