Pictures: Kilkenny residents enjoy singsong ahead of Arts in Nursing Homes Day

Residents of Mooncoin Residential Care Centre in Kilkenny, have been enjoying a sing-along with musician Liam Merriman in anticipation of National Arts in Nursing Homes Day.

They have participated in If These Hands Could Sing, a project encompassing song and choir workshops exploring the stories behind residents’ hands. Residents’ stories were weaved into lyrics that encompassed the creation of song and melody created by the residents.

Residents of Mooncoin Residential Care Centre have, for successive weeks, been engaged in workshops around the theme of reminiscence, with exploration undertaken through the five senses. Song and choir workshops have explored the stories behind residents' hands, with lines from conversations weaved into lyrics that encompassed the creation of song and melody created by the residents with the support of  Merriman.  

The artistic, creative potential and talents of nursing home residents are being celebrated in communities across Ireland this coming Friday, May 19. National Arts in Nursing Homes Day will see performances, exhibitions and celebratory events hosted in nursing homes as part of the annual Bealtaine Festival, celebrating the arts and creativity as we age.

Age & Opportunity and Nursing Homes Ireland have again partnered for National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, with residents’ creative works and talents being celebrated within nursing homes to mark the event. Events lined up include art and craft exhibitions encompassing resident painting, pottery and knitting creations and performances, including a series of concerts in nursing homes across Co Louth and a resident choir recital in Cavan.

Tara Byrne, Age & Opportunity Arts Programme Manager says: “One of the key aims of our work is to ensure that older people have access to the arts no matter where they live in Ireland. Our partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland for National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, therefore, is a cornerstone of our drive to support meaningful arts-making and engagement in our later lives, continuing to connect with ourselves and with other people, and remaining a vital part of the world.”

Tadhg Daly, Nursing Homes Ireland CEO states: “Participation in the arts occurs at all ages and fulfills a particularly important role in supporting people in nursing homes. The arts allow nursing home residents to express themselves, their creative talents to flourish, to bond, and enjoy very happy and memorable moments. National Arts in Nursing Homes Day is a national occasion when we can come together in communities across Ireland to applaud the creative talents of nursing home residents and the role the arts fulfills in supporting them.

"We are extremely proud to partner with Age and Opportunity for this very special initiative. The Bealtaine Festival is a landmark cultural celebration and nursing home residents up and down the country will be extremely proud of their unique participation within it.”