Real Life: A stitch just in time . . .
How kind-hearted 'quilters' from around the world are helping out victims of November's floods
Blanket coverage: Sherry Nugent (right) making quilts at her base in Co Wicklow, with colleagues Terri McNeill and Berenice Mertens.
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SOME people donated money, others offered shelter and food. Magazine editor Sherry Nugent issued an SOS for quilts.
As the country reeled in the aftermath of the devastating November floods last year, the editor of Irish Quilting Magazine sent out hundreds of emails to readers in America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and all over Europe.
By Christmas, stacks of parcels had started to arrive at the magazine's office in Roundwood, Co Wicklow, from around the globe: quilts for baby-cots, quilts for double beds and the makings of quilt covers.
This month saw stacks of the attractive hand-made comforters distributed to flood-ravaged families in Clare and Galway, while in recent weeks a total of 20 quilts were sent to flood victims in west Cork and around 30 more to Athlone in Co Westmeath.
"We're in the process of giving them out, now that people are starting to get themselves organised and back on their feet after the flood," says Dave Raftis of the Athlone flood relief effort.
Nugent (42), a Californian-born journalist who has lived in Ireland for the past six years, decided to kick-start her 'quilt relief' for the victims of the flooding because, she says simply, quilts are so warm, so colourful and just so downright comforting.
"We went online and emailed the international quilting community: about 400 people all over the world. They all either started making quilts for the Irish flood victims, or they donated quilts they had already made or sent us the makings of quilts.
"A teacher in Bray got her students to make a quilt for us!" explains Nugent, who says that after receiving the quilt appeal email, home economics teacher Helen Dodd pitched the idea of making a quilt for flood victims to her transition year class at St Killian's in Bray, Co Wicklow.
Expertise
"What emerged was a large quilt, sized for a double bed or larger, prepared, sewn and finally quilted by all.
"The quilt will soon be en-route to flooding victims in Galway."
Meanwhile, says Nugent, the teenagers have started on a quilt for victims of the Haitian earthquake.
So far Nugent's appeal has resulted in about 100 quilts of all sizes from all corners of the world.
A colourful one proudly resides on the bed of Pat Byrne, now in his eighties, and a resident of St Michael's Centre in Bandon, Co Cork -- one of the towns worst hit by the floods.
Several residents had to move upstairs after the ground floor was destroyed by flooding, while the kitchen, where 50 meals-on-wheels dinners are prepared every day, was severely damaged.
"It's nice to hear that the quilts came from all over the world to us here -- lots of us got one," says Pat, who spent much of his life working in England.
"It was great that people sent the quilts on to us, very thoughtful. I have mine on my bed. I think it was a lovely thing to do.
Welcome
"Parts of the centre were very badly affected by all the flooding. There's still water underneath the floor in the kitchen and there was a lot of damage done."
The quilts were an unusual but hugely welcome gift.
"We were delighted to get the quilts," says Cindy McCarthy, Bandon town councillor and a member of the Bandon flood relief committee.
"Quilts are such a personal thing and they were the perfect gift for the residents of St Michael's. They're very comforting to them following the devastation and turmoil they have experienced in the last few months."
Nugent, who married a Wicklow man before returning to Ireland in 2004, set up her magazine in 2008. She now prints 16,000 copies bi-monthly and sells in 15 countries.
Although Ireland currently faces a multi-million mop-up bill, people were heartened by the efforts of quilters around the world to bring some warmth back into the devastated lives of flood victims.
In the meantime, thanks to the efforts of Nugent and her team, the quilts continue to arrive at the magazine's offices.
- Ailin Quinlan
Irish Independent
