Offaly Heritage Week to feature 'Unstitching The Shinrone Gown' short film

Shinrone Heritage Group's short film titled 'Unstitching The Shinrone Gown' is set to feature as part of Offaly Heritage Week.

The film will be screened in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Friday, April 25.

'Unstitching The Shinrone Gown' by Offaly-based filmmaker Garret Daly of Mixed Bag Media won the Heritage Week county award in 2024.

The original Shinrone Gown, one of Ireland’s most significant surviving garments from the late medieval period, was discovered in 1843 in a bog outside the village and is now displayed at the National Museum of Ireland, where it is celebrated as an invaluable artifact of Irish heritage.

This stunning textile is thought to be over 400 years old, making it one of the oldest surviving garments in Ireland. Its survival is nothing short of extraordinary, as noted by Maeve Sikora, Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the National Museum, who is featured in the film: “Textiles from the late medieval period tend not to survive. We are very fortunate to have this gown on display.”

The film can be viewed on the Offaly Heritage YouTube channel here.