Fabric of Clare life set to raise €20k for charities

WHAT started as a pastime reviving old craft skills has helped to weave a unique Clare Quilt, which could raise up to €20,000 for three charitable causes.

Before the onset of Covid-19, Valerie Larkin enjoyed visiting places of interest throughout the county that she had only read about.

Ms Larkin thought it would be an interesting project to try to make a quilt that showed places of historical interest, lessor known sites, Irish dancers, musicians, fiddles and harps.

“I felt wouldn’t it be great to have a tapestry for Clare,” she recalled.

Measuring ten feet by six feet, this beautiful quilt, which was featured on RTE’s Nationwide, was created by women living in the four corners of Clare during lockdown last year.

It consists of individual handmade squares, created using many different mediums including appliqué, embroidery, felting and quilting.

Depicting some of Clare’s historical sites, lesser-known places, music, dance and sports culture, it is a unique record for what locals as well as visitors can see in the county.

Places such as the Graves of the Yellow Men near Kilbaha and the Kilfenora Cross are some of the locations featured in the quilt.

In 2019, Ms Larkin was part of a project for a Guinness Book of Records attempt for the last knitted blanket in the world. That was broken up and given out to the Red Cross.

Some of the women who did the knitting on this blanket joined her again to make the quilt.

The Dublin native, who came to Clare about 15 years ago, initiated the Clare Quilt Project.

In May 2021, the Ennis resident made a public appeal for volunteers who could sew, embroider, felt and appliqué living in Clare, who would be interested in taking part in this project.

A lot of interest was shown and eventually 26 women from all over the county signed up to produce handmade squares.

The only instruction they were given was to make a ten inch square depicting the square in any medium they liked.

“There were a lot of meetings in car parks, masked and leaving items on the tops of cars, while adhering to social distance. When we started to get the squares together people were asked what was going to happen with the quilt,” said Valerie.

“When I started off I hadn’t any charitable thought in my head, it was a case of pure survival during Covid-19 lockdowns.

“Some people had never made anything like this before. I said look at the picture, draw it on the fabric, go around it and see what you can do.

“People who never held a needle and thread in their lives did some fantastic work. They were surprised themselves at what they produced. I am very proud of the finished product.

“The simple things can turn out beautiful. We have made great friendships as a result of the project and still keep in touch.

“I didn’t want the people who made the quilt to have to go around selling tickets to all and sundry.

“A few families have clubbed together and bought tickets. It would be ideal for companies to buy a ticket and if they win they could donate it to the Clare Museum with a plaque depicting their name.”

By August 2021, all 60 squares were completed with the final product showcasing the wealth of talent and creativity of people throughout the county.

Woodstock Hotel, St Francis Hall, Corofin, Lisdoonvarna Fáilte Pavilion, Treacy’s West County Hotel and Shannon Airport either allowed the use of their spacious facilities to stitch the quilt together while adhering to Covid-19 restrictions or agreed to display it.

By mid November, Valerie had managed to stitch all the squares together into one impressive quilt thanks to the help of Maureen Flynn, Mary Lee, Eileen Considine, Nora Barry, Cora O’Grady and Bernie Onslow.

One woman used part of her late father’s cardigan to show the Cliffs of Moher from an angle that isn’t normally seen.

Nora Barry, Inagh, recalled putting all the squares together into one patchwork was a huge undertaking.

“It was interesting and funny at the same time. We always had the cup of tea and the laugh. It is totally unique.

“I am delighted to have been involved in it. The more often you look at it, something different will stand out for you and catch your eye.

“Everyone put a lot of effort into it. This project kept people sane during lockdown. My daughter, Concepta was involved in it as well.

“There isn’t as much emphasis on sewing and crochet now compared to years ago.”

The quilt was displayed on the north wall of the nave in St Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe in recent weeks until it was taken down on Monday.

Deborah Dudgeon said the cathedral was delighted to have the opportunity to showcase all the talents of the participants.

“It really suited the cathedral with all these interesting panels. Visitor to the cathedral really loved it and often spent 30 minutes looking at it. It would be great to get it back.

“It is great to see the cathedral being used to showcase art and for art exhibitions. There will be an art exhibition in the cathedral for the Killaloe Music Festival and another one in September.”

The three beneficiaries of a limited raffle of just 200 tickets costing €100 are Doolin Coast Guard, West Clare Cancer Support and Sláinte An Chlár.
While most companies or homes may not have a wall large enough to display the quilt, they could donate it to the Clare Museum.

To purchase a ticket email your name and address to amuighfaonspeir@yahoo.ie and then lodge €100 to Valerie Larkin, Bank of Ireland, Ennistymon, IBAN IE21BOFI90422942900082 BIC: BOFIIE2D An invoice/receipt plus a ticket will be then mailed to the purchaser.