A SERIES OF dementia friendly concerts at the National Concert Hall is being supported by Dublin City Council next week.

The series, which will be launched by councillor Deirdre Heney on Wednesday 3 August, will feature a number of tea dance tunes from the 40s and 50s.

The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, which has run events like this in the past, said music accesses a different part of a person’s brain, so they can remember the lyrics to songs they danced to, even if they have trouble remembering the name of a family member who is with them.

Head of Advocacy and Public Affairs Tina Leonard said there is a “growing recognition that exposure to the arts can help people with dementia to reconnect with themselves and even slow their rate of decline”.

Increasingly, music is helping doctors and carers reach those who have become stranded by this debilitating condition. These events provides both an opportunity for people living with dementia to benefit from the power of song, both in terms of memory recall and in terms of pure entertainment.

“It is fantastic and heartening to such events focused on the inclusion and quality of life of people with dementia and their families,” she added.

There are currently 5,000 people in Ireland living with Alzheimer’s.

Audiences are encouraged to join in the singing and to dance to the music and refreshments will also be served. The first concert features vocalist Liz Ryan who will be joined by Andrew Synnott on piano and special guest, Brendan McQuaile, to perform popular ballads, songs from musicals and some light opera.

Tickets are €2.50 and are available from the National Concert Hall box office. The concert series will continue with events on 15 August, 19 September and 2 December.

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