A post by Regina McCarthy:
We embarked on another successful quilting tour in September of this year – completing the last of the British Isles with our trip to Ireland (Scotland -2014, Wales – 2013 and England in both 2010 & 2012) . Of course there are so many wonderful needlepoint displays in Ireland that this might better be described as a Textile Tour than a Quilting Quest – A real treat for anyone who appreciates and engages in textile arts and needlepoint. We had a very lovely group of 22 women who enjoyed a thorough immersion in the arts and culture of the region; all of which was thankfully captured in the photos and editorial provided by Carol Ruse from Baden, Ontario. Please enjoy her story and stay tuned for details on our 2016 excursion which will be available soon.
Today we leave Galway behind and head back to Dublin. On our way we head to Roscommon to meet weaver Frances Crowe. Our trip takes us deep into the country along ever narrowing country roads. On each side of us is farmland with sheep and caramel-coloured cattle. Once at Frances’ home, we enter her weaving shed which she had built at the back of her house. As we explored her work area she showed us how she wove her pieces and, had a sample on a loom that we could try.
Once again we experienced the warm hospitality of the people of Ireland as we were treated to a lunch of soup, sandwiches. and dessert made by our host and hostess. Then it was back on the bus and off to Dublin, or so we thought, as on our way down the narrow country road we were greeted by cattle being herded to a new field. The cows were not happy to see something that much bigger than themselves; not to mention the the sound of a loud engine. They turned, and ran the other way only to come face to face with a man waving his arms with stick in hand forcing them to turn back to face the monster of a bus….confusion reigned.
Regina in her wisdom had the Phil turn off the engine, and with this, the leader of the herd came forward and led them passed the bus. We then gave the herder a ride in the bus back to his car; who knew that was how cows were moved from one field to another…..down a country road by car. Regina, Liz and Peter could not have worked harder to arrange this very real Irish experience for us. They are ‘masters of their trade’. Then it was on to the M6 motorway (as they call their highways) heading for Dublin and back to my new ‘home away from home’, the Jury’s Inn, Parnell Dublin.
