Foxford Woolen Mills

Foxford Woollen Mills in County Mayo is one of Ireland’s oldest working mills and has been in continual production since 1892.  First established in the late 19th century, Foxford Woollen Mills has gained a enviable reputation as a champion of both weaving tradition and contemporary craft design.

Marcon successfully completed the interpretive fit-out within the visitor centre which forms part of the guided tour that conveys the skills and experience of the designers and weavers at Foxford.  The visitor is taken on a journey through the heritage and tradition of Foxford, whilst promoting its future as a modern Irish lifestyle brand.

Within a highly visual and hands-on zone, visitors are encouraged to touch and feel tactile interventions that help distinguish finishing techniques and effects and the multi-use AV screen is integrated into the presentation wall and is used to show aspects of the Mill’s work not always accessible on the guided tour.

The factory is at the heart of the Foxford experience and it was important that the visitor journey concentrates on the craft of the weaver. Lecterns in the weaving shed help the tour guide interpret the complex processes and machines on view while a finishing process plinth makes the materials and processes more tangible to the visitor.

In this way the process of weaving is revealed to the visitors and provides them with hands-on experience of the raw materials – such as wool and yarn – used by the weavers to create the final products.