Stone-painting initiative touches hearts
A small group of painters have left a trail of positivity around their Galway centre – by putting a whole series of uplifting messages and colours on ordinary stones.
They are all members of Athru, a small day service group based at the Brothers of Charity centre at Kilcornan in Clarinbridge.
The three supported adults Sean, James and Colleen – added by three staff members – have all been very busy the last number of weeks, painting Positivity Rocks for all those that use the grounds as a place to exercise, also for those that are working here.
“Each rock is made up of pictures and colours to try to bring a smile to people’s faces during these very dark hard times. Some rocks include little positivity messages to help lift peoples spirits,” said a spokesperson for the Athru team.
“We have all thoroughly enjoyed this and it definitely gives us a little ray of sunshine each day to know that everyone who finds our stones takes their own little meaning from it.
“Be that, that brighter days will come again or even the fact that amongst some darkness there is always a reason to smile if you look hard enough,” they added.
Among those touched by the simple but uplifting messages was Mary Rose Gormley, who is also a Social Worker with the Brothers of Charity’s Clarin Services.
“As I was leaving work, I spotted the beautiful painted stone at the front door. In the distance I noticed a little group walking through the gardens planting these beautifully painted stones, here and there,” she said.
“I went away reflecting on this. I was so touched by this act. Here we have a group of people with intellectual disabilities, sending out positivity to everyone.
“Kilcornan estate, with its beautiful walled garden, is a public amenity; it is a wonderful place for families to explore with a beautiful walled garden and forest trails,” she added.
Later that day, she brought her own children down to see the project – and they too got such pleasure from searching for these stones.
“I was really moved by the positive message in this random act of kindness,” said Mary Rose.
“It made me think about the hidden heroes in this whole crisis. I think the people supported and their support workers are doing an amazing job of protecting our population.
“It’s evident that they are doing such a good job as the Covid-19 has not raised its head in our service as yet,” she added.
She felt it was important to acknowledge ‘the wonderful work frontline workers in disability services are doing fighting the Covid-19 and preventing it from having devastating effects on our community’.
“They are working just as hard as others in clinical settings, only they are focusing on preventative measures,” she said.
“The people who planted these feel-good stone creations, sharing love and kindness in a scary unpredictable world, are a wonderful example of resilience and empathy. Love and kindness will always win in the end,” she added.
Athru staff themselves said that none of this would have been possible ‘had it not been for some very kind paint donations from Quinn’s of Labane and from a local painter Stephen Dent who both very generously gave us an abundance of paint’.