Culture
Futility of violence depicted through exhibit of South East Fermanagh Foundation Memorial Quilts at St Marys Cathedral
South East Fermanagh Foundation – many families are represented on the Terrorism knows NO Borders quilt
South East Fermanagh Foundation is committed to supporting innocent victim/survivors of ‘The Troubles’ across the Republic of Ireland
Seven quilts from the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF ) will be on temporary display in Saint Mary’s Cathedral from November 19, 2023 onwards.
SEFF’s Director Kenny Donaldson explains, “We are pleased that St Mary’s have agreed to work collaboratively with us in facilitating the display of our seven Memorial Quilts within the Cathedral.”
“SEFF is committed to supporting innocent victim/survivors of ‘The Troubles’ across the Republic of Ireland and we have done so for several years, many of these families are represented on the Terrorism knows NO Borders quilt which includes; Irish Army, Garda and Prison Service personnel who were murdered, as well as civilians of all forms of violence.”
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Across the seven memorial quilts which will be displayed, almost 500 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 mainland Europe.
The key messages of the memorial quilts are that violence was futile and totally unjustified, those remembered are wholly innocent and that 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 – its’ our values that unite us, consistent opposition to violence.”
The quilts were developed by a team of special volunteers within SEFF under the guidance of a project facilitator. The quilts humanise those being remembered who may be said to be ordinary people but who were actually extraordinary to those who they were known to best.”
The seven Quilts are titled, Your Legacy Lives On, A Patchwork of Innocents, Uniting Innocent Victims, Terrorism knows No Borders, Brougher Mountain Innocents Remembered and Through Remembering, We Build Bridges and Lives that Mattered.
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. Amongst those remembered is Garda Jerry McCabe (see patch attached) and local Garda Officers, Patrick Stanley of the Irish Army and Brian Stack of the Irish Prison Service”.
A warm invitation is extended to individuals and groups (including schools) from across Munster and beyond to visit the Exhibition.
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