EHOD: Women that Wove the City: Linen, Legacy & Reimagining Belfast

Across the weekend, hear stories of Belfast’s “Millies” - the women and young workers whose lives were shaped by the linen mills - through short talks and storytelling from Titanic Belfast crew and guest speakers. Hear from The Linen Lady, Kerry Freud, about the connection between Titanic and linen and discover the journey from flax to linen with Fiona McKelvie.

Visitors can also see flax flower felting demonstrations from Felt Makers North, discover the work of Linen Workers CIC and Fibreshed Ireland as they explore the future of local flax, fibre and textile production and meet Brennan’s Irish Linen to hear about the heritage of linen in the greater Belfast area.

Throughout the weekend, characters will bring the stories of the linen industry to life as they roam the building, while a self-guided children's activity invites younger visitors to follow the journey from flax to fashion and become Linen Detectives in the Northern Threads exhibition.

From the fields where flax grows, to the mills that transformed Belfast and the designers reimagining linen today, discover how this remarkable material has woven its way through the city’s history and why keeping its skills, stories and traditions alive matters for the future.

Part of European Heritage Open Days 2026, this free programme celebrates Belfast’s linen legacy and the people continuing to reimagine it today.