Spinning an Atlantic yarn

A Londoner with roots in the west chose Galway to begin an Atlantic Coast marathon with a difference yesterday – to collect yarn from 42 different sellers across Ireland and France before heading to Morocco, where he plans to create a unique blanket from his wares.

Billy Black began his journey in Leenane at the Connemara Sheep and Wool Centre and will officially end his journey on New Year’s Eve in Morocco.

The start and finish are down to the fact that he feels there is a deep connection with Connemara and Morocco in terms of their music in particular – and connection is what this journey is all about.

“Perhaps listening to some of the music there will imprint on my mind throughout the trip, reminding of the beginning and heralding the end,” he said this week.

He wanted to ‘honour’ connections and make a ‘pilgrimage to the Atlantic Coast’ and wishes to highlight a coastline of connection.

But Billy’s journey is also about crafts, the difficulties of making art work, the ocean and how it is timeless and much more.

“Making things by hand takes time and in that time we think, we reflect and we create memories as well as products… unwinding thread to knot it together, thinking about colours and shapes and texture is what I do and it is what millions of people, all with their own tears and joys, have done for thousands of years along with route,” Billy said.

After Leenane, his Irish journey will take him through Galway, Ennis, Limerick, Dingle, Killarney, Bantry, Clonakilty and Dungarvan.

Although he is proud of his west of Ireland connections, he admits they are back in the past – but he is looking forward to travelling around Ireland as he has only ever visited Cork before, and Belfast in the North.

He held fundraisers to aid him on his travels but he has also pledged to make scarves from the 42 different places he is going to receive yarn.

They are selling at €55 and the person in question can choose their own colours, size and specification.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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