Celebrating the tradition of lace and its local enthusiasts VISUAL and the GB Shaw Theatre are delighted to be exhibiting work by some of Carlow county’s expert lace makers.

As a traditional craft, lace found its origins in Ireland in the 19th century during the famine. It’s beginnings were rooted in Irish poverty and craft workers trained through examples of European styles for a new and unfortunately short lived enterprise. As industrialisation quickly took hold the lace industry receded into the luxury market we understand it as today. This exhibition illustrates some fine examples of contemporary Irish lace and includes works by lace makers Mary O’ Neill, The Lace Gallery, Kilbride and Ena Atkinson , Ardrattin, Carlow. This exhibition has been gathered to reflect on the tradition of Lace making in the county.