Exhibition

The Ros Tapestry is back in New Ross, Co. Wexford and is open to the public. Limited opening hours for the months of December and January with group tours available by appointment.

The exhibition has drawn in thread, the story of the Normans and their arrival in the southeast of Ireland. From the initiation of a Celtic King to Hiberno-Norman commerce, the cultural legacy of Leinster is depicted in a series of fifteen large, striking embroidered panels. This amazing exhibition combines  wonderful art, admirable craftsmanship, and a multitude of fascinating stories.

The Ros Tapestry project is the brainchild of Rev. Paul Mooney, St Mary’s Church, New Ross, inspired by the famous Bayeux Tapestry in France. He conceived the idea of creating a series of tapestries to commemorate the Norman history of New Ross and South East Ireland.

The first tapestry was completed in 2002 and to date 14 of the 15 tapestries are finished. The  main panel of the final tapestry is complete and the border is being stitched at present.  Volunteers throughout the south-east have done all the stitching, with well over 180 stitchers contributing, working both at home and in local venues.  Each tapestry is embroidered onto Jacobean linen twill fabric with woollen thread using a multitude of different stitches, such as ‘Long and Short’, ‘French knots’ and ‘Bullion knots’.  It takes approximately 1 hour to stitch 1 square inch and can take anything from 3 to 7 years to complete a panel.

We look forward to welcoming visitors from far and wide.

Click on any of our exhibition images below to open our gallery of exhibition images.