DECEMBER 2007

Keaveney Voices Concerns over Threat to our Traditional Crafts

Senator Keaveney joined with colleagues on the Council of Europe today to express her concern at the threat that exists to our traditional crafts, and the need for the Committee of Ministers to adopt a draft European Convention on the Protection of Old and Traditional Crafts.

While this was just an initial discussion on the issue there was supporting voices from the United Kingdom and Italy on this matter.

Senator Keaveney commented, "In many parts of Ireland we have small clachans and villages that are in danger of not only dying out but also to have traditional crafts and ways of life die with them. The greatest threat is the advent of the better technologies and the faster lives being lived. While we embrace the positive aspects of a good economy I believe that it is important to make an effort to retain and pass down our crafts and traditional ways of life which links into our maintaining an understanding of what rural Ireland was and where we have come from as Irish people.

There is work ongoing on a number of supports for local crafts seen in the work of Leader grants for basket weaving and other traditional activities. The Department of Environment have a thatching grant also which maintains both a skill and a traditional appearance. The fact that Moville community college has put the fishing industry centre stage for their transition year students to opt into is a telling understanding of the staff of the importance of the fishing heritage to the children, in many cases of fishermen.

The Senator continued, “If, for example, fishing is changing due to European quotas and fishing stocks, it is still important that as a community who live by the sea that those skills associated with the water are not lost. The regeneration of interest in boat building, the ongoing employment in net making are just some examples of what is going on. The boat building has led to the revival of the rowing club, and vice versa. This is a win win situation as a new generation are supplied locally with a traditional product, which both keeps a traditional practice going but also revives a traditional sport on the Foyle.

This is and needs to continue to be part of the rural development programme as it does offer, apart from the value to society from a heritage and social perspective, tourism opportunities as we look to embrace our traditional arts with our traditional crafts. It is a wide issue that is as important throughout Ireland as it is throughout Europe" concluded Cecilia Keaveney.

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