Mary O’Sullivan celebrating Limerick’s heritage through fashion and design

Mary O’Sullivan celebrating Limerick’s heritage through fashion and design. Photo: Sarah Edel Hayes

Limerick fashion designer Mary O’Sullivan is celebrating Limerick City’s heritage through her contemporary fashion brand

Limerick fashion designer Mary O’Sullivan is bringing Limerick’s heritage, creativity, and culture to a new dimension through her contemporary fashion brand.

Mary O’Sullivan Design is celebrating the city’s landscape, stories, and landmarks by turning them into fine art prints and wearable fashion.

The Limerick designer’s inspiration is simple, and personal, growing up in Limerick, she said she has always loved the city and this is her way of sharing that love.

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“Growing up in Limerick, I’ve always loved the city. While others might focus on old stereotypes, I’ve always seen its creativity, character, and our strong sense of community,” Mary said.

She added, “Through my work, I love sharing Limerick and Ireland in a different light, celebrating the places, traditions, and stories that deserve to be seen, remembered, and honoured.”

Her signature Toile de Jouy-inspired designs, which many eagle-eyed Limerick and fashion lovers would have seen worn by Louise Cantillon, Eleanor O’Brien, Sarah Corbett-Lynch, Celia Holman-Lee, and 2025 Limerick Rose Leah McMahon, were influenced by her visits to Adare with her mother as a child.

Mary told I Love Limerick, “Storytelling sits at the heart of everything I create. Ireland is rich in heritage, folklore, and culture, and my signature Toile de Jouy inspired designs reimagine local landmarks, nature, and everyday life through a modern lens.

“My fascination with this style began in childhood while visiting Adare with my mum, Ann, who worked as a carer for the late Earl of Dunraven.

“The intricate scenes woven into the wallpaper and curtains of his house left a long-lasting impression and continue to inspire the Toile de Jouy-inspired designs that define my work today.”

The Limerick designer’s career has been on the rise, having showcased at Ireland Fashion Week in 2025 and also creating bespoke bridal pieces for clients in Ireland and overseas.

This year has seen the launch of a new collection, “This year has been especially exciting with the launch of my first ready-to-wear silk scarf collection, a dream I carried with me for over eight years and spent the last year bringing to life.

“The collection features three distinctive designs: Limerick Toile de Jouy, celebrating Limerick’s most iconic landmarks and symbols; A Bit of Home, inspired by treasured Irish symbols and created as a comforting reminder of home; and The People’s Park Scarf, a celebration of the beautiful flowers and nature that surround us, inspired by coffee walks through our beloved People’s Park.

“The support for the collection has been incredible. The Limerick Toile de Jouy scarf sold out almost immediately, reaffirming the appetite for designs that tell our stories of Limerick in a meaningful and wearable way.”

Beyond the wearable fashion side of her design, Mary also produces fine art prints of her hand-drawn images of landmarks, social scenes, and Limerick’s landscapes.

“I’ve also expanded my fine art print collection with new Clare-inspired designs featuring the iconic Cliffs of Moher, Unglert’s Bakery, and the legendary Durty Nelly’s, all inspired by my mother’s home county that holds a very special place in my heart,” Mary said.

She continued, “Alongside this, I’m delighted to be working on exciting collaborations with the iconic Costello’s Pub, which will be launching on my website on September 14th, 2026 but only those subscribed to my website’s mailing list will get early access. All of this is happening as I prepare to launch my ready-to-wear collection of corsets and dresses later this year, continuing the incredible momentum and opportunities of the past year.”

Reflecting on her inspirations growing up, Mary mentioned a special inspiration in her life, saying, “Above all, I do this for my daughter Lily. My north star. I want her to see that it’s possible to create your dreams in Limerick when you follow your passion and intuition, take creative risks, and build something meaningful.”