Mosaics project to explore Kilcullen’s former lace craft

Katy Palmieri and her mosaic installation in Newbridge.

When a number of outdoor mosaics appear in Kilcullen over coming months, they will be reflecting a defunct local industry that employed around 700 women in the middle of the 19th century, writes Brian Byrne.

The installations are being developed in an initiative led by the Bridge Camphill community through mosaic artist Katy Palmieri, as part of Brigid 1500. The community has received a grant for the works from Kildare County Council.

The themes for the pieces will be based on Thornton Crochet Lace, produced in Kilcullen through the famine relief efforts of a local rector’s wife, Mrs Martha Roberts.

Four or five installations are envisaged, each of which will be accompanied by an exploration of each theme, to be presented in the form of a talk during the unveiling of each piece at its venue.

A working party of participants is being brought together from KARE, Cross & Passion, Active Retired in the locality, and Camphill.

“The legacy of Thornton Lace will be explored, creating a ‘mosaic’ of ideas which participants will execute through mosaic art,” says Camphill’s Sarah Gillespie. “We intend that the design process will be displayed in the Library.”

Themes being explored in the project will include the history of Irish crochet lace and the role of women in its production, the craft and its relationship to wellbeing demonstrated through opportunity for people to try their hand at it, how it may have paralleled today’s fast fashion because its low price point reflected low wages, and how the craft’s value was devalued because it was associated with women. 

The project will start in March and be completed by the end of June. 

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