Linen in the Mournes
Linen in the Mournes Festival 19–28 October
Hilltown Community Assocation and friends conclude their Linen in the Mournes programme in the final two weeks of October with a fantastic programme of events. They have pulled together a wonderful range of events and talks over the fortnight – a must for anyone in South Down!
Story of Flax and Linen, with NI Screen Digital Film Archive
Thursday 19th October, 7–9pm
Bronagh McAtasney, from NI Screen, presents a collection of films on the story of flax and linen in Northern Ireland. See the story of flax unfold through films gathered from all over Ulster. She will also be speaking about the life of her father, the late John McAtasney, the last Master Weaver of damask linen in Ireland, and showing some of his work.
The Digital Film Archive contains film made by, and about the people of Northern Ireland, spanning the history of film from its earliest beginnings through private collections, independent and amateur filmmakers, and the vast UTV archive.
Includes refreshments.
Location: Carcullion House, 25 Rostrevor Road Hilltown BT34 5TU
‘Air Your Linen’ and ‘The History of Irish Linen’, by textile specialist Fiona McKelvie
Friday 20th October, 7–9pm
Linen occupies a special place in the world of textiles – a strong and long-lasting fabric with some exceptional properties, and all the while delighting the eye with its designs, whether woven or embroidered.
As well as exploring the journey from flax flower to table linen, you will hear about the design and manufacturing heritage of the industry that once contributed to Belfast being called Linenopolis, and the learn of exciting times ahead for flax. Attendees can bring along their family linen and have it appraised and dated where possible.
Fiona McKelvie has had a career in textiles for more than 30 years. In 2013, she launched her website McBurneyandBlack.com, specialising in the sale of antique and vintage Irish linens. Fiona has recently returned from London to live permanently in Co Down in what was once a flax mill.
Location: Chandler's House, 27 Church Square Rathfriland BT34 5PT
‘Flax Scutching Mills in the Mournes’. A talk by Sebastian Graham
Monday 23rd October, 7pm–9pm
Sebastian, an expert in the architecture and built heritage of Ulster’s linen industry will provide an overview of history of the linen mills of Northern Ireland, looking particularly at those within the South Down area.
He is the Heritage at Risk Officer for Ulster Architectural Heritage. His particular interest is in the field of industrial archaeology and has developed an online resource exploring over 4000 mill sites across Northern Ireland, millsofnorthernireland.com.
Includes refreshments.
Location: Carcullion House, 25 Rostrevor Road Hilltown BT34 5TU
Hilltown's Linen Festival at the Repair Café
Saturday 21st October, 10am–1pm
Madeline McGreevy from Kathleen’s Attic, will talk through the flax to linen process and show examples of old items made from linen. She will also demonstrate embroidery showing how the women would have worked the linen from the mills ready for sale.
Joanne Cummins, Collections Officer from Newry and Mourne Museum, will bring along images illustrating the linen industry in the local area, as well as some examples of linen from the Museum Collection.
Join tapestry weaver Rena Roohipour for a demonstration and a chance to try weaving. The themes in her work involve expressing connections to place and landscape, and creating mood and emotion in these pieces. Irish mid-century artists are her influences and she looks for inspiration everywhere around her and in the wool, silk and linen she use in her pieces.
Longest Linen Tablecloth Workshops – since 2018 Linen Biennale has been receiving donations of linen from the public… tablecloths, napkins, tray cloths, tea towels, all valued family pieces but no longer used. This year, the aim is to use these donations to make the longest linen tablecloth in Northern Ireland. Write or stitch your signature on a linen napkin at the sewing stations or embroider a border – showing off your textile skills. Subsequent years will lengthen the cloth, piece by piece, until it is ready to lay on a bleaching green for a big tea party. By the next Linen Biennale in 2025 everyone who has contributed will be invited to a wonderful picnic, and (of course!) linen napkins will be provided.
Clanrye Lace. A successful Lace School was established in 1855 in the Convent of Mercy, Canal Street, Newry. The fine work was exported all over the world creating valuable employment for young girls and women during times of great hardship, but all but disappeared during the Great War. In the 1920s Sr Camillus revived the school, rejuvenating its work with her own designs which became known as Clanrye Lace. By the second half of the 20th century the school had disappeared but in 2013, a local group was established with the aim of developing the skills involved in creating the lace. The Clanrye Lace Group hopes to keep the craft going and to spread the word locally and beyond.
Kids Crafts. Join textile artist Caroline Shimmons for a morning of fun making pocket games, weaving wall hangings and creating peg puppets and dolls.
Location: INF Hall, 22 Rostrevor Rd, Hilltown, Newry BT34 5XR
Flax and Linen Heritage at Rathfriland Library
Tuesday 24th October – Saturday 28th October
The library will be displaying flax and linen items illustrating the story of their heritage in South Down.
Open Tuesday 24, Wednesday 25, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 October during library opening hours.
Back from the Boley
24–28 August
Back from the Boley festival in Hilltown is back for its second year, from Thursday 24 – Monday 28 August.
A celebration of life in the Mournes in centuries past, the rural heritage festival is going from strength to strength, with a packed programme and plenty to do for all ages and stages.
Boleying was a common practice in the 17th and 18th centuries - poorer families moved to the mountain pastures for the entire summer, where they grazed their cattle on the rich grasses, made butter from the milk, cut turf for the winter and make poitin - well away from prying eyes.
‘The Story of Flax’ Bus Tour
Take to the road with tour guide Ciaran Mussen and his musical soulmate Cormac McKay for a light-hearted, music-filled look at ‘The Story of Flax’.
The tour will transport you back to a time when Hilltown and the surrounding area was almost entirely dependent on the flax / linen industry as a major cash crop. Flax was the main crop grown and linen our greatest export in Northern Ireland during the 18th and 19th centuries, especially along the course of the Bann River.
The tour begins at Hilltown Square on Monday morning 28th August at 11am. First stop the Mill at Mussen’s Corner then onwards to mills in Cabra and Annsborough. Light lunch stop on the Dromara road at Turniphouse Knitwear and then onto Windy Gap for a walkabout.
Arriving at McConville’s Scutching Mill in Dromore you’ll be greeted with a welcome cuppa tea. There will be music and a tour, then head for the The Gall Bog Bar for two course dinner and some drinks to wash all down kindly served up by The Boulevard Event Catering. Back in Hilltown Square for 7pm. Tickets £20 per person.
Crafts from the Past
‘Crafts from the Past’ field day, Doran’s Bar. The ultimate family day includes: hands- on with flax and linen, bar facilities, restored traveller barrel-top wagon, traveller exhibition, old time skills, children’s activities, live music, potato gathering, log sawing , rope twisting, tug-o-war, plus many more.
Doran's Bar, 22 Kilkeel Road, Hilltown, Newry, Co Down, BT34 5X
Entry £3 payable at the door. No booking necessary
The Hilltown Community Association and friends have more linen-focused events planned for September and October.
Events will be added here as they are confirmed.
