The Cladoir/Claddagh Sheep Preservation Project is Being Supported by The Heritage Council

 In May 2024, €25,000 of funding was secured through Community Heritage Grant Scheme to support the following:

• The project documented and recorded the oral history of Cladoir/Claddagh Sheep in South Connemara. Final editing is being completed by Connemara Community Radio, following which all interviews and will be uploaded onto the website, where it will be available to listen to. Click on the link to hear a recording with Sean Cadden giving background to the Cladoir/Claddagh Sheep Preservation Project.
• The project processed 36.5kgs of Cladoir/Claddagh wool into yarn and balls of wool. Some of this wool was used to produce 10 garments from Cladoir wool. This was undertaken by a wool craftworker, who is based in county Galway. The remaining wool will soon be available to purchase on the website.
• Sheep Ireland was commissioned to do DNA analysis and a plan to develop the Cladoir/Claddagh Sheep breed. The grant is also supporting for the collecting of phenotype/characteristic data, which will then be added to the flockbook. All this information will better inform the public and flockowners regarding the conservation of the breed, and will assist re-establishing Cladoir/Claddagh sheep as a key component in the landscape in Connemara. These reports will shortly be available on the website.
• A gazebo and 4 promotional banners were purchased. This will better enable the project to create awareness of our work and to promote the conservation of Cladoir/Claddagh sheep through attendance at agricultural shows and events throughout Ireland.