Event
In November 2011 West Cork Mental Health Services appointed Kevin O’ Shanahan as an Arts and Mental Health Co Ordinator to investigate the potential for developing arts and health activities in the wider West Cork community. This post will be a pilot position, initially of one year and one aspect of this job will be to develop partnerships between West Cork Mental Health Services and other community groups and services.
As part of this process and in partnership with West Cork Arts Centre and MusicAlive, West Cork Mental Health Services are planning an exciting participative based music project entitled The Open Door. This project will commence on Thursday 23 February 2012 in the West Cork Arts Centre and continue every Thursday in March from 7 to 8pm.
Two musicians, Kevin O Shanahan and Maurice Foley will facilitate music groups that are open to all ages and all members of the community. No musical experience or particular ability on an instrument is required. Kevin is a percussionist and bodhrán player with many years experience facilitating music in community contexts and has a special interest in folk music from around the world. (Visit www.musicalive.ie for more information on his work) Maurice is a well known accordion player and singer, living in Ballingeary and also plays guitar and bazouki.
The Open Door is inspired by the well known West Cork tradition of scoraíochting where people gathered in neighbours’ houses to listen, sing, play music and dance and tell stories. So if you would like to listen to or play music with others, for an evening of relaxed music making and stories, or simply to drop in for a cup of tea and to listen to some music, then contact the West Cork Arts Centre at (028) 22090 for more information or to book a place.
This project has been developed by West Cork Mental Health Services as a community initiative and participation is free of charge. For more information on Arts and Mental health, contact Kevin.OShanahan@hse.ie or at 086 7872481.
