Free Leitrim event brings ancient traditions to life

People across Leitrim are being invited to weave their hopes, memories and personal stories into a unique collaborative artwork in Carrick-on-Shannon this weekend.

International artist Dimitris Mitakos will bring two ancient Cypriot traditions to The Market Yard on Sunday, October 20, as part of TRADO, an artist residency programme presented by Leitrim County Council to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union. The free public project, entitled Cypriot Paraklesis and Weaving, will run from 11am until 5pm and is open to participants of all ages.

Members of the public are encouraged to bring small strips of fabric, pieces of old clothing, bedsheets or other textile remnants from home. These materials will be woven into an evolving communal artwork carrying the wishes, memories and reflections of the people who contribute to it. Organisers are particularly interested in pieces of material that hold personal significance or have a story attached to them.

The project takes its inspiration from the traditional weaving practices of the Paphos region of Cyprus. For generations, women in the area have created colourful rugs known as peftzia from strips of recycled fabric.

Far more than practical household objects, the rugs carry personal stories, emotions and a sense of pride in the lives and experiences of those who made them. The Carrick-on-Shannon event also draws on the ancient Cypriot tradition of paraklesis, meaning a personal plea or prayer.

At a site dedicated to Saint Solomonia in Paphos, people tie strips of cloth to the branches of a terebinth tree while making a wish, offering a prayer or reflecting on a private hope. The custom predates Christianity and has survived for centuries as an expression of healing, remembrance and resilience.

It also has a striking connection with traditions found across Ireland. Pieces of cloth, ribbons and personal tokens are commonly tied to trees beside holy wells by people seeking healing, protection, strength or blessings.

These Irish rag trees, often associated with holy wells and May customs, reflect the same belief that simple materials and gestures can carry deeply personal hopes and prayers. Arts Officer Philip Delamere said the project would create a meaningful cultural link between Cyprus and Ireland.

“This project creates a fascinating connection between Cyprus and Ireland through traditions that use simple pieces of cloth to express something deeply personal,” he said.

“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.”

During the event, visitors will have an opportunity to use a backstrap loom, a simple and portable weaving device. Each participant can weave a strip of fabric into the growing textile while reflecting on a hope, memory, wish or aspiration of their own. The finished piece will become a collective expression of Leitrim’s community, memory and resilience, while giving discarded fabrics a new purpose.

The weaving project forms part of TRADO, an international residency bringing together artists from Ireland, Lithuania, Finland and Cyprus. Through collaborative research and public events, the participating artists are exploring the connections between sound, textiles, memory and material culture.

Between 2pm and 4pm, visitors can also experience solo performances by Natalia Beylis from Ireland, Augustė Vickunaitė from Lithuania and Finnish textile artist Jan Anderzén in different spaces around The Market Yard.

The performances will offer the public an informal and accessible opportunity to encounter a diverse range of contemporary artistic practices. Admission is free, and the event is open to all ages. Further information is available at www.leitrimarts.ie.