Pat Hurley from Cobh with two bonnets that she created in memory of two convict women transported from Cobh.
Roses from the Heart is a unique memorial to the 25,566 convict women transported to Australia from Ireland and Britain from 1788 to 1853.
On Sunday 29th August a very unique and special event took place on the quayside at Cobh Heritage Centre to commemorate these women.
Roses from the Heart is the concept of Christina Henri , an artist at the University of Tasmania. The project involves the making of a bonnet , similar to those worn at the time, to commemorate the life and contribution each of the transported women made towards the founding of a new nation. Already 15000 of these bonnets have been contributed from all parts of the world, many from the descendants of the original transportees.
The event at the Cobh Heritage Centre began with an address by the Mayor Of Cobh Cllr Finbarr O Driscoll who welcomed the Australian Ambassador Mr Bruce Davies. Christina Henri then outlined the background to the project after which 183 bonnets were presented which represented the number of convict women transported on the ship Elizabeth in 1828. Father Michael leamy then blessed these bonnets.
Later that evening a concert was also held in the Cobh Heritage Centre.
At the time of transportation to Australia, Cobh was known as Queenstown and was the port where many of the Convict women embarked from in the 1800’s.
To see a short video clip please click here
