Our last day in Ireland dawned cold and wet but we were going to be in the bus most of the time, so it wasn't too much of a problem.

Besides, when it's wet and overcast, the greens are greener and the shadows disappear.

There is a Mill at Avoca Village, County Wicklow. Set up in 1723 as a co-operative where farmers could spin and weave their wool, the Mill's uncoloured yarn was turned into tweeds and blankets. However, colour soon came to Avoca as vivid natural vegetable dyes in reds, greens, and yellows brightened the Mill's output. These were soon recognised as Avoca Handweavers' signature hues and the Mill thrived through the 1920s and 30s when it was run by a marvellous trio of sisters, the Wynns.
By the 1960s however, it had fallen into disrepair. Handweaving was dying and the looms grew largely silent. Until a young couple with a younger family took a flyer in the mid-seventies and the rest, as others might say, is history.

This place was a feast for the eyes, color was splashed in every conceivable place.

It's taking me ages (10 minutes) to download one photo, so this blog needs to be brief, sorry.