100% Natural Team Building Event
CRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS, DISPLAYS & ACTIVITIES
A celebration of the richness of Ireland’s traditions can be experienced in this truly fascinating and interactive programme. The Orchard Centre has tapped into local crafts people who delight in sharing with our guests their unique crafts.
We want guests to relive the culture of the countryside and be absorbed in a truly memorable experience.
SHEEP DOG DEMONSTRATION
As the home of Sheep Farming, Wicklow has some of the best examples of Working Sheep Dog skills in Ireland. Meet Jack and his champion dog and watch the wonderful spectacle of the trained sheep dog in a battle of wits as he moves the sheep flock to fresh pasture.
SHEEP SHEARING
The age-old tradition of shearing the sheep’s winter coat is a fascinating sight. Watch the skilled Shearer as he gently removes the fleece. Indeed, it was just a few miles away in the village of Avoca that Ireland’s first woollen mill was founded. 
LAPPING OF THE FLEECE
The cleaning and preparation of the freshly shorn wool for market is an age-old craft. Watch as the wool is rolled and tied in a ball with the neck section of the wool which has been twisted into a rope. This is the traditional way of preparing the sheep’s wool for sale after the shearing.
HUMAN SHEEP HERDING EVENT
In the Human Sheep Herding Event the team becomes the working dog and must do the work of herding the sheep into the pen. In the world of farming sheep are known as the most difficult and unpredictable animal of them all. The teams are challenged to outwit the sheep and collect them into the pen in the shortest time possible.
TYSON THE FARM RAM
Each team is presented with the task of guessing the weight of ‘Tyson’ the mountain ram. As father of the flock he has to be kept in tip-top shape and our guests have to assist with his weekly weigh in. He has been carefully washed and manicured in preparation for this event – but first you must catch him! Team members are provided with gloves and overalls for this event. This is a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with a real Irish ram.
WOOL SPINNING
Watch Celia demonstrate the art of hand spinning and then you get to take part. This will involve carding with the carding boards, which open and straighten the fibres by brushing them between the boards and spinning the fibres into yarn. Along with Teasing and Spinning of the sheep’s wool on the traditional Irish spinning wheel, there will be a selection of traditional Irish woollen crafts on display.
POTTERY MAKING WORKSHOP
During this workshop you can make your own bowl on the wheel or craft a piece with air drying clay. A variety of tools will be available to decorate your piece with interesting patterns and textures. Before you take it home you’ll get some tips on how to paint and varnish it so that your finished work of art will be ready to take pride of place on the mantelpiece. Join in and discover your own creativity!
Working on the potter’s wheel Casting plaster moulds for personal tableware Creating items with clay slabs
Coil building Painting with clay slip Various decorating possibilities such as scraffito, stamping and casting Glazing
STRAW ROPE MAKING
The craft of straw weaving was known as lip-work. Originally, whole straws were used, but it was discovered that straw, which was split, gave a neater finish and also went further. Visitors can watch as the straw from the corn harvest is ‘twisted’ into long ropes, which were then used for a variety of purposes throughout the year on the farm and then it’s your turn to try! 
BASKET WEAVING DEMONSTRATION
Basket making is one of the oldest crafts in the world. Every village would have a basket maker, as baskets were a necessity for carrying all kinds of things. Many farmers had their own sally garden behind the house, and when the sallies were ready for harvesting they were cut and arranged in bundles for private use or for sale on market day.