This piece was inspired by words by Max Porter, written for an exhibition at the Boole Library as part of the Lifelong Learning Festival. His text reflects on apology as a complex and open question: who we apologise to, who we seek apology from, whether forgiveness is necessary, and how these acts might extend beyond the human to society, history, and the natural world.
The Dillon’s Cross Project was invited to exhibit We Are All in the Same Boat for three weeks as part of this programme. At the centre of the installation was an “apology box,” inviting participants to respond through words and stitch—offering reflections, confessions, memories, and gestures of care.
These contributions were gathered into bunting that formed part of a larger installation. The sail incorporated writings and drawings created by the women involved, and in some cases by their children and grandchildren. Many responses drew inspiration from the sea—its movement, colour, and shifting moods—becoming a shared language for emotion, resilience, and change.
Since September 2023, the project has been developed in collaboration with Sounds from a Safe Harbour and Max Porter, exploring storytelling, belonging, healing, and collective care. The women also facilitated a workshop at University College Cork, where participants were invited to write or stitch an apology, creating a shared space for reflection and connection.
At its core, the work considers how people hold one another through vulnerability. It suggests that creativity—through writing, stitching, making, or listening—can become a form of repair and understanding.
We Are All in the Same Boat reflects the empathy within the group, where shared experience fosters connection and care. It reminds us that, at some level, we are all navigating the same conditions.
Here, apology is understood not only as regret, but as offering: a bridge, a recognition, and an act of collective care.