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Common Threads Project – Laces across the Border

The South Armagh Lace Collective in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are delighted to announce that we have been successful once again in securing funding from The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht as part of the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Funding Scheme. 

This time, we have the pleasure of collaborating with the Borris Lacemakers Group from South Carlow in this unique and innovative cross border project.  Both of our groups share a similar passion to collaborate with our local communities in order to revive and breathe new life and new interest into these wonderful old practices which have been in our keeping for two centuries.  Our goal is to ensure that they remain part of our local and national heritage.

The cultural value of the lace making in each of our areas is beyond question.  Borris Lace was first introduced to South Carlow almost 175 years ago and South Armagh is currently celebrating 200 years of a rich Carrickmacross lacemaking tradition.  Each of these laces have played a vital role in the social heritage and economic growth of both of our areas and highlight the enormous contribution that local women made to their local communities which has hitherto largely gone unrecognised. 

Each of the laces have evolved over the last two centuries as evidenced in our rich lace collections and abundant oral history.   Borris House holds one of the largest collections of original Irish lace in its place of origin and the rich heritage and tradition of lace-making in South Armagh has been well documented in the short film The Threads that Bind Us.

The project runs throughout August and September 2020 and will culminate in the creation of two collaborative art pieces and a series of films called ‘Stories from home’ which will be premiered over our Common Threads… Laces across the border Virtual weekend on 24/10/20.  We look forward to keeping you updated on our website www.southarmaghlacecollective.com and our South Armagh Lace Collective Facebook page and Borris Lacemakers Group Facebook Page.

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