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 2026: Leitrim & Cavan

In 2026, Songlines continues to expand, with the Festival in a Van travelling to Leitrim and Cavan.

In Leitrim, performances will take place at Árus Carolan Nursing Home and Lough Erril Nursing Home, with musicians Eimear Reidy and Gerry Bohan. Eimear Reidy is a cellist and composer known for her expressive and contemporary approach to traditional and classical music, while Gerry Bohan is a highly regarded writer from Leitrim, whose debut short story collection, The Clainings Tree and Other Stories from the Heart of Leitrim, was published in 2023.

In Cavan, the programme will visit College View Nursing Home in Cavan Town and Breffni Care Home in Ballyconnell, featuring performances by Tony Newman and Mairéad Donnellan. Tony Newman is an experienced performer and multi-instrumentalist, known for his engaging style and connection with audiences, while Mairéad Donnellan is an accomplished poet, who has been shortlisted in national poetry competitions including Cúirt  New Writing Prize and Doire Press Chapbook Competition.

Through these visits, Songlines continues to bring high-quality live music into care settings, creating meaningful shared experiences that support wellbeing, stimulate memory, and foster connection through music.

Songlines 2025: Wicklow & Monaghan

In 2025, Songlines brought live music performances to care settings across the Midlands, creating moments of connection, reflection and shared experience for residents and staff. Working with a team of professional musicians, the project focused on delivering high-quality, intimate performances in familiar environments, supporting wellbeing and access to the arts for older audiences. The programme highlighted the importance of bringing live cultural experiences directly into care contexts, where audiences may otherwise have limited access.

In Wicklow, we were joined by facilitators Eamon Sweeney (musician) and Eithne Hand (poet). In Monaghan, our artist facilitators are Steve Lally (storyteller / musician) and Mairéad Donnellan (poet).

Mairéad Donnellan‘s poetry has appeared in various publications including Crannóg, The Moth, Poetry Ireland Review, Hennessy New Irish Writing and has been widely anthologised. She has been shortlisted in national poetry competitions including Cúirt  New Writing Prize and Doire Press Chapbook Competition. Her poetry has been broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1.

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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