Songs of Our Selves Brings Community Together Through Shared Singing!

DCU Age-Friendly University celebrates the successful delivery of Songs of Our Selves, a community singing event that took place at The Lark Concert Hall. The project was supported through the DCU Arts and Culture Funding Scheme and was led by Dr Seán Doherty of DCU in collaboration with Dr Michael Dawson of the Irish Institute for Music and Song.

The event brought together participants from the DCU Age-Friendly University Irish Folksong module and members of the Sing Social Club for an afternoon of shared singing, storytelling, and cultural exchange. Throughout the session, participants shared songs and personal reflections connected to Ireland’s rich folksong tradition. The event highlighted the continuing relevance of Irish folksong as a living expression of cultural heritage, carrying stories of community, migration, work, and everyday life across generations.

Songs of Our Selves strengthened collaboration between DCU, the Irish Institute for Music and Song, and local cultural organisations while supporting wellbeing, lifelong learning, and community engagement. The event demonstrated how music can create meaningful connections and reinforce a sense of cultural belonging through collective participation.

Photo credits: PaulReardonPhotography