A New Listening and lending music library has officially opened at Lisheens House training and support centre, Ilen Street, Skibbereen. Over 1800 donated classical music CDs form the backbone of this new library which will also cater for a wide range of other musical tastes. “All of the music will be available for people to pop in, put on the headphones and lose themselves or maybe just forget about the worries of the world for a little while.
The Power of Music
It’s easily forgotten how powerful music is and how it can uplift our moods and outlook,” says founder Noreen Murphy, who was nominated for ‘Cork Person of the Year 2016’. Noreen’s partner, Michael Kearns, who manages the centre, is spearheading this new music project.
The centre will also be facilitating QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) workshops in the near future, which teaches three simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.
Since its inception in 2014, with the help of volunteers and fundraising efforts, Lisheens House has gone from strength to strength. Providing free counselling to anyone going through a mental health crisis, the training and support centre is an invaluable resource to the people of West Cork.
Anyone is welcome to call in to centre in Skibbereen to make an appointment to see a counsellor, to get more information about the service or avail of one of the classes.
A number of classes and workshops, ranging from meditation to bereavement counselling, are held every week at the centre in Skibbereen and are open to everyone in the community.
A second hand and up-cycled furniture shop, community garden and regular art exhibitions are all future plans at Lisheens. “It’s a beautiful space, we have lots of rooms to rent out for classes and we want to encourage the community to be a part of it. You don’t have to be feeling suicidal to use the service here,” says Michael. “We’re open to everyone.”
