In 1816, Mrs. Grey Porter, brought a piece of applique lace from Italy to her gifted sewing maid - Ann Steadman.  This led to the foundation of a world famous lace industry with a distinctive style all of it's own.  Using the materials then available around Carrickmacross and inspired by the Italian applique an origional style was created; classes began and a cottage industry was born.

 

 

 

 

 

After the famine guipure lace introduced from Belgium added a new demention to the craft which received it's offical name, Carrickmacross Lace, at the Dublin Exhibition of 1872.  Later on, after 1872, the St. Louis sisters introduced new designs which gave the craft fresh impetus. 

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