To celebrate its 25th Anniversary in 2022, The Merrion commissioned a special blanket in indigenous Irish wool from Dublin artist, Ellie Dunne. Ellie (24) took inspiration for her design from the colours of the Mainie Jellett painting, Mother and Child, which hangs beside the reception desk in the hotel.
Ellie collaborated with Miriam and Philip Cushen of the family-owned Cushendale Woollen Mills in Graiguenamangh, Co. Kilkenny to make the 54” x 54” throw, which is edged in blanket-stitch.
The wool comes from the fleece of the protected ‘Galway’ sheep, which is spun, carded, dyed and woven at Cushendale, one of very few mills in Ireland using Irish fleece. For Ellie, who has Down Syndrome and is a student of Fine Art at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, the collaboration with The Merrion follows on from two weeks of work experience when she was in Transition Year at Newpark Comprehensive in Blackrock.
“I loved getting to know everyone at The Merrion when I was on work experience, and I particularly enjoyed being able to look at the hotel’s paintings when I wasn’t too busy, so I was very happy when The Merrion asked me if I would like to design a unique blanket. I think the colours of the wool from Cushendale are beautiful.”
10pc of the proceeds from the blanket go to support the work of The Together Academy www.togetheracademy.ie a unique college and social enterprise in Dublin.
Order online at www.elliedunneart.com
