Hoolie in the hospital

Healthcare Hoolies is back and ready to fill community hospitals across Cork with beautiful music.

The 28 concerts across 14 community hospitals will include performances by the Cork Pops Orchestra, Down Memory Lane, and The Lounge Bros.

The popular series returns for a fourth year with two separate performances happening in each of 14 community hospital facilities in county Cork. It is delivered by Cork County Council, supported by Creative Ireland, The HSE and Cork ETB.

Cork Pops Orchestra is led by broadcaster and musician Evelyn Grant and cellist Gerry Kelly. They perform in a variety of ways from wedding quartets to orchestral concerts for schools.

Down Memory Lane is a show designed to stimulate the memory of the audience so that every song, poem, and anecdote is chosen with a specific intention. Audience members are invited to singalong, add a memory, engage with performers Maurice Healy and Linda Kenny.

The Lounge Bros are jazz duo Aengus Kirakowski on guitar and Jonny Pumfrey on saxophone. They take audiences on a musical journey from turn-of-the-century New York to Europe in the 1930s, on to the bossa nova years of Brazil and much more.

Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Joe Carol said: “We are delighted to support the delivery of music performance community hospitals throughout the county. Music is so important and experiencing live music has positive impact on the wellbeing of audiences. These concerts will bring live music to those who might otherwise not get to experience it.”

Cork County Council has delivered concerts in similar settings since 2021. Creative Ireland and Cork County Council aim is to support positive ageing and wellbeing programmes for older people. This includes developing and establishing new forms of creative engagement for older people in the community and for residential healthcare facilities.