Limerick town history association honour the legacy of LSAD fashion course founder
The Abbeyfeale Oral History Association honoured the memory of the LSAD fashion course founder Pam McCarthy with a heritage plaque outside Coláiste Íde agus Iosef
THE ABBEYFEALE Oral History Association have paid tribute to the legacy of a local woman with a heritage plaque outside the local school.
A plaque was unveiled in memory of the late Pam McCarthy who was born in the town and went on to set up the now globally renowned fashion course at Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD).
The plaque is situated on the pier outside Coláiste Íde agus Iosef in Abbeyfeale and it's hoped it will act as inspiration for the students to pursue their dreams and career aspirations.
Ms McCarthy was born in Abbeyfeale in 1929. She came from a well-known family and her brother Seán was a doctor in the town, while other siblings were teachers.
James Harnett of the oral history association said that Ms McCarthy never married and trained as a domestic science teacher, but her career had many branches and different features.
She found her way to LSAD and was asked to set up the fashion course, which is now world famous, having brought many sparkling fashion designer careers to fruition.
Ms McCarthy founded and ran the course from 1975, when she herself was 46-years-old, until 1989.
“She was very big into local talents and local resources. Her modus operandi was that students needed to learn all elements of fashion design,” Mr Harnett explained.
She believed that students needed to know how to design, sew and create their pieces, as well as learning about the business side of things.
Ms McCarthy spearheaded the first of the fashion course fashion shows, which became an industry high point to scout for up and coming talent.
“She loved to promote local designers and would have worked with the Celia Holman Lee agency models,” Mr Harnett explained.
Ms McCarthy always loved Abbeyfeale and used to return regularly throughout her retirement, before she passed away in October 2024.
READ ALSO: Limerick child sexual abuse survivors speak out in favour of new bill to protect children
Mr Harnett said that it's hoped that this plaque will be the start of a budding relationship between the young students and the Abbeyfeale Oral History Association.
This is the third heritage plaque unveiled by the group.
The unveiling of the plaque also coincides with the return of the LSAD fashion show after a nine-year hiatus. See here for full coverage of the fashion show.