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“I loved sharing the stories of our family business, Gleeson’s Shop. It brought back many good memories for me and the others participating in the group. I really enjoyed being part of the project and meeting new people in our community”- Participant
This project raised literacy awareness and community integration by gathering the stories of the people of Roscrea. Learners recorded their personal stories, experiences, and reflections. The stories highlighted the rich history and culture of their town.
The project took place over the summer of 2024, bringing together participants from diverse backgrounds in a welcoming environment. 12 participants met weekly at the Age Friendly Building, where they shared personal stories and experiences over tea.
Meetings provided a relaxed and supportive space for storytelling and for making connections between individuals of different generations and cultural backgrounds.
Older participants practiced writing their stories, while everyone developed oral communication skills by sharing their experiences.
Participants gained experience with digital tools like voice recording and transcription software. This helped improve their digital skills.
In the end, the project published a book, The Roscrea People – Capturing Stories New and Old. This collection of firsthand accounts celebrates the shared history and contemporary experiences of the Roscrea community.
Participants gathered a wide range of stories, documenting Roscrea’s rich heritage and evolving identity through the years.
The project created a welcoming environment for learners to connect, exchange experiences, and strengthen intergenerational ties.
Regular meetings allowed friendships to be made. It reduced isolation, and encouraged social interaction, particularly among older members of the community.
This project ensured the spirit of Roscrea was represented through the words of those who called it home.
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"Being part of this project was a really enjoyable experience. I found it fascinating to learn about how older generations lived when they were my age and to hear their personal stories about growing up in Roscrea."- Learner
This project was a collaboration between Age Friendly Roscrea and North Tipperary Development Company.
For more information about the project, please contact Ester Mackey, Regional Literacy Coordinator in Tipperary ETB, at emackey@tipperaryetb.ie
The Adult Literacy for Life Collaboration and Innovation Fund
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund supports projects for adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs and projects that support organisations to be literacy friendly. The closing date for 2024 applications has now passed but keep an eye out for information on our 2025 fund which will be launched in December.
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