New Ross and the Ros Tapestries

Down the road from Kilkenny is the town of New Ross. I wanted to visit the Ros Tapestries that are being created here. Around 25 years ago a bishop wanted tapestries to cover the church walls telling the story of the Ross area. An artist painted out the scenes they wished to depict, 15 in all. Since then a group of 150 women have been working on the tapestries. 

First the design from the 15 paintings is traced on to linen using a pencil. Then the picture is stitched on the stretched linen in wool using crewel work stitches. The work is being done all over the County. Most of the 15 panels have been completed in the last 20 years. 

Don and I toured the tapestries with an audio guide explaining the stories depicted on the tapestries. Each tapestry has a central depiction with two borders, top and bottom, that detail some of the finer aspects of the story. The handwork is superb!  

After we listened to the story using the audio guide we toured the upstairs stitching room where four women work to complete two panels and begin two other tapestries that have grown from the original project. An awesome experience for this fibre nut!!

Here is the first panel of the Ris Tapestries. Notice the main large picture, with top and bottom border details. 

Here Don sits in front of two of the 15 panels listening to the audio guide tell the story the tapestries depict. 

Detail photo showing the fine work!

Some French knots. 

Shaggy hair. 

Examples of some areas on tapestries that are not yet complete. Note the fine pencil lines marking where to stitch. 

Detail of rock walls. 

Here is an entire tapestry painting sitting in the place of one of the tapestries currently being worked on. 

We got to tour the workroom. Unfortunately there were no stitchers there the day we visited. 

Hanks of woollen threads hanging by colour. Ready to be chosen by the stitches. A lot of time is taken in choosing the exact shade for each bit of stitching. 

Two panels that are done. Next the will be pressed and stretched on boards for display. 

The tapestry women embroider there names on the selvage of the tapestry. The names will not be seen on the front but will be visible on the back. It is important to acknowledge the artists who worked on each tapestry!