'Respect for all' key takeaway from today's Thornton Lace presentation

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer with Jack, Hanna and Lilia from Scoil Bhríde, and Logan and Lee from CPC.

The clear message from the latest talk in the Thornton Lace Project undertaken by Camphill The Bridge was contained in one word, respect, writes Brian Byrne. The theme of the talk was Inclusivity, with presentation from students of both Cross and Passion College and Scoil Bhríde, as well from members of the Camphill community.

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, who chaired the event in the community's Artaban Hall, described it as 'informational and powerful'. "It just goes to show how you can demonstrate — through drama, artwork, and speech — how we all have a part to play in inclusivity and ensuring it is to the fore. It can be daunting, it's a very big word, but you are already doing it."

Introducing the event, Jack from Camphill recalled that the organisation had been founded on a heritage of inclusion by a group of Austrian refugees to Scotland, fleeing from persecution by the Nazis for their religious background. Subsequently they set up a school and home for people with an intellectual disability, similarly excluded from society at that time and targeted by the Nazis also.

The element of hope was another key takeaway from the presentation. "While we might not be included in the moment, we will be included later in life," Logan and Lee from CPC summed up their thesis. "You may feel isolated and you may feel alone at some times, but ultimately you will be included." Members of the Camphill community performed a drama, the underpinning of their presentation summed up in a quote from Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Pupils from Scoil Bhríde performed a range of appropriate poetry, applauded as 'fantastic' by Cllr O'Dwyer. 

Noting the truism that not everyone will agree with everyone else, and that 'we're maybe not going to like everything about everybody', the councillor said that having respect for each other is the key. "It's about bringing that out with us every day, in the small things — in the shop, waiting to get on the bus, meeting up with somebody in the playground who is maybe not being included. We all have a voice, and we need to use our voices. And, importantly, people need to listen as well."

Sarah Gillespie, TT Coordinator for Camphill The Bridge, thanked everyone for their participation, and also those whose support for this Brigid 1500 initiative had made it possible — including Lucinda Russell, Arts Officer with Kildare County Council, for funding the project; Mary Barber, Julie O'Donoghue, Amanda Finn of the Hair Emporium, Community Centre manager Enda O'Neill, and the principals of Scoil Bhríde and CPC.

Earlier, Cllr O'Dwyer had outlined how the project had evolved, based on an examination of a 19th century famine relief initiative by a rector's wife which at its highest point had Kilcullen as a centre of excellence in lace-making, supporting 700 women with work. The current project had begun with conversations about Brigid 1500 projects which led to an approach to Camphill, and in turn to the local schools to participate. "Linkages like these are what makes a community," she said. "In this case, a creative community. When we have a sense of community we are happier, healthier and more likely to have our goals realised."

Two more talks are planned in advance of the summer, and the eventual goal of the project is to have five mosaics representing aspects of the original Thornton Lace initiative created and located around Kilcullen.

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