Artists – Liz Clark
Radio Dedication Hour
All West Cork Community Hospitals

In 2024, Radio Dedication Hour brought the 50’s ‘live radio’ experience to several of West Cork’s healthcare settings!
Singer songwriter Liz Clark worked collaboratively with older adults and staff to bring each personalised show to life. With ‘ON AIR’ light and old-time microphone in hand, Liz visited Schull, Castletownbere, Dunmanway, and Skibbereen Community Hospitals, as well as St. Joseph’s unit at Bantry General Hospital.
Creating the Show
Produced through Arts for Health Partnership Programme, this project supported Liz, in a series of three weekly workshops at each healthcare setting, to slowly introduce the ideas and collect contributions. These included creating live jingles and making old-time, location specific adverts. The project culminated with a real time recorded ‘SHOW’ at each setting. Musicians Kate Liddell or Ecki Krupp, and recording technicians/musicians Kevin McNally and Oisín Walsh-Peelo, joined Liz for each ‘SHOW’. Together they encouraged all participants to get involved with interviews, dedications, music requests, and chats.
The project was bespoke to each group of participants, as well as the healthcare setting. The team of artists took an inclusive approach, responding to the varying cognisance and abilities of the participants, some of whom are living with dementia.
Liz Clark, who conceived the idea, describes, ‘Radio Dedication Hour brings together the magic of music, storytelling, and community spirit in community hospitals. This live radio show will feature hospital residents as special guests, sharing their stories, poetry, and favourite songs. Inspired by the essence of traditional radio broadcasts that feature live musical performances, comedic sketches, and whimsical tales of everyday life, we can create a sense of connection for residents and listeners alike.’
We have shared the ‘SHOW’ recordings online for future playback by the participants and sharing on community radio to a wider audience. They are available on our Soundcloud page now or listen at the links below!
Show Recordings
Timeframe
April to December 2024.
Testimonies
‘This will be so important to show everyone what life used to be like.’ – Participant
‘We all had something to contribute.’ – Participant
‘We really enjoyed it!’ – Participant
This project was funded through the HSE NATIONAL LOTTERY and supported by Arts for Health Partnership Programme.