THE LACE SCHOOL IN CARROWMENAGH IN THE LATE 1920s AND EARLY 1930s
Joan Doherty

In the townland of Carrowmenagh, a thatched cottage, which still stands in the heart of the village, was used as a Training School which specialised in lace and crochet making. Miss Cassidy, a qualified tutor employed by the VEC, was assigned tothe village to train young women in these crafts. She quickly became a very popular lady and was renowned for her high standards in the work that was produced.

On a Monday morning she travelled by train from her hometown of Buncrana to Carndonagh and then cycled the 12 miles to the village to undertake her week long
classes. Miss Cassidy resided in a number of homes in the village but mainly in the home of the Mc Cann family who owned the village Post Office.

These Lace Schools were popular in Ireland in the 1890s. They were established by The Congested Districts Development Board of Ireland. Their aim was to raise
the living standards among the female working class. Local women were trained to do crochet, embroidery, knitting and sewing. As the women worked mainly in their own homes, the name ‘Cottage Industry’ was born.

In Carrowmenagh classes were taught in the evenings. Young ladies from neighbouring townlands came to learn these crafts. After learning the basic stitches
of crocheting, they progressed onto more significant designs, known as the Rose, Shamrock and Harp. These symbols were a clear indication that the products were Irish made. Soon every woman in the locality knew how to crochet. They put their skills to good use! The ladies added lace collars and cuffs to give a simple outfit a touch of elegance. Lace trimmed handkerchiefs; pillowcases; table runners and small tablecloths were given as gifts to a bride to be.

On the occasion of my own wedding my neighbour, the late Cassie Beatty, who would have attended the Lace School, presented me with a lace trimmed table
runner. Most of the thatched cottages had ‘roller blinds’ with a decorative lace trim. A local lady, the late Annie Farren nee McGonagle (another Lace School pupil), crocheted a full-length wedding dress for her daughter with fine thread in the Rose and Shamrock pattern. In later years she crocheted communion dresses for her
grand-daughters with fine wool. Even the vestments of the clergy and the altar cloths were trimmed with lace by the local ladies on a voluntary basis. My husband who was an altar boy recalls his own Mother making and sewing a lace trim to add to his altar boy outfit known as a “Soutane”

The work that was produced for sale was collected by horse and cart and brought to a centre in Carndonagh where agents from Derry and Belfast purchased the craftwork. Workers were paid about five shillings a week for their efforts. Some of the Lace Schools had very high profile costumers; for example, the lace from the Lace School in Malin Head was bought by Buckingham Palace. Around that period, Irish Lace with its distinctive symbols was very popular worldwide, but especially in the USA. Thankfully this craft has become fashionable again. Quite a few of the younger generation have showed an interest in learning this skill and hopefully one day Kate Middleton, with her fondness for Irish design may be spotted wearing Irish Lace!

Anne’s wedding dress on display during the exhibition.