From singing and dancing over tea and scones to making music with children and families and seeing people living with dementia dance their way out of a session, music has been bringing people together across Limavady this year.
Live Music Now Northern Ireland has completed its 2026 Rural Arts Engagement Programme, which used live and participatory music to tackle rural isolation, create new opportunities for connection, and bring high-quality musical experiences directly into local community and care settings.
Funded through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Rural Engagement Arts Programme (REAP), the project included popular Songs and Scones events, the Northern Ireland debut of All Together Now, and an eight-week Live Music in Care residency at Thackeray Day Centre.
Delivered in partnership with The Glens Community Association and Thackeray Day Centre, the programme brought together children, families, older people, carers and the wider community — with plenty of music, conversation and, of course, scones along the way.
Songs and Scones
“Brilliant and entertaining session – it didn’t last long enough!”— Attendee feedback
Songs and Scones offered regular opportunities for older people in Limavady to enjoy live music in a relaxed and sociable setting, bringing together people across the Limavady area including those from care settings and those at risk of social isolation. Eight Songs and Scones events were delivered between Bethany Community Centre and Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, reaching approximately 100 attendees overall.
Music ranged from jazz and blues to folk, traditional music and musical theatre, with different musicians performing each month. The music, socialising, and scones, courtesy of Yellow Bird Limavady, all went down a storm.
“The sing along was great, and this was really due to The Henry Girls lovely encouragement”
— Attendee feedback“Residents all had a lovely day, getting out and listening to the music, and they left looking forward to the next one.”
— Activities Coordinator, Cornfield Care Centre
All Together Now
Monthly ‘All Together Now’ sessions supported children and young people with complex needs and their families, using interactive music-making to explore rhythm, movement, and creativity together.
Bethany Community Centre provided a comfortable setting where families could participate in ways that felt right for them. In total, 16 children with additional needs participated alongside their parents or carers. This was the first time All Together Now has been delivered in Northern Ireland, marking an important milestone as Live Music Now programmes in Northern Ireland continue to be expanded.
The response from parents was overwhelmingly positive. One parent shared:
“[My child] had such an amazing experience and loved the session. The musicians were so patient and talented. It was an excellent session. Much appreciated that you run these sessions and we will look forward to the next one.”
Live Music in Care at Thackeray Day Centre
Musicians Anna Nolan and Rohan Armstrong delivered an eight-week ‘Live Music in Care’ residency at Thackery Day Centre, combining interactive concerts for those living with dementia, with training for the Activities Coordinator in the ‘Take Note’ resource cards.
The Activities Coordinator at Thackeray described the impact of the sessions:
“Music really brought joy to the service users. It helped them with memories of songs and they said it made them feel happy” – Activities Coordinator, Thackeray Day Centre
Residents’ mental health improved as they looked forward to the musicians coming in and staff observed benefits from the action songs for people with arthritis, with simple exercises supporting fine motor skills, and residents dancing out of the room at the end of each session.
“When people left the room at end of sessions we would always sing bye, bye blackbird – to this song, many would dance out of the room together with smiles on their faces – even those with walking aids would be dancing – to us, this was a great indicator that the sessions had lifted mood!” – Musician feedback
Building connection through music
Together, the three strands of the programme demonstrated how music can create opportunities for connection and inclusion across generations and circumstances, engaging people identified as being at risk of isolation, including older people, carers, disabled and neurodiverse children and young people, and those living with dementia. Music provided opportunities for social interaction, creativity, and emotional expression, while supporting confidence and participation in rural community settings.
All sessions were made possible by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Rural Engagement Arts Programme, and brought to life by our brilliant Live Music Now Northern Ireland musicians and delivery partners.
