The Ros Tapestry

Places to See | Co. Wexford, Ireland

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The Ros Tapestry is a unique project ongoing in the South East since 1998, involving over 150 volunteer stitchers working on 15 giant tapestries. It is an excellent example of creativity and community spirit on a grand scale and depicts Norman History linking all the sites in Ireland’s Ancient East. Ros Tapestry is one of the largest series of embroidered tapestries in Europe. Each tapestry depicts a different significant event in history.

Fifteen striking embroidered panels showing the Anglo-Norman arrival in the South East of Ireland, specifically the founding of the town of New Ross, Co. Wexford by William Marshal – a famous Knights Templar and his wife Isabel de Clare heiress of Dermot Mac Murrough, King of Leinster.

Dermot built a bridge linking the routes to Waterford, and the great arterial waterways of the Nore and the Barrow facilitated shipping from the sea. Ros became the heart of capitalist Leinster; its international banking and trading centre and one of the country’s most bustling sea ports. Up to 400 ships a week were known to have berthed in the harbour. This epic tale has been brought to life in the Ros Tapestry…a tale told in thread.

The first tapestry was completed in 2002 and to date 14 of the 15 tapestries are complete. From the initiation of a Celtic King to Hiberno-Norman commerce the cultural legacy of Leinster is immortalised in crewel embroidery and hanging on permanent exhibition.

The Ros Tapestry is a spectacular embroidered work, in the tradition of the Bayeux Tapestry and definitely worth going to see if visiting Wexford.

Address: The Ros Tapestry, 14 The Quay, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland

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