Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Martin Harley pictured launching the Moments of Happiness at your Library Initiative. Pictured Back Row: Ciara Cunanne, Healthy Ireland at your Library Coordinator; Belinda Glackin, Donegal Library Service; Sinead Noonan, Twin Towns Librarian; Paddy Doherty, Divisional Manager, Community Development; Ciaran Martin, Community Development; Hugh Carlin, Donegal Sports Partnership; Richard Ryan, Donegal Library Service; Christina O’Donnell, Social Inclusion, Community Development; Kirsty Browne, Donegal Sports Partnership. Front Row: Deirdre Laverty, Memory Assessment Support Services, HSE; Margaret Fitzgerald, Healthy Ireland Coordinator; Dara McDaid, HSE; Donna Kavanagh, Senior Executive Librarian, Donegal Library Services.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Martin Harley has launched the Healthy Ireland Moments of Happiness at your Library initiative which uses the innovative award-winning Tovertafel games system to positively influence the quality of life for children with autism, seniors living with dementia and adults with intellectual disabilities using interactive light projected games that stimulate physical activity, social interaction, cognition, and moments of happiness.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Martin Harley with Catherine McGeehan at the launch of the Healthy Ireland Moments of Happiness at your Library Initiative
At the launch, held in the Twin Towns Library in the Base Enterprise Centre in Stranorlar, Cllr. Harley paid tribute to the Donegal Library Service and said ‘Our libraries are a fun, free, inclusive resource at the heart of our communities – where anyone can learn, discover and develop, regardless of age, ability, education or income and the Healthy Ireland funded Moments of Happiness at your Library initiative provides a unique opportunity for us to support and promote inclusive care within our local community’.
Healthy Ireland at your Library Coordinator, Ciara Cunnane explained how the ‘Tovertafel’ is Dutch for ‘Magic Table’ and projects vibrant, lifelike images onto a white surface in the form of games that react to even the smallest of hands and movements, creating a “magic-like” effect that captivates and engages users. Ciara outlined the person-centred benefits of this type of purposeful play and advised that while the Tovertafel is a new addition to the Twin Towns Library, Tovertafels and a Sensory Pod are available for all members of the public as part of Donegal Library Sensory Services in Buncrana Library, Central Library Letterkenny, Leabharlann Phobail Gaoth Dobhair and Bundoran Library respectively.
Outlining the significance of the Healthy Ireland Programme, Healthy Ireland Coordinator for Donegal, Margaret Fitzgerald said “The Healthy Ireland Programme provides a cross-sectoral focus for improving and supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone living in Ireland and is central to the work of Donegal County Council and Donegal Local Community Development Committee.”
Students from Robertson National School, Stranorlar and Bluestacks Training and Progression Programme creating Moments of Happiness using the Tovertafel!
The Moments of Happiness at your Library initiative is funded under the Healthy Ireland Programme, which is supported by the Dept. of Health.
If you would like more information on using any of the sensory services including the Tovertafel call in or contact the libraries as follows –
Twin Towns Library - Tel: 074 9175384 or Email: [email protected]
Buncrana Library – Tel: 074 9361941 or Email: [email protected]
Bundoran Library - Tel: 071 9829665 or Email: [email protected]
Central Library Letterkenny – Tel: 074 9124950 or Email: [email protected]
Leabharlann Phobail Gaoth Dobhair - Tel: 074 9560862 or Email: [email protected]
