Christine Jordan
Location: Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow
Farm Size: 8ha (in organic conversion)
Enterprise Type: Regenerative sheep farming, Wool Products Studio
Rough Circle – Wool, Wildlife, and Regeneration on a Carlow Sheep Farm
Overlooking the Barrow Navigation, a small 20-acre farm is quietly redefining what it means to farm for nature. Originally from Monaghan (via Dublin), Christine is bringing something new and innovative to sheep farming. Alongside her husband Jim, whose family has a long history of sheep farming they have created Rough Circle, a regenerative and creative farm where wool and wildlife intertwine.
Sparked by the Pandemic - this Flock has Transformed the Land
Inspired during the lockdown in 2020, Christine began her flock with a few Valais Blacknose sheep as pets. These charismatic animals soon became a gateway to something much larger. Over time, she expanded her flock to include Herdwick sheep, an ancient, hardy breed chosen for their temperament and their extraordinary ability to restore land naturally. The farm is now home to over 40 sheep, with more than 35 lambs expected each spring.
Each breed plays a role: Valais Blacknose are known for clearing dock seedheads and restoring balance in pasture while the Herdwicks actively graze nettles and brambles, regenerating swards and creating habitat.
Organic Farming and Land Regeneration
The farm entered organic conversion in 2022 and will be fully certified in 2025. It's located within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) along the River Barrow, and sits on an alluvial plain that is carefully managed for water retention and biodiversity. Using regenerative practices, they avoid overgrazing and encourage natural trampling to improve soil structure. Minimal topping, rotational grazing, and wildlife set-asides (3 acres permanently fenced off) are part of their commitment to soil health and biodiversity. Their efforts are already paying off: The return of birds like buzzards, field mice, and albino stoats A changing wildflower profile Self-seeding of native oak saplings, Frequent sightings of otters and stoats near the river
Wool as a Regenerative Resource
With a background in product design, Christine saw untapped potential in raw wool. Only 10% of wool is suitable for yarn, but rather than treat the rest as waste, she’s advocating for alternative uses such as wool as a natural soil conditioner, wool mats for weed suppression and moisture retention and for poaching reduction on heavy soils
A Closed-Loop, Low-Impact System
The farms income comes from selling breeding stock (especially Herdwick rams). Christine processes the wool into handwoven textiles, rugs, and felts, each reflecting the natural colours and character of the flock. The wool is washed minimally, retaining its lanolin-rich softness and insulating properties. Workshops on felting are hosted year-round, aligned with the agricultural calendar. They produce their own hay, compost waste wool, and operate a closed-loop system that turns animal care into craft and land restoration into lasting change.
Vision for the Future
Inspired by thought leaders like James Rebanks, Christine believes that “farmers don’t have to see wool as a problem.” She advocates for national recognition of wool’s environmental value and calls for better infrastructure to process low-grade fleeces into useful, climate-positive products.
As she puts it, “We’re not doing anything but putting the land in good order.”
NOMINATOR: Blátnaid Gallagher, FFN Ambassador
NOMINATION: Rough Circle is a new, creative wool and textile design studio, beautifully situated on the towpath that flanks the River Barrow between Bagenalstown and Leighlinbridge in Co. Carlow, Ireland.
As an advocate for alternative uses for sheepwool, I am wholly committed to researching and experimenting ways to utilise a sustainable, renewable, environmentally beneficial, valuable natural resource, that is largely wasted.
In the studio I weave and felt the wool that is sheared annually from from my rare breed sheep flock. There is minimum intervention - the wool is undyed, washed only just to remove grit and soil but leaving the natural oils in the wool to retain softness and flexibility. This approach creates natural products that are as close to what the wool looks like on the sheep in the field outside the studio.
Join me for workshops and classes in sheep care, wool harvesting, wool processing, felting, hand weaving, paper and textile printing in the cottage studio. If you are visiting the locality, come and have an immersive experience that celebrates the beautiful versatility, tactility, and historical significance of sheep wool while being entertained by the flock of gorgeous, friendly sheep. Follow along with the rhythm and seasons of tending to a small flock through the blog.
Sustainability is at the core of all activities here. It is a small farm, going through the process of organic conversion, with certification to be formalised in January 2025. The waterside location provides endless inspiration for creative pursuits, right where the flock live. The workshop schedule follows the farming calendar, providing opportunities to creatively use the annual wool harvest - so often discarded - in innovative ways. visit www.roughcircle.ie
