History
History of The Liberties Weavers™
The idea to develop a project promoting weaving in the Liberties first started in 2018 when Marja Almqvist, textile artist and adult education tutor with the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), met Cathy Scuffil, Dublin City Council Historian in Residence for Dublin South Central. Both were passionate about the history of the tradition of weaving in the Liberties and also concerned about the narrative that has been emerging that the Liberties is only famous for the production of whiskey and beer. They were also concerned about the recent building boom in the area, which didn’t seem to take enough account of the needs and wishes of local residents.
Marja had been approached by Dublin City Council to run a weaving workshop and together Marja and Cathy decided to pitch the idea that a course could be developed which would combine history and practical hands-on weaving skills. With the support and collaboration of both their employers, they ran a series of taster workshops in Dublin 8, and discovered through these, that there was considerable local interest in the project.
Through the taster workshops, twelve participants were recruited and the first Weaving in The Liberties course started in September 2018. The course proved to be a great success and in September 2019 a further ten students were recruited for a night class along the same lines.
In January 2020, Weaving in the Liberties ran a two-day seminar, exhibition and weaving workshops in the Hyatt hotel. This was attended by over 200 people and was a great success. It proved to us that the idea of promoting weaving as a craft and a means for local development was indeed a viable idea, and we faced the new year with considerable optimism.
Marja Almqvist retired from the group in 2023.
Claire Byrne, one of our original students, took the initiative to establish The Liberties Weavers as an independent community group. After a series of online meetings The Liberties Weavers drafted a constitution and elected a steering group. The Liberties Weavers was formally established in February 2021. Claire is the first chairperson of this new group.
The Liberties Weavers™ was formed to revive and celebrate the textile heritage of The Liberties, Dublin, once a major centre for weaving. To reconnect the community with this lost craft, The Liberties Weavers engage in research, workshops, and collaborations with historians, artists, schools and institutions like Dublin City Council, Dublin City Libraries, Local Primary and secondary schools and NCAD.
Our work has earned us national recognition. We were finalists in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2024 (Heritage category) and have received the IPB Creative Spaces, Pride of Place Award 2023, A Star Award from Aontas in the Learner Voice Category, A Heritage Council County Dublin Award for Our Walking Tour and recognition from the Community Archives and Heritage Group UK and Ireland 2022.
Through education, community engagement, and award-winning initiatives, The Liberties Weavers continue to preserve Dublin’s textile history and promote traditional weaving skills for future generations.
