Our chairman of Magee 1866 Lynn Temple talks about family traditions at home and in the Magee of Donegal shop over the decades.
Magee 1866 Chairman Lynn Temple shares treasured family Christmas traditions in Donegal, from Christmas Day swims at Mountcharles Pier to memorable Magee of Donegal parties and the traditions of the Magee Weaving Mill.
There is something special about Christmas in Donegal. For the Temple family, Christmas has always been a time for family, community and traditions that have been passed down through the generations. From Christmas Day swims in Mountcharles to celebrations with colleagues at Magee of Donegal and the Magee Weaving Mill, Lynn Temple has many memories of Christmas in the county. Here, he looks back at some of his favourite Donegal Christmas traditions and memories from his years working in the family business.
A MAGEE 1866 CHRISTMAS FAMILY TRADITION
When our three children, Charlotte, Patrick and Rosy, were at the Santa stage, they never went to sleep early. That meant my wife Elizabeth and I had a late night, followed by an early morning swim at the big pier in Mountcharles, near Donegal Town, alongside other hardy neighbours on Christmas Day. It might not be everyone's idea of the perfect Christmas morning, but it has become a much-loved family tradition. There is something wonderfully Donegal about beginning Christmas Day by the water. The winter landscape, the cold Atlantic air and the sense of community at Mountcharles make it a memorable way to start the celebrations. Over the years, Christmas traditions change as children grow up, but some have a way of staying with a family. The Christmas morning swim is one of ours.
CHRISTMAS IN DONEGAL THROUGH THE YEARS
Having spent decades working in the family business, Lynn has seen many Christmases come and go, from the early years of Magee of Donegal to the celebrations that brought together colleagues, friends and families from across the local community. Some of his fondest memories are of the large Magee of Donegal Christmas parties held over the years.
FAVOURITE MAGEE OF DONEGAL CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
We used to host very large Magee of Donegal Christmas parties over the years in local Donegal Town hotels. These were great nights, with hundreds of people dressed in the style of the times: men in suits and ties, women in their finest, everyone dancing to great local bands. They were occasions that brought the wider Magee family together – not just the people working in the shop and business, but friends and members of the local community too. Looking back, these celebrations offer a wonderful glimpse into Christmas in Donegal Town over the decades. Fashion, music and venues may have changed, but the importance of getting together at Christmas remains the same.
CHRISTMAS AT MAGEE WEAVING
The Magee Weaving Mill also had its own Christmas celebrations. Our mill party was often held in Ardara, which was the hub of the handweaving industry at the time, with around 80 handweavers working from their homes. This was back in the 1970s, when I started working in the family business. Ardara has a particularly important place in the history of weaving in Donegal. Handweaving was once an important part of everyday life in the community, with weavers working from their own homes and creating fabrics that would become part of the wider textile tradition of the county. For Magee, this history is especially significant. The story of Magee Weaving is deeply connected to the people, landscapes and communities of Donegal, and the skills that have been passed down through generations. Those Christmas parties in Ardara were an important part of that community. With around 80 handweavers working from their homes, the gathering brought together people who played an important role in the local weaving industry. Looking back, Lynn simply says: “Happy days.”
THE HISTORY OF MAGEE WEAVING IN DONEGAL
The story of Magee 1866 is inseparable from the story of Donegal. For generations, the family business has worked with the distinctive fabrics and natural colours associated with the county. Today, the Magee Weaving Mill in Donegal Town continues this tradition, weaving fabrics that are worn and enjoyed around the world. The heritage of handweaving remains an important part of this story. Before modern production, weaving was often carried out within homes and small communities, creating a strong connection between the fabric, the maker and the place where it was produced. This history can still be felt in Donegal today, particularly in communities such as Ardara, where the handweaving tradition played such an important role.
A FAMILY CYCLE THROUGH THE HILLS OF DONEGAL
When asked what Christmas in Donegal isn't complete without, Lynn's answer is very different from the usual festive essentials. “A good family cycle through the hills of Donegal.” A Christmas cycle is also a chance to step away from the busyness of the festive season and enjoy the landscape that has been such an important source of inspiration for the family and the business.
DONEGAL AT CHRISTMAS: FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND TRADITION
What comes through most strongly in Lynn's memories is the importance of people. Whether remembering a Christmas morning swim at Mountcharles, hundreds of people dancing at a Magee of Donegal Christmas party or the Magee Weaving Mill gathering in Ardara, his stories are centred around community. That sense of togetherness is what makes Christmas in Donegal so memorable. For Magee 1866, it is also part of a much bigger story – one that connects generations of the family with the people and places of Donegal. From the handweavers of Ardara to the team at the Magee Weaving Mill in Donegal Town, these connections have helped shape the business for generations.
DISCOVER THE MAGEE 1866 STORY
The history of Magee 1866 is woven into the story of Donegal. From the handweaving communities of the past to the Magee Weaving Mill in Donegal Town today, our fabrics continue to reflect the character, colours and heritage of the county. Discover the story behind Donegal Tweed, explore the heritage of Magee Weaving and experience the craftsmanship that has connected generations of the Magee family with Donegal.