Carding and spinningLoom, Weaver's Cottage, Ionad Cois Locha
Iron bed, Weaver's Cottage, Ionad Cois LochaWeaver's Cottage, Ionad Cois Locha

Weaver's Cottage

In the middle of the century many people came to this homestead to visit Manus Ferry, renowned weaver, and to purchase his tweed. These included Henry McIllhiney, Glenveigh Castle, Derek Hill, Glebe House, Sir Sidney Nolan, the famous Australian artist and many others too numerous to mention.

With his craft and using the wool provided by his brother's sheep that grazed the surrounding mountains, the family overcame the hardships that faced most families in the valley. The famed weaver and shepherd lived with their sister who ran the shop and kept house.

Manus's home has been preserved to give the visitor the full flavour of life in Donegal in the middle of the last century.

Teach an Fhíodóra

I lár na haoise seo caite thigeadh cuid mhór daoine ar cuairt anseo chuig an fhíodóir cháiliúil Mánas Ó Fearaigh, le bréidín a cheannach uaidh. I measc na gcuairteoirí bhí Hnery McIllhiney ó Chaisleán Ghleann Bheatha, Derek Hill ó Glebe House agus Sir Sidney Nolan, ealaíontóir mórchlú as an Astráil. Is iomaí duine a bhíodh ag tarraingt ar Mhánas.

Tháinig an teaghlach slán ar an chuid is measa den chruatán a bhí ar theaghlaigh eile an ghleanna, a bhuíochas sin do cheardaíocht Mhánasa agus d'olann cuid caorach a dhearthára, a bhíodh ar innilt i measc na sléibhte. Chónaigh an fíodóir mór agus an t-aoire sa teach lena ndeirfiúr, a dhéanadh obair an tí agus an tsiopa.

Coinníodh teach Mhánasa mar a bhí, le go mbeidh cuairteoirí in ann an saol a bhí i nDún na nGall i lár na haoise seo a chuaigh thart a bhlaiseadh.