Traditional crafts at the Playhouse

Free workshops in traditional crafts associated with fishing and more workshops in utility quilting will start this month.

Fly-tying and net-making workshops will be held at the newly restored Playhouse building on Artillery Street, while two local quilting aficionados will be running workshops about utility quilting in the Tower Museum.

Funded by Derry City Council's "All The Walls A Stage" Project, the one-off workshops running in June, July and August will give participants a chance to see demonstrations as well as make their own to unique craft pieces.

Facilitators Maeve Gallagher and Eilish O' Kane, who run regular quilting and patchwork classes in The Playhouse, will explore the history of utility quilting, show samples of work and show how it can be utilised today.

And local artist and fly-tying expert Joe Connolly will be holding a demonstration of the making of trout and salmon flies and the making of a net in The Playhouse.

Mr Connolly is a cartoonist and illustrator and has contributed to many publications and books.

He is also a painter, both in oils and watercolour, and graphic designer.

But he has also for many years shown a keen interest in fishing and the traditional crafts associated with it.

"The reason I became interested in this kind of craft was because buying traditional patterns was so expensive, and it was cheaper to make your own!" he said.

"The well tied fly is a work of art in itself, using bird feathers, seal's fur, hare's ears and a variety of silks and gold and silver ribbing.

"Everyone is welcome to come and see how it's done and have a go yourself!"

Quilting workshop facilitators Maeve Gallagher and Eilish O' Kane, who have been involved in annual The Playhouse summer craft fair for the past three years (and will have tables at this year's craft fair on Saturday, July 3) say they are also very much looking forward to unique and original experiences with every new workshop.

Maeve Gallagher said: "I have always been interested in fabric and have always been around fabric.

"My mother and grandmother were shirt factory workers so there has always been a history of needlework in the family.

"We have been teaching quilting and patchwork at The Playhouse for the past six months and classes are always available to anyone who is interested in finding out what you can make out of just some scrap material. But there workshops really will be something different!"

Retired art teacher Eilish O' Kane agrees.

"It's about learning to make something out of nothing really" she said.

"Due to limited find in teaching I learnt over the years to utilise every scrap of fabric, paper or card! My mother also worked in the wear-rooms in Belfast so I also have the knowledge and skills my mother passed on to me.

"I take great please in being able to facilitate a class where people are learning to understand the concept of utility. Everyone can learn to some extent how they can utilise scraps in everyday life.

"We hope the workshops are not only learning experiences but are also fun and entertaining. And anyone with any knowledge or experience working in the shirt factories is more than welcome to come along and share their story."

For more information about the workshops including dates contact The Playhouse on (028)71 268027.