In Pictures: Donegal Volunteer Centre launches ‘One Million Stars’ exhibition

Donegal Volunteer Centre has launched the ‘One Million Stars’ Donegal exhibition, featuring installations of over ten thousand stars woven by volunteers, at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny.

Each star in the exhibition represents a message of hope, solidarity, and resilience against violence. Through the collective efforts of volunteers, the exhibition aims to raise awareness and spark important conversations about healthy relationships and recognising abuse. The exhibition, open from March 19 to April 6, was created in partnership with the Donegal Arts Service and the Regional Cultural Centre (RCC), with funding from Creative Ireland.

"We’re delighted to invite you to visit the One Million Stars Donegal exhibition, showcasing the incredible efforts of our volunteers," said Roksana Oliinyk, Volunteer Support Officer, Donegal Volunteer Centre. "The significance of the ‘One Million Stars’ Ireland Project extends far beyond its artistic expression. It catalyses social change, bringing together diverse groups in the pursuit of a common goal: to end violence and promote a culture of compassion and understanding.”

ABOVE: Guest at the Donegal Volunteer Centre launch of the ‘One Million Stars’ Donegal exhibition, featuring installations of over ten thousand stars woven by volunteers, at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny. All photos CLIVE WASSON 

“The Regional Cultural Centre is proud to host the 'One Million Stars' Donegal exhibition," said Andrew McNulty, Donegal Arts Service. "This exhibition not only showcases the artistic talents of volunteers but also serves as a platform for raising awareness about domestic abuse. We believe that art has the power to inspire change and we’re honoured to be part of this meaningful initiative.”

Throughout the project, Donegal Volunteer Centre, which is delivered by Donegal Local Development Clg (DLDC), organised 20 community weaving workshops across the county, providing a platform for individuals to engage in discussions on healthy relationships and recognising abuse.

Speaking about the project, Hanna Pidkaliuk, the lead project artist,  said: "We are incredibly proud of the impact this artistic journey has had in our community. The exhibition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our volunteers, who have come together to make something really creative and meaningful.”

The exhibition, open from March 19 to April 6, will be accessible to the public from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Saturday. For more information about the ‘One Million Stars’ Donegal exhibition and the work of Donegal Volunteer Centre, please visit www.donegalvolunteercentre.ie  and www. onemillionstarsireland.ie

The ‘One Million Stars’ project was created in Australia and brought to Ireland by Amber Women's Refuge from County Kilkenny. This project aims to weave One Million Stars in Ireland by 2032, contributing to the global world’s target of One Billion Stars. Commencing officially on December 10, 2019, the campaign has garnered support from 26 counties in Ireland. In 2023 alone, 45,764 stars were woven nationally, where almost 7000 stars are from the Donegal Volunteer Centre. The cumulative count in Ireland is nearly 300,000 stars over the past four years.