Magnificent Shinrone Gown wows audience

A MAGNIFICENT recreation of the famous Shinrone Gown wowed a large gathering of people when it was unveiled in Shinrone Community Centre during Heritage Week.
One of the most famous items of clothing in Ireland, this wonderful garment has been painstakingly and carefully recreated by local craftswomen Rosalind Fanning and Bernie Stapleton.
Commissioned by the enthusiastic and popular Shinrone Heritage Group, Rosalind and Bernie spent many weeks researching the project, including familiarising themselves with 400 year old tailoring techniques.
Gerry Murphy, of Shinrone Heritage Group, warmly welcomed the large gathering of people to the Community Centre including former teacher and local historian Noel McMahon who has done so much over the years to record the history of his beloved village and parish.
Gerry also warmly thanked Amanda Pedlow and Karen Grey of the Offaly Heritage Office for their invaluable support throughout the Gown project.
He praised the skill and perseverance of Rosalind, “custodian of Tin Jug Studio in Birr”, and Bernie, “a talented tailor”. “We held a very beneficial and enjoyable workshop in Tin Jug Studio with several people from the Shinrone area where we made peg dolls and learned about natural dyeing techniques. It was intriguing.
“The Shinrone Gown was discovered by two workers working in Cangort Bog just outside Shinrone in the spring of 1843. There was no body with the gown. There was a bit of a tear on it and it had been discoloured (as well as being preserved) by the bog, where it had lain undisturbed for over 400 years. It's now in the National Museum and is one of the most popular exhibits there, because it's striking looking and the only gown of its type to still exist in Ireland and Britain.”
Gerry said there has often been discussion as to who the owner of the gown was, or what had happened to her. Had she been murdered? Was the gown hidden in the bog when Cromwell's men besieged Cangort Castle? Had it fallen off a cart unbeknown to the cart's driver? We will never know.
The Gown was acquired by Dr Aquila Smith who sold it to Roger Walker of Sligo for £4 (€2,000 in today's money). Walker sold it to the Duke of Northumberland in 1851. It subsequently passed to the Royal Irish Academy and then to the National Museum in Dublin.
Laura Fitzachary, a former employee in the National Museum, gave a fascinating résumé of the history of Irish fashion and the gown's place in it. “The Shinrone Gown is one of those pieces which captivates anyone who comes close to it,” she remarked.”It's late 15th, early 16th Century and was owned by someone who was probably well to do. It would have been worn over a smock (a léine) and is notable for the unusual half / hanging sleeves which were of the era and seem unusual to us.”
Rosalind said this project had connected her and Bernie “powerfully to the past.” She said social history was fascinating and also a welcome relief from the power struggles, back stabbing, violence and warmongering of regular history. Bernie and Rosalind both said they were deeply impressed with the high quality, with the craftsmanship that went into making the original gown. They said they fell in love with the gown and hoped that love would translate into the finished product (the very positive response from the audience showed it had!)
The two ladies also praised Kass McCann who is an expert on period dress and gave them invaluable tips and advice.
They discussed the books which inspired and guided them and told us about the various sources in Ireland from which and from whom they had gathered together the necessary material.
They pointed out the darts in the gown which could be let out to accommodate a widening girth during pregnancy.
They admitted the project had also been hard work and therefore had caused them a bit of angst, anxiety and worry. However, in the end they had won through and created something which everybody loves.
The Gown will be on display in the local museum in Shinrone National School. If you wish to view it please give the school a ring.