Songs of Our Place is a community songwriting and performance project, fully funded by the Watergate, designed to bring together members of the Kilkenny community to explore their stories, voices, and creative expression through original songs composed by participants with the guidance of acclaimed singer-songwriter Luan Parle.
Luan will host a series of community-based workshops that will bring together a wide range of schools and groups from across County Kilkenny. Participants will include five primary schools, five secondary schools, the Drum Youth Centre, the South Kilkenny History Group, and Age Friendly Kilkenny. Together, these groups will create a collection of original songs that reflect the people, places, stories, and spirit of their community. The songs will celebrate the diverse voices, experiences, and cultural richness of Kilkenny.
Fully funded by The Watergate Theatre, the project aims to make songwriting accessible to everyone, regardless of musical background or ability. The project promotes the belief that music brings people together by creating connections that support well-being and celebrate our shared human experience. It also offers valuable creative learning opportunities for students by encouraging collaboration through self-expression and a deepening engagement with music. Songs of our Place inspires intergenerational learning by involving schools, youth groups, local history organisations, and age-friendly associations, promoting a shared sense of community through songwriting in a fun, inclusive and creative environment.
I would like to sincerely thank Luan and the Watergate Theatre for giving the students in the 3rd Year Music class the opportunity to take part in the songwriting workshop last Monday. The students were fully engaged throughout the session and were thoughtfully encouraged to collaborate, be creative, and draw on their musical skills to compose songs that were meaningful to them. The entire process—from composition to performance and recording—was incredibly rewarding, and the boys were genuinely delighted with both their work and the final result of Heroes of Kilkenny. This experience will undoubtedly inspire them to continue developing their creativity and, we hope, to keep composing their own music in the future. The feedback from the group has been overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic.