Exploring loss in a creative way at The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton

This Spring, the Glens centre, Manorhamilton and Irish Hospice Foundation are launching an initiative inviting people to talk and explore what might be created after loss.

In 2016, Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) carried out a national survey where people said they’d like more places to talk about dying, death, and bereavement.

The Glens Centre is offering a sanctuary to those long lived or recently arrived in Leitrim with artist Cróna Gallagher.

Building from ‘Death Cafés’ which invite people to discuss dying, death, grief, and loss, IHF's Compassionate Culture Network uses creative practice to establish safe places where people can talk about loss.

It was started because Irish people reported they wanted more opportunities to talk about dying, death, grief and loss.

Brendan Murray, Director of The Glens, said, “As an arts centre it's important to support the exchange of life stories, including that epic part of life - death. We look forward to hosting, helping and supporting Cróna Gallagher and our communities as they find appropriate ways to make meaning and to share this work as it develops.”

Dominic Campbell of Irish Hospice Foundation said, “The Glens Centre, in collaboration with IHF and supported by Creative Ireland, is creating a beautiful and creative space for those suffering a spectrum of losses. All impactful. None too big or too small to be marked.”

Cróna Gallagher is an award-winning studio holder at Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton where she practices printmaking alongside the written word.

Her fine art print work has been exhibited at national and international level and is held in both private and public collections including Caddebostan Cultural Centre, Istanbul, Awagami International, Japan and Ginestrelle contemporary art in Assisi, Italy among others. Her work has featured in The Annual Exhibition at the Royal Hibernian Academy and the Royal Ulster Academy. In 2018 Leitrim County Council presented her with the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts.

An open session to launch the project and invite a discussion of loss takes place on Tuesday, March 14 at The Sexton’s House, Church Lane, Manorhamilton 11-1pm.

This project in the Glens Centre is part of a larger nationwide IHF initiative as the Compassionate Culture Network aims to use creative practice to establish opportunities for people to talk about loss.

For details: www.hospicefoundation.ie/ccn 

Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) is a national charity that addresses dying, death and bereavement in Ireland.

In 2020 IHF began an Arts and Creative Engagement programme during the pandemic with all citizens affected by loss and some impacted by extreme loss. Normal patterns of grieving were disrupted. Care staff beloved and battered. Individual and collective ways of grieving dislocated.

IHF began developing a Compassionate Culture Network (CCN) early in 2021 with the support of the Creative Ireland Programme.

Its aim was to use creative practice to establish places where people can talk about loss. It was started because Irish people reported they wanted more opportunities to talk about dying, death, grief and loss.

The programme centred around seven artist-facilitators, working alongside support workers and with seven venues. IHF funded the artist and support workers directly with provision for learning supports and materials.

All seven partners worked in unique ways according to the artist's ideas, each informed by their local arts and health infrastructures.

The artist-facilitators and support workers worked simultaneously across the nation under the guidance of IHF who brought support and grief awareness, through online training and peer sessions. By July 2023, IHF will have established six more CCNs.