Participants
164 women and girls from minority communities are involved along with 24 UCD Conway biomedical researchers.
Aims
Through Cut from the Same Cloth, UCD strives to create an inclusive environment where minority communities can actively participate in and contribute to health research, enriching both the research landscape and the broader community.
Methods
The emphasis in this project was on building trust between two very different communities. The artist’s overarching solution was to use the common ground of fabric as a bridge for communication between these two groups. The co-created outputs of ten Get Togethers held during 2024 became an exhibition Cut From The Same Cloth, touring five venues in Ireland during 2025.
Lorna Donlon, the artist, also has a BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology from UCD and her vision of the cell as a ‘textile world’ was presented to biomedical researchers in UCD’s Conway Institute as a potential lens for their participation. Examples presented by the artist of the ‘researcher as artist’ encouraged researchers to see their work in a new way. Examples used were the patterns and colours of standard data visualisations such as heat maps, images from scientific papers of ‘DNA or chromatin described as the thread of life,’ as well as the beautiful colours and patterns of microscopy.
Research imagery from each of the 24 participating researchers was then shared and explored with the artist and collaboratively selected for printing on fabric. In some cases, the fabrics, having been printed, were then further embroidered or embellished by the researchers themselves.
There was a somewhat tentative feeling to the ten Get Togethers we held during 2024, because, rather than simply following an existing model of engagement, we were actually breaking new ground with this project. Participating women from minority communities demonstrated courage in attending these events in the first place, given the context of some uncertainty relating to the events themselves.
They were extraordinarily willing to then share their fabric stories with us and very open to hearing about the work of the biomedical researchers as presented at the Get Togethers through their research fabric. At each Get Together we were joined by either Patty Abozaglo or Nadette Foley from Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation who used Capacitar practices to help us create a safe environment and atmosphere.
Psychological support was also available at the Get Togethers. Using pieces of her own textile work, Lorna explained to participating women how they would each be represented through their fabric story in her large tapestry as she would weave the colours and patterns of their fabrics into a swirling ribbon twisting across the field of the tapestry.
At each Get Together, the women’s stories were documented by a scribe, their fabrics were photographed and they were invited to make tracings of the patterns in their fabrics. Each woman signed her name on a length of ribbon which was ultimately attached to the back of the tapestry marking their fabric area as woven by Lorna.
Four women from each Get Together were invited to engage further with us to co-create material for the exhibition. Anthony Hobbs took photographs of the women’s hands holding their fabrics and Chris Hayes and Alan Boland from Crannóg Media filmed short interviews with these women which offer insight into their stories.
From March 2024 through to March 2025, based in the Bioinformatics lab of UCD’s Conway Institute, Lorna Donlon wove a large 160cm square tapestry. The tapestry depicts a hand woven readable QR code that links to the digital exhibition, a border of a small region of the sequence of mitochondrial DNA (inherited through the maternal line) and documents, in a long ribbon, 164 women’s fabrics and 24 researcher images as well as fabrics relating to the core team working on the project. Each woman’s fabric is referenced at the back with their signature written on a length of ribbon.
Artistic Outputs
A hand-woven tapestry 160cm X 160cm by Lorna Donlon documents a unique community of women. Every single piece of fabric that was spoken about has been represented, the colours and patterns of each one woven into a swirling ribbon that covers the field of the tapestry. The tapestry also contains a woven readable QR code linking to the digital exhibition as well a border representing the patterns of a tiny region of the sequence of mitochondrial DNA, inherited through the maternal line.
Thirty-nine powerful photographs by Anthony Hobbs show women’s hands holding their fabric. Equally powerful, a series of 39 short films by Crannóg Media play openly in the exhibition space.
There is also a display of research images reimagined as pieces of different kinds of fabric.
In 2025, the exhibition is touring to The Hunt Museum, Limerick; Mayfair Library, Kilkenny; Pearse Museum, Rathfarnham Dublin; Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise and Roscommon Arts Centre.
Evaluation Methodology
External evaluation by Graphic Science (UK) using a mixed methods approach. Participants were asked to complete two worksheets during their participation, one before and one after. The worksheet explored their current opinions and trust in health research and its researchers as well as their education level in science. They were sent a short online survey to reflect on their experience of the workshop and provide direct feedback on their experience.
Researchers completed a three-part online survey; one before participation and two afterwards, of which one was designed to be completed several weeks following their participation in the workshops. The surveys are to explore previous experience and motivations for public engagement as well as to discover the intent for future involvement and to explore how their approach may have been altered through their participation in this project. This will provide insight into the wider legacy of the project.
Alongside these quantitative methods, observations of the workshops were conducted by the evaluation team to provide insight into how community members were interacting with researchers and show if a dialogue was taking place.
Researcher and participant interviews were conducted to provide more in-depth feedback and explore individual impacts for both participating community members and researchers. They also explored the intent for future engagement with sciences and patient voice.
Evaluation Outcomes
Evaluation is ongoing. An evaluation document has been prepared and feedback is being gathered at exhibition venues.
An interim evaluation document was prepared by Graphic Science UK in November 2024.
We have created an option for visitors to provide feedback on the website and digital exhibition.
Documentation and Dissemination
The project was featured on RTE Nationwide on 4 April 2025.
This project is current and ongoing. Crannóg Media have filmed throughout all stages of this project and a documentary film is in the works, with the potential to be shown to the public at independent film festivals, as well as being generally shared online on UCD Conway’s YouTube channel.
Partners
Project Team
Lorna Donlon (artist)
Anna Wedderburn (public engagement officer)
Nicky Read (project coordinator)
Elaine Quinn (project lead)
Prof. Amanda McCann (academic lead)
Dr Arman Rahman, Precision Oncology Ireland & UCD School of Medicine (academic & community lead)
Patient Partners
Ciara McNamara, Niamh Conroy, Tina O’Sullivan
Researchers
Assoc. Prof. Siobhán McClean, Assoc. Prof. Niamh O’Sullivan, Prof. Aurelie Fabre, Janet McCormack, Dr Maria Prencipe, Dr Clare Reynolds, Dr Carol Aherne, Dr Claire Robinson, Dr Indrani Bera, Emmanuelle Aiyegbusi (Dami), Dr Sara Dakir SpR, Dr Sarah Kelliher SpR, Dr Asia Drabinska, Elena Giardini, Mahsa Pipelzadeh, Anupa Paulose, Sujithra Srinivas, Joanne Cosgrave, Adele Connor, Aislinn Duggan, Hamda Ajmal, Nouran Naged, Ananya Ramesh
Project Partners
Liliana Fernandez, National Women’s Council
Ana Cecilia Fernandez, Venezuelan Community in Ireland
Francisco Adoney Astudillo Peña, Venezuelan Community in Ireland
Sister Summayah Kenna, Islamic Cultural Centre in Ireland
Sister Amilah Ali, Islamic Cultural Centre in Ireland
Geraldine Rasool, Al Rahman Mosque (Portlaoise), Laois and Offaly ETB
Prof. Trish Scanlan, Children’s Health Ireland
Zahika Shah, Children’s Health Ireland
Sajila Kazi, Bangladeshi Community
Shayla Sharmin, Bangladeshi Community
Lorraine O’Connor, Muslim Sisters of Eire
Shabnam Ahmed, Muslim Sisters of Eire (Limerick)
Khadijah Disc, Muslim Sisters of Eire (Balbriggan)
Ayodele Alao, Muslim Sisters of Eire (Balbriggan)
Sarah Daku, Cairde Balbriggan
Nadette Foley, Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation
Patty Abozaglo, Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation
Amina Haj Ameur, Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation
Emer Connor, Balseskin Reception Centre
Katherine Peacock, Kilkenny County Council
Mary Butler, Kilkenny Arts Office
Aisling Kennedy, Réalta, Waterford
Juley-Ann Collins, Roscommon Arts Centre
Catherine Lee, Roscommon Arts Centre
Paul Hayes, An Tain Dundalk
Michelle de Forge, Dunamaise Arts Centre
Emer O’Hanlon, Museum of Literature of Ireland
Terre Duffy, National Museum of Ireland
Diarmuid Bolger, National Museum of Ireland
Chloe Ladeira, Jesuit Refugee Service Ireland
