Mystery yarn-bomber returns to Whitegate

AS LOCKDOWN returns, so too has one of the most talked-about mysteries to grip East Clare this year.

After an interval of several months, a person, or persons unknown, has once strewn almost every spare inch of Main Street in Whitegate – and a bit of neighbouring Mountshannon – with colourful knitted and crocheted items. Working under cover of darkness, the mystery yarn-bomber(s), have put their considerable craft expertise to use to try to brighten the dark days of Level 5 restrictions, and lift the spirits of the locality.

Last week, in a coded message, the covert crocheter contacted The Champion to alert us to their activities. While swearing us to secrecy as to their identity, the yarn-bomber has pledged to leave their colourful handiwork in place until after Hallowe’en.

This time around, the deer statue in Mountshannon has had his iconic antlers festooned in knitwear, while in Whitegate, there are colourful crocheted items on poles, with signs outside the church and shop. There is also a special message of support for people whose home situations makes the lockdown all the more difficult.

“We have done a special hanging in support of women suffering violence in the home,” the yarn-bomber’s message said. “It has purple hearts on it which is their emblem. Lockdown is especially hard for women in this situation and we hope they will feel a little support from this hanging.”

On condition of strict anonymity, the knitter said, “We are still incognito. We have managed to go unseen putting it up and down all summer although we have had some close calls especially when dogs start barking….  so mum’s the word”.

During the first lockdown, residents were intrigued to wake up to colourful messages of hope and encouragement emblazoned in vibrant displays, some of which were in the Whitegate club colours. Among the phrases bedecking the town was ‘What’s the Craic?’, placed outside Mike Treacy’s shop and ‘Smile’, and ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy!’ on signs at McDermott’s Post Office. Expressing disappointment at the ongoing closure of licensed premises, the yarn-bomber put the words ‘Ah Feck’ outside O’Riordan’s Half Barrel pub.

A reference to the 1980s Bon Jovi anthem, ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’, urged people to remember that, ‘We’ve got each other, and that’s a lot’.

Local publicans Batt and Annette O’Riordan went so far as to check their CCTV, for clues as to the identity of the yarn-bombers, and while speculation continues, the identity of the Whitegate Yarn-bomber remains a mystery.