When Jamie Monagan arrived in Cork back in 2000 with her husband and three young children, it was meant to be a year long adventure, before returning to life in the United States. But as Jamie herself now laughs, “If someone told me a quarter of a century ago that I’d still be here today, and that I’d have reared my children here, I would have said you’re away with the fairies! Not that I would have known that saying back then,” she adds.
A New Jersey native who later settled in Connecticut, Jamie never expected Cork to become home. Yet from the moment they arrived, something clicked. Her children settled instantly. “We’d made this big move, so they were really looking forward to it,” she says. Her eldest daughter entered the first year of secondary school at a time when everyone was starting fresh, “so even though it could have been a tricky age, she found the transition really easy.” For a family used to rural Connecticut, the neighbourhood feel of Cork was great for the children. “The two younger boys went to Christians primary school just a short walk down the hill. They loved having friends so closeby.”
See the Celtic Tree of Life throw blanket being woven below.
Cork, with its warmth and openness, did what Cork does best, it welcomed them, folded them in, and before long Jamie found herself not just living in Cork, but woven, as it were, into its daily rhythm.
Little did she know that those threads would later become the foundation of a remarkable creative business – Loominations Throw Blankets, one of Ireland’s most striking, high-quality textile brands.
Almost 40 years ago, Jamie’s mother gave her a cotton throw blanket featuring landmarks along the New Jersey Shore, where Jamie had spent childhood summers. “It’s a beautiful piece that’s as fresh today as the day I got it,” she says. It has been machine-washed and dried countless times, yet remains as vibrant as ever. That level of durability and sentiment stayed with her.
Then ten years ago, she realised that no one in Ireland was creating detailed, jacquard-woven cotton throws celebrating place, heritage, and artistry in the way that her treasured blanket had. “So I decided to start doing it myself,” she says. And just like that, Loominations was born.
Her first design, a Map of Ireland throw, quickly became the company’s signature piece and remains one of its most popular. Since then, her range has expanded and now includes Celtic designs inspired by the Book of Kells, the Tree of Life, the Celtic Cross, the Ring of Kerry, William Morris patterns, nature-themed pieces, and a beautiful baby line.
Each design is a masterpiece of detail, colour, and craftsmanship. “Twelve kilometres of 100% premium cotton goes into every throw,” Jamie explains. They’re woven by skilled craftspeople on state-of-the-art, computer-driven jacquard looms technology that results in extraordinary detail and texture. No mill in Ireland has the specialised looms required, so her throws are produced in a family-owned ethical American mill that has been operating for generations. Jamie says the throws are sturdy enough to become family heirlooms, soft enough to wrap around yourself on a winter evening, and beautiful enough to hang as wall art. “Some people do use them like tapestries,” she adds. “They add warmth, colour, and a bit of magic to any room.”
American-born Jamie has deep Irish roots. Her grandfather William Donnelly hailed from Roscommon and emigrated to the U.S. as an infant. “If he knew I had returned, he would probably be horrified,” she jokes. “He left Ireland in very different times. But if he could see how happy I am here and how well we’re doing, he’d be very proud.”
She has passed her “Cork cultural entry exam” with some exceptions. “I’ve had Tanora, and the Tanora gin from Blackwater. I’ve eaten Chester cake. But tripe and drisheen? Absolutely not,” she laughs. “I walk past the stall in the English Market and I know it’s definitely not for me!”
Aside from missing friends and family, she rarely longs for much from America these days. Even her beloved Old Bay seasoning, for long the one thing she stocked up on when abroad can now be found in Dunnes Stores. “So now I’m completely sorted,” she says.
Running Loominations is no small feat. As a sole trader, Jamie handles every aspect: design, buying, marketing, social media, shipping, and accounts. “I had no qualifications to start a throw blanket business,” she says. “But I had the determination to make it work. I work very hard, but I enjoy every moment.”
Her customers come from all over Ireland and abroad. “Many people here buy them as gifts to send overseas, and I also get sales from America and all around the world. Yesterday I sent throws to Dublin, Malta and Japan.”
Jamie is also involved with Cork Cine Club and Midleton Hillwalking Club, while programming concerts and comedy at Ballymaloe Grainstore . She has a huge interest in theatre and loves nothing more than walking into the city to see a show at places like the Everyman, the Opera House and the Cork Arts Theatre.
Today, Jamie’s three children live in London, New York and Montana, but Cork is still very much “home base.” Her middle child, she believes, is “a Cork boy at heart” and she suspects he’ll find his way back here. Wherever her children are, she loves visiting them and gathering inspiration for new designs along the way.
And as for Loominations? Jamie says there’s no better time to discover the collection. “Our blankets make ideal Christmas gifts, they’re timeless, meaningful, and made to last a lifetime. And postage is free of charge within Ireland.
And from our side, we’ll add, support local creators like Jamie this Christmas, your community and your city all benefit when you do.
To see Jamie’s full range see loominations.ie.
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