Last month as part of our outreach activities, we were delighted to send The Grannies to visit over 6 County Louth care homes to entertain the residents. The Grannies is a show about Billie and Frieda, a bit bored with life, these cheeky friends decide to share their life experiences while showing off their acrobatic tricks with their walking sticks. Billie and Frieda flirt, they provoke, they are shameless but always putting a smile on people’s faces. Older women are represented in a bold wild way, enjoying the advantages of being old.
The care homes visited included: Carlingford Nursing Home, Sunhill Nursing Home, The Birches Day Centre, Mount Oliver Convent Sisters Nursing Home, Blackrock Nursing Home, St Peter’s Nursing Home,
“They were fantastic, the sisters loved it, they were wonderful. Absolutely amazing, so funny and so good. The girls stayed and talked to the sisters and uplifted the mood so much and since then the sisters have been singing and dancing. A couple of the sisters were even walking around and singing. I have been working here since February and haven’t seen them like that before. The Grannies were wonderful and lovely and it was such good fun.
– Kelly Smith, House Manager, Mount Oliver Convent Sisters Nursing Home
“It was absolutely fantastic, the residents loved every minute of it. It was so different, my mouth was wide open. They mingled with the residents before they started which was amazing. The way she got up on her shoulders, they loved the music and the way they used their and walking sticks to dance. They weren’t expecting that at all. I can’t believe what we saw, absolutely amazing. It was very therapeutic for the residents, they were talking about it for days afterwards, it meant so much to them. Thank you, The Grannies put a smile on the residents faces and that says it all.”
– Noelle Hoey, Activity Coordinator, Sunhill Nursing Home, Termonfeckin
Director of An Táin Arts Centre Paul Hayes says, “I originally programmed ’The Grannies’ as part of our off-site program in the Market Square, Dundalk in May 2023. I loved the show, so interactive, fun and breaks the stereotypes around older people. I was delighted to programme the show to tour the care homes of Louth that we have been working with over the past number of years. The residents loved it as much as me. This kind of work, in this kind of setting is crucial. It inspires and entertains, mixing nostalgia with moments of beauty. The Grannies should be seen in every care home on the island.”
The Grannies was brought to 6 County Louth Care Homes by An Táin Arts Centre in association with Create Louth.