Breathtaking exhibition on view in Mountmellick 

BREATHTAKING is the best way to describe the current exhibition of Mountmellick Work embroidered pieces.

Mountmellick Historical Society chairwoman Ann O’Brien’s thrumming display is filling the three-roomed art gallery upstairs in the town's library.

Ann’s wonderful three-dimensional pieces are of superb quality. Many of the more than 60 amazingly detailed works featured in her exhibition Now and Then are her own, while others are pieces which were entrusted to her over the years.

The fabulous display is a must-see for anyone interested in the art behind the white-on-white Mountmellick Work and Ann’s stitching and embroidery pieces are nothing short of peaceful perfection to view.

The exhibition was launched on 11 August, with a gathering of almost 50 people attending the opening night. For those interested in local history, there are many old photographs from the Quakers Society of Friends girls’ boarding school in Mountmellick that opened in 1786 and closed in 1920, with each picture telling different stories.

Visitors can read about the history of what they are viewing, whether they are engrossed in old photographs or the wonderfully framed embroidery pieces on the walls, which Ann framed herself, or the contents of display cabinets throughout the gallery. The history of Mountmellick Work is there for people to read.

Mountmellick Library hosts monthly art exhibitions and Ann features a historical display every year which many people look forward to, including library staff members who say that they never know in advance what Ann will produce until she goes in to hang it, but that she always “pulls a rabbit out of the hat” and delivers a “fantastic exhibition”.

Before the launch, Ann spoke to the Laois Nationalist about the exhibition. She said: “Last year, we held an exhibition in Portlaoise Parish Centre during Heritage Week which featured Mountmellick Works, because 2025 commemorated 200 years since Mountmellick native Johanna Carter developed the craft.

“I thought that we should also mark 201 years of Mountmellick Work in our annual exhibition in Mountmellick Library this year. The exhibition features original pieces, traditional designs and modern interpretations.

“Mountmellick Work is inspired by the flora and fauna of the countryside and around the midlands. I gathered up pieces from a few different people and old pieces that people had given me over the years, because they knew that I would mind them and exhibit them and put them alongside my own works.” 

Although this is one exhibition there are several different displays, each drawing the viewer in and leaving them wondering how on earth could so much exquisite needlework, masterful thread work and impeccable stitching be embroidered onto the wonderful cloths.

Everything in the packed main gallery room was created by the unassuming artisan artist, Ann. The superb embroidery is flawless and full of intricate technique, including a huge piece from 2002 which she entered into a competition in the Royal Dublin Showgrounds (RDS) in 2005, which she unsurprisingly won.

Mountmellick Library branch manager Amanda Hyland said at the launch: “We are starting our Heritage Week events with a packed programme and this truly is a great start for us. There was a lot of work done behind the scenes last week to get the exhibition ready to be displayed here this evening. On behalf of all the staff, we want to congratulate Ann and all of her helpers.” 

 Amanda added: “Each year we're spoiled with an exhibition from the Mountmellick Historical Society, in particular Ann, and she never fails to surprise. The wonderful exhibition is beautiful and intricate, featuring white-on-white embroidery. We are very lucky to have it here in the library.” 

Addressing the crowd, Ann said: “This year’s exhibition is not all my work, it includes a collection of other people’s work. There are different stories with all of the different pieces in the gallery. I want to thank my grandchildren Rachel, Sarah and Aoibh and Isabelle who have helped me all week, and my son who carted all of the works here in his trailer.

“There’s a certificate in the window for an award I won years ago in the RDS for my Mountmellick Work piece The Phoenix. I included it not to gloat or anything, just to say that it’s sad there isn’t a competition like that anymore for other people and indeed myself to aspire to.” 

The exhibition remains on display for the month of August and features many embroidered cases for some forgotten clothing and accessory items of the day. This show is most definitely worth visiting.