Word of the Week: Caora Dhubh-Cheannach

Today’s Harris Tweed® Gaelic phrase is ‘chaora dhubh-cheannach’.

As weaver Rebecca Hutton tells us, this means “Scottish Blackface sheep, known locally as a ‘blackie’. They are seen all over the islands. They have been instrumental in creating the wool for the Harris Tweed® industry.”

Over the years however, as the rate of Harris Tweed® production has grown, the clip from our island sheep proved insufficient to meet demand. Today, the industry’s raw wool is also sourced from flocks across Scotland and the UK. Most of the wool now comes from Cheviot sheep. Now, you can see Cheviot and Scottish Blackface sheep – and sometimes crosses of both – across the islands, alongside other breeds.