Boost your wellbeing at Joy in the Park

Returning for its second year on Sunday 23 July, Joy In The Park 2023 is set to be bigger and better!

A free event for everyone, Joy In The Park is a celebration of life, whilst supporting mental health & wellbeing, in partnership with Cork Mental Health Foundation.

This year's stellar line-up includes The Frank & Walters, John Spillane, Aoife Scott, Karen Underwood, Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers with loads more music, spoken word, children’s entertainment, circus, storytelling, arts & crafts, food stalls, wellness activities and a mental health support hub.

Balancing that sense of fun with connection and understanding, the afternoon will provide an engaging programme of wellness, sensory activities and workshops, through the various support groups and organisations involved.

The mental health hub will be a hive of activity with various arts and craft workshops taking place throughout the afternoon.

Cork Counselling Services have put together a whole host of crafty activities from foil figurines, marvellous mask making to playing with clay, whilst community group GROW will return this year, with their Postcard of Positivity workshop, inviting everyone to take part by sharing a phrase, picture or message they can send out to the park.

SHINE's activity hub will include a children’s mandala workshop and a community recovery vision board – CHIME (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, Empowerment) and young people are encouraged to get creative and meet the team at JIGSAW at their arts and crafts station.

This year will also feature Comhairle na nÓg, Cork’s Youth council.

A group of young people who are passionate about youth mental health are curating a relaxed and fun space with stone painting, face painting and friendship bracelets, with the opportunity to find out more about the city’s youth council and their current project.

The Community Health Action Zone team bring their popular exercise session, combining drumming and yoga balls to the park. It engages your core, exercises your arms and shoulders and allows you to take your anger and stress out!

As well as the activities on offer, the Cork Mental Health Foundation will be joined by a number of mental health organisations and local support groups offering information and advice throughout the afternoon, where the public can meet face to face the teams behind all the services including PIETA, Shine A Light, Aware, the Samaritans, National Learning Network, MyMind as well as Grow, Shine, Cork Counselling Services, Jigsaw and the HSE community groups.

Fitzgerald's Park is the perfect setting to absorb all the activity, fun and excitement during the afternoon and at the same time provide quieter areas that allow a more calming experience and headspace; the Wellness Haven has been created for just that.

Nestled near the fountain, this will be a space of serenity, with a number of meditation sessions for children, teens and adults taking place under the guidance of Kelsang Drolma. A local teacher for the Tara KMC branch in Cork, Kelsang Drolma, is an ordained Buddhist nun and has taught in Ireland and the UK. Known for her sense of humour and warm clear practical teachings, she has inspired many people to practice these meditations and apply them to their daily lives.

Joy In The Park is a free event for everyone and is able to take place because of the financial support provided by a number of institutions to include HSE Cork & Kerry Community Healthcare, HSE Cork Connecting For Life Programme, Lottery Funding, Cork City Council: LCDC, Arts Office, PARKS and Ward Funding, IMRO and Minding Creative Minds.

Cork Independent is proud to be a media partner for Joy in the Park.