Wonderful occasion this evening in Áras an Chontae, where Cathaoirleach Cllr Aengus O'Rourke official opened the Exhibition of 'Threading the Táin'. The tapestry recreates the story of An Táin Bó Cúailnge - the Cattle Raid of Cooley. The famous myth tells the tale of Queen Méabh of Connacht and her husband Ailill, who plot to steal the sacred stud bull Donn Cuailnge from Ulster. The tale traverses counties Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, Meath and Louth.
The five-piece stitch tapestry ‘Threading the Táin’ was helmed by Louth based artist Sophie Coyle and artists from each of the five counties oversaw the work on the individual county panels. Claire Delabre, from Handmade Designs in Mullingar, led the Westmeath sewers; Bridie Scally, Brigid Mayes, Margaret Cunnane, Trish Riding and Paula Sheridan.
The Tapestry will be on display in County Buildings, Mullingar Monday-Friday 9:30am - 4pm until 12th August. Be sure to go and see it. The Tapestry was produced by An Tain Arts Centre in association with Creative Spark and funded by Creative Ireland in partnership with Roscommon County Council, Longford County Council, Westmeath County Council, Meath County Council and Louth County Council
The Tapestry will also feature as part of Westmeath's Heritage Week events at the Hill of Uisneach, with Artist Claire Delabre, who coordinated the creation of the Westmeath panel for an illustrated discussion on how the piece was made and the story it illustrates.