Multi-Cultural Celebration Brings Community Together at HSE’s Enniscorthy Creative Activity Garden

A vibrant celebration of culture, music and community spirit took place at the HSE’s Creative Activity Garden in Enniscorthy as residents, staff, visitors and local neighbours gathered for a special multi-cultural event.

Held on the grounds of St. John’s Community Hospital, the event formed part of an ongoing season of outdoor activities at the Creative Activity Garden – a unique multi-functional space designed for gatherings, creativity and health and wellbeing initiatives at the heart of the HSE campus.

The celebration featured a colourful programme of performances showcasing the diversity and talent within the local community. Staff members from St. John’s Community Hospital joined pupils from Gaelscoil Inis Córthaidh to deliver an afternoon of music and dance for those in attendance.

Residents and service users from across the campus enjoyed traditional Irish music performed by the school children, alongside a variety of international performances including Indian classical songs and dance, Irish dancing, Bollywood and Nigerian Afrobeat routines. Refreshments for attendees were provided by the catering team at St. John’s Community Hospital.

Chair of the St. John’s Healthy Campus Group, Mick Mahon, praised the event and the atmosphere created throughout the afternoon.

“This was a wonderful multi-cultural celebration, bringing together people of many different nationalities and cultures,” he said.

“The event highlighted the richness of diversity and demonstrated how traditions, values and ways of life can coexist, connect and enrich one another.”

Mr Mahon also paid tribute to those involved in organising the event, particularly Geena John, Assistant Director of Nursing at St. John’s Community Hospital, for creating a programme that showcased staff talents and encouraged participation across the campus community.

“The atmosphere throughout the afternoon was one of inclusion, friendship and celebration, which residents and service users of the campus, staff, visitors and neighbours enjoyed,” he added.

The Creative Activity Garden centres around an amphitheatre-style setting and was developed to encourage social connection, creativity and wellbeing. Opened in September last year, the project was supported through collaboration between Wexford County Council’s Culture and Creativity Team, the Age Friendly Programme, the HSE, Creative Ireland, the Irish Architectural Foundation and Enniscorthy Men’s Shed, alongside funding through the Government’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

The Healthy Campus and Creative Garden initiative began in 2020 and continues to support the broad range of healthcare and community services based across the Munster Hill campus in Enniscorthy.