Irish carpets
The manufacturing of Irish carpets began for real around 1898 when the Scottish textile worker Alexander Mortonstarted carpet manufacturing on the Irish west coast. The carpets became later known as Donegals after the oriental tradition of naming carpets after its place of origin.
A number of factories were closed during the depression and the production were concentrated to the first factory in Killybegs. The company was later sold to an Irish consortium in 1954,Donegal Carpets Ltd, and the production continued until 1987 when the factory was closed.
Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Killybegs succeded in 1997 to get the authorities to reopen the historical factory. The manufacturing started again in 1999 with support from the Irish government. The handmade carpets which are being produced in Killybegs today, are the only production left on the British Islands. The carpets are manufactured by order after demanded sizes and with chosen patterns, often abstract ones.