The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-24
Donegal Hand-Woven Tweeds and Homespuns

Are brought direct from County Donegal. Ireland; where they are made in the cottages of Irish workers.
 The wool is shorn from native sheep inured to the climate of that rainy region. Rain-and- wind-swept from the Atlantic. ''Wild Donegal" is well named. Just as nature "tempers the wind to the shorn 1amb," by the same token she grows wool on the Donegal sheep to temper 1t. This native fibre is long, hard, and of great tensile strength, making it an ideal grade of wool for the making of cloths which will stand wear ana weather. w. J. M' All wool used in the making of Donegal fabrics is hand-combed and spun, hand-dyed and shrunk, and hand-woven by people whose forbears for cen- turtles have been engaged in making cloth. The methods used to-day are the result of this long experience, and the fabrics produced are unique. They combine the strength and wearing qualities of the CON- NEMARAS. with the fine, soft finish of the dress worsted.
 w. J. M.
 These Donegal fabrics are most admirably adapted to lounge and sport suits, sport coats, top coats, golf and riding suits, hats and caps, etc, etc. w. J. M.
 One of the interesting facts in regard to DONEGAL FABRICS is the method and the materials used in the dyeing. No chern- icals are used which weaken the fibre, but pure vegetable ayes instead. The black dye comes from the roots of native tree, the yellow from the native heather; the brown dye Is made from crottle, 8 variety of moss which is scraped from rocks. These rocks are found only in the mountainous districts. The red and the green dyes are also of vegetable origin.
 The native spinners and weav- CTS are trained in the work from childhood. w. J. M.
 Another interesting point is the fact that such a thing as "shod- dy, is unknown in COUNTY DONEGAL. All cloth is from the purest of virgin wool rom the back and sides of the sneep the shorter flores being dis carded. There Is perhaps no other cloth woven with a clean CT makeup than DONEGAL FABRIC" w. J. M. Homespun Makers
 once every month the cottagers bring the output of their looms to ARDARA, the chief cloth market of the county, where 1t IS placed on exhibit in a great shed. From all the countryside the people come with their Hand Woven and Spun Tweeds and Homespuns and the buyers are at hand to take away all that is offered. MT James Pa@- rick Malloy, the buyer and fac- tor for American distribution, resides at Ardara, and is per- sonally acquainted with all the old Irish families who take pride in the excellence of their cloth-every family has it's own distinctive patterns. If you are acquainted with the different patterns you can pick out the name of each family from whence they came. You may also trace them back for cen- turies--"way into the dim past" by the design, weave and col- curing of each individual cloth.
 w. J. M.
 We beg to conclude with the statement that we have person. ally made and worn suits and overcoats from these DOME GALS, and we can speak we'll for the splendid quality, finish and soft drape of the fabric when made into a suit or over coat by us. w. J. M.
 We would advise all Golf fans to have a Golf Suit made from one of these quaint patterns.
 w. J. M.
 N. B. This cottage industry is the main support of a large tract of COUNTY DONEGAL, as there are no public works carried on in this district. The peasantry live on small farms and with much difficulty they eke out a living, so that every time you order Norfolk Suit. Golf Suit, Sac Suit. Sport Suit or Overcoat made from one of these fabrics you are helping out a deserving industry in Q thoroughly practical way.