My love of Irish lace making knows no bounds. In 2013 while on honeymoon, we looked up and down the whole of the country trying to find non-synthetic lace curtains. I knew so little then about lace that I know now. How people must have laughed at me. Even after returning home, I became a bit obsessed with spotting lace everywhere. I then somehow scoured a beautiful find of large soft cotton lace panels at one of my favorite antique shops here at home. They now hang as curtains in our windows.
I am delighted to share the experience of witnessing lace making with you in Ireland. Have you ever seen lace being made by hand with the pillow and all those bobbins? It is mind boggling to say the least. I can’t wait to see this in person.
After our breakfast, we’ll board our coach and travel the brief journey to Carrickmacross Lace, famed for being used on the late Princess Diana’s wedding dress.
Next, we’ll journey to Olann Mill and meet with yarn dyer Jess Kavanagh. Jess will give us a tour of her mill and talk us through her exclusive organic yarn choices and dyeing techniques.
Afterwards, we’ll visit the home of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin. In deepest rural Ireland, on the edge of a lake in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, is the home of The Shed Distillery and PJ Rigney. PJ created The Shed Distillery with its medieval copper pot stills, and began a quest to fuse oriental botanicals with the local Irish ones. Take a tour of the new visitor experience and sample a drop yourself!
We’ll then continue west and settle into our rooms and enjoy dinner at the Mill Park Hotel in Donegal.
