GIANT KNITTED MAP OF IRELAND IS SEEKING NEW HOME

A 12FT by 11ft wool map of Ireland, which took four years of knitting to complete, is in search of a new home to go on display.

- BY CATE McCURRY

A group of up to 18 women in Co Wicklow, consisting of skilled knitters, sewers and crocheters, started the project in 2019 before it paused during the pandemic and resumed again in late 2022.

The women met every Wednesday at the Carnew Community Care centre where they came up with ideas of landmarks and historical sites across the island of Ireland that they could sew and knit together.

While 18 people started off the project, three of the women died over the years and two others went in to nursing homes.

The youngest member of the group is aged 65 while the eldest is soon turning 90.

Group member Mary Blake said that after creating a number of other woollen projects, a member of the community centre suggested knitting a map of Ireland.

The woollen map project quickly took off and now features prominent landmarks and sites across the island, including Glendalough, Croagh Patrick, Phoenix Park, Giant's Causeway and even Fungie the Dolphin.

Ms Blake said: "We all decided which bits would represent areas of significance and we put it all together like a jigsaw.