Midlands Traveller women launch art exhibition launched in Athlone

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Midlands Traveller women have joined artist Teresa Doyle as they launched the 'Threading Needles, Telling Stories' exhibition in the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Athlone Campus on Tuesday, October 22.

Featuring nine unique dolls lovingly made by the Midlands-based Traveller women, the exhibition highlights the culture and stories of the Travelling community in Ireland.

Traveller women Sarah McDonagh, Mary McInerney, Caroline McDonagh, Bridget McInerney, Edel Ward, Geraldine Ward, Celine McInerney, and Danielle Daly all joined Teresa over the course of nine weeks to work on the project.

“When you make a doll, you can remove it from yourself somewhat, but you can tell your story through the doll,” said Teresa, who is a native of Offaly but has made her home in Ranaghan, Castlepollard with her husband, Tommy 'Jogger' Doyle and their family.

All the pieces fell into place for the project when Karen Gray, Creative Ireland, Creative Communities Engagement Officer, Offaly County Council, got in touch with Teresa about available funding for projects based around the Traveller community.

Teresa said: “For this project the stars aligned. I met Karen, Esker Arts Centre was opened, Geraldine [Ward] got in contact with me, the proposal was in, the funding was there to be got.

“Geraldine told me about the groups under Offaly Traveller Movement. There's a group in Tullamore, one in Birr, and one in Banagher. We said we'd be at the Hazel Hub in Tullamore, and we got started on the work.”

The creation of the dolls not only provided a creative outlet for the women, but also enabled the women to create a tangible artifact that could remind people of Traveller culture and traditions.

“From day one each woman started to think who will the story be about? Who do I owe so much to? Who do I want to remember? And that's where the name 'Threading Needles, Telling Stories' came from.”

Celine McInerney said: “Straight away their first thought went to their loved ones - most of [the dolls] are people who have passed away. Those people have passed on beliefs to this generation of Travellers. Traveller people [in the past] had no other choice than to wear the one jeans for 10 years, they had to pass on clothes to their sisters and brothers.

“Now they have great skills, they’re very creative and artistic. What you see here today is a labour of love, it’s people who have played a big part in the women’s lives. It was dealing with bereavement and healing, and it’s seeing how Travellers lived in the past.”

Karen Gray, Creative Ireland, Creative Communities Engagement Officer, Offaly County Council said: “The stars did align - I was delighted to connect with Teresa. I was very receptive to the idea because I was looking for a project which would focus on Travellers' culture and tradition.

“I couldn’t believe the project - there was so much learning and development from it. There was an opportunity through this project to teach younger generations and pass on the skills, and there was healing as well, and passing on of their stories, and the exploring of their activity.”

It was announced at the launch of the 'Threading Needles, Telling Stories' exhibition in TUS Athlone that the exhibition would be hosted in the Technological University of the Shannon - Moylish Campus in Limerick at a later date. The exhibition has also been invited to join the National Museum of Ireland.

The exhibition ends today (Friday) at TUS Athlone.