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knit and stitch
An inmate in Limerick Prison made these Magdalene-inspired quilts
The man’s teacher said most students in the prison have little or no art experience and the classes help them to see what they’re capable of.
THESE STRIKING QUILTS are part of an exhibition at the Knit and Stitch Show at the RDS – but they have an interesting story behind them.
An inmate in Limerick Prison, who was inspired by the story of the Magdalene Laundries, spent nine months embroidering them as part of an art class in the prison.
His teacher, Paula Rafferty, told TheJournal.ie today that the man had worked on tapestries commissioned by SIPTU for the Lockout centenary and it got his creative juices flowing.
“The idea of telling a story through a quilt appealed to him and that’s where the idea came from so he approached me about it,” she explained.
Most students we have coming into prison have very little or no art experience so it’s something that they develop while they are there.
“It’s great to be able to give people another view of what they’re capable of,” she added.
Rafferty said the man wants to donate the quilts to a Magdalene survivor groups once the exhibition ends this Sunday and she is hoping one of them will get in touch so they can be passed on.
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