“I saw ‘Fite Fuaite’ | interwoveness, the title of Mary Robinson’s Quilt project, as an inspiration to weave together aspects of the environment and community in South County Carlow—represented in The Drummin Bog Project’ and connect them by a diagonal thread all the way to Ballina in Co. Mayo.” Brigid O’Regan, Committee Member of The Drummin Bog Project

You may have seen the news already on RTE 1 TV tonight! Mary Robinson was sharing a quilt representing Irish nature and climate groups at the important UN COP30 Climate Summit, taking place in Brazil. And, the Committee of The Drummin Bog Project are delighted to share that local activity to raise awareness and restore Carlow’s Drummin Bog, the only remnant of raised bog in the South East of Ireland, is featured on this collaborative quilt – and it travelled all the way to Belem, close to Amazon in Brazil, where this summit is currently being held. This image above is from The Irish Times Article [photo Irish Times]:


Cathy Fitzgerald of the Drummin Bog Committee alerted other members about Mary Robinson’s invitation, which Mary first proposed at her annual Ballina conference in May. Mary then shared the invitation in the summer to all organisations across Ireland and Northern Ireland involved in climate and nature action, to take part.

The invitation from her Mary Robinson Centre and Project Dandelion, the international climate justice movement she co-founded, was that

“these squares will come together to form a quilt: a powerful symbol of solidarity and shared purpose. The finished quilt will travel to #COP30 in Brazil, carrying a collective message of hope from Ireland to the world.”

Brigid O’Regan, with advice from Alexis Bernstoff, another voluntary member of the Drummin Bog Committee, came up with a design to represent Carlow’s Drummin Bog Project. Brigid then created two quilt squares, one to send to The Mary Robinson Centre for the COP 30 quilt, and another that is framed to share with the community around Drummond.

Brigid shared:

“The quilt square I created for the Drummin Bog Project was then stitched together with the other squares, onward to Brazil with Mary Robinson. The many aspects involved in the restoration of a small raised bog are like the stitches in this square. I incorporated wildlife as drawn by children in the local school and Borris Lace, also from South Carlow.”

The cultural heritage and revival of the Borris Lace craft in County Carlow, which had its origins as a cottage industry in Fenian times, is interwoven with the Drummin Bog Project, which aims to promote sustainability in rural communities, with support of the County Carlow Local Authority and Arts grants.”

Thank you, Brigid, for working to celebrate Little Drummin Bog and putting a very special small bog in South County Carlow on the world stage.

PS Brigid has already shared this work at the recent National Community Wetland Forum Meeting with Hannah, the new Development Officer. Thank you so much, Brigid!

Acknowledgments
Dr Brigid O’Regan has been involved since the start of Carlow’s Drummin Bog Project. Brigid is a retired college lecturer with over thirty years of lecturing in Chemistry and Environmental Science, and experience working with the EPA and Local Authorities.

Cathy Fitzgerald also wishes to thank Laura Jessie Cook, Mary Robinson’s wonderful executive NGO communications consultant, for helping advise the Drummin Bog Project on how to be involved in Fite Fuaite. The featured image above, with Laura (in pink) at the COP30 Summit, who took the quilt to Brazil for Mary, was photographed by Mariana 💚 Castaño Cano.

PLEASE NOTE: Access to Drummin Bog is limited due to the sensitive nature of the habitat and its status as a wildlife reserve. Great precaution must be taken in visiting the bog due to its unmarked deep drains, and other hazards. It is therefore recommended people do not walk on the bog alone. Children must always be supervised and no dogs please as efforts are in place to encourage birds to return. Thank you for understanding. In time, a woodland walkway is envisaged. The Drummin Bog Project is in its very early stages.