The Connect Family Resource Centre in Moneymore took an active part in the 16 Days: Activism Against Gender Based Violence Campaign and last week they held a very successful event in the Slua Hall which attracted over 40 women.
Due to a mix up Drogheda Life arrived an hour late but I was delighted to meet old neighbour and friends and then I saw the strangest sight – two Gardaí, Patrick Sheridan and Rebecca Flynn of the community Garda section in Drogheda sitting at a table making paper stars.
I looked around again and I realised that it wasn’t the guards doodling, everyone else in the room was doing the exact same thing.
Everyone was taking part in a project called One Million Stars Ireland which aims to connect people through the craft of weaving stars. The One Million Stars Ireland Project was brought to Ireland in 2019 by art therapist Siobhan McQuillan of Arts Reach Ireland.
Liza Clancy of the Drogheda Star Weavers group, who was on hand to help newcomers to the craft, said that each star represents light, hope and solidarity against violence.
The One Million Stars Project was brought to Ireland in 2019 by art therapist Siobhan McQuillan (Arts Reach Ireland) and Amber Refuge Kilkenny.
The Drogheda group was founded in 2019 and to date has weaved almost 20,000 stars, some of which can be seen on display in the windows of local businesses in the town.
Pictured at the 16 Days: Activism Against Gender Based Violence Campaign event were (from left): Susan McConnon, Sinead Nugent and Angela Ghirghircic of Connect FRC, Anne Kelly, Geraldine Reynolds and Alison Murphy.
“Together we aim to weave One Million Stars across the whole of Ireland” Liza said. “Join us on our weaving journey.”
Susan Keogh of the Drogheda Women’s and Children’s Refuge gave a very informative talk on Coercive control and members of Drogheda Soroptimists displayed their banner to raise awareness and show their support to eliminate violence against women and girls.
Louth LEADER Partnership provided funding for the million STAR toolkit and catering.
Pictured at the 16 Days: Activism Against Gender Based Violence Campaign event were (from left): Josephine Rudd, Vanessa Harte, Annette Purdy, Alex Markovic and Marian Byrne.
Connect FRC say they will display the woven stars at their centre as a sign of hope, light and solidarity to end all types of violence.
Meanwhile, Christmas is always a very busy time for the FRC as they prepare for their annual “active age” dinner for senior citizens tomorrow and of course for the children there is the annual visit from Santa to look forward to next week.
CLICK HERE for more information on the Drogheda Star Weavers group
