August is dedicated to crafts on the island of Ireland. There are all kind of events: talks, demonstrations, exhibitions organised by communities and individual artists. Also, Heritage Week is happening from the 12th to the 20th August this year
We attempted to put together a calendar of lace-related events. If you would like to add an event that we have missed, please get in touch and we’ll update the list.
On Saturday, 12 August 2023, from 10am to 5pm, in the Learning Resource Room at Collins’ Barracks Museum, Dublin, members of the Guild of Irish Lacemakers will be working on their lace pieces, demonstrating techniques and displaying some pieces of lace .
Between 12-20 August 2023, 10am-4pm (12-4pm on Sundays), Lásadóirí na Coiribe / Corrib lacemakers will present the Lace Exhibition “Ó Ghlúin go Glúin” in St. Nicholas Collegiate Church in Galway.
Monday 14th August to Friday 18th August– Clanrye Lace group are having an exhibition at Newry City Library. Exhibition launch on Monday at 2:30pm. Everyone welcome – demos daily.
Wednesday 16th August, 12:30pm to 2:30pm, in Bunclody Library, Borris Lacemakers are organising a lace talk, a display and demonstration.
On Wednesday August 16th, from 12pm to 5pm, the Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum invites the public to a Crafternoon Tea at the Museum Studio in Mountmellick , where lacemakers will display their work, give little demonstrations and tell their stories of creativity.
Wednesday 16 August 2023, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Clondalkin Library, in Dublin, the Irish Crochet Lace Revival along with lacemakers and artist Fiona Harrington will launch the result of their collaboration: a crochet replica of the Clondalkin Round Tower. The replica will eventually be on permanent display at the Round Tower Visitor Centre in Clondalkin.
Also Wednesday on August 16 and Friday August 18, Nora Finnegan will offer lace demonstrations at the Kenmare Lace and Design Centre in Kenmare, from 10am to 11am and from 3 to 4pm on each of the two days.
On Thursday, 17 August and Friday 18 August 2023, from 10am to 4pm, the Limerick Museum in collaboration with Friends of Lace Limerick are organising a two-day Bring Out Your Lace event, where the public can bring items of lace to be assessed, catalogued and photographed and receive useful advice about lace preservation and storage.
The Kenmare Lace and Design Centre in Kenmare, co. Kerry is organising two lacemaking workshops on Kenmare Lace with expert lacemaker Sinead Hennessy on Thursday 17th August and Saturday 19th August from 11-1pm.
From Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th August, 10am to 3pm daily, designer and lace maker Theresa Kelly is teaching a three-day lace workshop based around the clematis flower ‘The President’ in Armagh. Booking required.
On Friday, 18 August 2023 at 2pm, Dr Matthew Potter, Curator of Limerick Museum, will give a talk on famed Limerick lace-maker Maude Kearney (1873-1963). In 2023, the magnificent Maude Kearney Collection, consisting of numerous examples of Limerick lace and a large number of lace patterns, was donated to Limerick Museum by Grania McElligott, a granddaughter of Maude. The Limerick Museum also has several remarkable lace artefacts on display.
Saturday August 19th, 10am to 4:30pm, a one day Limerick lace workshop for beginners taught by Toni O’Malley will take place in the Limerick Museum. The Museum has a number of remarkable lace artefacts on display. Booking required. Materials provided.
On Saturday 19th August, 12pm to 4pm at The Arboretum in Leighlinbridge, Borris Lacemakers are organising a lace display and a demonstration.
On Saturday, 19 August 2023, from 2pm to 5pm, the Headford Lace Project will host an interactive celebration of bobbin lacemaking in Headford, co. Galway. This heritage craft will be explored with an exhibition of lace replicas made by the group’s tutor, Jackie Magnin, and a presentation of the evolution of the project since 2016.
The Kenmare Lace and Design Centre is open June 1 to mid October 10.30 to 1.00 and 2.15 to 5.00, Monday to Saturday. Not open on bank holidays.
The Lace Gallery near Tullow, Co Carlow, is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 6pm. Also on other days by appointment .
This is a great opportunity to visit if you are interested in lace traditions and want to meet other lacemakers!
