If you missed yesterday evening’s broadcast of this feature-length documentary, you can listen to it here and on our Mixcloud page.

It reveals how a group of women in County Galway stumbled across a mostly forgotten history of lacemaking in their town, and how a tiny fragment of lace became the starting point for countless cultural and regenerative events and projects – and created a sisterhood along the way.

We hear the voices of many of the women involved in researching and promoting the story of the local lace industry, as well as artists and textile experts. There are also moving personal accounts of the support and friendship provided by the lace group itself.

The programme features music created in Headford, inspired by the lace story – from Mairead Berrill, Headford Music Works, Drumadore, and 2018 RTÉ Folk Awards nominees The Whileaways. Huge thanks to them all!

It also includes a portion of ‘Caritas Dei’ from the album ‘Chants of the Holy Spirit’ by the Gloriae Dei Cantores Schola, used by kind permission. Thanks also to Aengus McMahon for providing additional audio.

This programme was supported by the BAI with the Television Licence Fee, and was first aired on Claremorris Community Radio on 20th June 2021.

Artwork by Ella Hassett, Headford Lace Project.