Stitched Together – The Community Story Shawl Exhibition
Stitched Together: The Community Story Shawl
For the month of August, Monaghan County Museum will unveil a powerful testament to creativity, connection, and shared experience by exhibiting a Community Story Shawl that was created by many hands and voices.
Created to celebrate Worldwide Knit and Crochet in Public Day, over 60 local crafters gathered at the Peace Campus in Monaghan for a remarkable day of crafting. What began as a simple green shawl was gradually transformed into something far more meaningful. Through individually crafted yarn charms – each accompanied by handwritten personal reflections – participants wove their stories, memories, and identities into the fabric itself.
The result is a richly textured, deeply personal work: vibrant in colour, layered in meaning, and alive with the spirit of community.
Co-created by Monaghan Town Library and Monaghan County Museum, the Stitched Together project invited people of all backgrounds and skill levels to take part – from seasoned makers to complete beginners. In doing so, it moved traditional fibre arts out of private spaces and into a shared public setting, where creativity became accessible, welcoming, and free from judgment. Conversation flowed alongside thread; knowledge passed easily between generations; and a shared sense of purpose emerged.
Now, this collaborative piece takes its place within the museum – not simply as an object on display, but as a celebration of contemporary community life. The exhibition honours the local makers who contributed to it, while also highlighting the enduring relevance of traditional craft practices. It reminds us that these skills are not echoes of the past, but living, evolving forms of expression that continue to shape how we tell our stories today.
In bringing this shawl into a professional museum space, the exhibition elevates everyday voices as valuable public art. It invites visitors to look closely, to trace the textures and fragments of narrative, and to reflect on the quiet power of collective creation.
More than an artwork, the Community Story Shawl is a living archive – an embodiment of connection, creativity, and belonging. It shows how, even in the simplest acts of making, a community can come together to create something extraordinary. It will be on display throughout August in Monaghan County Museum.
Monaghan County Museum Opening Times:
- Monday to Friday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Image Gallery - Click to enlarge
Event Address: Monaghan County Museum, Peace Campus, Monaghan, H18 RP20
Suitable For: All Ages
Accessibility Information
Monaghan Peace Campus is fully accessible by all modes of transport. A separate underground public car park provides over 110 spaces, including free accessible parking bays. Payment machines accept both Euro and Sterling coins. Lift access is available from the car park to all levels of the building. Accessible toilets available on all levels of the building.
Organiser: : Monaghan County Museum
Event Email: : amccann@monaghancoco.ie
Event Contact Number: : +353 (0) 47 82928
Event Website: : https://monaghan.ie/museum/
All August Craft Month events are run independently by the event organisers. For questions regarding this event please contact the event organiser directly.