National Map: Singing For Health Groups

This map documents all Singing for Health and Wellbeing groups in the Republic of Ireland. The database is a unique collaboration between Sing Ireland and the Music Therapy Department at the University of Limerick.

This map documents all Singing for Health and Wellbeing groups in the Republic of Ireland. The database is a unique collaboration between Sing Ireland and the Music Therapy Department at the University of Limerick.

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Belle Voci

  • Women
  • Audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Rosie Greys

  • It is primarily for older citizens but not restrictive
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Phone contact is continued by Age Friendly and singing videos uploaded on Rosie Greys FB page. Acorn tablets have been acquired to promote communication.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

The Ukuladies

  • Women
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Occasionally, as time allows Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Tone Cold Sober

  • Men
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Zoom or outside in person when guidelines permit.

Sligo Gospel Choir

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Performances: Monthly.

Shelly River Chorus

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Zoom or outside in person when guidelines permit.

No Half Measures

  • Women
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Zoom or outside in person when guidelines permit.

Sligo Sings

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: 9-weeks to prepare for performance Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Virtually - sends in their video clip to be edited of choir singing.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Performs once a year.

Boyle FRC Music/Italian

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Meets virtually via Zoom.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: No performances.

Roscommon Soltice Choir

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

HSE Tullamore Staff Choir

  • HSE employees
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Tullamore Hospital Choir

  • Healthcare workers
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Eden Chorale

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Via zoom and Whatsapp.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Clones Different keys choir

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Kilmessan choir

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 2 hours+.
  • Zoom, WhatsApp video links.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Weekly.

St James Catholic church choir

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Weekly.

Ashbourne Church Choir

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Virtually as a group, also tapping into other virtual singing opportunities.
  • Not publicly accessible.

Third Age Choir

  • This is a choir for older people, all participants are aged 50+
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: An hour.
  • No longer meets.
  • Performances: Performs once a year.

Ballina Men's Shed

  • Members of Ballina Men's Shed exclusively
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Occasionally, as time allows Rehearsal Length: An hour.
  • No longer meets.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Mayo Male Voice Choir

  • Open to everyone.
  • Audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Sonata Singers

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 2 hours+.
  • No longer meets.
  • Not publicly accessible.

Grow Voices

  • Children interested in music in the Dundalk area
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: An hour.
  • Zoom or WhatsApp in two separate groups under 8 participants.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Clermont Chorale

  • Audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Meets virtually via Zoom.
  • Publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

Longford Voices United Community Gospel Choir

  • Open to everyone.
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Monthly.

Longford County Choir

  • Open to everyone.
  • Audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • Publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

RCM Children's Choir

  • Children and young people aged 7+
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: An hour.
  • Over Zoom.
  • Not publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

MIC Community Choir & MIC Choral Society

  • Staff (current and retired), students and community members
  • No audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: 1-2 hours.
  • No longer meets.
  • Not publicly accessible.

Thomond Community College

  • Audition required.
  • Rehearses: Weekly Rehearsal Length: An hour.
  • Publicly accessible.
  • Performances: Between two and four times a year.

From October 2020 - April of 2021 researchers at UL contacted 2,736 stakeholders with links to singing for health and wellbeing, collecting data on singing groups and choirs across the country. The results, presented here, form a national and international public resource for singers, referrers, policymakers, carers, and other stakeholders invested in singing for health and wellbeing. Several gaps in provision have been identified and it is hoped that data contained here will encourage more people to try singing for health and wellbeing, provide compelling evidence for investment in new services and encourage stakeholders to establish groups in areas of low provision.

The evidence to date supports singing for health and wellbeing as a potentially cost-effective intervention, including increased feelings of social connection and enhanced memory and coping skills for individuals with dementia and their carers; positive experiences of group singing for individuals with cancer; respiratory wellbeing for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and improvements in vocal quality of life for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Social, psychological, and physical benefits are documented for the general public, homeless and marginalized individuals, adults with a chronic mental health condition and/or an intellectual or physical disability, and staff workplace choirs. While there is a growing body of evidence around the health and wellbeing benefits of group singing, there is a paucity of national maps of this nature. This resource is the first-ever national mapping of group singing for health and wellbeing in the ROI and one of few internationally. It serves as a roadmap for people wishing to sing for their health, establish or improve service provision, and network with others. We hope that this map encourages high-quality practice and investment as well as providing a useful resource for all living in Ireland.

Dr Hilary Moss, Senior Lecturer of Music Therapy, Chair of the Arts and Health Research Network, University of Limerick.