Exhibition Dates: 7th Aug  - 19th Sept 2026. Free Entry

Exhibition by Gráinne Mulligan 

Threading Memories centred on a crocheted quilt made over one hundred years ago by the artist's grandmother in Beale, County Kerry.

Through painting, thread drawing, sculpture and archival material, the exhibition explored how objects can carry memory across generations, holding the traces of the hands that made them and the lives they have touched.

For the artist, the quilt is more than a family heirloom. It is a witness to acts of care, ritual and making, connecting generations of women whose lives were shaped by thread. Repeated throughout the exhibition, the quilt becomes both subject and method. The slow, sustained process of painting is a way of looking closely, returning again and again to an object that continues to reveal new histories and relationships. Through this repetition, the work becomes an act of remembrance and a means of drawing closer to the artist's maternal lineage.

Alongside the paintings, thread drawings and sculptural works extended the language of the quilt beyond its physical form. Thread functions as both material and line, suggesting the invisible bonds that connect family members across time while echoing the structures of crochet and the inherited knowledge passed between generations. Archival photographs, a family letter and an historical document containing patterns of quilts further root the exhibition in North Kerry, revealing the personal and cultural histories that underpin the work.

The exhibition also acknowledged the rich tradition of crochet and lace-making in County Kerry. More than a domestic craft, these practices formed an important part of women's lives and labour, creating opportunities for economic independence while preserving knowledge that was passed from one generation to the next. By placing these traditions in dialogue with painting and contemporary art, Threading Memories reflects on the value of women's work, the persistence of material memory, and the quiet acts of care that continue to shape both family histories and cultural identity.

 https://grainnemulligan.com/

Official Opening took place at The Art Gallery at Siamsa Tíre on Fri 7th Aug 2026 at 6pm.