An Irish Lace Review: 
Beauty Emerges from Hardship!

A quick Irish Lace review:  Did you know that Irish Lace and the Potato Famine of the 1840s are related?  It's true.  Beauty emerged from hardship.

One tragic result of the famous Famine was that Irish farmers were unable to grow crops to pay their landlords or feed their families.

To help provide an income, many churches and organizations taught local Irish farmers other skills.  One of these skills was to create delicate handcrafted lace.

Because local convents and churches started the industry, Irish lace typically differs by location, with the name of the lace often containing the town or area that produced it.  

Irish Lace Review:  Many Different Types

Some of the more popular laces produced at that time included Irish Crochet lace, Kenmare lace, Youghal needlelace, Irishmacsaint needlace, Carrickmacross, Bobbin lace, Clones lace, Limerick lace and Irish whitework.

Each style is distinctive, either in the method used to produce it or the designs created in the lace.

While crochet lace from Ireland may be the best known, other types of lace are often highly valued for their intricate stitchery and fine artisanship.

Today, some more inexpensive Irish lace is machine created. However, many of these types of lace are inferior to the handcrafted designs.

You often can tell a machine piece from the handmade lace because the heavy backing material leaves fuzzy edges from bits of fabric left when cut away or chemically removed.

There are also folds or wrinkles on some of the machine made laces. Fine handmade lace has neither of these features.

Irish Lace Review:  More Popular Than Ever

There has been a resurgence of interest in the art of lace making with museums and shops springing up throughout Ireland.

One resurgence occurred because of the Royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William. Kate’s wedding gown used Carrickmacross lace.

Its name comes from the town Carrickmacross in County Monaghan, Ireland.

In the Kenmare area, the renewed interest in lace making prompted the start up of the Kenmare Lace and Design Centre, complete with classes and a museum.

Lace As An Irish Expression

If you go to Ireland, be sure to do your own Irish lace review.  You’ll find many locations that have museums, classes or shops for homemade lace.

It’s a bit of history and at the same time it is valued for its beauty and quality.

No matter which style of Irish lace you select, you’ll cherish the pieces for years to come. In fact, you can probably chronicle a trip across Ireland by purchasing a bit of lace from each area. 

While lace is simply fabric and stitches, it’s also a work of art you could wear or frame.

Want More Irish Traditions?

It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish traditions!  Expressing ourselves through Irish-themed activities gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!

Over the years, we have created many free, downloadable Irish games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, travel guides, party plans, and much, much more.

These are immediately available to you - completely free of charge.

Just scroll to the bottom of the page and share your email address to get instant access!

Very Interesting!  What's Next?

At Irish Expressions,our our goal is simple: to provide you with a unique Irish experience, on demand, wherever you are in the world.

If you have enjoyed our section on Irish trivia and fun Irish customs, you have probably been exposed to many of the most entertaining ways to express your personal Irish side!

Will that entice you to visit Ireland - or to return if you have already been?  We hope so!  

But even if that is not possible, you can still enjoy the magic of Ireland in these pages.  Check out the links at the top of this website for simple instructions on how to sing Irish songs, use Irish words, enjoy Irish food, and much more!

Your Personal Irish Expression

One way to share your love of Ireland is by displaying your family coat of arms (family crest).  A very personal symbol of the stories and accomplishments of your ancestors can adorn clothing, kitchenware, wall art, personal accessories and so much more. 

Want to have a look?  Our friends at House of Names can help! 

Tap the button below and see your family crest for free!

A Note from Bruce

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