Event
In celebration of National Love: Live Music Day on Friday June 21 many healthcare settings are programming an eclectic mix of live music events nationally. Participating centres include: Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust, Waterford Healing Arts Trust, Tallaght Hospital, Naas General Hospital, West Cork Arts Centre and West Cork Mental Health Services; all members of Arts and Health Co-ordinators Ireland. Many members of AHCI have a vibrant music component to their arts and health programmes. We are fortunate to have a wealth of professional and community musicians and organisations that play an important part in performing and working with us on our various music programmes. Love Live Music is a day to celebrate our musical traditions, discover new music and show case a variety of music to audiences in healthcare settings.
Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust presents singer Sandra Coffey and her band that will perform an acoustic set in the foyer of University Hospital Galway at 5.00pm. Sandra, from Athenry, County Galway will release her first album this summer. She will perform songs from her forthcoming album, a mix of soft rock and alternative styles along with well-chosen covers which she will sing in her own unique way. Sandra’s performance in Whelan’s in Dublin received this review: “The first thing you notice about Sandra is how confident and how at home she is on stage. The second thing you see is she can reach those high notes with ease. It comes naturally. Songs like Friday and Mascara Girl (Best Single Nominee) showed signs of carefully thought out lyrics and melody, giving off a hint of Jefferson Airplane and Stevie Nicks. Her covers were stripped down soulful renditions of Adele, Neil Young, Amy Winehouse, Declan O’Rourke and Joni Mitchell.” [Music Review Unsigned 2013] For more details about Sandra go to www.sandracoffey.ie. The Trust will also present a live performance by Sean Nós SingerCeara Conwayin Unit 5, Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway at 2.00pm. Ceara hails from Carraroe, County Galway; an accomplished artist and singer; residents in the geriatric department of Merlin Park are in for a treat.
The Waterford Healing Arts Trust is delighted to present a live performance by local Russian Orthodox music group, the Orthodox Music Ensemble in the foyer of Waterford Regional Hospital at3.00pm as part of National Love Live Music Day. Originally formed from members of St. Patrick’s Orthodox Church congregation in Waterford, the enemble comprises six members who have been playing together for the past seven years. They will be accompanied for part of the performance by the first Orthodox Children’s Choir in Ireland. Outside of St. Patrick’s church, the Orthodox Music Ensemble has played in both Christchurch and the Edmund Rice Centre in Waterford to great acclaim. The programme of the Orthodox Music Ensemble draws heavily from Orthodox Liturgical music, while referencing Russian Folk themes. The performance in Waterford Regional Hospital will be a unique opportunity to hear music that is heavily steeped in Russian history and culture. With unaccompanied acapella vocal arrangements which are filled with rich and interesting harmonies, this performance promises to be an unforgettable musical experience.
West Cork Mental Health Services, in association with MusicAlive have been running the popular ‘Open Door’ music sessions, at the West Cork Arts Centre since 2011. This initiative was inspired by the well known West Cork tradition of scoraíochting where people gathered in neighbours’ houses tosing, play music, dance and tell stories as a way of connecting with each other and their wider community. Anyone with a love of music is invited to drop in to listen or perform. The organisers are hoping to feature as wide a variety of musical styles as possible on the day. Resident musician and multi instrumentalist Maurice Foley will lead this session. Maurice will be joined by traditional musician and singer Ann Coughlan and a number of other guest musicians. This event will take place at Cotters Bar, Main Street, Skibbereen, County Cork from 5.00pm to 7.00pm.
Other events include: The Baltimore Singers in Schull Community Hospital, Hugh Buckley, jazz guitarist with guest saxophonist, playing jazz standards in Tallaght Hospital Atrium from 1.00pm – 2.00pm and Comhaltas Kilteel/Eadestown will perform in Naas General Hospital from 7.00pm to 8.30pm that evening.
For further in formation on the listed events or on Arts and Health Co-ordinators Ireland contact Margaret Flannery, Chairperson Arts and Health Co-ordinators Ireland and Arts Director Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust at 091 544979 /087 1250461 orguhartstrust@hse.ie
Arts and Health Co-ordinators Ireland
Arts + Health Co-ordinators Ireland (AHCI) is an all-Ireland support network of professionals who are responsible for managing arts and health initiatives.Formed in 2003, AHCI aims to build capacity and maximise resources for its membership, who work in the sector throughout Ireland, North and South.
The network members co-ordinate a range of arts and health activity, including environmental enhancement, visual art, sculpture, performance etc., participatory and collaborative arts practice, professional development for artists and staff, artist residencies, health promotion and arts and health research.
In 2011, AHCI worked collaboratively to bring together artists working in healthcare contexts in a series of peer learning initiatives, in four regional centre – Tullamore, Ballyjamesduff, Limerick and Galway. This project was called Dialogue Arts + Health and it culminated in a day long national event in Rua Red, Tallaght on 6 December 2011.
