After their heartwarming visits in August, Covid Care Concerts returned to residential care homes in Kerry this week, bringing music and memories to some of those most effected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Funding from Creative Ireland Kerry brought the concerts to residential care home settings in Kenmare, Tralee, Killarney, and Listowel.
It was Brilliant
At Aperee Living in Tralee, a member of staff remarked: “It was brilliant; we were delighted when they came in August and even more thrilled today.
“The positive effect that music has on the staff and residents alike was apparent when she added: “It was emotional to see the residents singing along to the Rose of Tralee.”
The Performers:
The performers and musicians: Gavan Ring, Kenneth Rice, Lisa Dowdall and Paula Hughes encouraged residents to unlock memories around well-loved songs through writing down or recording a little oral history that they associate with the piece.
“We all have deep emotional connections to music,” said Gavan Ring, “and allowing these emotions to be expressed has a great therapeutic effect.”
Mobile Music Machine
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival partner with the renowned classical music ensemble Mobile Music Machine to deliver these one-hour concert recitals at an appropriate social distance in the grounds of care homes.
Residents and staff gather in outdoor areas or listen to the performance through open windows and doors.
Ten Residential Home Visits
The musicians are visiting 10 residential care home and hospital settings over five days.
These are in: Kenmare Nursing Home and St Joseph’s Care Home in Kenmare; Oaklands Nursing Home; Aras Mhuire Care Home; Listowel Community Hospital in Listowel; Ocean View Nursing Home, Aperee Living, Our Lady of Fatima Nursing Home in Tralee and Heather Lee Nursing Home and Killarney Nursing Home.
Residents Have Their Say
The final word must go to the residents themselves – “Great; I never saw ye before, but I knew a lot of the tunes,” and even more to the point, “ Brilliant…brilliant!”
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