Textile Museums in the North of Ireland
It's completely out of the area you will be in but in case any others are
traveling to Ireland and going North rather than West, the Irish Linen
Centre and Museum in Lisburn, County Antrim is amazing, it's fairly small
but they demonstrate every aspect of linen making from the raw flax, the
tow, the combing, the spinning, the weaving, the finishing. They have an
actual original Jacquard loom that they still use to make special linens for
official occasions - it's really worth a visit if linen is your interest.
Here's a link to the website
http://www.visitlisburn.com/visitor_attractions/irish_linen_centre_and_lisburn_museum/
The rest of Lisburn is a Unionist town full of Union Jacks and other signs
of their pride in being part of the United Kingdom so it is quite different
from your visits to Dublin, Galway or Cork. Really eye-opening on many
levels, but the Linen Museum can't be beat.
There is a lace museum that is really a small house completely filled with
every type of lace that has been made in Ireland and some from the continent
not too far from the Belleek factory in Fermanagh, once again, this is the
North of Ireland, not the West. Most ofthe lace is in garments so it may be
interesting to a costumer of 19 or 20th century garments. Here's a link to
their website:
http://www.irishlacemuseum.com/
Ireland has gotten really continental compared with when I first went there
in 1980 to visit my cousins and consequently you find more things like the
modern Kilkenny craft centres and less old fashioned crafts. But, you will
find the people to still be gracious. Strike up a conversation in a pub or
a shop (convenience store) sometimes the locals know about things off the
beaten path that might be small but really interesting and unique.
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 07:37:12 -0500
From: Genie Barrett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [h-cost] Fabric and Costume in Ireland
To: Historical Costume <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
At 11:06 PM 5/8/2007, you wrote:
Does anyone know of any treasure troves of linens, embroidery, Irish
crochet, or exhibits of costume in any of the places I've
mentioned? And not all our itinerary is set in stone yet. If there
are any tourist spots that shouldn't be missed, I'd welcome all
recommendations!
Thanks,
Kathy
I heard of a linen mill or lace factory on the Dingle peninsula
somewhere, but didn't have time to look for it while we were
there. There is also a indoor shopping mall in Cork, the Savoy
Centre, on Patrick St. They used to have (five years ago) a
cotton/linen shop there as well as a few other boutiques with
handmade jewelry and local artisan's work.
Have a great time. It's a beautiful area. Just an fyi, if you
intend to go to Skellig, get there very early. There is only one
boat per day, and it leaves pretty early.
Genie
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