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Paper, blueish white, in pencil a variety of floral motifs and the inscription which appears to read Motifs for Cotton Elephant.
Paper, blueish white, in pencil a variety of floral motifs and the inscription which appears to read Motifs for Cotton Elephant.
This is an artefact from the Clare Embroidery school which flourished from the late 1880s up to 1937. Founded by Florence Vere O’Brien (nee Arnold) as an Irish cottage industry, she is the grand mother of the donor. Veronica inherited examples of lace, embroidery and patterns from her grandmother.
On the death of her aunt, Flora Vere O’Brien, in 1970, Mrs Veronica Rowe discovered amongst her grandmother’s papers, a unique record of an industry which promoted the skill of hand embroidery to the highest standards. This small industry was known as “Clare Embroidery”.
Mrs Florence Vere O’Brien, started the first Clare Embroidery class at Newhall, near Ennis, in 1895. The establishment of the class was a response to the plight of families who found it hard to make ends meet. 12 to 15 girls came regularly for two hours weekly. When they became proficient they took away work to do in their own homes.
In 1898 the Vere O’Brien family moved to Ballyalla House, and the Clare Embroidery class continued there with some of the Newhall girls still attending, but now joined by a new group of local girls. An embroidery class was also established at the Convent of Mercy, Ennis, presided over by Sister Mary Patricia. The designs and materials were provided at first by Mrs Vere O’Brien, to be worked up by the girls under Sister Mary Patricia’s direction in the Convent workroom.
Mina Keppie, a practical Scottish woman, and an excellent needlewoman, held the important post of Manageress in the business. She taught the girls basic stitches, gave out the work, put it together when it was finished, sent out invoices, and kept accounts.
Florence Vere O’Brien was also deeply committed to the revival of Limerick Lace. She helped to set up the Limerick Lace Training School in 1889, and took over complete responsibility in 1893. She continued to run both enterprises for many years.
The Limerick Lace School closed in 1923, but Clare Embroidery continued until the 1930
Collection: Clare Embroidery
Category: Template