Carrickmacross Lace Gallery

Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan


In the town's former cattle yards, a local cooperative runs this thimble-sized lace gallery, where you can see lace-making demonstrations and check out exquisite designs. Designs are appliquéd on organza using thick thread and close stitches, then embellished with a variety of point stitches, guipure, pops and the lace's distinctive loop edge. Lace makers can take commissions and you can purchase delicate pieces made into fridge magnets, bookmarks and the like.

Carrickmacross lace graced the sleeves of Princess Diana's wedding dress and, more recently, the technique was used on the wedding dress for Kate Middleton's marriage to Prince William in 2011.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan attractions

1. St Joseph's Catholic Church

0.18 MILES

Craftsmanship shines at St Joseph's Catholic Church, with 10 windows designed by Harry Clarke, Ireland's most renowned stained-glass artist. Opening hours…

2. Dún an Rí Forest Park

5.36 MILES

The 225-hectare Dún an Rí Forest Park, 11km southwest of Carrickmacross, has four colour-coded forest walks (all less than 4km long), with picnic places…

3. Patrick Kavanagh Resource Centre

6.03 MILES

Acclaimed poet Patrick Kavanagh (1904–67) was born in the picturesque little village of Inniskeen, 10km northeast of Carrickmacross. The Patrick Kavanagh…

4. Courthouse

13.08 MILES

Dundalk's courthouse is a photogenic neo-Gothic building with large Doric pillars. The interior is closed to the public. In the front square is the stone…

5. St Patrick's Cathedral

13.17 MILES

The richly decorated 19th-century St Patrick's Cathedral was modelled on King's College Chapel in Cambridge, England. Hours can vary depending on services…

6. County Museum Dundalk

13.26 MILES

Different floors in this worthwhile museum are dedicated to the town's early history and archaeology, and to the Norman period. One floor deals with the…

7. Slieve Gullion Forest Park

15.82 MILES

A 10km scenic drive through this forest park provides picturesque views over the surrounding hills. From the parking and picnic area at the top of the…

8. Killeavy Old Churches

16.74 MILES

Surrounded by beech trees, these ruined, conjoined churches, 6km south of Camlough, were constructed on the site of a 5th-century nunnery founded by St…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "ireland/county-monaghan/carrickmacross-and-around/attractions/carrickmacross-lace-gallery/a/poi-sig/1220334/359737",
      "destination": "Counties-Meath,-Louth,-Cavan-&-Monaghan",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Ireland",
      "region": "Counties-Meath,-Louth,-Cavan-&-Monaghan",
      "position": "superzone"
    }