There was a lot of planting and appreciation of flowers, colour and new life in the centre this month

Clients enjoyed getting involved in pottery making with the assistance of Marie Rice.

We enjoyed the beautiful singing once again of Bernie McDonald from Shannon and we had great traditional tunes provided by Eddie Moloney and Kevin Ryan.

Our monthly tea dance was a great success with Shay Callaghan playing music and our clients, volunteers and transition year students taking to the dance floor

Our art class were producing beautiful paintings and our knitting and crochet group were as busy as usual

Our Intergenerational Project concluded having been in progress since February with the students from St. Caimins School in Shannon. The theme of this project was building a bridge between both generations. Students and clients designed, constructed and painted this symbolic bridge as a project. Another project produced a beautiful gardening collage that represents the flora in our heritage walled garden, the knitting project made a wall hanging and tea cosies as a result of clients teaching the students this traditional skill. The fourth project involved clients passing on the tradition of hurley making and the skill and knowledge of local fishing to the students including how to make their own fishing flies

Our cookery demonstrations were as popular as every and this month Mary Russell and Mary Woods made apple tarts, scones and fairy cakes.

   April 8th was a beautiful sunny day which set the scene for Minister of Health, Dr. James Reilly to officially open our Day Centre in the company of so many friends, clients and supporters of Carrigoran down through the years. There was a fabulous warm and friendly atmosphere and a wonderful day of celebrations. 

 We had the cutting of the ribbon performed by Minister Reilly and clients of the Day Centre; Mary Collins (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Lena Stewart (Kilkishen) and Walter McGee (Shannon)

There was chat, food and drinks all going on to a beautiful backdrop of music and laughter

Bishop Kieran performed blessing of the new centre and Minister Reilly endorsed the quality service that Carrigoran is providing across all continumms of care for its community

Minister Reilly met with clients in attendance and walked the entire facility meeting our wonderful volunteers, friends, family and staff. Carrigorans dog Cara also made her appearance

We have just completed our first intergenerational project between the clients attending the Day Centre on Wednesdays from the Sixmilebridge, Kilkishen and Cratloe areas, and the transition year students from Sr. Caimins School in Shannon. This has been a wonderful experience for both groups who participated in 4 seperate projects over a number of weeks. In addition to the project both groups got to know eachother, played board games and the students played music to which everyone danced and enjoyed.

Students designed, constructed and painted a bridge which symbolises the bases on which this project was based. This was done under the stewardship of one of our clients, Mr.Jim O’Brien from Cratloe who has a background of having worked in engineering while in the army.

The Gardening group consisted of students and clients who had an interest in gardening and between them they identified some of the many plants, trees and flowers growing in our heritage walled garden and produced a beautiful collage

The Knitting Group worked together on producing a lovely wall hanging. In this group the ladies were passing on this skill and tradition to the students. They also made beautiful tea cosies

The hurling and fishing project was spear headed by Jack Lynch, Pat O’Brien and Ger Bentley from Sixmilebridge and Cratloe. They passed on the vast knowledge they have to the students on how to made a hurley (which was made for the project by Jack), the fishing locations in our locality and the types of fishing flies best suited.

There was great excitement around the Cheltenham Races and they were watched with interest on our big screen in the foyer by all of our clients on the day.

Ladies made a special effort to look even more glamorous than usual wearing beautiful hats and danced the afternoon away

Easter was celebrated beginning with a cookery demonstration by Mary Russell and Mary Woods (both volunteers) on how to make and decorate an Easter Themed Cake

  The finished product with lovely queen cakes were enjoyed at our tea dance later that day

Great dancing and enjoyment by client, volunteers and staff to Shay Callaghan before the days end

Our art groups painted spring and Easter scenes

 All clients helped to decorate several mini trees throughout the day centre with Easter eggs and ribbons

Clients made their own Rosary Beads for Easter Week

Our Day Centre was a sea of green and activities and celebrations were enjoyed by all. There was music, song and dance throughout the week.

Clients made beautiful cards for their families and friends and got into the spirit by dressing in green and sporting funny accessories

The DayCentre’s first month in operation was a hive of activity. Clients attending from our catchment areas were busy identifying what activities they would like to get involved in and getting to know each other and familiarising themselves with all the options our facility has to offer.

A number of different interests are being pursued including knitting &crochet, cookery, exercise, singing & music, arts & crafts, newspaper discussion groups, gardening and many more.