Memorial Quilts for victims of Troubles to be exhibited in Birr

St Brendan's Church of Ireland, Birr, is preparing to host ‘A Tribute to Innocents', a Memorial Quilts exhibition in collaboration with the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF).

The exhibition will take place at St Brendan’s morning service at 11.30am on Sunday, August 16, when the story of the Memorial Quilts will be reflected, and this will also be the case within a community concert event being held in the church that afternoon.

The display of eight Memorial Quilts and two other tapestry pieces in St Brendan's COI church, will take place, between Saturday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 27, and is being supported by other Christian denominational churches in the area.

The South East Fermanagh Foundation is an organisation committed to supporting victim survivors of The Troubles, and many of the families impacted are represented on the ‘Terrorism knows NO Borders’ quilt which includes Irish army, Gardaí and prison service personnel, as well as civilian victims of all forms of violence.

SEFF director Kenny Donaldson said: “SEFF is committed to supporting innocent victim/survivors of 'The Northern Ireland Troubles' across Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and beyond. Across the memorial quilts which will be displayed, innocents are remembered, ordinary yet extraordinary men, women and children from across the community, and who were murdered/killed in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and indeed mainland Europe.”

He said the key messages of the memorial quilts are that violence was and is futile and totally unjustified; those remembered are wholly innocent; and the legacy of those represented will live on amongst those left behind.

Mr Donaldson added: "SEFF's doors are open and welcoming to all innocents; whether victimised by republican or loyalist terrorism or through criminal-based actions committed by members of the security forces. SEFF is not defined by constitutional politics or denominational religion. It's our values that unite us - consistent opposition to violence.”

The quilts were developed by a team of volunteers within SEFF under the guidance of a project facilitator. The quilts humanise those being remembered.

The quilts are titled 'Your Legacy Lives On', 'A Patchwork of Innocents', 'Terrorism knows No Borders', 'Uniting Innocent Victims Through Remembering', 'We Build Bridges', 'Brougher Mountain Innocents Remembered', 'Lives that Mattered and Diversity in Life', and 'Remembered in Unity'. The tapestry takes the form of a tree depiction with branches illustrating growth and developments over the years, and the organisation's latest tapestry piece, which acknowledges the role of women of The Troubles over the years is called 'The Troubles - The Quiet Courage'.

“The Memorial Quilt which will have immediate relevance to the midlands community will be 'Terrorism knows No Borders', which remembers those murdered throughout the Republic of Ireland including Pte Patrick Kelly, members of an Garda Siochana and the prison officer Brian Stack. Those murdered in the Dublin-Monaghan bombings are also remembered on the quilt,” Donaldson said.

Mr Donaldson continued: "Each of the Quilt brand titles reflect core messages we wish to represent through the lives being remembered and also honoured. The basis for the quilts can be found in comments made by many families, no-one remembers us, no-one cares, we are forgotten. The SEFF family always remembers and will continue to do so in the months and years ahead, thus ensuring that the legacy of innocents and the way in which they chose to live their lives is represented.”

The SEFF extends an invitation to individuals and groups (including schools) from across the midlands and beyond to visit the exhibition in Birr.