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.
Funded by the Watergate Theatre and facilitated by Luan Parle, Songs of Our Place engaged approximately 300 participants through 19 workshop sessions between April and June 2026.
Participants included five primary schools, five secondary schools, a youth group, an Age Friendly group and a local history group. Through a collaborative songwriting process, participants contributed stories, memories, local knowledge, ideas and lived experiences to create original songs reflecting their communities and sense of place.
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.