In-person at Threads: Stitching Together the History of Irish Dress 2026
About this Event
Tickets are valid for July 16th & 17th, 2026
DAY ONE - Thursday July 16th, 2026:
Time: 18:00 Location: RSAI, 63 Merrion Sq. S, Dublin 2 Doors open: 17:45
Evening session: 18:00 - 19:30 ‘Irish Fashion History in the Arts’
18:00 - Priscilla Sonnier & Laura Fitzachary
Title: Welcome Address: ‘Reflecting on Threads: Stitching Together the History of Irish Dress’
18:30 - Hilary O’ Kelly
Title: 'The Red Coat: Irish Dress and Material Culture; a case study'
18:50: Kristina Decker
Title: ‘Threads of Improvement: Mary Delany, Fashion, and the Creative Arts’
19:30 Drinks Reception
DAY TWO - Friday July 17th, 2026:
Time: 10:30 - 16:00 Location: RSAI, 63 Merrion Sq. S, Dublin 2
10:30 - Registration & doors open, tea/coffee (upstairs at RSAI)
11:00 - Welcome Day Two (Lecture Hall, RSAI)
Session One: 11:15 - 12:30 ‘Preserving Irish Dress History’
11:15 - Colin Atkinson
Title: ‘From 1938 to now, why skills are essential in Irish Fashion’
11:35 - Amelia O’ Mahony-Brady
Title: ‘Butterflies Among the Bees: Maíréad M. Johnston and her Travelling Museum of Costume (1975-2000)’
11:55 - Charlotte McReynolds
Title: ‘From the Ashes: The Destruction and Rebuilding of the Ulster Museum’s Fashion and Textile Collection’
Lunch 12:30 - 14:00 (Upstairs at RSAI)
Session Two: 14:00 - 15:45 ‘Irish Dress History Through Different Mediums’
14:05 - Denise Meagher
Title: ‘Dressing the Part? Lady Hazel Lavery as Kathleen Ní Houlihan’
14:25 - Mairéad Finnegan
Title: ‘The Significance of the Late Medieval Irish Mantle c. 1100–1550'
14:45 - Pamela Heaney
Title: ‘Exploring Historical Approaches to Sustainability in an Irish Context’
15:05 - Peter O’Brien
Title: ‘Combining Technical Skill with Narrative and Character: Reflecting on his work with Irish designer Peter O’Brien’
15:45 Closing remarks
16:00 Library open to view until 17:00
Drinks reception (upstairs at RSAI)
Please note that this symposium will not be recorded as some papers are awaiting publication
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
EUR 27.79
