The Orr family, originally from Presley in Scotland, were renowned in early stages of the industrial revolution, for their technological advancements pertaining to the manufacture of fine muslin cotton cloth. Considering muslin manufacturing, along with the all other fabric consisting entirely of cotton, were banned until 1774. It is extremely impressive how quickly, upon repeal of the embargo, the Orr’s were able to take advantage of a very lucrative fashion and apparel industry, which was craving fine muslin in order to produce their high-end clothing. As a consequence, of their Scottish textile empire beginning to take shape, they began to seek new markets for their fabric. In 1775, William Orr established a textile wholesalers in Dublin.
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The Orr’s sought out this particular location due to the existing skill set of the incumbent fine linen proto-industry. Since these skills easily transferred to the production of fine muslin cotton cloth; and in combination with higher wages due to a higher sale price. Consequently, the industry expanded with pervasive speed through North Down, the Lagan Valley and parts of Antrim. The census of Belfast looms, in 1791, revealed there were 522 looms employed for cotton production, contrast with 129 for linen. By 1807, there were 629 cotton looms, and only four in the service of linen production. By the end of the eighteenth-century, the Orr’s were such significant players in the Irish textile industry, that in 1798 John Orr was invited, , ‘…to give evidence to the Committee of the Whole House of the Irish Parliament on the question of legislative union with Britain in 1800’. Despite their association with The United Irishmen, the fact that Orr’s opinion was still sought out in relation to how the Act of Union may affect the textile industry, shows how influential the Orr family had become in the Irish cotton industry by the turn of the century. In his evidence to the committee, Orr elucidated, that the Irish cotton producers were far behind their more technically advancements competition in Scotland and England. Furthermore, he contended that the Irish cotton exporters, because of the colonial standing of Ireland and protectionism, were totally restricted from all British markets. With the exception of a few trade routes to Portugal (of only the highest quality cotton), essentially these imposed trade embargoes, restricting the potential market for Irish cotton to domestic trade only. Also, high importation costs of raw cotton and three times the price for coal, were also cited as being a major hindrance to the bourgeoning
The Orr’s sought out this particular location due to the existing skill set of the incumbent fine linen proto-industry. Since these skills easily transferred to the production of fine muslin cotton cloth; and in combination with higher wages due to a higher sale price. Consequently, the industry expanded with pervasive speed through North Down, the Lagan Valley and parts of Antrim. The census of Belfast looms, in 1791, revealed there were 522 looms employed for cotton production, contrast with 129 for linen. By 1807, there were 629 cotton looms, and only four in the service of linen production. By the end of the eighteenth-century, the Orr’s were such significant players in the Irish textile industry, that in 1798 John Orr was invited, , ‘…to give evidence to the Committee of the Whole House of the Irish Parliament on the question of legislative union with Britain in 1800’. Despite their association with The United Irishmen, the fact that Orr’s opinion was still sought out in relation to how the Act of Union may affect the textile industry, shows how influential the Orr family had become in the Irish cotton industry by the turn of the century. In his evidence to the committee, Orr elucidated, that the Irish cotton producers were far behind their more technically advancements competition in Scotland and England. Furthermore, he contended that the Irish cotton exporters, because of the colonial standing of Ireland and protectionism, were totally restricted from all British markets. With the exception of a few trade routes to Portugal (of only the highest quality cotton), essentially these imposed trade embargoes, restricting the potential market for Irish cotton to domestic trade only. Also, high importation costs of raw cotton and three times the price for coal, were also cited as being a major hindrance to the bourgeoning