EU Presidency Culture Programme
Leitrim People Invited to Weave Their Hopes, Wishes and Stories into Unique European Art Project
Members of the public are invited to take part in a unique artistic and cultural experience at The Market Yard, Carrick-on-Shannon, on Sunday, 20 September, as part of TRADO, an artist residency programme presented by Leitrim County Council to mark Ireland's Presidency of the European Union.
International artist Dimitris Mitakos will bring two ancient Cypriot traditions to Leitrim through a special public engagement project, "Cypriot Paraklesis and Weaving", inviting people of all ages to contribute to the creation of a collaborative woven artwork.
Taking place throughout the day from 11am to 5pm at The Market Yard, participants are encouraged to bring small strips of fabric or old material from home and become part of an evolving textile that will carry the hopes, memories, wishes and personal reflections of the community.
The project draws inspiration from the weaving traditions of the Paphos region of Cyprus, where women have for generations woven textiles known as peftzia, colourful rugs made from strips of recycled fabric that carry stories, emotions and a sense of personal pride.
The work also references the ancient Cypriot tradition of paraklesis, a personal plea or prayer. At a site dedicated to Saint Solomonia in Paphos, visitors tie strips of cloth to the branches of a terebinth tree while offering a wish, hope, prayer or private thought. The tradition, which predates Christianity, has endured for centuries as a gesture of healing, remembrance and resilience.
This custom is strikingly similar to the Irish tradition of tying pieces of cloth, ribbons and personal tokens to trees near holy wells, seeking healing, protection, strength or blessings. These rag trees, often associated with holy wells and May traditions, represent a similar belief in the power of simple acts and humble materials to carry hopes and prayers. The project creates a meaningful dialogue between Cyprus and Ireland, revealing shared cultural traditions that have endured across generations and international boundaries.
Visitors will be invited to wear of a backstrap loom, which is a simple weaving device, to weave strips of fabric into the growing communal textile and reflect on a wish, hope, memory or aspiration of their own.
Arts Officer Philip Delamere said "This project creates a fascinating connection between Cyprus and Ireland through traditions that use simple pieces of cloth to express something deeply personal. Many people in Ireland will recognise the custom of tying fabric to trees at holy wells, just as communities in Cyprus tie cloth while making a paraklesis or personal plea. We are inviting people to bring small strips of material and help create a collective artwork that weaves together hopes, memories and stories from across our community."
This weaving project forms part of TRADO, a residency bringing together artists from Ireland, Lithuania, Finland and Cyprus to explore connections between sound, textiles, memory and material culture through a programme of collaborative research and public events.
While the weaving project will be ongoing throughout the day, visitors can also experience a series of solo performances by three other TRADO artists Natalia Beylis (Ireland) Augustė Vickunaitė (Lithuania), and textile artist Jan Anderzén (Finland) in different spaces around The Market Yard between 2pm and 4pm, offering a unique opportunity to encounter a diverse range of contemporary artistic practices in an informal and accessible setting.
Organisers are encouraging residents to bring small strips of old clothing, bedsheets, textiles or other fabric remnants, particularly pieces that hold personal significance or carry a story of their own. Through the act of weaving, these discarded materials will be given new purpose as part of a shared artwork.
The resulting textile will become a collective expression of community, memory and resilience, connecting Leitrim with centuries-old traditions from Cyprus while celebrating cultural exchange at the heart of Ireland's EU Presidency programme.
Venue & Date: Sunday 20th October at The Market Yard, Carrick-on-Shannon
- Event: Cypriot Paraklesis byDimitri Mitakos (Cyprus)
- Time: 11am to 5pm
- What to Bring: Small strips of fabric, old textiles, clothing or material remnants to weave into the artwork.
- Artist Performances: Natalia Beylis (Ireland) Augustė Vickunaitė (Lithuania), Jan Anderzén (Finland)
- Time: 2pm to 4pm
Admission: Free and open to all ages.