The Creative Ireland Programme asked some of those involved to reflect on the project and what they learnt from it. Their observations were both insightful and touching.

“Unfortunately one of the older people that I had been working closely with on 1-to-1 sessions passed away. She was also very good friends with some of the other people I am working with and they were feeling very lonely after her. We did have a lovely reminiscence session where we used a linocut map of one of the local villages that we’ve been developing as a starting point and we ended up exchanging lovely stories about their friend and country life traditions

One of the participants told me all about the tradition of thrashing the corn and the celebratory dance and feast they had at the end of the season. These conversations and interactions seemed to have a very positive outcome, brightening up some of the residents’ morning.

I think this really showed how art can be or do something more than be a nice thing on the wall. Also staff recognised the close relationship I had built with the woman who had passed through our creative sessions and one member of staff said it was lovely that she got to have those moments in her last few weeks.”

Raheen

The older people who participated in the workshops shared an enthusiasm for new experiences and enjoyed the unpredictable nature of creativity. Simultaneously those caring for them noticed an increase in their sense of themselves, how they loved the interaction with the artists and relished the opportunity to express themselves. The conversations generated by the artists proved to be hugely important to the older people. Together with the artists they explored their life stories and shared poetry and songs.