Is ealaíontóir taipéise, fíodóir agus amhránaí í Margaret Rose Cunningham, agus tá dúil mhór aici in oidhreacht agus i dtraidisiúin a ceantair dúchais, Gleann Cholm Cille. Tá an chruthaitheacht go smior i muintir Margaret. Bhí a seanuncail, Paddy McGettigan as Ard an Rátha, ina mháistir fíodóra, agus tá scileanna na cniotála agus na hoibre teicstíle á thabhairt anuas fríd an teaghlach leis na glúnta.
Bhí Margaret ar dhuine de sheisear ealaíontóirí a roghnaíodh do chlár Taipéis Gael, áit ar chuir sí lena cuid scileanna in ullmhú agus i ndathú nádúrtha olla, i gcárdáil, i sníomh, i ndearadh taipéise agus i bhfíodóireacht. Tá tírdhreach, oidhreacht agus seantraidisiúin Dhún na nGall le brath go láidir ina cuid saothair.
Tá aithne mhaith ar Margaret fosta i saol na turasóireachta agus na Gaeltachta i nDún na nGall trína ról mar Bhainisteoir ar Folk Village Ghleann Cholm Cille. Tá an paisean céanna le feiceáil ina cuid oibre ansin agus atá ina cuid ealaíne, ag caomhnú agus ag roinnt oidhreacht áitiúil, ag cuidiú leis an phobal agus ag coinneáil scéalta agus traidisiúin na Gaeltachta beo do mhuintir na háite agus do chuairteoirí araon.
Le gairid, bhí taipéisí Mhargaret ar taispeáint ag An Gailearaí, Gaoth Dobhair, mar chuid den taispeántas Déanta i nDún na nGall / Made in Donegal.
Tá lúcháir orainn anois fáilte a chur roimh ár gcara Gaeltachta agus turasóireachta ón taobh eile den chontae go Caifé Theach Solais Fhánada, áit a mbeidh rogha dá cuid taipéisí mar an chéad taispeántas eile againn.
Margaret Rose Cunningham is a tapestry artist, weaver, singer and passionate advocate for the heritage and traditions of her native Gleann Cholm Cille. Creativity runs deeply through Margaret’s family: her great-uncle Paddy McGettigan was a master weaver from Ardara, while knitting and textile skills were also passed down through generations of her family.
Margaret was one of six artists selected for the Taipéis Gael programme, where she developed her skills in preparing and naturally dyeing wool, carding, spinning, tapestry design and weaving. Her work draws strongly on the landscape, heritage and traditional life of Donegal.
Margaret is also well known to many of us within Donegal tourism and the Gaeltacht through her role as Manager of the Glencolmcille Folk Village. Her work there reflects the same passion evident in her tapestries, preserving and sharing local heritage, supporting her community and ensuring that the traditions and stories of the Gaeltacht continue to be experienced and enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.
Most recently, Margaret’s tapestries were exhibited at An Gailearaí in Gaoth Dobhair as part of Déanta i nDún na nGall / Made in Donegal, showcasing the work of Donegal artisans.
We are delighted now to welcome our Gaeltacht and tourism friend from the other end of the county to Caifé Theach Solais Fhánada, where a selection of Margaret’s tapestries will be our next exhibition.
