Headford Lace Project

Headford Lace Project is a voluntary community initiative established to research, revive, and reimagine the lacemaking heritage of Headford, County Galway, a town in the west of Ireland whose lace industry originated c.1766. We achieve our objectives through workshops, demonstrations, community collaborations, and events that inspire. In 2021, Headford Lacemaking was added to the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Is tionscnamh pobal dheonach í an Headford Lace Project a bhunaíodh chun taighde agus athbheocháin a chur chun cinn ar lásadóirachta eiteáin in Áth Cinn, Co. na Gaillimhe, baile in Iarthar Éireann ina bunaíodh tionscal lásadóirachta thart ar 1766. Cuirtear na cuspóirí sin chun cinn trí cheardlanna agus taispeántais a eagrú, comhoibriú phobal, agus imeachtaí eile spreagúil. Sa bhliain 2021, glacadh Lásadóireacht Átha Cinn le Fardal Náisiúnta na hOidhreachta Cultúrtha Doláimhsithe.

RESEARCH

When commercial lacemaking ceased in Headford in the early 20th century, the once thriving industry slipped from public memory and was written out of earlier histories of Irish Lace. Our research, which is ongoing, has now revealed a rich and fascinating historical record that spans over 250 years, and we are working to ensure that it will never again be forgotten.

REVIVE

Since our foundation, over 80 people have learned bobbin lacemaking and other Irish laces in our workshops. Our tutor, Jackie Magnin, has replicated seven historical patterns we have uncovered to date that can be traced to the greater Headford area.

REIMAGINE

Through collaboration with other community groups and artists, we are helping Headford Lace to re-establish itself as an integral part of the identity of our town and something which can inspire all members of our community.

"The Women at Headford Make Lace"
- Richard Mansergh St. George, 1790

Research

History of Headford Lace

NORMA OWENS

Headford Lace is one of the oldest of the Irish Laces, with a history spanning over 250 years. What ...
Flax To Linen

NORMA OWENS

The fascinating process of extracting linen fibre from flax plants is a very labour-intensive indust...
Two Queens Purchase Headford Lace

NORMA OWENS

The amazing discovery that two British queens were customers of our Headford Lacemakers!
Photogrammetry: St. George Gravestone

NORMA OWENS

The history of the St. George family is inextricably linked with that of Headford Lace. Read how Hea...

Revive

Lace Workshops

Headford Lace Project runs several bobbin lacemaking workshops throughout the year with our wonderful tutor, Jackie Magnin, and we occasionally invite guest instructors to teach other Irish laces.

Our current workshop series has been paused due to COVID-19, but please keep an eye on our social media pages for some online events.

Click here for more information or contact us to be added to our mailing list.

We are grateful for the support of Galway Roscommon Education Training Board and Galway Rural Development for their assistance in providing these classes.

Reimagine

Creating a sense of place and identity inspired by Headford's lacemaking heritage is a goal which won Headford Lace Project the national Tidy Towns Heritage Award (2017). We achieve these objectives through collaboration with other community groups and artists, including Headford Environment Group and Kilkee Forge, the Men's Shed and local master woodturner Ambrose O'Halloran, Galway fashion designer Niamh Daniels with the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and the Council of Irish Fashion Designers, the Guild of Irish Lacemakers, internationally-renowed artist Róisín De Buitléar with support from Galway 2020, Headford Music Works and internationally-acclaimed musicians The Whileaways, artist JoJo Hynes, and we have exciting plans for 2020 with lace artist Fiona Harrington. We are very grateful for the support we have received from Galway County Council under the Community Support Scheme, Galway County Council Facilities Scheme and the Rural Social Scheme, Galway2020, Culture Night, and Creative Ireland.

On the Blog

Lace in Poetic Rhythms, Rhymes, Poems and Songs

GER HENRY HASSETT

'Tells’ were rhymes used by lacemakers. They helped to pass the time and gave an escape from the ted...
New Directions: Maps & Journeys

EILEEN CASEY

Mary Goff set out from Ballina Workhouse to sail to Australia on the Inchinnan in 1849, mapping out ...
Three Bonnets, Three Stories

GER HENRY HASSETT

Easter is synonymous with bonnets and I have decided to write about three bonnets in our archive.
...
St. Patrick’s Day, Our National Emblems in Lace

GER HENRY HASSETT

The official state emblems of Ireland are the harp and the shamrock. In reviewing the archive, the s...