The Weaving Workshop
The home of handwoven Irish linen damask
Our Weaving Workshop is one of the most popular galleries in the museum. Here, you can time-travel to the 19th century and visit a linen damask handloom factory, experiencing the sights and sounds of a busy workshop. We are the only place in the UK and Ireland where you can see linen damask weaving on original Jacquard looms, and speak to expert weavers.
Find out what we have been up to lately, click on the post below.
Flax flower design on the loom
Our flax flower design on the loom!
A visit from Europe’s largest linen yarn supplier
Ciaran Toal, handloom weavers Donna Campbell and Alison McNamee, with Fabrice Watermet of Linifico. It was fantastic to have linen yarn expert Fabrice Watremet, from certified Masters of Linen Linificio visit the Weaving Workshop on 23 October 2025 to discuss weaving, linen and flax supply in Europe. We were delighted
The last of the linen damask master weavers
An extract from a BBC article on the Weaving Workshop, available here. Alison McNamee is one of the world’s last master damask weavers. She weaves on a mid-19th century Jacquard handloom at the Irish Linen Centre in Lisburn, County Antrim. The Jacquard handloom was invented in 1801 and its automated
House & Garden Magazine feature on the Weaving Workshop
The museum’s weavers were delighted to be featured in a new article from the prestigious House & Garden magazine. The feature celebrates the artistry and dedication of craftspeople across the UK and Ireland, spotlighting individuals who are reviving traditional techniques and redefining modern craft. These makers are producing beautiful objects
Weaving Workshop nominated for Heritage Craft Association President’s Award
A handloom weaver from the museum has been shortlisted in the prestigious UK Presidents’ Award for Endangered Crafts organised by the Heritage Crafts. Donna Campbell is one of only three craftspeople to have been shortlisted for the UK award which was created to help secure the survival of endangered and
Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum selected for UK’s landmark touring exhibition project ‘Going Places’
The Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum is one of 20 organisations across the UK selected to take part in Going Places — a landmark £5.36 million exhibition programme led by Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries. As part of Going Places, six museum networks spanning Northern