In Northern Ireland for over three hundred years linen manufacture has been an important industry, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. Practically every town and village had a mill or a factory. By 1921 there were almost one million spindles and 37,000 looms, with over 70,000 directly employed, representing 40% of the registered working population, with closer to 100,000 people dependant on the linen industry. At end of the 20th century only 10 significant companies, at most, remained employing 4,000 people. The Linen trade in Ireland in the 18th century is illustrated through the Hincks engravings.The history, production processes and products in the 20th century, are fully featured in this website.The Living Linen Project has done much to preserve the experiences of those that worked in the industry in the 20th century.