Since 2023, the Arts Office has been associated with a project  ‘Songs of Love to the Earth’ with the writer Lani O’ Hanlon. Lani was awarded an Arts Participation Project Award by the Arts Council to co-create a book of poems, written in collaboration with those with a life limiting illness or with bereaved people. Lani’s experience of mentoring writers and her work in the areas of Arts & Health and Palliative Care placed her in a unique position to work on this thoughtfully conceived project.

The Arts Office has a track record in devising and delivering literature workshops and mentoring and were pleased to assist her with the process around this important project. Réalta at UHW, assisted with the Palliative access and advice. The Old Market House Arts Centre, Dungarvan provided a safe space for one to one engagement with the bereaved over a twelve month period in 2024, where the poems were created.

Lani has spent 2025 editing and revising the poems, getting feedback from industry professionals and including poems of her own for this publication, which despite it’s background is an uplifting book.

At this juncture, the Arts Office would like to bring this book to fruition and make it available to the general public during Q3 & 4 of 2026. It is proposed to hold a book launch and a number of reading engagements around the book, plus a specific event for contributors.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.