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Top Historical and Heritage Sites in County Tipperary, Ireland

Planning a trip to Ireland? Forget Dublin and Cork. If you want to immerse yourself in the rich, millennia-old history of Ireland, you should head for County Tipperary. County Tipperary is home to some of the country’s greatest and oldest historical treasures. Swiss Cottage After you leave Cahir Castle, don’t miss the Swiss Cottage, located…

June 30, 2020
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Highlighting Our Resellers – The Irish Design Shop

Here at John Hanly we are primarily a wholesaler of Woollen products such as scarves, blankets, throws and headwear. So we decided to highlight some of our wonderful and unique suppliers around the world. In our latest series of blog posts, we will highlight our Irish suppliers who bring our products to you in some…

May 21, 2020
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Cashmere: History and Origins

Cashmere has always been synonymous with luxury and comfort. Made from the fleece of the cashmere goat found in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Mongolia and China, the earliest documented use of cashmere can be traced back to as early as the 14th century. To produce enough cashmere for a single scarf, a goat usually needs a…

March 16, 2019
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A Guide to Capes

There are plenty of reasons you should include capes in your wardrobe for the upcoming cold season. Capes come in a variety of different colors and styles as well as giving you the freedom of mobility that restrictive traditional coats do not supply. Whether you want something a little more unique than a regular coat,…

January 2, 2019
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The History of Scarf Fashion

The scarf is a popular fashion item around the world and has been such throughout history. Although the scarf has its origins in more practical uses, it has evolved over time and is now used both to keep warm and to look good. Scarves began to be mass produced by fashion houses in the early…

November 16, 2018
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The Rich and Intriguing History of the Cape

The humble cape has a rich and intriguing history. The name originally comes from the Latin word ‘escape’. The garments’ Latin origins unsurprisingly meant the ancient Romans were rather fond of wearing capes. Commanders in the army wore a version called a paludamentum. A dramatic style choice finished off by fastening at the shoulder. Roman Centurions…

June 16, 2018
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Famous Fictional Sheep

Sheep are not generally the most commonly referenced fictional animals. However, throughout the last few decades, there have been several fictitious sheep that have caught the attention of the nation – and rightly so!  Shaun the Sheep is arguably the most popular fictitious sheep of the moment, featuring in his very own TV series. This…

April 26, 2018
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125 Years of Weaving – The Tradition of John Hanly & Co Ltd (Part 1)

John Hanly & Co Ltd was established in 1893. The company has always been under the management of the Hanly family and the current managing director, Brian Hanly is the fourth generation. Before moving to Ballyartella outside Nenagh, Denis Hanly and his son John operated a number of handlooms in South County Tipperary, approx 40…

January 22, 2018
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Cashmere for Men

It has become much easier to get your hands on cashmere products in recent years and the price has also become one which is more affordable. For these reasons, and more, cashmere is becoming an increasingly popular choice for fashion conscious males. When it comes to which cashmere products men buy, the preference seems to…

November 16, 2017
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How the Hygge is done

If you haven’t heard the term ‘Hygge’ (pronounced ‘Hooga’), then it’s time to discover how to do Scandinavian style. This word has come to represent true comfort during the coldest, darkest and wettest months of the year. Here are our top tips for revolutionising your Autumn Hygge style, as well as some colour and style…

October 30, 2017