Turning Irish Wool into a Natural Fertiliser
The idea behind Sneem Organic Wools began with a simple observation: Ireland produces huge quantities of sheep wool every year, yet much of it has little commercial value.
In rural areas across the country, wool is often treated as a low-value by-product of sheep farming. For Kieran Burns, a fourth-generation wool merchant, this was something he had seen his entire life.
“Wool has always been part of my family’s story,” says Burns. “But over the years we’ve seen its value decline in the textile industry. We knew there had to be a better way to use it.”
At the same time, interest in organic growing, soil health, and sustainable farming has been rising across Ireland and Europe. Gardeners and farmers are increasingly looking for natural alternatives to synthetic fertilisers.
That’s where the idea began to take shape.
Together with Jiri Kohler, who brings extensive hands-on experience in machinery and processing, the pair started exploring how raw sheep wool could be transformed into a product that benefits both farmers and the environment.
What they discovered was that wool is naturally rich in nitrogen and contains properties that can improve soil health. When processed into pellets and mixed into soil, wool breaks down slowly, releasing nutrients while also helping soil retain moisture.
The concept was simple but powerful:
turn Irish wool into a natural fertiliser.
In 2025, they founded Sneem Organic Wools in the village of Sneem in County Kerry.
The company began developing organic sheep wool fertiliser pellets made from locally sourced wool. The pellets slowly release nitrogen into the soil, support microbial activity, and help improve soil structure.
But the idea goes beyond fertiliser.
It is about building a circular agricultural system.
By transforming wool into fertiliser, Sneem Organic Wools is giving new life to a natural resource that might otherwise go unused. The process supports Irish sheep farming while returning organic material back to the soil where it belongs.
“All of our products are made locally here in Sneem,” says Kohler. “We want to support rural jobs and keep value in the local community while creating something that helps the land.”
Today the company produces fertiliser pellets for:
- home gardeners
- organic growers
- horticulture businesses
- farms and landscaping projects
For the founders, the mission remains rooted in the same simple idea that started it all.
“Everything begins with the land,” says Burns.
“If we can take something natural, something local, and turn it into a product that helps soil, plants, and farmers — then we’re doing something worthwhile.”
From the mountains of Kerry to gardens and farms across Ireland, Sneem Organic Wools hopes to prove that traditional materials can still play a powerful role in the future of sustainable agriculture.