Carrickfergus Castle (last 4)

9.5 × 5.5 cm

A little piece of Northern Ireland's medieval history, recreated in Irish Linen!

Standing proudly on the shores of Belfast Lough in County Antrim, Carrickfergus Castle is one of Ireland's best-preserved Norman castles, with a history stretching back more than 800 years. Begun by the Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy in the late 12th century, its imposing stone walls have witnessed centuries of sieges, battles and extraordinary stories.

In late 2019, I was delighted to be invited by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to design a bespoke hanging decoration for Carrickfergus Castle, interpreting this magnificent Northern Irish landmark in our signature Irish Linen. Our collection of embellished Irish Linen souvenirs was already stocked within the castle walls, in its official Tourist Information Centre and gift shop, making the commission particularly special.

The castle's imposing stone structure has so many wonderful angles and architectural details, which I've translated into textiles using intricate metallic embroidery to shade the walls. Tiny sequins recreate the rugged rocks upon which the fortress stands, softened with delicate glass beads, while little ripples of silver embroidery represent the waters of Belfast Lough surrounding it.

I have such fond memories of visiting Carrickfergus Castle on a primary school trip, part of an excited group of children taking in the sheer scale of the place. It's rather wonderful to think that, all these years later, one of my own little creations could be found within those very castle walls.

Our Carrickfergus Castle decoration is now being discontinued as we gradually move away from architectural designs to make room for new additions to our ever-growing collection. Once our remaining stock has sold, this little piece of Northern Irish history won't be returning, so do snap one up while you can!

A thoughtful gift for lovers of Irish history, castle enthusiasts, or anyone with a connection to Carrickfergus and County Antrim. And unlike the original fortress, this little version is rather easier to fit into your suitcase!

You can read more about the original commission, the design process and my childhood memories in our journal article, Commission for Carrickfergus Castle.

Our Irish Linen

Our luxury artisan decorations are handcrafted from beautiful Irish Linen, thoughtfully sourced from a mixture of vintage fabrics, local mill deadstock, repurposed antique tablecloths and offcuts from our own cushion making. We also work with a small number of wonderful Irish linen mills, including one of the last remaining linen mills still active in Ireland today, carefully selecting fabrics for their colour, texture and character.