Lámh and Cork Music Works
Cork Music Works presents Lámh le Chéile
By Gráinne McHale, Co-ordinator Cork Music Works
Lámh le Chéile is a new and exciting community choir, from Cork Music Works, that brings people with and without intellectual disabilities together to sing and sign using Lámh © (signs used with kind permission). Choirs for hearing impaired people are well known, however, Lámh le Chéile combines songs with the sign system Lámh – a system specifically designed for people with intellectual disabilities and communication needs in Ireland.
Through weekly rehearsals and regular performances, this approach empowers all members to develop and share new musical and signing skills, reap the benefits of being in a choir as well as being a great source of fun! Directed by Gráinne McHale, the choir was launched in the Cork School of Music last March during the Life-Long Learning Festival. With support from the European Year for Combating Social Exclusion, Lámh le Chéile continues to perform at various festivals and events within the community. Founder, Dr. Evelyn Grant said, “ Cork Music Works originally set out to provide music tuition and performance opportunities for people with disability, but the focus is now increasingly on integration. We find that people with and without intellectual disabilities love being involved in everything from our Samba band to our rap projects – and now the Lámh le Chéile choir.”
As a result of a skill-sharing partnership between the Lámh le Chéile community choir and the Brothers of Charity special school Our Lady of Good Council, a school based Singing and Signing choir was also developed. Led by music teacher Julie Reardon, this choir brings students from Scoil Barra mainstream primary school in Ballincollig and students from Our Lady of Good Council together for weekly rehearsals and regular performances with local musicians.
Founded in 2002, Cork Music Works has received many awards for its innovative work, including the AIB Better Ireland award, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland and the Lord Mayor’s Award.
If you like to join us or find out more about Lámh le Chéile don’t hesitate to contact us on info@corkmusicworks.org or (087) 6721707