Last week, we had a lovely few days spent talking about objects from the past and filming memories with some wonderful members of the Third Age organisation in Summerhill, Meath. We are working on a new digital video addition to their existing “The Way We Were” project, which focuses on object learning and reminiscence.
Working with Emma Hayward Video, the new videos showcase some of the Third Age members as they tell the stories of objects from their past which form part of the Centre’s mini museum collection. Prior to the outbreak of Covid in 2020, Third Age members were regular visitors to schools in the region, where they would introduce children to now obsolete objects which were not familiar to the younger generation, and teach them of their significance. With return visits to schools not yet a safe option for older visitors, this project will record these important stories for a virtual school audience ,and allow this valuable community outreach work to continue online.
As well as filming, we delivered training in the best methods and techniques used for object learning with children, which helped the members to tell their stories clearly and provided them with confidence to deliver them in an engaging manner to a young audience. Our project is kindly supported by The Heritage Council Community Heritage Grant scheme, and the videos will be available for circulation to schools in September this year.
Scéal Heritage Consultancy 