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.

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.

In August 2021, Headford Lacemaking was added to the National Inventory for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The establishment and maintenance of the National Inventory for Intangible Cultural Heritage is one of Ireland’s obligations under the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It protects, promotes and celebrates Irish living cultural heritage practices, customs, crafts and tradition. We are absolutely delighted that this beautiful craft tradition has been recognised for its intrinsic value to Irish culture and that it will be safeguarded and celebrated for generations to come.

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 ...
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...
The Lost Letter

NORMA OWENS

A letter dropped on the battlefield of the American Revolution at Germantown, near Philadelphia, in ...

Revive

Bobbin 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.

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

Lace Matrix 2024: Cyclogenesis

Finnish lace artist, Tarmo Thorström discusses his inspiration for Lace Matrix 2024: Cyclogenesis.
...
Headford Lace Trail Audio Walk

Turn on your smartphone GPS, put on your headphones, and set off to discover a time when lacemaking ...
'Toss the Bobbin'

Headford Lace Project have collaborated with local songwriters and musicians, The Whileaways, to com...
DCCI Keep Well Campaign

As part of the Irish Government’s Keep Well campaign Switching Off and Being Creative strand, an inn...
Lace Matrix

2021 was the year that the Lace Matrix project with Róisín de Buitléar was finally installed in St. ...
The Headford Lace Story

This award-winning, feature-length documentary was produced by Ed Coulson for Claremorris Community ...
The Space Between

The Space Between was an exhibition of contemporary lace art organized by HLP in Headford, and curat...
'Bobbin Beats'

We are excited to announce an exciting collaboration with Drumadore and Claran Theatre.

On the Blog

Borris Lacemakers

ANNE O'HARA QUINN

On June 21 and 22, 2024, a group of Borris Lacemakers visited Headford.
St. Charles Borromeo Lace Museum

NORMA OWENS

Highlights from a visit to the St. Charles Borromeo lace museum in Antwerp, Belgium.
2022 Flax Day

KATHLEEN MCMAHON

The Headford Lace Project, in collaboration with Tidy Towns and The Men's Shed, hosted our annual fl...
A Place for Lace

GER HENRY HASSETT

Words and Threads: A gift of poetry as we celebrate St. Brigid’s Day. We reflect on those women from...