Waterford's Abbey Community College students break star-weaving record

Transition Year students at Abbey Community College, Waterford, this week broke the national record for the most star weavers at one workshop, with 140 students attending.

Star weaving has become a popular activity across the world and indeed in Ireland recently, as a result of the One Million Stars to End Violence project.

The project is part of the global ‘One Billion Stars’ initiative started in 2012 in Australia by artist Maryann Talia Pau in response to the rape and murder of an Irish woman living in Melbourne.

The initiative now spans 26 counties in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with nearly 500,000 stars woven, using art as a form of activism.

These eight-point stars each carry messages of hope, solidarity, and a commitment to ending domestic and gender-based violence.

Approximately 215 stars were weaved by the students, who were hard at work all morning on the project.

Waterford and Kilkenny Volunteer Centres worked with the students, and a number of members from Waterford Ukrainian Star Weavers attended to help students get up to speed with the intricate skill.

Abbey Community College’s Ciara Gaffney said that the activity opened students up to an important discussion. 

“In Social Studies at Abbey Community College, we strive to promote respect for everyone in the community.

“What we’re doing here today is trying to highlight the fact that domestic violence is a huge issue in this country and we’re trying to ask questions such as why it is such a big problem, and how we can try tackle it.

“By creating the stars the students are trying to end domestic violence and raise awareness. It is so important for people their age to be aware of it, because it is such an issue in society.

“They’ve enjoyed the activity so much that they want to continue doing it, and continue to promote it outside and inside of school.” 

One Million Stars Ireland Project Lead, Siobhan McQuillan, added: “These are young activists, they are using art as a form of activism to create a social change and we want to empower them to have their voices heard.

“Some of them are stringing stars together, and they’re going to make a new installation in the school."

A number of students shared their experience with the Waterford News & Star saying that it was a thoroughly enjoyable exercise, as well as being for a good cause. 

“I think it was really good because it all had a meaning behind it and it was really fun making them.

“At the start it was tricky, it was taking between 10 and 15 minutes per star, but once you get used to it you pick up the pace.

“We’d sit there all day making them if we could!”

Minister for Education, Helen McEntee recently spoke on the impact that such projects have across the country, saying that they provide a space for both creativity and activism.

"I would like to commend everyone involved with this project that is so moving and impactful. In the wake of tragic events inflicted on Irish women, it can often be difficult for people to know how to react and how to express solidarity, how to make their voice heard when calling for an end to violence, to know how to feel less helpless but your beautiful worthwhile initiative is one way.

"Your workshops help provide a sense of community, provide a safe space for participants to exercise creativity at the same time as holding discussions around ending domestic abuse and other forms of violence.“