In spring 2014, Mayo County Council Arts Office Public Art Programme in collaboration with the Linenhall Arts Centre will launch ‘FIND’ a series of temporary artworks, installations and events in and around the town of Castlebar.
As part of ‘FIND’ one of the six selected artists, Amanda Rice will be working with the archive on the Old Hat Factory on the Newport Road.
The all-female tug-of-war team who worked at the Castlebar Hat factory in the mid 1940’s.
Amanda is appealing to the public for information on this photograph (see above) of the all-female tug-of-war team that was part of the Hat Factory which closed in 1981.
Amanda says: “There’s a hugely varied archive spanning the decades of the Hat Factory on the Newport Road. Local historians Ernie and Susanna Sweeney were very kind in letting me access all of the incredibly interesting information they have on the factory.
“I discovered a fascinating photograph of the all-female tug-of-war team, my grandmother Nora Rice (nee Gavin) worked at the factory at one stage and was part of the tug of war team – this detail I never knew about until recently seeing the tug of war team photograph! She’s the lady on the very far right in the back row.”
The photo was taken from one of the annual Castlebar Parish Magazines and it’s believed to be dating from the mid 1940’s. Amanda is appealing to the public hoping to identify all of the other individuals in the photo.
“I’m hoping to put names to all of the other faces in the Tug-of-War photo, too. Any other additional information would be greatly appreciated, for example where a factory tug of war may have taken place or any if anyone in the town was present at such an event. If anyone has the original of this photograph I would much appreciate making a copy of it.”
All of this information will form the basis of an exciting event as part of the FIND public program for spring 2014.
Amanda is currently working in Austria for the month of November, any information can be sent to:
email: findtugofwar@outlook.com;
Post: Factory Appeal, FIND project C/O Arts Office, Mayo County Council, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
