Local TD weaves stars to support victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence
TDs and senators wove stars to show their support for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence (DSGBV) at a special star weaving ‘jam’ at Leinster House, hosted by the One Million Stars Ireland project and Amber Women’s Refuge Kilkenny.
One Million Stars Ireland is an arts project connecting communities across Ireland in solidarity against domestic, sexual and gender based violence. Each eight-point star represents light, hope and solidarity against DSGBV, while promoting the eight points of healthy love within relationships.
Individual star weavers and weaving groups from Westmeath (and 19 other counties) have already woven more than 150,000 stars since the project launched in Ireland.
The youngest star weaver is five; the eldest is 89. Stars have been curated into exhibitions around the country designed to spread love and hope for a future free from violence and abuse for all in Ireland.
The One Million Stars project was brought to Ireland in 2019 and is being co-ordinated nationally by art therapist, Siobhan McQuillan, working with Amber Women’s Refuge, Kilkenny.
It is part of the global One Billion Stars project, founded in Australia in 2012 by artist Maryann Talia Pau after the rape and murder of Irish woman, Jill Meagher, who was living in Melbourne.
“The Oireachtas Star Weaving Jam was an opportunity for members of the Oireachtas to show their support for victims of DSGBV in Ireland,” said Siobhan McQuillan.
“The One Million Stars Ireland project is unique in uniting domestic violence services and community organisations to create a visual representation of their solidarity against gender based violence by weaving eight pointed stasr.
“The project has, to date, connected thousands of people from different counties, cultures and walks of life and has been particularly successful in reaching the vulnerable, isolated and marginalised members of our society.”
One in four Irish women and one in seven Irish men will experience abuse from an intimate partner in their lifetime. One in two women murdered in Ireland are murdered by an intimate partner.
To register as an individual star weaver or star weaving group in Westmeath, or to find details of your local One Million Stars Ireland county co-ordinator, visit www.onemillionstarsireland.ie.
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