A Stitch in Time: New artwork launched by Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain

Dublin City Council’s 14 Henrietta Street museum has unveiled new artwork which remembers the lives of the women who lived in Georgian Dublin, in Dublin's tenement buildings and particularly in 14 Henrietta Street itself.

The nine foot long tapestry of fabrics by Orlagh Meegan-Gallagher, artist in residence at 14 Henrietta Street, is a timeline of the 300 year old history of the building, once a Georgian Residence, then tenement residences and now an award winning social history museum.

The artwork, which was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain, connects all of the women through the building's history, from the silks of the Georgian inhabitants to the tough blankets of the tenement families. Different panels in the artwork feature historic fabrics, styles and patterns of embroidery and stitching, remembering the women who lived in Georgian Dublin, in the tenement buildings and particularly in 14 Henrietta Street. The artwork has also been stitched by visitors to the museum, tour guides and children from a local primary school.

Orlagh Meegan-Gallagher, a visual and textiles artist, has researched the social history, context and conditions of the women of the area. Her research has involved the trilogy of books about 14 Henrietta Street, researched and written by Melanie Hayes, Tim Murtagh and Donal Fallon, paintings and illustrations from the eras, the censuses from 1901 and 1911 as well as joining the tours at 14 Henrietta Street, where the memories of past residents are used to tell the stories of the people who lived there. She worked with the museum team, met with people in the local communities and spoke to previous residents of the house to understand the stories of the lives of the people who lived in the building over 300 years.

The result is the nine foot long tapestry of fabrics worn by the women of the house or fabrics used in their homes. All silks, linens, wools, cottons and other materials are authentic to the time, alongside original antique and vintage pieces.

Lord Mayor Emma Blain, “To experience this piece is to connect with the women of 14 Henrietta Street, and to honour their memory. This award-winning social history museum of Dublin life is a great credit to the significant work of both Dublin City Council and the Culture Company that this museum exists and that it is such a wonderful and important place to visit and enjoy for all of us.”

Some pieces of the artwork are 300 years old, including a piece of original French brocade dress panel from the 1700s. From the blue silk satin, silk gauze, silk chiffon and feathers worn by Ladies in the Georgian era of the house, through the monogrammed linens of the rich Mistresses or Masters to the cheaper muslins and cottons of the 1800s, the piece shows a social history not often seen outside of period dramas.

There are also servant clothes from the 1830s, army uniforms from the 1870s and hessen fabrics, taken from sacks used for clothes in the 1920s. The whole piece is wrapped in a beautiful piece of antique shroud linen from the 1800s. An important part of the artwork is the stitching and embroidery, often used in place of formal education to occupy girls and young women while young men were tutored in maths, literature and the classics. The styles, stitching and techniques have been meticulously researched and are copies from patterns available during the times.

Describing the piece Orlagh Meegan-Gallagher said, “Every part of it has meaning. The stitches of each woman from each era join the piece together and connect the lives of each woman through the centuries. Sometimes the stitches become barely visible as they represent the unseen, disregarded women like the many servants who lived and worked in the house or the women who struggled in dire conditions in the tenements.

At the end the fabrics change direction, representing the museum now, using drawings from children I worked with which I converted into little silk paintings and the stitches done during the museum's wonderful Culture Club events. I really feel that textile art can connect people to the past in a really powerful way, telling the stories of their lives through the senses. Through textile art you can touch and feel and see the past. None of this could have happened without consultation with staff, tour guides, historians and members of the public. I am so grateful to them all.”

Iseult Dunne, CEO of Dublin City Council Culture Company who operate the museum at 14 Henrietta Street has said: “The Museum values other voices and perspectives which help us to evolve the story and offer a deeper or different understanding. This museum is as much about what the participants impart to us as what we impart to them. Artistic responses have been an integral part of the museum’s development since its inception and help it tell the story in a different way.”

Where people can find out more:

There is a special talk with Orlagh Meegan-Gallagher on Thursday 27 March at 6 pm in 14 Henrietta Street, where she will have the artwork on display and talk through the process in creating it and the stories of the women who inspired it.