Locally-made lockdown quilt set to support a very worthy cause

In the acclaimed film 'How to make an American Quilt', a group of elderly ladies work together to make a patchwork quilt as they reflect on their memories and the ups and downs of life.

You could say something similar happened over recent months in the Castledaly Ladies & Gents Seniors Group, but with a difference. Due to the Covid-enforced lockdown, the ladies couldn't knit side by side in their usual Old School meeting place. Instead, they had to work on their quilt separately. Yet their combined efforts have still borne fruit with a beautiful quilt.

Bridgie Turner (née McAuley) is among the ladies who worked on creating the quilt, and it is a project which has been given added and poignant significance. It is now for sale, with the proceeds to go to a cause close to Bridgie's heart.

Bridgie's granddaughter Rebecca Duffy was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma earlier this year. Rebeca underwent intensive chemotherapy treatment which led to hair loss, a common side-effect of such treatment. Rebecca received support from the Little Princess Trust, a charity that offers free fully-fitted custom wigs.

As a way of saying thanks to the Little Princess Trust, Rebecca recently embarked on a fundraising drive in order to help the charity support others in a similar position.

Rebecca (21) has been undergoing further treatment in the oncology unit at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore.

Whatever money comes from the sale of the aforementioned lockdown quilt, Rebecca wishes for it to be donated to the oncology unit in Tullamore.

Rebecca is very thankful to the doctors, nurses and all the staff in the hospital for the wonderful care they have given her.

For her part, Bridgie is very grateful to her friends in the Castledaly Seniors Group for what they have done for Rebecca.

The extended Turner family in the Athlone and Castledaly areas and in Dublin are all rooting for Rebecca and wishing her the very best at this difficult time.

Rebecca is a daughter of Avril (née Turner) and Neil Duffy (a native of Donegal), and she has one brother, Cody. Rebecca’s parents moved from Ballyshannon to Athlone three years ago to open Riverdale House B&B, on the Clonown Road.

Bridgie's grandson Aidan Turner is a famous actor who starred in the historical drama series Poldark. This led to Bridgie receiving the moniker ‘Poldark’s granny’ – one which she was quite happy to embrace!

When I visited Bridgie at her Athlone home recently, social distancing was observed but the occasion was made all the more homely with a sampling of her homemade scones.

In any case, it quickly became evident that Bridgie's memory is as sharp as ever. One minute she mentions her grandson Aidan starring in the new period drama ‘Leonard’ about the life of the legendary artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci.

Moments later, she is recalling incidents that occurred in the local area many years ago - from her family keeping pigs in her homeplace of Boyanna to happenings at Fianna Fáil Cumann meetings. Bridgie's brother Jimmy McAuley was a Westmeath county councillor for 34 years and she retains a keen interest in current affairs.

Bridgie also has a huge interest in drama, and over the years she acted in many productions in Athlone Little Theatre.

Bridgie quickly reels off the names of all of her nine grandsons and is proud of them all. For the moment, however, her thoughts and prayers are focused on her only granddaughter, Rebecca.

Bridgie is looking forward to a milestone birthday next year. Pointing out that she was born in the year of the Eucharistic Congress (1932), she was actually christened Eucharia but was always known as Bridgie.

In addition to Bridgie, the other ladies who worked on the quilt were Mary Rafferty, Kathleen Martin, Nancy Judge, Mary Farrell, Rose Turley, Rosie Malone and Noeleen McGrath. It was then sewn together by Emer Holloway (née Rabbitte) and Bernie Farrell (née Mullen).

"Bridgie is a vital and popular member of the group in Castledaly and all those who knitted a part of the quilt did so out of love for Rebecca, Bridgie's granddaughter," said Bernie.

If anybody is interested in purchasing the quilt, they can contact Bernie at 087 417 4362. The highest bidder will receive the quilt, with the proceeds to go to the oncology unit in Tullamore.