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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Mountmellick Embroidery Museum

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Mountmellick Embroidery Museum

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The main exhibit in the Museum is Mountmelick Work, Irish white on white embroidery originating in the early 1800's.

for those of you interested in Genealogy, the Museum has a vast database of Quaker records dating back to mid 1600's. The quiet residential town of today belies Mountmellick’s rich history. Once a 17th century Quaker settlement, it developed into a thriving industrial town in the 1800’s – culminating in it being called the “Manchester of Ireland”. Mountmellick today is better known for lending its name to the unique form of Irish “White on White” embroidery called Mountmellick Work. Created in 1825 to assist the poor, Johanna Carter’s ‘new’ style combined the draughting and embroidery skills usually taught to cultured ladies of that period. Her rendering of realistic floral designs, perfectly balanced by the quiet white elegance of the stitches appealed to the simple taste of the 19th century Quakers. Decades of women since have been connected by white cotton threads encrusted on White Satin Jean. Heirlooms of bed coverlets; pillow shams; children’s dresses and tablecloths survive today, passing on an age old tradition from one generation to the next……

27/10/2026

🪡 CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF MOUNTMELLICK EMBROIDERY! 🪡

Mountmellick Embroidery & Heritage Museum is delighted to invite you to the **official unveiling of a special 200th Anniversary Mountmellick Embroidery piece!** 🎉

Created through a wonderful collaboration between local community members and passionate stitchers from across Ireland, this unique piece celebrates 200 years of our town’s rich embroidery heritage.

📅 Saturday, 7th November 2026
⏰ 10:30 AM
📍 Mountmellick Community Arts Centre (R32 WP68)

Join us for the unveiling, guest speakers, and the opportunity to celebrate this remarkable Irish craft and the community that keeps it alive.

✨ Everyone is welcome — admission is FREE!✨

Let's celebrate 200 years of tradition, creativity, and community spirit together! 🤍🪡

16/08/2026

What a wonderful Crafternoon Tea!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday for our Crafternoon Tea at Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum.

We were delighted to welcome more than 60 visitors who came along to enjoy an afternoon of crafts, demonstrations, tea and cake.

Here are some photos from a very enjoyable afternoon.
We hope you enjoy looking back on the day as much as we do!

August Craft Month
Design & Crafts Council Ireland
Laois County Council
Heritage Week

10/08/2026

✨ What a lovely visit! 🧵💚

Last Thursday, we were delighted to welcome 26 members of the Delgany Active Retirement Group from Co. Wicklow to Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum!

It was a wonderful afternoon filled with history, stories, laughter and entertainment.
A huge thank you to everyone for visiting us, we really enjoyed having you! We hope to see you again soon. 💚

05/08/2026

Invitation to Crafternoon Tea

The Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum cordially invites you to attend a special expose of local craftsmanship on Saturday, 15th August 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with cake while exploring the rich history of crafts in our community. Attendees of all experience levels will have the opportunity to:

Observe live demonstrations: Watch skilled local craftspersons display and discuss their crafts.

Explore traditional techniques: Gain insight into the historical methods and heritage techniques unique to our region.

Support heritage preservation: Connect with community members dedicated to safeguarding these vital craft skills for future generations.

Admission is free. We look forward to welcoming you to the Museum.

Location: Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum, Irishtown, Mountmellick, R32A0PK

Contact & Inquiries
Phone: 057 8624525
Email: [email protected]

04/08/2026

Join us for Crafternoon Evening.

📅 Day: Saturday, 15th August
🕒 Time: 1 pm to 4 pm
📍 R32 A0PK Mountmellick Development Association

Come along, unwind, and discover the joy of crafting as part of August Craft Month.

📞 To book your place, call: 057 8624525
📧 Or email: [email protected]

Booking is recommended!
Event is free of charge.

We can't wait to welcome you! 💛

19/06/2026

We enjoyed welcoming the Abbeyleix Mothers' Union to Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum and sharing the rich heritage of Mountmellick embroidery.

Thank you for visiting!

09/06/2026

We were delighted to welcome members of Bunclody Mothers Union on June 4th.

It was a pleasure to share our history and traditions with such an enthusiastic and engaged group.

Thank you for choosing to visit us. We hope you enjoyed your day and look forward to welcome you back again in the future.

26/05/2026

19/05/2026

HELP US STITCH HISTORY! 🧵✨

We are so proud of the incredible work our community has contributed to the Mountmellick Embroidery Commemorative Piece so far.

Now, we need your help to design its heart.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have updated our upcoming schedule:

📅 The "Big Design" Day: Saturday, 23rd May | 10am – 4pm
📍 Location: Upstairs, Mountmellick Development Association (MDA) R32 A0PK

Please email [email protected] to book your spot.

We want YOUR stitches on this historic piece!

This full-day session on May 23rd is all about collaboration. We will be brainstorming and designing the 3D centerpiece together, deciding how to showcase every singular piece contributed by the community. 🌸

Whether you are a master stitcher or have never held a needle, your ideas and your hands are needed.

Please bring with you the pieces you've done already or the patterns you have started 🙏 as a part of our Big Design.

Please note that you can bring your own lunch on the day for break or you can go to the Hares Corner Restaurant next door, the tea/coffee will be provided!

📩 How to join: Send us a DM or email [email protected] to secure your spot for the full-day planning session.

Let’s create something that will be a legacy for generations to come.
🤍

29/04/2026

A Night of Harmony and Heritage in Mountmellick 🎶✨

The Wesley Choir (Birmingham, UK) will make a welcome return to Mountmellick on Friday, 8th May 2026. 🎤

The choir will perform a beautiful selection of popular favourites and uplifting gospel songs. 🎵

The evening will also feature:

Local speakers sharing insights into Mountmellick’s heritage of faith.
A performance of poetry by students from Mountmellick Community School

Schedule & Location 📍

Date: Friday, 8th May 2026
Time: The event will start with a pre-concert reception at the Hare's Corner restaurant commencing at 7:00 pm.
The concert will start at 8:00 PM in the MDA building. 🎶

Where: The MDA building, Irishtown, Mountmellick, County Laois. R32 A0PK 📍

Admission: €10 (Pay at the door)

The event is hosted by Beverley Barbour, Methodist Lay Worker.
Tel: 087 934 7910 📞

The money raised will support the Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum. 🧵🏛️

Tel: (057) 862 4525 📞
email: [email protected]📧

Address

MDA Business Park, Irishtown
Mountmellick
LAOIS,

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+353578624525

Website

http://www.mountmellickmuseum.ie/

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