A patch-work quilt which has been hand stitched by groups from across Ireland, is currently making its way to the Cop30 Climate Summit.
The quilt is heavily tied to Mayo, being a project of Ballina’s Mary Robinson Centre, and Mrs. Robinson’s “Project Dandelion” movement.
Former President of Ireland Mrs. Robinson, and now Chairwoman of the Elders, has described the project as a “beautiful collaboration”.
The quilt is made of squares put together by 50 community, women’s and environmental groups, and is now making its way to the climate talks in Brazil.
The Cop30 talks, which will be held in the city of Belém, is set to be the largest climate conference of the year, with world leaders and scientists from over 190 countries invited to attend.
The conference is also facing controversy over its location in the Brazilian city, which sits on the outskirts of the Amazon Rainforest.
Speaking on the quilt-making initiative, which is called “Interwoven”, Mrs. Robinson said that “behind the negotiations and policies, are real communities doing the work every day”.
The journey to Belém began at the weekend when Laura Cook, of Project Dandelion, collected the craft-work, and will take it to Brazil. Along the way, the quilt will be taken to gatherings of climate and community groups, before being presented to Brazilian climate minister Marina Silva, by Mrs. Robinson herself.
