Promoting mental health through music and poetry.

About The Jukebox Project

The Jukebox Project invites clients in community residences who have experienced mental health difficulties to discuss amongst themselves and with staff their favourite poems and songs. This feeds into a collaborative setlist, which is turned into a two-way live performance brought straight to our audience’s door from the Festival in a Van stage.

We have been thrilled to collaborative with the HSE and Mental Health Ireland in such a fun and collaborative way. Mental Health Ireland is the longest established mental health charity in Ireland. Throughout their history they and the Mental Health Associations have played a central role in reshaping how the public understand mental health issues. Since 1966, they have been front and centre in promoting mental health, supporting people with lived experience of mental health challenges in their recovery and bringing practical expression to national policy objectives.

The Jukebox Project continues to demonstrate the power of live performance to enhance wellbeing, foster connection, and bring meaningful cultural experiences directly into everyday community settings.

How The Jukebox Project Works

Before the Van arrives, participants are invited to help shape the performance.

They choose songs they would like to hear and suggest themes that have particular meaning or interest for their group — from local history, nature and sport to people, places and memories.

Festival in a Van then works with a professional musician and poet to respond to those choices. The musician prepares requested songs, while the poet selects work inspired by the themes suggested by participants.

When the Van arrives, those choices become a live performance of music and poetry, with conversation, participation and plenty of opportunities to join in.

Rather than bringing the same set to every location, each Jukebox visit is shaped around the people taking part.

Jukebox Through The Years

Since its beginnings in 2023, The Jukebox Project has travelled across Ireland visiting different communities and settings, working with partner organisations and professional artists to create performances shaped by the people taking part.

The programme has continued to evolve as it has reached new groups, while keeping audience choice, participation and connection at its heart.

2026 – Meath & Westmeath

With performances in Athlone and Mullingar, including RehabCare, Croí Óir, Ashbrook Day Centre and Cluain Lir Care Centre. The project created moments of connection, nostalgia and celebration, as audiences selected songs from the “jukebox” and enjoyed live performances.

The Van then continued to Meath, with visits to Prosper Meath Day Services in Navan. These visits extended the project’s reach to adults with intellectual disabilities and autism, offering inclusive, high-quality live music experiences that support participation, enjoyment and shared connection within each setting.

2025 – Galway & Dublin

The project made three stops across Galway city in May, visiting Merlin Park, Studio C, and Cois Saile Services. Featured artists include Rita Ann Higgins andRuth Ennis. In June the Jukebox party continued in Spirasi, Ireland’s National Centre for Survivors of Torture, as well as Cheeverstown. Featured artists include Kiruu and Sarah Clancy.

2024 – Laois & Wexford

In April 2024, we visited six community residences across Offaly, Laois, and Wexford in partnership with the HSE & Mental Health Ireland, and RehabCare.

These visits featured poets Jim Maguire and Gerry Boland, and musicians Darren Browne and Rachel Grace. Popular requests included ‘The Railway Children’ by Seamus Heaney and ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’ which got absolutely everyone singing along!

2023 – Meath & Longford

Supported by the HSE and Mental Health Ireland we embarked on a two-day tour to community residencies.These visits featured poets Rachael Hegarty and Mary Melvin Geoghegan, as well as musicians Fin Furey and Emma Warren. Our amazing performers brought their audiences on a musical and poetic journey, all from our own Festival in a Van stage.Requests included everything from Frank Sinatra to Irish ballads to Country Western, and lots of appetite for poems by John O’Donoghue.

Funded by the Arts Council Ireland

‘I work to empower clients to become socially inclusive, to recover and connect to their communities. One of the sectors that is requested continuously is the arts, music, and poetry. Music and poetry gives and receives […]. The musicians from The Jukebox Tour brought and gave hope solidarity, inspiration and solace.’ – Staff member, Mental Health Ireland

‘I love to hear my favourite songs, thanks to the musician and poet for playing and reciting my favourite songs and poems. I have not heard a band in a very long time.’ – Service User

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