Ballyguile Area Women’s Group Learn Traditional Skills

Towards the end of 2010, County Wicklow Partnership funded Ballyguile Area Women’s Group to undertake a knitting, weaving and mat making course under the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme. Under the skilful and patient coaching of members of Shuttleknit (a social enterprise in Wicklow Town established by the Traveller and settled community) participants were shown how to rug hook, weave on traditional looms, and make garments on knitting machines.

Each participant was awarded a certificate and a folder which detailed their chosen discipline and the process of their accomplishment. The women were delighted with their hand made products and their newly acquired skills. Participants from the course have since started up a knit and stitch group with children between 8 and 12 years old from the Ballyguile and Hillview Estates.