What a fantastic day of heritage, creativity, connection and shared learning, bringing our Legenderry and Castlederg-to-Strabane Story Weavers together with Community Markers and Donegal Storyteller as part of the Threading Stories project.
This cross-border, cross-community and intergenerational day created an opportunity for people from different areas, ages and backgrounds to come together, build relationships and discover more about our shared industrial and cultural heritage.
Our visit to Shirt Tales opened up conversations about the remarkable history of shirt-making and the generations of local women whose skill, hard work and resilience helped shape the industry and our communities. Through stories, displays, textiles and hands-on learning, participants explored how this important heritage connects families and communities across generations.
We also shared textile and quilting traditions, stories and memories – recognising how skills can be passed from one generation to another and how making together provides a powerful way to start conversations and find common ground.
The day continued with the colour and creativity of a carnival procession with Gasyard, Feile, celebrating community participation and the contribution of local women and workers to our shared story.
Just as importantly, our Story Weavers had time to take part in a team-building experience, talk, laugh, learn from one another and share a meal together. These informal moments are an important part of building trust, developing new relationships and strengthening connections between participating communities.
The day demonstrated what Threading Stories is all about: using heritage and creativity as threads that connect people and places, weaving communities and borders together.
Through activities like this, the project is contributing to our PEACEPLUS milestones and outcomes by supporting:
• meaningful cross border, cross-community engagement
• intergenerational learning and participation
• increased understanding of our shared heritage
• opportunities for dialogue, relationship-building and new connections
• participation in creative and cultural activities
• stronger links between communities across the project area
• positive shared experiences that help build more connected communities.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated, shared their knowledge, told their stories and helped make the day such a success.
Every conversation, stitch, story and shared experience adds another thread to what we are creating together. 
Threading Stories – weaving heritage, people and communities together.
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