Suitors line up to house gigantic wool map of Ireland after Wicklow creation goes viral

Irish Independent

22-07-2025

Featuring landmarks, historical sites and tourist attractions dotted across the four provinces, the comprehensive map, which is covered entirely in wool, was created by a group of local knitters, sewers and crocheters who meet at Carnew Community Care every Wednesday morning.
Beginning in 2019, the labour of love tested the ladies' skill and endurance, but the group persevered and proudly unveiled the massive map at an exhibition in Carnew last summer.
Since then, it has been hoped that an organisation or individual might adopt it, so it can remain in public view for years to come, with a castle, stately home or tourist attraction identified as ideal places.
Coming as a shock to all involved, the search for a new home was reignited recently through a post on social media, with Irish and UK media outlets clambering to hear about the map's fate.
As Carnew Community Care manager Anne Kavanagh explained, the group is still coming to terms with how their creation has captured the public's imagination.
'VisitWicklow.ie put up a social media post recently, and the Press Association picked up on it, came down, did photographs and a little video, and it has just gone viral,' she said.
'Loads of radio programs have been in touch looking for interviews. The knitters have been on the Ray D'Arcy show and East Coast Radio. BBC Northern Ireland was looking for them, and they were on a TV breakfast show in the UK with Eamon Holmes.
'The TV show wanted to talk to them this morning, and fair play to them, six of them came in at ten to eight!
'The question that got honed in on was where the map will end up?
'It's gaining momentum now to do something, and we have had so much feedback that the ladies and I are so busy fielding calls that very little other work is done, but that is a great problem to have!'
ADVERTISEMENT
Although receiving 'loads and loads of offers over the past few days', Anne said that nothing has been set in stone, with the ladies planning to meet Wicklow County Council, who are 'committed to assisting in putting firm plans in place for moving forward'.
'It is a fabulous piece, and does need more exposure,' Anne continued.
'It could end up being a little attraction somewhere, in an airport, or somewhere representing the wool industry. There has been talk of it going into the libraries around the county.
'It's not going to happen overnight, but something needs to happen shortly, even just for a while, as it deserves to go somewhere with more exposure.'
The map is still based at Carnew Community Care, and all are welcome to visit and have a cuppa, from 10am to 4pm daily. Groups of four or more are asked to call 053 94 26510.