THE Southill Community Quilt was officially unveiled this week by former Mountjoy Prison governor John Lonergan. The folk art project, which has been a work in progress for 12 months, was launched at the Southill Area Centre on Monday, December 3. The quilt captures photos, stories and images from the Southill community over the past 46 years. Spearheaded by Southill residents and community groups, those involved spent months gathering images and pieces of local history to celebrate the great work carried out in the area by volunteers, local individuals and groups.
Speaking at the event, Mr Lonergan focused on the importance of community as a place for gaining a sense of identity, and the “joy of giving freely of your time to support those around you”.
A DVD presentation also showed local interviewees speaking about how they came to the area and what the community means to them.
The quilt, which is made up of pictures in the shape of a house, has room for an extension and the community is already looking forward to adding many more important events to it in the coming years.
The quilt will be on display in 12 Southill locations over the next 12 months.
Pictured at the launch of the Southill Community Quilt are Sr. Frances Minahan, John Lonergan, Mary Fitzpatrick and Jennifer O’Brien.
