The collaboration between Friends of Lace Limerick and The South Armagh Lace Collective has led to several joint funding applications since our first joint project in 2019.
The two groups came up with the idea of a lace trail, that would map places of lace interest both in their localities, and across the island of Ireland, back in 2019. The pandemic interrupted the mutual visits, but the connections between the two groups continued online. The availability of such a lace trail has both national and international tourism potential and would encourage the organisation of lace tours throughout the island of Ireland.
In May, we identified the Creative Communities on a Shared Island programme as a potential pathway for continuing to work on this idea. We were fortunate to be able to persuade the Limerick Arts Office to support our application, as each county can put forward one project only.
The application involves our two groups – Friends of Lace Limerick and the South Armagh Lace Collective-, as well as the Limerick Museum, the Armagh County Museum and the Cork Public Museum, who all have extensive lace collections.
Fingers crossed!
