Fionn,

Belfast is very famous for its linen..... there aren't any factories now, (or at least as far as I know)... but there used to be the "Belfast Ropeworks"... many of my ancestors worked there.... there are also reminers of it in belfsat eg the "linen Hall Library"

in fact even in Australia you an still buy tea-towels with "Made from Belfast linen" printed on them.....

if you are over there... just off the M1 between Lisburn and Belfast I saw signs for some sort of "linen museum"....

the "Ulster Folk & Transport Museum" Cultra, also has exhibitions on linen, and has a replica of a scutching green where they used to leave the linen on the grass to bleach......

slainte

alison