You turn over a label to find out how to wash a jumper. It rarely tells you who raised the sheep, where the wool was spun or what it took to turn the fibre into a garment. In Kinsale, the Fashion & Farming Festival starts with these questions. It brings farmers, craftspeople and designers together to talk about the same material, each from the place where they work with it.
The festival explores the links between farming practices and the making and wearing of clothes. Wool offers a clear example: shearing provides a raw material, but it still has to be sorted, washed and spun before it can become fabric. Following these stages helps explain why the origin of a fibre and the place where it is transformed are two different pieces of information. It is also a way of looking at fashion through the trades that are rarely seen on a label.
The inaugural 2025 programme brought together Galway Wool Co., Mourne Textiles and Farming for Nature, among others. Alongside the discussions, the stalls gave visitors the chance to talk to producers and makers. Stylist Bay Garnett brought another perspective: that of second-hand clothing. Extending the life of what already exists raises different questions from those involved in producing a new fibre.
The festival is scheduled for 8 and 9 May 2027, following the postponement of the second edition, which was originally due to take place in 2026. The organiser has confirmed the dates and the town. The names displayed in the archives relate to the first edition. The Kinsale Community School theatre hosted the festival in 2025; the exact 2027 venue remains to be confirmed, as do the timings and ticketing arrangements.
When the programme is published, look for the topics that interest you most: the origin of fibres, craftwork, repair or second-hand clothing. Then check whether your ticket gives you access to the entire day or whether some sessions require separate booking. If you are coming for the weekend, allow some time for the quays or for Charles Fort, which overlooks the harbour entrance.
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
Kinsale, comté de Cork ; lieu précis de l’édition 2027 à confirmer, Kinsale, County Cork, Republic of Ireland, Tourist sites in Ireland
