Encore Productions win at the Irish Healthcare Awards
Dundalk Leader 14th June 2023
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St Vincent Secondary School Transition Year Students.
Dundalk students from St Louis and St Vincents secondary schools honoured at SVP Youth Day Transition Year (TY) Students from St Louis and St Vincents Secondary Schools in Dundalk were honored at a recent Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) North East & Midlands Youth Day. They were awarded certificates for their participation in the Young SVP Programme 2022/2023 The Young SVP programme is a social justice programme designed for students at 2nd and 3rd Level Institutions. The programme encourages young people and Young SVP groups to get involved in their local communities, improve the lives of others and gain a better understanding of SVP and social justice. There are four types of project types in Young SVP: Befriending is one of the central works of SVP. At its heart is the person to person contact with people. In befriending another person, you are giving of
St Louis Secondary School Transition Year Students. your time, your talents and yourself to work with elderly, young people, people with additional needs, fellow student support, local SVP, random acts of kindness, help a local community cause Education Project SVP acknowledges the importance of education and the fact that it can be a way out of poverty for many people. A little help at the right time can make all the difference, teach a
skill to another person, peer learning, paired reading, homework club, tech classes, information booklets, music classes, language aid Awareness Project Through this type of project, you will learn how to research and create awareness on a social justice issue you are interested in Research a topic of interest and create an awareness campaign in your school, local
community, on social media Direct Aid Project SVP is funded almost entirely by donations by the public. Direct Aid projects, where money or items are raised for a cause, should be done with a clear focus in mind and in conjunction with the charity or cause you are collecting for - Fundraise, clothes drive, collections for homeless charities, annual appeal collection, help local SVP.
SOSAD’s new campaign launched SOSAD new campaign “Breaking the Silence over a Cuppa” is encouraging people to chat about mental health over a cuppa during the month of June. Be it at home or in your work place to get people comfortable and break down the stigma around talking about mental health. Individuals, community groups and organisations can register to host a tea / coffee break and receive a ‘SOSAD pack’. All details on the posters attached. Since 2007, SOSAD has worked to raise awareness and help prevent suicide in Ireland. We have worked tirelessly in our communities to help those in need feel supported and know they are not alone on their journey. SOSAD offer support and services for people who are struggling with suicidal ideation, self-harming, depression, bereavement, stress and anxiety, or if you simply need to talk. If
you want to talk, we are here to listen. You can message us, call us, or call into our office. We have six offices based in Cavan, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Laois from which we provide our services. In the 2022 SOSAD provided 17,837 one on one counselling sessions which is up from our 2021 figure of 15,965! Please note that this number reflects one-to-one counselling only and does not include phone support, the Messaging Service, or any group work. Carol Murphy SOSAD General Manager “Mental health is a pressing issue in Ireland, with high rates of suicide and mental illness affecting many individuals and communities. We need to break the stigma around our mental health. The Irish are great for solving their problems over a cuppa and a chat so please support us in this very simple but effective campaign”
It was off with the costumes and on with the evening wear when actors Anita Guest and Mary Francis McAteer represented Encore Productions at the recent Irish Health Care Centre Awards in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire. The crowd rose in applause as they took the stage to receive the award on behalf of the cast and crew of the Dundalk based drama group they have acted in for over 20 years. Receiving the award from RTE’s Marty Whelan their pride and passion for drama shone through. Across 29 categories the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards recognise excellence and outstanding innovation in the Irish Healthcare Sector. Initiatives in nursing, teaching, Mental Healthcare, Midwifery and Clinical Care were all recognised alongside many other categories. Encore Productions won the category for Best Healthcare Initiative in Disability Services. The drama group draws all its actors from RehabCare Resource Centre in Carroll Village. With commitment, confidence and creativity the cast and crew have put on shows in Dundalk Town Hall for over 20 years. The shows themselves are at times written by the cast and at others, adaptations of classic plays but all have the trademark warmth, directness and honesty that these performers bring. Having built up the groups momentum and scale to the point in 2016 when over 80 performers took the stage in their Irish History Play – ‘Our Story So Far’, Encore scaled back the size of their productions to create shows that could be toured and would offer actors a chance to hone their stagecraft and work with professional theatre makers from the disciplines of acting, music and film. The quality of their 2017 production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ resulted in them being asked to become Theatre Company In residence with An Táin Arts Centre. During the 4 years of their residency Encore Productions have staged ‘Courage’ by Bertold Brecht, and their own original piece ‘Aesop’ based on the life of the ancient writer of Fables and ‘A Midsum-
Encore Productions were recognised at the Irish Healthcare Awards. mer Night’s dream – yet and more able to concen- through their Residency. another of their Shake- trate. A sense of achieve- An Táin have been wonspeare adaptations. ment. A bit of a celebrity. derful collaborators and According to Rehab- A part of the community. partners, open minded, Care Drama Coordi- We show them we can forward thinking and nator Sandy Sneddon do it. We are as good as most welcoming to all – ‘what’s so exciting anyone else. It’s taken actors who are involved about this award is that us to different places in each production, it recognises the positive –Galway, Belfast, Dub- treating every person impact of the arts, crea- lin, Manchester. Places with the highest regard tivity and drama specifi- other people don’t get and unwavering equity. cally on the wellbeing to go’. We are highly fortunate of individuals and the Rodger Zyro added ‘I to have such committed communities in which never be nervous. I love staff who support the they live. To be part of working with the team – actors through an intrisomething bigger than the director, the crew, all cate process that is creoneself – to have a role the cast. The lines help ated and coordinated by and responsibilities – to me with my memory. Sandy Sneddon. From work toward a common The stories help me with a Social Care perspecgoal - to tell stories that my emotions. Stories tive, we support a group mean something to you make sense’. Olivia of talented people in a and say something about McGinnity smiles as she normalised working enyour own experiences speaks – ‘I have con- vironment that focuses is enormously reward- fidence now. And I’m minds on ability and ing. Expressing oneself part of a team. If you ask endeavours to continue through voice and move- me what I do, I say – ‘I the process of personal ment – being heard and am and actress!’ David development, from my being seen both in the Coyle loves coming here perspective we’re just rehearsal room and on – ‘I love to perform. I’m lucky and privileged to stage is a powerful way proud of what I’m dosupport great actors.’ to build confidence, trust ing. I love the shows and The last word came and respect. And all this the tours. It gives me from An Táin Direcin a theatre!’ something to look fortor Paul Hayes –‘I have When asked what be- ward to – and something been hugely impressed ing Theatre Company to remember!’ Encore with the standard of in Residence meant to veteran Paddy Durnin Encore’s work ethic them the actors were enthused –It’s been great since they took up the characteristically vocal. being Theatre Company residency in 2019. Their Melissa Fox likes doing in Residence. The expeworkshops with profes- rience has been amaz- seemingly endless ensional actors – ‘It’s great ing. It’s been an honour thusiasm for theatre, to be part of something so far – and this year’s coupled with Sandy’s arand meet new people… show is going to be off tistic vision ensures this learn new things – stay the charts. When I per- has been very successful interested. I’ve got so form the audience give collaboration. They are much more confidence me energy – and I take a wonderful group of actors to have in the Arts since my first show.’ that energy into my life! Martin Hanley felt that The 25 participants Centre and have had a when he arrived from in Encore Productions very positive influence Birmingham ‘Doing are supported by Sandy on both staff and visiting drama helped me fit Sneddon, Grainne artists alike. We are the in – make friends and O’Hanlon and Rachel only Arts Centre in the be part of something’ Tinniswood who work country with a company While for Jamie Linden with a team of creatives in residence made up of It’s all about ‘Craic… – Orlaith Cullinane, actors with intellectual Friends….Passion…it Dara McCluskey and disabilities, we are dehelps me reach my goals. Eoin Hannaway among lighted that this award The power to meet an them, to facilitate a gives national recogniaudience…bring fam- process that allows for tion to the great benefits ily and friends together. creativity, expression, of our collaboration to Research the characters team work and perform- all who experience it.’ Encore’s adaptation and the actors on the ance. internet. Keeps me busy Community service of ‘The Visit’ by Frieand interested at night manager Ian Foran and drich Durrenamat will when I come home.’ An Táin Arts centre run at An Táin Arts CenDolores McKeever who director were united tre for three performplays the lead in their in their praise for the ances in the last week of latest production said ‘I initiative. Speaking on September. Contact An see actors on soaps with behalf of RehabCare’s Táin on 0429332332 or a disability – if they can Dundalk services Ian at info@antain.ie or go do it so can we! Drama said ‘we are incredibly to their website for more has made me more alert proud to support persons details.