Hands
1978 · RTÉ ONE · 30 min · 1 season
S01E01 · Textiles - Wool Spinning
Mon, 17 Apr, 9:00 pm
Starting with a traditional sheep fair we follow the Carr family of Kilcar, Co. Donegal shearing their sheep and spinning the wool. Plants are collected and used for dyeing the wool. Mrs. Carr spins on the Small or Flax wheel & knits a pair of socks for her husband from her own wool. We see Bessie Morrisson from Co. Mayo, the last person to spin on the Big wheel or Tuirne Mor, & Kate Mitchell from Dingle, who spins on the Kerry big wheel. Made in 1978.
About
Hands is a unique, multi-award winning series of thirty-seven documentaries on Irish crafts. Made by the renowned filmmaking team, David and Sally Shaw-Smith, it was originally produced for Irish television (RTÉ). Imbued by a sense of urgency, the Shaw-Smiths travelled the length and breadth of Ireland during the 1970s and '80s, capturing on film the final years of traditional rural and urban life. These intimate portraits are as much about the life of the individuals as the crafts they practised. The films capture the essence of Irish heritage, creating a unique archive of life in Ireland at the end of the 20th century.
Episodes
- E01
Textiles - Wool Spinning
Mon, 17 Apr· 30 minStarting with a traditional sheep fair we follow the Carr family of Kilcar, Co. Donegal shearing their sheep and spinning the wool. Plants are collected and used for dyeing the wool. Mrs. Carr spins on the Small or Flax wheel & knits a pair of socks for her husband from her own wool. We see Bessie Morrisson from Co. Mayo, the last person to spin on the Big wheel or Tuirne Mor, & Kate Mitchell from Dingle, who spins on the Kerry big wheel. Made in 1978.