A WORLD-RECORD setting knitted map of Ireland will soon be available to view across the country.

The knitted map was started in 2018 by Creative Crafters, a group of knitting friends in Carnew Community Centre in Co Wicklow.

It was created by nineteen Wicklow women who spent six years creating the woolly work of art.

The world record-breaking knitted map of Ireland, created by Creative Crafters in Carnew, Co Wicklow. Conor McCabe Conor McCabe

In September, Guinness World Records confirmed it as the world’s largest knitted diorama.

But with no permanent home, the 171sq ft piece map faced an uncertain future.

That was until Gifted, the contemporary craft and design fair, agreed to preserve it and offer it out on loan across the country.

Gifted opened today at the RDS and will run until this coming Sunday.

The diorama will be on display at the Dublin venue until Sunday and will then be offered to art galleries, county council offices and community groups for public exhibition.

Patrick O’Sullivan, organiser of Gifted, said he had heard of the knitting group’s struggle to find a permanent home for the diorama.

Gifted organiser, Patrick O’Sullivan, with the world record-breaking knitted map of Ireland Conor McCabe Conor McCabe

“It was going to be packed up and stored away in boxes, which would have been a shame,” said O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan said the diorama is “so large and so detailed that it is of cultural significance to the country”.

He added that it “represents the island of Ireland in a snapshot of time and will, in time, be of historical importance”.  

Gifted will now become the custodians of the map and facilitate other cultural institutions who may wish to take it on loan, at no cost. 

O’Sullivan added: “Perhaps the Office of Public Works should step in and put it on permanent display.”

Knitter and Creative Crafters spokeswoman Liz Butler said it felt ‘very emotional’ to see the map being so highly valued.

“We didn’t do it for recognition, we just did it as a challenge,” she said.

“Sadly, not all of the women lived to see the project completed, but their effort and legacy remains.”

She said the group based its creation on animated tourist maps depicting key attractions around Ireland.

“We knew it was going to be big so we decided to put it together like a puzzle, we did the four provinces and instinctively knew that we needed to have iconic landmarks in there, such as Hook Head in Wexford,” said Butler.

Liz Butler, right, pictured with fellow Creative Crafters member Mary Blake, before the piece went on display at Gifted Brendan Lawrence. Brendan Lawrence.

“We thought we’d have it on display for three weeks in the community centre and we’d pack it away, but it just grew legs; the Guinness world record was the icing on the cake.”