Funded Arts project brings memories to life for Derry care home residents
The book celebrates the nostalgic memories of residents at Longfield Care Home and Greenfield Residential Home
A new book celebrating the nostalgic memories of residents at Longfield Care Home and Greenfield Residential Home has been unveiled on Friday last as part of Reflections, an Arts and Older People project funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Led by art facilitators and storytellers Sinead Crumlish and Madeline McCully, the project involved weekly workshops including painting, printmaking, singing and storytelling to enhance residents’ cognitive and emotional wellbeing. The sessions, held from February to June 2024, sparked collective and personal memories on topics such as work, childhood, music, relationships and more.
The book, designed by Emma Hetherington and documented by journalists Laura O’Neill and Tracey Villa, captures the stories, artworks, and songs shared by the residents, ensuring these precious memories are preserved for future generations.
The creative team, residents, and families celebrated the culmination of this inspiring initiative with the presentation of the book at Longfield Care Home in Derry. Joined by Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Lilian Seenoi-Barr, the group discussed the power of music and art in rekindling memories.
The project has been praised for its positive impact by everyone involved. Valerie Porter, Activities Coordinator at Longfield Care Home, expressed her joy at seeing the residents grow in confidence throughout the project: "Many residents started off very quiet, but by the end, they had completely come out of their shells—singing, chatting, and fully enjoying the activities. It was truly uplifting to watch!”
On the impact of the project, one of the residents remarked: “It brought back so many happy memories from my younger days—things I hadn’t thought about in years. It also reminded me that I can still try new things and be creative, which gave me a real sense of accomplishment and joy.”
The Reflections project was delivered by the Waterside Theatre and Arts Centre with funding from the National Lottery and the Public Health Agency.