Unmissable '˜Living Loom' Exhibition

Lough Neagh Discovery Centre will be hosting a very special exhibition and events programme inspired by the once mighty linen industry in the area '“ complete with a working, 19th century hand loom.
The reassembled loom.The reassembled loom.
The reassembled loom.

Last year, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon’s Museum Services secured £10,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (NI) Sharing Heritage Programme for a project called ‘The Living Loom’ – which literally helped to bring this loom back to life.

A loom from Jack McCollum’s factory in Queen Street, Lurgan was donated to the Museum in 1968 and thanks to recent efforts by local experts, the loom was reassembled to working order and put on display.

The results of all of this can now be viewed at The Living Loom Exhibition taking place at LNDC from Saturday, July 22, to Sunday, July 31.

To celebrate the opening of the exhibition on Saturday, July 22, a special day of events will be held. On the day (between 11am and 4pm) you will be able to learn about the history of the local linen industry, meet Lurgan Weaver John McAtasney who is one of the last remaining master damask weavers in Ireland and Weave Technician Kevin Burns who will explain how the loom operates.

There will also be a Victorian factory worker who will talk about the difficult working conditions of the past as well as hands on activities and a chance to try your hand at spinning and weaving.

A number of exciting workshops will also run throughout the week for children.

All workshops are free but places are limited so please contact the Museum Services at [email protected] or 028 3831 1669.