Bombers, battles and balls of yarn at 'bonkers' D-Day exhibition

Tansy Forster, a talented woman from Magherafelt, has brought her imaginative knitted D-Day exhibition to Northern Ireland. This exhibition, known as 'The Longest Yarn,' is currently displayed at St Macartin's Cathedral in Enniskillen. It features 80 different scenes that illustrate the preparation and battles of the Normandy campaign in 1944. Tansy, who now lives in Normandy, France, described the project as a 'bonkers idea' to celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. What began as a simple decoration for her garden gate quickly transformed into a large-scale exhibition thanks to the contributions of knitters from around the globe. The knitted soldiers in the exhibition are dressed in light green uniforms and dark green berets, and they are depicted holding a Union Jack and St George's Cross flag. The exhibition has captured the attention of many, including Claire Holmes from the local knitting group, The Knitwits, who was captivated by Tansy's work when she first saw it in France. Claire was so impressed that she invited Tansy to bring the exhibition to Enniskillen, where it has been warmly welcomed. The exhibition will remain open until February 8, allowing visitors to explore the various scenes that depict significant moments from the D-Day landings. One notable display illustrates the Blacksod Lighthouse in County Mayo, which delayed the Allied invasion by 24 hours. Another scene features an aircraft towing a glider towards Pegasus Bridge, showcasing the diverse aspects of the D-Day operations. The knitted figures, including a yellow, black, and green camouflaged bomber with the RAF logo, have been crafted by knitters from the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and France. Tansy believes that the unique nature of the knitted figures resonates with people because they are handmade and carry a sense of thoughtfulness and love. She stated, 'It's done with our own hands, and it's taken a while and there's thought and there's love gone into it. ' The exhibition also includes a knitted man in a grey uniform pointing to a map that illustrates the weather forecast during World War Two. The Enniskillen knitters have created a special panel at the entrance of the exhibition and are already preparing for their next project, which will depict American troops arriving in Northern Ireland to get ready for the invasion. Some of the contributors to the D-Day project have traveled to Enniskillen to see the exhibition firsthand. Claire Holmes expressed her amazement when she first encountered the exhibition in France. Jean Wood, who lives in County Cork, became involved after seeing a post on Facebook. Although she had limited experience with knitting, she has since embraced the craft. Jean created a scene depicting a field hospital near Utah Beach, complete with an ambulance, tents, and injured soldiers. To ensure historical accuracy, she conducted thorough research and examined photographs. Jean expressed her enthusiasm for being part of such an important project, stating, 'I love it if the children can be attracted by it and find out just a little bit about what happened in the past so that we don't forget all the guys that gave their lives and were so brave. ' Jo Groves from Cornwall also contributed to the exhibition by creating a scene that shows the first village to be liberated, featuring a church and local residents welcoming soldiers. Jo and her friend dedicated over 300 hours to this project, emphasizing the importance of honoring veterans and preserving this part of history.