'Journey of the River Boyne in Thread' begins

Dunshaughlin embroidery group launches first panel in tapestry

The Dunshaughlin-based Threads of Lore group celebrated a major milestone on Wednesday evening last with the official launch of the first completed panel of their ambitious tapestry project, 'The Journey of the River Boyne in Threads', at Dunshaughlin Library.

The event, attended by Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr Wayne Harding, who formally unveiled the first panel, marked the beginning of what will become a 12-panel tapestry depicting the River Boyne’s journey from its source in Carbury, Co Kildare, to the Irish Sea at Mornington in Co Meath.

Formed in 2022, Threads of Lore is made up of fourteen dedicated women from Dunshaughlin and surrounding areas who meet weekly in Dunshaughlin Library to plan, research, and stitch the tapestry. The project unites artists, historians, and local needleworkers in celebrating the heritage, folklore, and culture of the Boyne Valley through the ancient craft of embroidery.

The group includes Anne Bradley, Siobhán Conlon, Carol Commons, Carol Crosbie, Carol Dempsey, Colette Durcan, Evelyn Gosker, Sheila Gormley, Susan Horgan, Barbara Kavanagh, Anne McKeever, Fiona McMahon, Angela Robinson, and Máire White, each contributing their artistry and skill to the work, weaving together knowledge, craft, and community spirit.

Each panel begins with detailed research to ensure authenticity in every image and motif. Themes are drawn from the myths, monuments, and stories of the Boyne Valley. Once a theme is chosen, an artist develops an original design that is traced onto fabric before the meticulous embroidery begins — stitch by stitch, layer by layer — blending colour, texture, and thread to bring the river’s story to life.

The first completed panel, Panel 12, features sixteen embroidered sections illustrating the Boyne Valley’s most enduring tales and symbols, including The Moon and Sun, The Cattle Raid of Cooley, Invasion of the Vikings, Cadaver Stone, The Maiden Tower and Finger, The Tara Brooch, Rockabill and Sea Swirls, The Milky Way, The Raven, The Hills of Cooley, Cú Chulainn, The Plundered House, Viking Longboat, Ship with Black Sails, Sea Serpents, and The Salmon of Knowledge. Each piece represents months of research, design, and hand stitching, vividly capturing the mythology and history of the Boyne in thread and fabric.

The project has received support from Meath County Council, local councillors, and small community grants, alongside contributions from members themselves. However, the group is now seeking sustained funding and strategic partnerships to complete the remaining panels and ensure the long-term preservation of this important cultural artwork.

Member Máire White says: “What began as an idea has now taken shape through dedication, creativity, and countless hours of work. It’s a wonderful example of what can be achieved when community, art, and heritage come together.”

Cllr Harding praised the group’s work, describing the tapestry as “a beautiful, handcrafted creation that captures so much of who we are here in Meath - past, present and future - through the story of our beloved River Boyne.”

The launch evening also featured displays of both a finished and in-progress panel, giving visitors a rare insight into the creative process. Guests met the members, viewed the intricate work up close, and enjoyed Kieran Rushe’s stirring rendition of Daniel O’Connell’s famous monster meeting speech on the Hill of Tara, and were treated to music by Anne O’Connor and Mary Hetherington and refreshments at the library.

Threads of Lore hopes the completed tapestry will become a lasting public artwork, celebrating the beauty, culture, and stories of the Boyne Valley while preserving Ireland’s treasured tradition of embroidery for generations to come.