INISHOWEN'S former
shirt factory workers may be interested in an event
this Saturday charting the North West's rich
textiles heritage. The May 14 event at the Tower
Museum in Derry is part of a European-wide campaign
encouraging museums to open in the evenings.
Visitors will have the chance to find out more about
the region's shirt factory days. The museum will
stay open until 9pm and admission is free.
Margaret Edwards from the Heritage and Museum
Service of Derry City Council said she hoped the
event would encourage locals and visitors alike to
come visit the facility and join in the
celebrations.
“This year’s event will be a celebration of our
shirt factory heritage. The focus will be a
performance directed by Pat Mulkeen from her play
the 'The Shirt Tale' using local actors, which
starts at 7pm. It's a great chance to visit the
museum for free and participate in the activities to
remember the past and the impact the shirt factories
had on our city,” she said.
Pat Mulkeen said she was delighted to get the
opportunity to share her play with the public.
Encouraging people to come along she said it was a
chance for front-stitchers, smoothers or
patent-turners, who worked in some of the local
factories such as Ritchie's, Wilkinson's,Hogg &
Mitchell's, the City or The Star, to come together
and share memories.
Even if you didn’t, you might enjoy the celebration
of an aspect of the city’s past that so many
remember. You might even learn to jive! For further
details, contact the Tower Museum on 048 71 372411. |