Quilt Festival
International Quilt Festival of Ireland
June 8th -10th
The International Quilt Festival of Ireland has extended a special invitation to all of Ireland’s young (and young at heart) to experience their one-of-a-kind festival being held on the National University of Ireland Galway campus the weekend of June 8-10th. This first annual festival will feature a specially-designed “Family Day Programme” on Sunday, June 10th, that features the following:
- A range of complimentary arts and craft classes for all ages, based on first come-first served!
- Performances by story tellers, magicians and jugglers!
- Face-painters and musicians!
- A 17th century village has been re-created, complete with a façade covering some of the NUIG buildings, a village mayor will be onhand greeting everyone, and even Molly Malone herself will be pushing her cart around the village!
- An opportunity for families to be exposed to the largest collection of quilts ever to be assembled in one place in the history of Ireland!
- A very crafty family scavenger hunt with prizes!
- Irish movies for children, including free popcorn!
- A quilt exhibit of 3-D quilts which, when viewed with our special 3-D glasses, are bound to astound!
- And much, much more to keep the whole family entertained!
All performances, classes and features are completely FREE for children under the age of 18 years old, with a special interest and focus in helping raise money for the ISPCC. Donations will be taken to help support this worthwhile charity, as well as a silent auction being presented with 100% of the proceeds going directly to this charity. Parents receive a discounted price on Sunday’s admission into the festival of only €10 per adult.
Our specially-created Quilters Village venue will be open from 9.00am – 6.00pm with plenty of on-site parking and dining facilities for all the family.
This festival is a great opportunity for parents to teach their children about one of the oldest crafts in Ireland, quilting and patchwork, and expose them to the various quilt exhibits that will be on display. This is not about grannies making quilts for the bed, but rather, these quilts come from all over the world and are considered exquisite art pieces.
Helping the next generation get enthusiastic about crafts and quilting is one of the top priorities of the festival, and this very unique and extraordinary family programme on Sunday, June 10th is an opportunity not to be missed! Specially designed wrist bands are available at the Bailey Allen Hall – Town Hall, located on campus and will serve as the admission ticket.
For more information as an event, please visit the website www.IQFOI.com or call the festival office at 091 449696
Largest Quilt Festival in the History of Ireland
Monday, 28 May, 2012: On the weekend of June 8-10, the largest group of quilts ever to be assembled in the history of Ireland will be on display on the campus of NUI Galway, as the first annual International Quilt Festival of Ireland creates a “Quilter’s Village” atmosphere and welcomes thousands of international visitors to Ireland.
Over two hundred and eighty quilts will be on display at NUI Galway, in addition to Irish craft workshops, quilt classes, entertainment and activities being offered throughout the weekend. A silent auction will be held each day during the weekend, benefiting the ISPCC, Console and NBCRI. Also the Make a Wish Foundation will receive €1 per wish that is written and placed on the ‘Giving Tree’ in the exhibit My Quilted Garden. Award winning set designer and artists Dara McGee and Daniel O’Sullivan have even constructed a façade to be placed in front of some of the University buildings to create a replica of a 17th century Irish village.
According to managing director of the festival, Jim West, this Disneyland atmosphere of the Quilter’s Village will impress everyone who comes to enjoy the ground-breaking endeavour: “We are inviting everyone who lives in Ireland to come to NUI Galway to see this extraordinary event, and families especially are invited on Sunday, June 10th, where we will offer free admission to children and providing all kinds of craft activities and workshops for everyone to enjoy! It is history in the making, and is something that has never been seen or done before inIreland.”
Irish Patchwork Society & Hungarian Patchwork Guild, Hills in Bloom, Hungary
INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL OF IRELAND
IQFOI – The International Quilt Festival of Ireland – is a new festival held annually in Galway, exhibiting the work of hundreds of skilled quilters from Ireland and all over the world. Between 3,000 and 5,000 visitors are expected to attend. Featuring a wide range of classes and activities, many relating to quilting and other crafts, it’s a crafter’s dream; but we’ve also created an entire “Non-Quilter Programme” and evening activities for those who would rather visit the Aran Islands or tour Galway’s pubs than look at quilts or learn to crochet!
Quilting, along with many other crafts, is booming in Ireland at the moment. Beginner classes all over the country are over-subscribed, and 5 new shops opened here in last year to meet the demand for supplies. Ireland also has two Irish-based quilting publications, and numerous groups who meet regularly to host classes and exhibit their work, such as the Irish Patchwork Society. Quilting in Ireland, however, is still in its infancy popularitywise in comparison to the US, Canada, Australia and parts of Europe. The largest quilt festival in the world, the
International Quilt Festival held annually in Houston, Texas, celebrated their highest ever attendance numbers last year with 60,680 quilters from 35 diff erent counties flocking to see the 1000+ quilts on display.
About JIM WEST
Known around the world as an energetic and enthusiastic visionary and entrepreneur, Jim West has the knowledge and experience to deliver beyond the expectations of people who work with him. As world traveller and cruise expert, Jim has worked onboard cruise ships as a professional cruise director for over ten years and has sailed on over 1463 cruises. He has explored all seven continents, travelled throughout 89 countries around the world, is the author of four best-selling travel books, and has starred in the Travel Channel’s television show “Cruise Ships FAQ.”
Following his cruise expedition in Antarcticawith Sir Edmund Hillary, Jim wrote his first cruise book, containing over 750 practical cruising tips. Hillary provided a quote for the cover of the book commenting, “A very practical book with sound information for everyone, from people planning their first cruise adventure to hardened travel agents.”
Endorsed not only by the greatest explorer of our time, Jim has also been featured in hundreds of magazines and newspapers around the world, and has starred on numerous radio and television shows across the U.S., Ireland and the BBC in London. He was also the creator and host of “Travel News and Views,” a popular radio show in theChicago area.
Jim is the founder and CEO of Travel Alliance, Inc. and Jim West Cruises Ltd. has created an unmatched tour operation, focusing on twenty-one niche travel markets. Jim is also a tour escort for some of these specially designed expeditions and tours.
Growing up in a small farm community in Illinoisand now making his home in Galway, Ireland, Jim has been actively marketing the country of Ireland to the entire world, through the many international festivals he is creating. These niche festivals generate thousands of international tourists to Irelandeach year, which come not only for the three-day festival, but continue to tour the country for many days. The International Quilt Festival of Ireland is the first in a series of festivals Jim has introduced to the country.
From cruises and tours to festivals and conferences, Jim West has put together an unsurpassed company that caters to the needs of both the Irish and visitors to Ireland, and does it in great fashion.
