'For my own part, as a native of South Armagh, I am delighted to see our local heritage being showcased and promoted in such a thoughtful and considered way.  I want to commend the South Armagh Lace Collective for their ongoing commitment and dedication to tell the story of lace making in South Armagh to highlight  the role and contribution our local women played in the wider  international success story of Carrickmacross Lace .   It is truly humbling to see the reverence for the lace here and it is reassuring that the skills continue to be passed down through generations of families and newcomers to lace are finding such pleasure in the craft.  I am left with a feeling that the future of this wonderful lace tradition in both South Armagh'  

I was introduced to Carrickmacross Lace at one of the first events held in the newly opened Killeavey Castle and had the privilege of meeting Mrs Rosie Finnegan Bell... Throughout my years of public service both in Newry Mourne and Down Council and more recently as an MLA in Stormont, I have rarely met individuals with the enthusiasm demonstrated by Rosie.   Her enthusiasm for the work with lace is infectious,  She explained to me about the work she is involved in and shared her passion about the lace from South Armagh.  She recounted stories about the different pieces of work and the history behind them and also shared with me about the skillded craftswomen who made the lace and their moving life stories.

As Chair of the local council, it is truly fantastic to see the successes of the South Armagh Lace Collective and what they have achieved since they set up in 2018. I look forward to hearing about what else is coming in the future.