Patchwork and quilting have been practiced as both practical and decorative crafts for centuries; the earliest examples come from Egyptian tombs. Both practices were derived out of necessity and thrift and their popularity has fluctuated according to changes in society. Through a rich and varied social history, patchwork and quilting have emerged as popular, relevant and widely practised in the 21^st century – crafts that have been built on traditional skills and experimentation with contemporary artistic techniques.

The Irish Patchwork Society was founded in 1981, to provide a meeting place for those interested in these practices. There are eight branches in the country; the Southern Branch meets in Cork. Activities at the meetings include guest speakers, quilt block demonstrations and workshops to provide members with opportunities to increase their skills.

The committee of the Southern Branch will focus on education and community to guide the programming for 2017.  One of the aims of this was to provide a forum to display their works to the community, thus the exhibition at the Sirius Arts Centre was born.  The exhibition will be opened by the Cork County Council Mayor Seamus McGrath on the 2^nd of March at 6.30pm. If you’re interested in finding out more about the branch, please visit the site.

This event is part of the This Must Be The Place | The Great Island Project 2017