Craft Museum

The main focus of the Museum is to conserve and display original pieces of Mountmellick Work (Embroidery) and to protect the memory of Mountmellick’s rich Quaker industrial past.

Museum Shop

We also stock a wide range of books along with Mountmellick Embroidery fabric, thread, needles and patterns. All requests for information, craft material, books etc. received by the Museum Staff will be processed expediently, and forwarded as soon as the present restrictions allow. Museum email address is: mountmellickmuseum@gmail.com

Mountmellick Embroidery - The History

Mountmellick Embroidery is unique as it is the only form of white on white embroidery from the Nineteenth Century which can claim to be entirely Irish in origin and design.

The introduction of Mountmellick Work (Embroidery) is credited to a Johanna Carter in 1825 when there was a worldwide revival in the art of lace making. The materials used were being produced locally and the designs used symbolise the rich Quaker heritage of the town. The craft has a long association with the Quakers who fostered the tradition by teaching it and adapting it to their own designs. Girls in the Quaker school were instructed in the embroidery as a way to earn money for their books. Commercially the first known sale of Mountmellick Work took place in 1847 to the Earl of Dunraven of Limerick. This was a quilt which has survived to this day and is currently on loan to the Museum.

Circa 1880, a Mrs. Milner started an Industrial Association in Mountmellick to provide a livelihood for ‘distressed gentlewomen’. By 1890, there were fifty women employed in producing embroidery. This led to a major interest in the work. It was taken up by women throughout the country and as a consequence it ceased to be just a local craft. During the early 1900’s combined with the effects of the first world war and machine embroidery the number of embroiders declined and it died out until a Presentation Nun, Sister Teresa Margaret McCarthy of Mountmellick revitalised the craft in the early 1970’s. Her task was made possible by the generosity of the Pim family of Mountmellick, who made original patterns available. She sourced fabric and thread and began teaching the embroidery locally. It is thanks to her perseverance that Mountmellick embroidery is now known and appreciated worldwide again. Sr. Teresa Margaret donated her collection to the Museum before she retired.

The craft has a long association with the Quakers who fostered the tradition by teaching it and adapting it to their own designs. Girls at the Quaker School were instructed in the embroidery work as a way to earn money for their books. A Government report of 1858 tells us that the needlework was taught in the Mountmellick Quaker School both in fancy and plain design.

Brochure:

Mountmellick Museum Brochure (283 KB)

Contact:

If you have any queries please contact the Receptionist

Tel: +353 (0)57 8624525

Email: mountmellickmuseum@gmail.com     

Collaboration

Over the Summer of 2018 Dolores Dempsey, Embroiderer collaborated with Caroline Mitchell, Knitwear Designer from Limerick. This was an initiative by Council of Fashion Designers CIFD and Design and Craft Council of Ireland DCCOI. The result is mix of knitwear, crochet and embroidery combined together to produce a beautiful contemporary fashion item designed by Caroline and modelled recently at the CIFD A/18 Fashion Show in Dublin and will be exhibited and The Knitting & Stitching Show, Dublin on 8th to 11th November, 2018.

Facilities:

• Guided Tour
• Audio Visual presentation
• Workshops
• Free parking Bus/Car
• Wheelchair accessible
• Craft Shop
• Restaurant

Opening Times: Open

Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum is now again open to all visitors. 

Opening times: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm

To arrange a visit please contact us at mountmellickmuseum@gmail.com or phone 057 8624 525

Entry fee: €10 per person