The annual RDS Branchardière Lace Bursary, funded by RDS, managed by Design & Crafts Council Ireland, is open for applications.

This opportunity is open to contemporary lace makers and those incorporating lace into their work in a significant manner, who are clients of DCCI or members of a Guild, Association, Network or Society (GANS) registered with DCCI.

First launched and awarded in 2021 to mark the 50th anniversary of Design & Crafts Council Ireland and to commemorate the legacy of Eleanor Riego de la Branchardière, the bursary aims to celebrate the spirit of innovation and resilience in the field of lace needlework.

About the bursary:

The bursary is named after Eleonore Riego de la Branchardière, whose 72 books on needlework revolutionised the world of lace and had a major influence on fashion in the Victorian era. Eleanore’s mother was Irish, her father was French and the influence of these two cultures helped her fit easily into Victorian society. She became a needlework star, and her patterns were used by Irish women to create the in-demand fashion for English ladies. Lacemaking proved a reliable source of income for many Irish families during the Great Famine and paid the cost of passage to the United States for many single women.