Crafty Irish Girl Margaret scoops Silver Surfer award
By William O'Connor
65-Year-Old craftsperson and activist Margaret Byrne was named the overall winner of the Silver Surfer Award last week, reports William O’Connor.
Now in its ninth year, the Awards recognise and reward the achievements of older people using technology and the Internet as well as the volunteers who teach these skills.
65-year-old Margaret Byrne from Tallaght with her National Silver Surfer Award
Margaret, from Tallaght, was presented with her award by well-known fashion designer, TV and radio personality Brendan Courtney from Kingswood.
The ceremony was officially opened by Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Mental Health and Older People Jim Daly TD.
In addition to winning the overall award Margaret also picked up “The Hobbies on the Net” award.
Margaret (also known as “The Crafty Irish Girl” from her hugely popular blog) is a crochet, knitting and jewellery making enthusiast who uses social media to grow the craft community, and help keep hand craft skills alive.
Keen Pinterest user
She has a Facebook page which she uses for sharing ideas and knitting patterns and she also provides online tutorials. Margaret is also a keen Pinterest user – with almost 1,000 people following her.
She loves Twitter too, but Instagram is her favourite social media channel.
On top of embracing technology to promote her chosen craft, she actively campaigns for survivors of mesh implant complications through the online support group “Mesh Survivors Ireland”, of which she is a co-founder.
The group has grown to 250 survivors and has provided help to those suffering through meetups and support groups. Margaret uses Facebook, Twitter and email to reach out to younger generations who represent their older parents online, and who are sufferers of mesh implant complications.
Because of her online campaigning, Minister Simon Harris has agreed to carry out an investigation on the matter.
