Prizes and Awards………a means to an end.
One could measure the success of the Mount Carmel Lace School in terms of the awards and acclaim it garnered internationally. Certainly, New Ross lace won awards at many prestigious exhibitions around the world including New York, Paris, London, Brussels, and Milan, and won a gold medal at the Edinburgh Fair and two gold medals a the Columbian World Fair in Chicago in 1893. Interestingly, these three gold medals are embedded in the foundation stone of St. Mary’s and St. Michael's Parish Church in New Ross which was built in 1902.
However, the real value of Mount Carmel Lace was in the dramatic rise in living standards it afforded to local families who benefited from the income earned. In 1887 the income recorded from lace sales for the year was just over £ 534 while a prosperous farmer would expect to earn about £ 45 per annum at this time.
An entry for the 1907 Wages Book shows that the average wage earned per week was between 10 and 15 shillings per week- averaging £ 32 per annum.
However, prizes and awards were important means of achieving the economic benefits that inspired the Carmelites to establish an Industrial Lace School in New Ross. In post-famine Ireland there were many local industries producing crochet lace. The various warehouses and dealers could pick and choose products from all over the United Kingdom and continental Europe.
In Ireland the market for high-end needlepoint lace was dominated by Kenmare (Poor Clare Nuns), New Ross (Carmelite Nuns) and Youghal (Presentation Nuns). Discerning purchasers wanted the best in terms of design and needlework and the most exclusive items purchased were the status symbols of the time. Hence, competition between the three convents was lively to say the least, because the recognition that came with national and international awards translated into higher sales and the resultant benefits for the needleworkers for whom the whole enterprise was established.
In Mount Carmel New Ross the best illustration of the priorities of the nuns is that there is no roll of honour recording the various prizes. Instead we have a piece of an envelope where some nameless nun was jotting down her recollections of prizes to that date. It is a valued heirloom .
The envelope was addressed to “ Mrs M Evangelist Cullen”, who was known as Mother Evangelist, a Carmelite Nun.
“ Prize medals 1869 and medals years previous I cannot trace
“Paris Lace 1871”
“ Dublin Arts Industries 1872
“Ballsbridge Royal Dublin Society 1889
1st Crochet
2nd Point Lace”
“London Society for Arts and Crafts 1889
Ballsbridge Royal Dublin Society 1891
2 prizes: 1st Crochet
2nd Point Lace
“Ballsbridge 1892 1st Class”
“Ist Prize Enniscorthy 1892”
