Shannon native, Damian O’Rourke, is fusing the connection between music and mental health in his hometown through the Be Yourself annual concert.

This year, due to the recent enforcement of Level 3 Government restrictions, the concert which was supposed to take place on October 10th, World Mental Health Day 2020, will now take the form of a series of daily video interviews with musicians. The interviews, which will feature on Cuppa Tea TV’s Facebook page at 6pm each day until Saturday, will put the question to artists, ‘What impact does music have on your mental health?’

After a soccer career in League of Ireland and the United States concluded with injury, Damian discovered a deeper love and respect of musicians, feeling the urge to talk to them about their lyrics, questioning whether the words struck as deep a chord with their author as they did with him.

On the importance of music and mental health, Damian admits, “I always used it as a tool to get myself out of trouble. Music helps your state of mind, whether that’s playing an instrument or writing a song or listening to one. All their stories relate to how music has had a positive effect on their lives.”

Damian has confirmed that this year’s Be Yourself concert is postponed until the lifting of restrictions but urges everyone to keep an eye on the Facebook page for further updates. He believes that “big things are coming out of Covid-19 in relation to mental health. This is due to a lack of contact and socialising. People can use these daily videos as a tool, to lift themselves out of any little funk they may find themselves within.”

The line-up for the video series includes: Aoibh O’Reilly (Monday 5th October), Paul Dunworth (Tuesday 6th), Claire Castle (Wednesday 7th), Pat Byrne (Thursday 8th) and Muireann McDonnell (Friday 9th). The videos can be found at Cuppa Tea TV’s Facebook page.

Related News

Litter_poster6
Record entries for anti-litter poster competition in Galway
bridgetown farm 1
'We've already missed a generation & if we miss another I don't know how food will be produced'
ballycar railway line train 28-04-20 2
Frustration building as Govt failed to put full steam behind rail works in Ballycar & Crusheen
Photograph by Eamon Ward
Lissycasey GAA grounds to be named in honour of late PJ Kelly

Advertisement

Latest News
louth v clare 15-06-25 peter keane 3
Keane undecided on whether he has 'appetite' to continue as Clare football manager
house key property
Clare's median property prices increase by €20k over 12 months
Litter_poster6
Record entries for anti-litter poster competition in Galway
teresa roseingrave 1
Clare LGFA in disarray as board meeting ends abruptly
clare v kilkenny 06-07-24 brian lohan 2
'We've had fantastic days under his leadership' - Lohan given additional three year term as Clare boss
Premium
clare v kilkenny 06-07-24 brian lohan 2
'We've had fantastic days under his leadership' - Lohan given additional three year term as Clare boss
bridgetown farm 1
'We've already missed a generation & if we miss another I don't know how food will be produced'
REPRO-FREE-Wolfe-Tones-na-Sionna-chairman-Mike-Riordan-with-players-Aaron-Cunningham-and-Aron-Shanagher-club-secretary-Amanda-Hogan-and-H-e1498060076514
Six volume book of evidence served on Limerick man for €1m burglary spree case
hen harrier 1
Hen harrier helps to ground plans for three turbine windfarm in West Clare
project west forestry 1
Over 1,100 acres of forestry in Clare & Galway on the market for more than €5m

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement