Tower Seminar: ‘We will tell everyone!’ Learning About the Experience of Living With Dementia Through Song

Presenters: Lisa Kelly, and participants of The Alzheimer’s Society research group, Prof Anne MacFarlane, Prof Desmond O’Neill and Carl Corcoran.

Chair: Prof Hilary Moss

You are warmly invited to this hybrid event live at the Irish World Academy, and livestreamed online for a wider audience, in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland and the HRI. We will be launching a song, written by a Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) group who have been collaborating with Lisa Kelly on her PhD research on telehealth music therapy for people living with dementia and their supporters. The group have written a song about their experiences of living with dementia, facilitated by esteemed songwriter Carl Corcoran and Lisa Kelly, which will be performed live on the day. The event will include presentations from the PPI contributors, music therapists and eminent geriatrician Prof Desmond O’Neill, and will be launched by Prof Anne MacFarlane. This event is brought to you in collaboration with the HRI and the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland.

Lisa Kelly is a Galway-based music therapist, co-founder of Anam Music Therapy and PhD student at the Irish World Academy. Her doctoral research explores telehealth music therapy for community dwelling people with dementia and their family caregivers.

Anne MacFarlane PhD is Professor of Primary Healthcare Research at the School of Medicine, University of Limerick.

Prof Desmond O’Neill, Trinity College Dublin, is a specialist in geriatric medicine and a writer and commentator. His practice and research are focused on ageing and the neurosciences, and how they interact with the humanities.

Carl Corcoran is an award winning performer, songwriter, broadcaster and educator. He is a graduate of the MA in Community Music at the Irish World Academy (2005). He was director of Blas for three years, and course director for the Academy’s MA in Songwriting for five years. He continues his involvement with arts practice in many spheres.

Admission is free and all are welcome.