Ann McMahon, Lace Maker; with Suzy O’Keefe, Head of Digital & Communications, Design & Crafts Council Ireland; and Geraldine O’Reilly, Lace Maker; at the Carrickmacross Lace Gallery in Co. Monaghan for the launch of DCCI Irish Design Week 2026.

Carrickmacross Lace to take centre stage at Irish Design Week

Published: Tue 29 Sep 2026, 2:31 PM

Carrickmacross Lace will take its place alongside couture fashion once again during Irish Design Week, which runs nationwide from November 7 to 14.

A couture gown featuring intricate Carrickmacross Lace, created for Irish designer Michael Stewart's Standing Ground label, will return to Ireland this November as part of the showcase.

The piece, which debuted at Haute Couture Week in Paris earlier this year, will go on display on Tuesday, November 10, at Collins Barracks, the National Museum of Ireland.

Coordinated by Carrickmacross designer Natalie B. Coleman, the project brought together a team of local artisans to create the hand-crafted lace elements. The gown subsequently attracted international attention when it was featured in British Vogue.

Organised by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), this year's Design Week is themed Fáilte Future Europe, reflecting Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Traditional Irish crafts will feature strongly, including Carrickmacross Lace, Donegal tweed and Connemara marble.

These long-established skills will be showcased alongside discussions on artificial intelligence, business innovation and the future of Europe's creative industries.

Launching the programme, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth said: "Ireland’s EU Presidency is an opportunity not only to lead important policy discussions, but also to show Europe the creativity, knowledge and enterprise that define Ireland today. Through design, we turn those qualities into practical progress: stronger businesses, more sustainable communities and better responses to the challenges we share across Europe.

"DCCI Irish Design Week's theme, Fáilte Future Europe, captures the spirit in which Ireland approaches the Presidency. We are welcoming European partners to exchange ideas and build relationships, while giving Irish designers and creative businesses a powerful platform to take their work and expertise to the world."

Mary Blanchfield, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said Ireland's EU Presidency provided "a unique opportunity to welcome Europe’s creative community to Ireland" and demonstrate what Irish design can offer through "creativity rooted in place and communities, a strong culture of collaboration and the confidence to turn heritage into new ideas." She added: "Our ambition is that the conversations started at Irish Design Week 2026 will become partnerships, commissions, commercial opportunities and enduring relationships."

Tom Watts, Head of Design at Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said the programme connected "generations of Irish knowledge and skill with fashion, architecture, business, and the future of design". Referring to the Standing Ground gown, he said it highlighted "Carrickmacross lace reaching an international fashion stage" and showed how Irish design could remain "proud of its roots, while responding confidently to the future".

The full programme and ticket information are available at www.IrishDesignWeek.ie