The Lace Gallery

The Lace Gallery sits at Carrigslaney, Kilbride, near Tullow in County Carlow, a short distance beyond Altamont Gardens. It is the studio of Mary O’Neill, a member of the Guild of Irish Lacemakers, who designs and hand-crafts Carrickmacross lace here. This is the same style of Irish needle lace famously used to trim the wedding dresses of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Visitors are given a personal welcome and can watch and learn about the lacemaking process at first hand. Mary O’Neill’s original designs often incorporate traditional Irish motifs such as the shamrock and the Claddagh, and each finished piece is signed, dated, numbered and framed. Alongside her own work, the gallery displays a collection of other handmade lace so that guests can compare different techniques, including Kenmare, Borris, Clones and Venetian needlepoint lace, as well as torchon, tatting and various bobbin laces.

The gallery opens seasonally, generally over weekend afternoons in the warmer months, with other times available by arrangement, so it is worth telephoning ahead to confirm before travelling. The surrounding part of south Carlow is well placed for walkers and outdoor visitors, with the South Leinster Way, the Barrow Way and the Wicklow Way all within reach, along with the Rivers Barrow and Slaney nearby.