Mountmellick Embroidery to celebate 200th anniversary 

THE Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum in Irishtown will host a day of speeches and display a special exhibition to mark the 200th anniversary of the introduction of Mountmellick Embroidery.

The bicentennial celebration of Irish White on White Embroidery will take place on Saturday 1 November and though admission will be free the Museum advises those who wish to attend to book in advance to secure a seat.

Mountmellick Embroidery, also known as Mountmellick Work, is the only embroidery style from the 19th century that is entirely Irish in origin and design.

It was introduced by Johanna Carter in 1825 whose designs were inspired by the flora and fauna found on the banks of the Owenass river. Soon after its introduction the craft was supported and fostered by the local Quaker community.

The survival of this unique form of embroidery to the present day is largely due to the late Sister Teresa Margaret McCarthy who was inspired to revive this tradition in the 1970s and whose work is continued today by local craft workers.

The event will have talks by five historians and experts on the history, culture and future of this craft and a special exhibition of contemporary pieces of Mountmellick embroidery and Quaker samples which are not normally on display at the Museum.