77 Women commemoration quilt facts for kids
The 77 Women quilt is a special artwork that remembers 77 women. These women were arrested after the Easter Rising in 1916. They were held at Richmond Barracks in Dublin. The quilt was made to honor them during the 100-year anniversary of the Rising.
A group called The Yarn School designed the quilt. They worked with women from the local community to create each part. Every panel on the quilt stands for one of the 77 women. The quilt was first shown at an event at Richmond Barracks on March 8, 2016. After that, it traveled around Ireland. Now, you can see it at the Barracks' Exhibition Centre.
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The 77 Women Quilt
Why Was the Quilt Made?
The 77 Women quilt is about remembering important history. It helps us learn about the brave women who took part in the 1916 Easter Rising. The quilt shows their stories and their fight for a better Ireland. It also connects their struggles to women's lives today.
What Does the Quilt Look Like?
The quilt is about 3 meters tall and 2.5 meters wide. It has 77 panels made of linen fabric. Each panel is printed and embroidered. The quilt was first shown on March 8, 2016, at Richmond Barracks. It was part of a special ceremony for the women of 1916.
After its first showing, the quilt traveled around Ireland. It was part of an exhibition that taught people about the Rising. Now, it is on display at the Exhibition Centre in Richmond Barracks. It is part of a continuing exhibit about the women of 1916.
How Was the Quilt Created?
The Yarn School led the project to create the quilt. They worked with 77 women from the local community. These women were asked to think about the stories of the 77 women from Richmond Barracks. They then created their own artistic responses.
The women who helped make the quilt came from many different backgrounds. This showed the variety of women's lives in Ireland today. The project helped them think about why the women of 1916 fought. It also made them think about their own hopes for Ireland's future. The quilt shows both the old stories and the new ideas.
Women in the Easter Rising
Who Were the Women of 1916?
About 300 women were active during the Easter Rising. They were part of groups like the Irish Citizen Army and Cumann na mBan. Women were involved in almost all the main strongholds in Dublin. Only two places, Boland's Mill and the South Dublin Union, did not have women fighters.
Some women played very important roles in the Rising.
- Min Ryan carried a message that changed the plans for the Rising.
- Rose McNamara was a leader at Marrowbone Lane. She had 22 women under her command.
- Constance Markievicz was the second-in-command at the College of Surgeons. This was near St. Stephen's Green.
- Winifred Carney went into the GPO on O’Connell Street. She had a gun and a typewriter. She worked as James Connolly's secretary for the whole week.
- Dr Kathleen Lynn was the main doctor.
- Elizabeth O'Farrell delivered Padraig Pearse's message of surrender. She was with him when he gave up to the British forces.
Many women also worked as messengers. They carried important notes and weapons between the GPO and other outposts. Some women were nurses. They gave first aid to those who were hurt. Before the surrender, Pearse praised the Cumann na mBan women. He said they showed great “bravery, heroism and devotion in the face of danger.”
Arrests After the Rising
After the Rising, 77 women were arrested. They were all taken to Richmond Barracks. You can find a full list of these women on the Richmond Barracks website. The list shows which groups they belonged to. It also shows when they were set free.
Remembering History
The Decade of Centenaries
In 2021, the Irish government started something called the Decade of Centenaries. This was a time to remember important events in Irish history. These events happened between 1913 and 1923. A key goal was to make sure women's roles were remembered.
Before these anniversaries, many people studied women's roles in Ireland's fight for freedom. The 77 Women project was part of Richmond Barracks' activities for the centenary. Historians Dr. Mary McAuliffe and Liz Gillis worked on the project. They wrote a book called Richmond Barracks 1916 "We were there": 77 Women of the Easter Rising.
The Yarn School
The Yarn School is a textile studio in Goldenbridge, Dublin. It was started in 2012 by artist Marja Almqvist. The school helps people and communities grow through creative learning. Its name comes from both fabric (yarn) and storytelling (a "good yarn"). People at the school use textiles to explore their own history and shared meanings.
