- Textiles
Leisha Cowan
Leisha Cowan was established by Wendy Cowan and Lucie Feighan who met while training in Weave Design & Production in Termonfeckin, Drogheda, Co Louth
Leísha Cowan’s textiles are inspired by the ancient landscape of Brú na Bóinne. This sacred site is also known as the “palace of the Boyne,” a 5,200-year-old Neolithic passage complex in County Meath, Ireland, older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids. This is a beautiful spacious site nestled in a bend of the River Boyne and its sister waterway, the River Mattock.
Brú na Bóinne is renowned for its intricate network of underground passageways, standing and carved kerbstones.
Walking/Stretching Country
I walk lusciously green country roads to visit Brú na Bóinne from the nearby town of Slane to sit and sketch the cyclical stone markings. I sit and sketch with the feminine presence of inner chambers and lintels in the time before these sacred mounds were curtailed to visitors (1997).
The inner passage of Brú na Bóinne is aligned with the rising sun during the winter solstice. A small opening above the entrance allows sunlight to illuminate the inner chamber for at sunrise on the solstice. In Irish mythology, these tombs are portals to the Otherworld and havens to the deities of the Tuatha Dé Danann, also known as the ‘folk of the goddess Danu.’
Gold twill weave
50% spun linen – 50% Irish wool
This gold twill weave was made into a jacket worn by President Mary Robinson at an official function in 1990.
Lace collar – moon cycles
100% silk
The carvings on Kerb Stone 52 at Knowth shows that the people who created Brú na Bóinne were skilled astronomers who carefully observed the sky over long periods.
This stone, sometimes called the Calendar Stone inspired Leísha Cowan’s lace collar and embossed logo design.
LeÍsha Cowan embossed logo
Newgrange-Sí an Bhrú entrance stone
Photo by Johnbod
Spirals – jacquard weave
100% Irish wool
This jacquard weave is a reminder that looms are a storytelling technology. Inspired by the work of Ada Lovelace, the Jacquard Loom was instrumental in the development of computer programming. Weaving is the work of artistry, of double sided patterned cloth and mathematical coding.
Spiral print
100% cotton
Double weave with wool embroidery overlay. Irish linen ecru shirt
Embroidery inspired by the Newgrange – Sí an Bhrú entrance stone carvings.
Double weave with wool embroidery overlay (detail)
Pleated satin dress with detailed spiral silver embroidery
Visit Lucie Feighan’s art