Laois ICA donates handmade hats and baby blankets to Portlaoise paediatric ward
Laois ICA Craft Promoter encourages all to take part in touching initiative
Dozens of members across several Laois guilds of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) have spent weeks knitting baby blankets and tiny hats, for the little patients in Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise’s paediatric ward.
Laois ICA Craft Promotor, Mrs Lucy Conroy, originally started this initiative nine years ago.
“I have grandchildren myself, and I noticed that every baby in Portlaoise, when they are born they automatically put a hat on the baby’s head.We started a knitting group that meets each Tuesday night, it’s open to members and non-members. I got the idea from there,” Mrs Conroy told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
The Mountrath woman lives in Castletown, where she is a member of the Castletown ICA Guild. Mrs Conroy and her friends began to knit and crochet blankets.
“With the baby hats, it’s great because you just need some leftover wool,” Mrs Conroy explained.
“We have 12 ICA Guilds in Laois, I am trying to get us all to come together to knit these hats and blankets for Portlaoise. So far the response has been great.
“We hold a federation meeting each six to eight weeks, and I would like for our federations to get together among themselves and their friends, and knit or crochet these hats or blankets. We also crochet lap blankets for nursing homes and the Cuisle centre,” she said.
For those who are not confident in their knitting or crocheting, Mrs Conroy encouraged them to buy balls of yarn for the knitters in their lives.
“If a lady doesn’t know how to crochet, she can buy a ball of wool and give it to someone who does, that’s contributing. We went in on Tuesday and handed over two bags of hats and scarves, it was absolutely amazing. That was only from a few groups in Laois guilds,” she said.
The ICA members have spent six weeks knitting and crocheting these gorgeous, tiny creations.
“My dream would be to make this a nationwide activity. Anyone who wants to join us or get involved should contact me on (087) 259 7895,” Ms Conroy finished.