On 12 June 1973, two stolen cars were used to bring bombs into Coleraine, County Londonderry. The first exploded in Railway Road killing six people and injuring 33 others, including children returning home from school. Five minutes later the second bomb exploded in Hanover Place but no one was injured.
This arpillera was sewn by Imelda Purcell during workshops facilitated by textile artist Deborah Stockdale as part of the PEACEIII Stitching and Unstitching the Troubles programme in 2012-13, delivered by Causeway Museum Service and Mid Antrim Museums Service. As the women worked on their arpilleras they uncovered and brought to light their recollections of events during The Troubles.
Here Imelda has portrayed the soldiers blocking the bridge in the aftermath of the bombing, which caused her difficulty getting to and from work. The disruption to everyday life during that time was still fresh in her mind. The prominent storm clouds and the drab background colour allude to a sense of foreboding that permeated everyday life during The Troubles. |