Dossier 1 - Lady Margaret Work School

In 1878 Lady Margaret Browne opened a school of Art for the benefit of poor children. Lady Kenmare examined the needlework of the girls and seventeen were chosen. Killarney’s Lace School became famous. This Art school developed into the Lace School which lasted until 1914. Then the Lace workers were asked to make shirts for the Troops. In later years the Sisters bought items which had lace trimmings and sold them to tourists who came to the convent.

Sub series consists of three bound volumes related to the Lady Margaret’s Work School, books concerning lace and artwork and samples of lace.

• Accounts book: Receipts and Expenditure of The Work School Presentation Convent Killarney. 1893 – 1905.
• Sums paid to the Children, lists of children’s names and page number in the front of the register, the following pages give details of the type of work done and the amount they earned, 1878 – 1880.
• Account book detailing expenditure of items purchased for the Lady Margaret’s Work School. 1878 – 1880.
• Samples of lace.

• Photocopy of History of Lace by Honiton.
• Headed paper, “Industrial Lace School Presentation Convent, Killarney”.
• Book, “Art and Ecclesiastical Embroidery”, Vol. 1V. No.1 March 1898.
• Book,” Needlework as Art by Lady M. Alford, 1886”, with an inscription from V Lady Kenmare, Xmas Day 1887.