We all knew why we were there. And yet, when Suzanne McClean took to the podium at the g hotel in Galway, we sat with heads bowed and inhaled breath. She spoke beautifully about the purpose of the Hats, Heels and High Tea event held on Sunday, March 25th - to raise vital funds for Rosabel’s Rooms, a charity set up in memory of her 16-month-old daughter.
When a child dies, there are no words. For Suzanne, her husband Gary Monroe, extended family and friends, there is no explanation.
Image courtesy of Rosabel's Rooms Facebook page
She spoke, her voice strong and soft, about the initiative – to establish family focused bereavement suites in hospitals around Ireland, to bring therapeutic support to anyone impacted by child loss, and to provide direct financial support to help with funeral costs and allow grieving parents to take time off work.
Suzanne McClean addressing the crowd at the g hotel
She spoke, as smiling images of the beautiful Rosabel - her daughter - sang from across the room.
“When Rosabel died , the staff were incredible,” she explained “but there wasn’t an appropriate place in University Hospital Galway – there just wasn’t the space. Because the Irish Hospice Foundation has taken us under their wing, they look after our administration, so that every cent raised by Rosabel’s Rooms goes directly to support families during child loss.”
She thanked us for coming, and stated that “every penny matters”. There was a moment of silence - the silence that comes with the unexplained death of a child. Strangers seated at round tables glanced at each other, some touching the corners of their eye.
This was powerful. Musician Eleanor Shanley captured our thoughts, as she sang ‘Forever Young’ without accompaniment, her voice interrupted only by the cries of a child in the crowd. I don’t know Suzanne personally. But we knew of their tragedy, and we knew why we were there.
Musician Eleanor Shanley at the event in aid of Rosabel's Rooms
Once the presentations were made, we were faced with the ultimate ice-breaker – a pile of colourful bits, bobs and material made for an unusual centrepiece. We exhaled.
“We’re not, are we?”
Thoughts of sitting back and enjoying a millinery demonstration soon gave way to the reality of a sewing needle and bright pink thread. At this event, a ‘millinery masterclass’ should have read ‘DIY your own headpiece as experienced milliners look on and laugh heartily at your efforts’.
Suddenly, the competitive ethos kicked in. We grabbed the best of what we could find and I was tasked with stitching. The sweat was horsing off me as we grappled with the design and wrestled with mesh and flowers.
Award winning milliner Caithriona King couldn’t help but smile at our repeated pleas for a ‘glue gun’. At one point, I was hammering at the back of the, now wedged, needle with a fork - as my friend Catherine yanked at the front of it with plyers.
Regina and I with our creations
“How do you do this for a living?” we emplored.
“Sometimes I don’t even know myself,” she joked.
The women to our left created a lovely red and black ensemble complete with pearls.
“Hand-Me-The-Pearls,” I growled, determined to cover the vivacious, ad hoc pink stitching (to match my vivacious and boiling pink cheeks).
The pink cheeks of toil and labour!
It was a fervour of beads and sowing, as I raced against some kind of imaginary clock.
“More pearls!” I demanded.
By this time, my friend Regina had lovingly handcrafted a piece she fondly described as “my starfish”, while Sinead sat back and enjoyed the spectacle unfolding before her.
The Starfish
With our milliner distracted by the call of another table, I approached Michael Mullins for further assistance.
“I’m wearing one of yours!” I grinned, pointing to my bridal headpiece, in a bid to win him over. It wasn’t long before both Emily Jean and Caithriona King gave us the last piece of the puzzle, a stretch of elastic to secure the crown, with firm instructions on where to place it.
Once finished, I cooed “isn’t it fantastic” over and over, while forcing my friends to both wear, and if willing, be photographed with it on.
Isn't it fantastic!
The reason I tell this story, is to highlight that while the tale of Rosabel’s Rooms is one filled with sadness, the power is in the coming together of people, both in support and in solidarity over the loss of a child.
Here we were, embracing our own inner child through a creative endeavour, and taking on the spirit of the event. In some ways, this is all we can do.
High Tea at the g
With my (our) masterpiece taking pride of place beside the culinary delights of afternoon tea, we sat back, glass of wine in hand to watch as models from the Catwalk agency showcased the designs of the real stars of the day – Galway based milliners Suzie Mahoney, Caithriona King, Emily Jean and Michael Mullins. Each piece was unique, each designer had their own style, and each one was a showstopper.
We learned a little more about the milliners thanks to MC Clare McKenna from TV3. Suzie Mahoney admitted that, while she loves teaching others her skill, she is “a country lady at heart” and “does not give away all of her secrets” (she keeps it under her hat!).
Suzie Mahoney Designs - image courtesy of Mandy Maher @Rosabel's Rooms Facebook Page
Michael Mullins was cajoled into helping an Australian friend make a hat for Ladies Day at the Galway Races and hasn’t looked back since. He is known for adapting graffiti paint art into his work.
Image courtesy of Mandy Maher @ Rosabel's Rooms Facebook page - Michael Mullins designs
Caithriona King wowed with her sculptured headpieces. For her, a hat reflects a personality, and her designs have won many awards.
Images courtesy of Mandy Maher @ Rosabel's Rooms Facebook Page - Caithriona King designs
Emily Jean is starting a new chapter in her successful career, by moving from Augustine Street to my home village of Moycullen. She called for the creation of a millinery association in Ireland, similar to that in Australia, to unite and support milliners across the country.
Emily Jean O'Byrne designs - image courtesy of Mandy Maher @Rosabels Rooms Facebook page
Following Eleanor Shanley, Michelle Lally kept us enthralled with music, while Sharon Shannon happily greeted and posed with fans. In a predominantly female setting, only a keen eye could spot the Galway Player with one eye on proceedings and the other on a match via his phone.
Well the art of hat making isn’t for everyone and, while we didn’t win an award, I will definitely wear mine to the Galway Races this year. Total win!
Afterwards, we met with Suzanne. Instead of consoling her on her loss, we congratulated her on the event, which we thoroughly enjoyed. What can you say?
We all knew why we were there.
In memory of Rosabel Mary Monroe and for all of the families affected by the loss of a child.
