Award-Winning Arts and Heritage Project
Oakfield Nursing Home in Gorey, Co. Wexford is proud to have been awarded a National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Award. The award is in recognition of an innovative arts and heritage project developed in partnership with community artist and folklorist Rachel Uí Fhaoláin.
Celebrating the creativity of people living in nursing homes and care settings
Each year, Nursing Homes Ireland and Age & Opportunity recognise outstanding creative projects through the National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Awards. The awards celebrate initiatives that encourage artistic expression, storytelling, wellbeing and community engagement among residents in nursing homes across Ireland.
Oakfield’s award-winning project brought residents together to explore local folklore, traditional songs, prayers and stories connected to St. Brigid and the holy wells dedicated to Ireland’s patroness saint. Through a series of workshops, residents played an active role in preserving and sharing local heritage, creating a valuable cultural collection for future generations.
Honouring the Legacy of Poet George MacDonald
Following the success of this project, residents took part in a special memory project inspired by the work of former Oakfield resident and Gorey poet George MacDonald. Working with Rachel, residents shared memories from their childhoods, stories about life in the local area and personal experiences, helping to create a collection that celebrates the history and traditions of North Wexford. George MacDonald’s poems were also adapted into traditional songs, helping to keep his work alive while bringing residents together through shared memories and storytelling.
How Creative Arts Support Wellbeing in Nursing Homes
At Oakfield Nursing Home, we believe that meaningful arts programmes can enrich the lives of residents, encourage self-expression, strengthen community connections and support overall wellbeing. This national recognition highlights the creativity, knowledge and life experiences that our residents contribute every day.
We are delighted to receive this award and would like to thank our residents, staff, families and Rachel for their enthusiasm, participation and commitment in making this project such a success. We would also like to sincerely thank George’s family for allowing us to include his work in our project.
This project demonstrates the important role that arts, culture and storytelling play, not only in enhancing life in nursing homes but also preserving Ireland’s rich heritage for future generations.
You can watch videos from the project and learn more about the residents’ experiences on Rachel Uí Fhaoláin’s YouTube channel here.