Manorhamilton’s Western Button Factory Talk & Craft Workshop

At 7pm on Monday evening, July 10 the Bee Park Community Centre will be the venue for what will be an interesting talk on the history of the Manorhamilton Button Factory, which offered a new opportunity for employment outside of the home to many local women from the 1930s onward.

The talk is titled “The Western Button Company: The story of button manufacturing in Manorhamilton from 1937 to 1972.” It will be delivered by local historian and member of the Manorhamilton and District Historical Society, Maureen Keaney.

Afterwards Maureen's talk will be followed by an engaging craft workshop with artist Mary Foley at 8pm, which will feature the use of some original Western Button Company buttons made in Manorhamilton in the past.

The talk and workshop is taking place under the auspices of the “Leitrim Women Through Time” project.

Curator of the project Donna Gilligan says she “would love to hear the memories of women who worked in the factory, or of the families of those with connections to it” and Ms Gilligan added she would “encourage anyone with original Manorhamilton buttons to bring them along to show on the night.”

“All are welcome to both of these free events, and no advance booking is required. For further information, people can contact the project via email at scealheritage@gmail.com, via phone at 071 98 56220, or through https://www.facebook.com/
leitrimwomenthroughtime/ – the project's Facebook page.

“Further “Leitrim Women Through Time” events will take place in August and September, with dates and details to be announced very shortly.”