Arts in the Community
Harbour Playwrights
The ‘Harbour Playwrights’ is a creative writing programme designed for people affected by memory challenges who have been seen through the Memory Harbour service.
The programme is a collaboration between the Memory Harbour service and Primary Care Speech and Language Therapy, HSE, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Arts Office and the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre.
It takes place in dlr Lexicon Library in Dún Laoghaire.
The Memory Harbour is part of a national network of HSE Memory Technology Resource Rooms (MTRRs). These are assistive technology and memory enablement demonstration sites where people with memory concerns or dementia and their families, when referred, can meet with an Occupational Therapist for a consultation.
Each member of the Harbour Playwrights was seen in the Memory Harbour and then invited to participate in the programme. Through this project, they navigate the brain health challenges of planning, organising, meeting new people as well as challenging their language skills to reflect and write
In 2024 they collaborated with poet Grace Wilentz and Catherine Daly, Senior Occupational Therapist to create 'Yellow Days' a collection of poetry which includes work by each member.
In 2025 they collaborated with playwright and theatre maker Michelle Read, Catherine Daly, Senior Occupational Therapist and Ciara McWeeney, Senior Speech and Language Therapist to create 'Fondest Regards' a series of short plays.
They are currently working with Michelle, Catherine and Ciara focusing on the creation of a play that reflects the writers’ lived experience of memory loss and this will be launched later in the year.
If you are interested in receiving a copy of the booklets or would like more information about this project, please contact the Arts Office at arts@dlrcoco.ie or (01) 236 2759.
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