History of the Waterford Healing Arts Trust

Waterford Regional Hospital as it now stands is light years away from the scattered collection of single storey units which reflected its earlier designation as a treatment centre for tuberculosis. This regional centre of medical excellence has embraced the Healing Arts concept with enthusiasm.

The project was the brainchild of Dr Abdul Bulbulia, who first suggested the idea of introducing arts activity into Waterford Regional Hospital in 1990. At this time, the potential role of the arts in the hospital environment was a new concept in Ireland. It had, however, been explored in the UK for some fifteen years previously. There, its pioneer, Peter Senior, a lecturer in Art and Design at Manchester Polytechnic was already claiming its efficacy in contributing to the healing ambience of the hospital.

Once the management saw the value of Dr Bulbulia's proposal, a committee comprising representatives of the hospital, arts and business sectors was set up to oversee developments. The success of the Trust is largely attributable to the dedication and commitment of the committee members, past and present. Dr Bulbulia, Mai Lannigan, Mary Halpin, Tony McNamara, Derek Verso, Willy Fanning, Peter Finnegan, Peter Jordan and Mary Baxter developed the Trust in the early years and the work is continued on by many of the original committee members who have since been joined by Hazel Daniels, Patricia Sullivan, John O'Connor, Sean Swift, Mr Gordon Watson and Ann Ellis.  Mary Baxter was chairperson from 2001 to 2007 when Cllr Tom Cunningham took as chairperson.

From the project's inception, strong support has come from the South Eastern Health Board, City Council, FAS, Waterford Institute of Technology, the Arts Council and commercial sponsors.

In January 1994, Aifric Gray was appointed to the post of Artist in Residence for a six-month pilot project. She was encouraged by the Committee to draw on her background in community development and community arts to research and make a base for the development of the arts within the hospital. Aifric went on to become the Arts Co-ordinator of the Trust and remained working with it until 2002. In 2002, Aifric left and was replaced by Mary Grehan as Arts Coordinator.  Leah Coyne became Arts Co ordinator when Mary Grehan went on sabbatical in 2004/5 and from October 2005, both were job sharing in the role.  In 2007, Mary Grehan resumed as full-time Arts Co-ordinator.