Without the significant role of several key individuals, the story of Mount Carmel Lace might never be known to modern audiences. We are deeply indebted to each of them and would like to honour them appropriately by describing their invaluable roles in bringing The Mount Carmel Collection into the limelight once again. If you can assist us in this endeavour , please share your memories by contacting us ( geneos56@gmail.com)
In this way, we hope to have as full and complete a story as possible.
We start this part of the project by introducing Kathie Earle, a traditional Irish crochet and lace expert who played a significant role in preserving and celebrating the art of lace-making in Ireland and who played a pivotal role in the modern history of Mount Carmel Lace.
As a first step, we are delighted to receive the following account from Bairbre Guilfoyle .
KATHIE EARLE
For those of you who don’t know her, Kathie Earle is an expert in Irish Crochet Lace, both in the making and the history of it. Back in 2009 Kathie had been reading about the New Ross Lace industry in a book on the history of Irish Laces called The Flowerers and she became very interested in trying to find some samples. Around this time, she was involved with a craft group in Ramsgrange, Co Wexford where she met a lady called Helena Crosbie who had a contact in the monastery. The Carmelite Sisters of the New Ross Monastery is a closed order so it is not easy to get in. However, through Helena Crosbie, Kathie was allowed into the Monastery and got to see the wonderful pieces of lace (point lace and Irish crochet lace), the patterns, log books and threads. Realising how important the collection was Kathie worked hard to bring it to light and when funding was made available to create a catalogue Kathie kindly suggested me to the archivist in Wexford County Council.
Bairbre Guilfoyle
I will never forget seeing the New Ross Lace collection for the first time.
I had been invited down from Dublin to take a look at the collection, with a view to creating a catalogue for Wexford County Council and the Carmelite Order. Any reservations I had about taking on the project were immediately dismissed as soon as I saw and touched these stunning lace pieces created by the wonderful women of New Ross under the guidance of the Carmelite Sisters.
I travelled to New Ross for a couple of days a week, every two to three weeks, over a six-month period in 2022, cataloguing the lace pieces and patterns and taking photographs of all the lace as I went. It wasn’t strictly part of my brief, but the pieces were so exquisite, I wanted to have a record for myself to enjoy into the future.
I was also captivated by the patterns and designs, over 400 of them! Unfortunately, most of them were too large for me to photograph with my make-shift lighting set-up but I still think of those stunning drawings, many I would have happily framed and hung in my house.
When my work on the project was finally completed, I was sorry to say goodbye to New Ross, and the Carmelite Sisters who had been kindness itself during my time at the monastery. I also want to thank Grainne Doran from Wexford County Council, Gene O’ Sullivan, and Kathy Earle. Each of them provided me with support and assistance during my time in New Ross.
Go Raibh Míle Maith Agaibh