In conjunction with the Lily Lolly CraftFest and Yeats Day St. Angela’s College recently ran a national embroidery competition for junior and senior cycle Post Primary Home Economics students. Students had to construct an original hand embroidered piece inspired by a W.B. Yeats poem of their choice. The standard of entry was excellent and the first three prize winners’ pieces can be seen in the Nazareth House exhibition along with work by weaver Marcella Feguson and the garments by St. Angela’s College fashion students. The prize giving took place in Sligo Education Centre on Thursday 29th May.
The embroidery competition focus was to honour the legacy of the Yeats sisters, and in particular Lily Yeats. Susan or Lily was a talented embroiderer who trained with and worked for William Morris. She and her sister Elizabeth (Lolly) returned to Ireland in the beginning of the 20th Century and helped set up Dun Emer Industries a women only enterprise consisting of a printing press and embroidery businesses. They provided financial support for the male members of their family through their enterprise. The printing press was run by Lolly while Lily concentrated on embroidery. The St Angela’s Lily Yeats embroidery competition attracted over 30 entries nationwide. Claire Smyth from St. Leo’s College Carlow won first prize for her embroidery inspired by ‘The Fairy Pendant’ while second prize winner was Hannagh Douglas from Wesley College Dublin and third prize went to Niamh Dundon from St. Leo’s College also. Laura Flanagan from presentation College Tuam was highly commended for her entry.
The Lily Lolly Craftfest  also includes a range of other interesting exhibitions. For the full list of events please visit Facebook Craftfest Northwest.  ‘Pattern’ Textile exhibition curated by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland is on display by appointment in St. Angela’s College Gallery.  Aslo not to be missed are Japanese Connection by Yoko Akino, The Light and the Half Light by Susan Early, A Natural Selection by Graphic Studio Artists, Confluence a Merging by Janet Pierce, Hurrah for the Flowers of Spring by James McCreary in the Hamilton Gallery and a Made in Sligo exhibition in the Hyde Bridge Gallery. There will be talks on the Yeats sisters and Cuala Industries’ by Billy Shortall, Graphic Studio history by Stephen Lawlor and  the Yeats Family by Stella Mew,  free masterclasses and workshops in a variety of crafts for children and adults. The CraftFest also coincides with the SO Sligo Food Festival . It promises to be a very exciting festival for all in Sligo.

For further information on the above Media Release please contact Ursula O’Shea at uoshea@stangelascollege.nuigalway.ie
086 6025704