SONGLINES IN A VAN
Making connections through poetry & music
Songlines is a workshop and event series which engages with those living with dementia and cognitive impairment through poetry and song. Over the course of a number of sessions, participants discuss, read, and sing together favourite poems and songs from childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood.
Facilitated by professional artists with extensive experience working in arts & health, these workshops endeavour to reveal memories associated with both artforms and often results in the composition of new songs and poems by the artists and participants.
Through the workshops in care homes, community hospitals and day care centres, our facilitators gave participants the time to discuss their lives and memories, good and bad, and to show a side of their personalities and share an aspect of their life that might have been dormant or closed off for a time.
Songlines has proven to be a significantly effective programme in breaking through the loneliness and isolation that can come when living with cognitive impairment.
The project culminates in a special event performed from Festival in Van stage with the facilitators, clients, and staff; drawing in the audience through active participation via songs and poems discussed in the workshops and some additional requests along the way too.
Songlines 2025: Wicklow & Monaghan
In spring 2025 we will visit 4 care homes across Wicklow and Monaghan for this third iteration of the programme.
Stay tuned for more details about this year's artist facilitators!
Songlines is proudly supported by The Arts Council, Wicklow Arts Office, Creative Monaghan, Monaghan Arts Office, Réalta and Poetry Ireland.
Songlines 2024: Tipperary & Mayo
Following a successful first year, Songlines returned with visits to Rathkeevan and St. Martha's in Tipperary, as well as Aras Deirbhle and Sacred Heart in Mayo.
Workshops facilitated by John and Isabela Hoban took place in Mayo throughout March and April, culminating in a celebratory event in May.
Workshops facilitated by Margaret Galvin and Peter O'Toole took place in Tipperary throughout March, April, and May, culminating in celebratory performances in May and June.
Songlines is proud to be funded by the Arts Council with support from Tipperary County Council, Mayo County Council, Réalta, and Poetry Ireland.
Songlines 2023: Wexford & Waterford
‘… it took many the many days of practice to perfect a song (‘Four-Legged Friend’) to tune into the life experience of the participant who had worked in the UK with horses. While the song was full of tongue twisters it was worth the effort to reach the memories carried and amplify them and indeed honour them for the gentleman. This man visibly grew in emotional stature when the song was sung for him.’
Working together, artists Lani O’Hanlon and Liam Merriman (Waterford) and Margaret Galvin and Billy Roche (Wexford) collaborated with clients in care homes and day care centres in the South East of Ireland.
The tour visited Wexford on Wednesday 17 May and Waterford on Thursday 18 May. Three workshop sessions took place in Waterford at Care Choice Dungarvan & Dungarvan Community Hospital, and in Wexford at Grantstown Community Village & St John's Community Day Care Centre.
With gratitude to Marie Brett and Jane O’Hanlon, and all the staff and residents of the care homes and day care centres for their support of this very special Festival in a Van project.
Funded by the Arts Council, Waterford County Council, Wexford County Council, Waterford Healing Arts, and Poetry Ireland.
songlines Seminar 2023
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