Eithne weaves tale of dramatic tapestries
Two panels of the Ros Tapestry: Arrogant Trespass: The Norman Landing at Bannow Strand and The Siege of Wexford were on exhibition in Wexford Library for the duration of the Wexford Opera Festival.
On Thursday, November 2, a very entertaining and informative presentation on how the tapestries came about and the history associated with them was given by Eithne Scallan in Wexford Library.
Eithne wrote A Tale Told in Thread, an account of the 150 plus voluntary embroiderers, mostly from County Wexford, but some from further afield, who stitched threads of history, who patiently and skilfully over more than 17 years embroidered 15 panels of the magnificent Ros Tapestry.
A Tale Told In Thread consists of 15 panels that depict the history of New Ross, the most important port in Ireland in the late 1200s.
The detailed designs for the tapestries was begun 18 years ago and has been praised by Michelle Obama, among other dignitaries. They have been viewed by tens of thousands of visitors at the Ros Tapestry on the quay in New Ross.
The Ros Tapestry is one of the largest series of embroidered tapestries in Europe.
Each tapestry depicts a different significant event in the history of the town and surrounding areas. New Ross is central to at least four counties which were heavily influenced by the Normans, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Carlow and their tales are richly told in thread here at Ros Tapestry.