For over 250 years farmers all around Ireland grew flax and the world famous Irish Linen label became a symbol of wealth and prosperity. By the 1950's the man-made fibre industry began to spell an end to the flax growing and by the end of that decade it had failed to exist in this area.
In 1922 Tom Stewart and his neighbours from Gortnamoyagh, near Garvagh, men with a keen interest in the past, decided to grow 2.5 acres of the famous flax. This video film follows Tom's progress and highlights his many struggles mainly with the weather. As well as the nostalgic memories which this film should bring back we also show a side which many of the farmers never saw.
As well as growing, pulling, stooking, dam retting and drying, we also look at the crop through scutching, spinning, weaving, beetling, bleaching until after being handled 27 times the Gornamoyagh flax is transferred into a beautiful Irish Linen tablecloth.
