GUH Choral Society - Supporting Arts Projects for Hospital Patients

GUH Choral Society will perform a Christmas Carol Service on Saturday December 14 at 8.00pm in Christ the King Church in Salthill in aid of Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust. GUH Arts Trust runs the west of Ireland’s leading Arts and Health programme as a means of improving the hospital experience for patients, visitors and staff.
 
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2013, the Arts Trust’s programme includes exhibitions, participative workshops, music, theatre and poetry. Various artists, writers and musicians work with patients weekly on various art initiatives. Highlights include an exciting art project in the haemodialysis unit in Merlin Park which is documented in the special book The Magician and the Swallow’s Tale, currently available from the Hospital Shops and Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop. In the Paediatric Department, Cloudlands an arts and technology project for teenagers, programmed by Helium Arts and Health is going into year two with the generous support of the Community Foundation of Ireland.
 
Three years ago, the GUH Choral Society (ChorSoc) was formed from existing members of HSE Staff in the Galway area. Initially a small group, the ChorSoc has grown into a group of about 30 members who give of their time to sing together. Initially, they sang for patients and staff giving recitals in the hospital foyer twice yearly. Each Christmas they also go from ward to ward in the hospital singing carols for patients who will be hospitalised over the Christmas period. Whilst continuing to do this, they have performed at a number of charity events over the past year and have even had air-time on Lyric FM. In its early days, the ChorSoc was fortunate to have the assistance of the GUH Arts Trust helping in its development. In turn, the ChorSoc is delighted to now work in a symbiotic relationship with the GUH Arts Trust to improve the holistic experience of patients in hospital.
 
In their Christmas Carols performance at Christ the King Church, the GUH ChorSoc led by Music Director Séamus Leonard, will bring together carols old and new(ish). Most well known and perhaps one or two surprises along the way. We all know “Silent Night”, “Adeste Fideles” and “Cantique de Noel” (O Holy Night) but have you heard “Don Oíche úd i mBeithil” yet? Also, bearing in mind that it’s December and singing keeps you warm …. you can begin to work out what might happen with the audience for some of the pieces!! It’s singing for fun at our favourite time of the year!
 
Donations on the door and all proceeds will go towards providing an arts service for patients in Galway University Hospitals. For further information please contact the Arts Office at 091 544979 or guhartstrust@hse.ie
 
Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust is a registered charity, to make a donation or for further information regarding the hospital arts programme and the work of Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust contact Margaret Flannery, Arts Director at 091 544979 or guhartstrust@hse.ie.