Kilcoole Pensioners Take Their Art On The Road

Imagination Central

he gang over at the Kilcoole Lodge Nursing Home have been keeping themselves busy these days.

With the Darcy lad at Wicklow Hospice

Having just raised €17,000 for Wicklow Hospice, the young-at-heart boys and girls have been busy getting creative in recent weeks.

And the fruits of their labours of love are now on display at Greystones Library throughout the month of June.

Under the banner of Art & Creativity At Any Age,  the residents enjoyed the Arts Council-funded Bealtaine Festival last month, which introduced them to a series of arts & crafts sessions, live music concerts and even visits to the National Gallery of Ireland and The National Concert Hall.

So, good to know these oul’ ones are having a much more active and creative social life than GG these days.

“It is their way to prove positivism, creativity, and determination in improving their skills,” says Angela Boboca, the activities coordinator at Kilcoole Lodge Nursing Home. “Art therapy has many positive advantages, such as, enhance brain function, cognitive reserve, life purpose and life satisfaction and quality of life. The beauty of art is that you can work independently or part of a team – it depends on the individual and their preference.”

Whatever way they’re working it over there in Kilcoole, the results are pretty amazing. As anyone who swings by Greystones Library this month will discover.

“Please make time to awaken your senses,” finishes Angela, “and to be amazed by the standard of their hard work…”