McQueen Spring Summer 2026: The Armagh Rhymers
Rooted in music, myth and folklore. Explore the Irish heritage and traditions woven through the McQueen Spring Summer 2026 show.
McQueen Spring Summer 2026 is an exploration of ancient traditions and rituals, navigating modern tensions and an innate human connection to nature – a theme that lies deep in the heritage of McQueen, and also invokes the Celtic origins of Creative Director Seán McGirr.
For the Spring Summer 2026 show, Irish traditions and artisanal crafts are celebrated in a collaboration with The Armagh Rhymers, a music and theatre ensemble based in Northern Ireland whose performances and practices are grounded in Irish folklore.
The harvest knot, woven by the local community in Armagh forms the invitation to the show and two bespoke maypole toppers have been made by hand and are integrated into the show set.
Weaving Tradition
The art of weaving is passed down through generations and forms an important practice within the local Armagh community. Often to celebrate the end of the harvest, a small token known as a ‘harvest knot’ is woven from straw. The knots signify romantic connection and are often given as gifts. They form a part of the wider harvest festivities which also include the tradition of the ‘May pole’ a practice that is linked to ancient traditions of fertility and renewal, involving dances around living trees to ensure good harvests and the prosperity of the community.
The Armagh Rhymers
The Armagh Rhymers perform traditional Irish music and ‘mumming’, preserving the heritage of this practice which is tied to Celtic folklore and combines theatre and music with intricately hand-made woven masks and costumes. This tradition celebrates nature’s generative power and the connection of communities throughout generations. The symbolism behind each character runs deep — a language unto itself, inviting abundance and prosperity.
