The Programme of the Amazing Lace Symposium 2025

The 2025 edition of the Amazing Lace Symposium will take place on Saturday, 22 February 2025, in the Absolute Hotel, from 10am to 5pm.

Here’s the draft programme:

MORNING SESSION

• 10:00 – 10:05 – Opening address
• 10:05 – 10:20 – Florence Vere O’Brien and her era- Matthew Potter
• 10:20 – 10:35 – The women who wore Limerick lace- Sharon Slater
• 10:35 – 10:50 – Threading the needle- Jack O’Meara
• 10:50 -11:05 – Threads of Belonging -Fiona O’Neill

11:05 – 11:20 Break

• 11:20 – 12:00 Keynote: Ars Panicalensis – Italian embroidery on net – Paola Matteucci
• 12:00 – 12:15 Borris Lace: stories behind the craft- Samantha Morris
• 12:15 – 12:35 Lightsome – Saidhbhin Gibson
• 12:35 – 12:55 Threads of Tradition: Early Carrickmacross Lace in Contemporary Practice – Theresa Kelly
• 12:55 – 01:05 Four Seasons of Lace Bookmarks – Ann Keller

LUNCH in the Harry’s on the River Restaurant – 1:05-2pm

AFTERNOON SESSION

• 2:00-2:10 – Laces of Ireland – what can we do together? – Gabriela Avram
• 2:10 – 3:15 – Workshops, demonstrations, conversations
• 3:15 – 3:25 – Break
• 3:25 – 5:00 – Workshops, demonstrations, conversations

There will be 7 tables with 10 places around each table.

• TABLE 1- Ars Panicalensis demonstration – Paola Mateucci
• TABLE 2 – Irish Crochet Lace class with Kathie Earle
• TABLE 3 – Carrickmacross lace class with Rosie Finnegan- Bell
• TABLE 4 – Limerick Lace class with Aine Hanrahan
• TABLE 5 – Bobbin Lace for complete beginners wit Marina Postir
• TABLE 6 – Borris lace demonstration with Borris lacemakers
• TABLE 6b – Shetland Lace for beginners with Eva Ryley
• TABLE 7 – Conversation on learning lace making, training the trainers, reaching out to the young generation .

Tickets are now available via Eventbrite. The cost of the ticket goes toward the coffee breaks and the seated lunch in the restaurant.

The Symposium is generously supported by Limerick City and County Council through a Festivals and Events grant, and by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland through the Network Support Scheme 2024.