The History of Headford Lace: Unravelling a Lost Legacy
Uncovering the origin story of the Headford Lace industry is not a straightforward task: sources are scarce and those that do exist omit the name of the person responsible and propose contradictory dates for its establishment that span the mid-seventeenth to late-eighteenth centuries. What is certain is that lacemaking at Headford, Co. Galway, has always been associated with the St. George family: landed gentry who were proprietors of the town throughout this period. This presentation draws on extensive research of primary sources to untangle the obscure history of an industry that would develop to employ several hundred women and secure royal patronage to support female industry during the famine of the 1840s.
Norma Owens is a PhD researcher in History in the University of Galway with an interest in early modern women’s, economic and social history, focusing on textile industries. In 2024, she was awarded a first-class honours MA in History, the MacCurtain/Cullen Essay Prize in Irishwomen’s History, and a University of Galway College of Arts Fellowship.
Date: Monday, 10 November 2025
Time: 20:00/8pm
Venue: Harbour Hotel, Galway