Culture Night 2021, Mountmellick, Co.Laois, Ireland

"Weaving Textiles & Poetry – A Mixed Media Night of Words, Threads and Song"

For more information on Mountmellick Embroidery: https://www.mountmellickdevelopment.c...

Weaving Textiles & Poetry – A Mixed Media Night of Words, Threads, and Song - in celebration of "Poetry Town", Yarnbombing Mountmellick have joined forces with Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum to celebrate the heritage of textiles in Mountmellick in a specially created film.

This will include newly created pieces by both groups and the first reading by Poetry Town Laureate, Arthur Broomfield, of a specially commissioned poem celebrating the rich textile heritage and history of Mountmellick. Poets Declan Furlong and Sharon McEvoy will share their work, and Ger Phillips will perform his new song for the occasion.

Weaving song and spoken word, together with the creative expression of textiles craft, this film will act as a homage to the history of the town. As an acknowledgment of the loss of the textile industry, Mountmellick photographer Kevin Byrne will unveil 6 photographs from his collection. Kevin shot precious scenes from the last day of the existence of The Textiles Factory in 2004. They will reflect the poignancy of the industrial decline in Mountmellick.

Finally, local artist Kate Deegan’s mural will be unveiled in the museum, depicting the floral designs of Mountmellick Embroidery and highlighting the opening lines of poet Ann Egan’s poem “The Sewing Girl To Her Mother- i.m. of Mrs. Eileen O’Connor”. This poem won First Prize in Listowel Writers' Week, The Annaghmakerrig Award, and has been widely published in poetry journals. Mountmellick is honoured to make a place for it in the hometown of Ann’s Mother, Mrs. Eileen O’Connor. Ann will also recite the poem in full for the film. All tangible pieces will be on permanent display in the museum.