DONEGAL CARPETS AND MARITIME AND HERITAGE CENTRE, KILLYBEGS

Entrance to Donegal Carpets and Maritime and Heritage Centre

We took a trip to the Donegal Carpets and Maritime and Heritage Centre in KILLYBEGS last Friday (4th May 2012). The Donegal Carpets and Maritime and Heritage Centre is based in what was formerly the Killybegs Carpets factory where the world famous Donegal Carpets were made. Indeed bespoke carpets are still made there today and the factory is the only place in Western Europe where hand-knotted carpets are still made.

Alexander Morton

The factory was established in 1898 by a Scotsman, Alexander Morton (1844-1923) and was originally called Alexander Morton and Co., later changing it’s name to Donegal Carpets and has hand made carpets since then for some of the most famous buildings in the world including The White House (home to the President of the USA), the Vatican in Rome, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle (homes of Queen Elizabeth II UK), 10 Downing Street (London, UK, official residence of the British Prime Minister), Dublin Castle, The Royal Pavilion in Brighton, and of course Ireland’s official residence of the President of Ireland, Aras an Uachtarain.

The longest hand-knotting loom in the world

The Heritage Centre is in just a small part of what was the much larger Donegal Carpets factory and you can see some of the looms on which the carpets were made including the longest hand-knotting loom in the world, a huge loom made of Canadian pine which measures some 42 feet in length (see pic above). When it was in use it would have had between eight and twelve weavers sitting at it working on carpets of up to 40’ wide.

Workers in the factory from a bygone era

Before you enter the working part of the factory you can take a seat in a separate room and enjoy an audio visual display on the history of the carpet factory. The display includes lots of old film showing the workers of the time and how extremely arduous the task of making these superb carpets was.

A work in progress

After the audio visual display, you can visit the floor of the factory and learn how the carpets were made, see the looms on which they were made and the equipment used and even enjoy a live demonstration of the hand-knotting process and perhaps have a go yourself.

Hand drawn patterns

You can see too the intricate hand drawn patterns used to make the various designs on these carpets.

The carpet from Aras an Uachtarain

There are samples of the weavers’ skills to be seen all around the factory including a carpet that was previously laid in Aras an Uachtarain (the official residence of the President of Ireland). The carpet was made in 1948 and replaced in 2000 by the then President, Mary McAleese. The original was an aqua coloured background and the replacement used the same design but with a green background.

Close up detail of the carpet

The original carpet which is now in the factory is still in almost perfect condition. This is certainly a carpet with history ~ since it was laid down in 1948 it would have had the foot steps of many famous people walk it’s cushioned, luxurious pile including Princess Grace and Prince Ranier of Monaco, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain, Pope John Paul II, American presidents: John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Regan, and Bill Clinton.

President McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II walking on a Donegal Carpets carpet

The replacement one has seen its fair of famous people too, most recently Queen Elizabeth II and Barack Obama.

MARINE BRIDGE SIMULATOR

Later you can visit the Marine Simulator which is in the centre too. 

From their website: “The ship’s interactive simulator brings to life the excitement, difficulties, hazards and skills of handling ships at sea. Join the crew and experience the sights and sounds of the vessels in operation, and feel the vibration of the ships engine. The simulator is based on the software used to train ships captains and rescue services. Through three interactive screens, visitors use real navigational equipment, electronic charts and radars to make their way through scenarios that are graded to suit the expertise of the user.”

The marine bridge simulator room

While the above piece is informative and no doubt true, I who have never steered as much as a dingy let alone a ship or a trawler, had a ball taking a trawler out to sea in huge stormy seas. Obviously I was totally rubbish at it and had it been in anyway real, I fear we would all have been totally sunk! But it was great craic and I was only glad there were no other visitors around to witness my cavalier “skills” and hoots of laughter as I narrowly avoided other boats in the harbour.

The marine simulator bridge

But using as it is mean to be used and not in my way, you can take the chance to experience steering a ‘virtual’ trawler around Killybegs harbour and out to sea or even ‘rescuing’ a man overboard as coxswain of the Killybegs lifeboat. The Simulator can be set to change the ‘conditions’ from good weather to extremely bad weather and you are given an option of ‘tasks’ to carry out as captain.

For example, the

‘Easy option’: “It is a beautiful August morning in Killybegs. A visiting yacht is entering the harbour but one of the crew has just fallen overboard. You are the coxswain of the Killybegs lifeboat. Your mission is to first find the yacht and then find the missing crewman as quickly as possible. You have five minutes.”

And the ‘Hard option’: “You are the skipper of a large fully laden stern trawler arriving back from a difficult fishing trip. The weather is awful. There is a 2.5 meter following sea and near gale force SSW winds. You have to bring your vessel safely into Killybegs and put her alongside the south end of the new pier after the Cruise liner (moored there) has departed.”

View to Killybegs from the bridge simulator

It’s a very real experience, and indeed the simulator itself uses the same computer package as that used to train ships captains and lifeboat crews, and with the trawler or boat dipping up and down in swollen seas in front of you it’s also great fun for both adults and children and I guarantee you will want more than one attempt.

The staff at the Donegal Carpets and Maritime and Heritage Centre are friendly, welcoming and very knowledgeable. They are local people with a vast knowledge of and love of their town and it’s history. In the reception area of the centre there is a small cafe and lots of information leaflets about the area. There is also internet access available on a number of computers set up there.

To view more photographs of The Donegal Carpets and Maritime and Heritage Centre, click HERE
To read more about Killybegs, click HERE

To view more photographs of Killybegs, click HERE


THE NITTY GRITTY

Location: Killybegs (at the edge of the town on the road to Sliabh Liag/Slieve League)

Open: Mon– Fri 9.3 –5.30 (Last tour 4.15). In July and August Saturdays too (11-4) NOTE: Saturdays can be arranged at other times of the year for groups of 10 or more by prior appointment.

Entry fees (2012): Adult €5, OAPs and Students €4, Family (2 adults/2 children) €15 Groups of 10+ €3 each

Disabled Access: Yes. Disabled lavatory: Yes

Lavatories: Yes

Parking: Ample parking and no charge

Cafe: Yes, small snack area with computers for internet use

Contact Details: Tel: +353-97-41944 ~ email: info@info@visitkillybegs.com Their WEBSITE