A Collaboration between the Cork Folklore Project & Headway Ireland
This Project was made possible through funding from University College Cork’s Futures Humanities Institute – Interdisciplinary Research Support Fund.
and Cork County Council and the Heritage Council under the County Heritage Plan Funding.
The Headway Resilience Map is a community storytelling project developed in Cork City and County with people living with acquired brain injuries who attend Headway Ireland services.
Through shared memories and recorded stories, the project built confidence, created social connections, and added a new cultural resource to the Cork Folklore Project’s Cork Memory Map.
This collaboration demonstrates the power of oral history to preserve lived experiences while amplifying voices often missing from the public record.
‘It’s from Cork and by Cork, it’s part of our recovery but it’s also something that we give Cork. The fact that it’s by people missing some of their faculties is not the main part of it. Everyone has stories, the injury part isn’t to the fore. It’s for the broader community.’ – Headway Client
Project Phases
Phase 1 – Cork City (Jan–Mar 2025)
- Weekly sessions held at the Central Library, Grand Parade.
- Led by Oral Historian James Furey, with support from Headway staff Kevin Sheehan.
- On average, 10 participants took part each week.
- 11 recorded stories from 8 individuals were collected, forming the basis of the Headway Resilience Map.
This phase was funded by University College Cork’s Futures Humanities Institute – Interdisciplinary Research Support Fund.
Launched at Cork Lifelong Learning Festival 2025, Central Library.
‘The confidence I’ve acquired through doing this is through the roof’ –Headway Client
Phase 2 – Cork County (Aug – Oct 2025)
- Expanded to Headway clients in Mallow at the Gilbert Centre.
- Sessions facilitated by James Furey and Kevin Sheehan.
- Collaboration with other Gilbert Centre service users, including the Irish Wheelchair Association.
- Resulted in 13 additional stories being added to the Resilience Map.
This phase was supported by Cork County Council’s Heritage Grant Scheme.
‘It’s therapeutic as well. The good we get out of that; it’s unbelievable’ –Headway Client
Stories & Themes
The Headway Resilience Map captures memories that paint a rich portrait of Cork’s cultural and social life. Themes include:
- Childhood & local traditions: raft-building in Mahon, bonfire nights in Togher, swimming from Blackrock Castle to Tivoli, and catching rabbits in the countryside.
- Hidden places: a forgotten shortcut along the River Lee.
- Historical encounters: meeting German POWs on the northside; wartime confusion in Cork City, and a Fermoy man being taken hostage...twice
- Resilience & belonging: reflections on how creative projects at Headway transformed lives, with one participant describing his four strokes as “the best thing that happened to me” because of the connections it led to.
Accessibility & Legacy
The collected stories are preserved in two ways:
- Integrated into the Cork Folklore Project’s Cork Memory Map – alongside other Cork oral history collections.
- Dedicated Headway Resilience Map – with distinctive blue map points, making contributions easy to find.
This dual approach ensures the stories are both part of the wider city archive and celebrated in their own dedicated space.
Outcomes & Impact
- For participants: Increased confidence, pride, and social connection. Families expressed joy at hearing and preserving their loved ones’ voices.
- For Headway Ireland: A complete success, leading to expansion into Cork County. Other groups within Headway requested involvement.
- For the community: Preserves unique perspectives on Cork’s past, adding cultural depth to the city’s oral history archives.
Launch Event
The Headway Resilience Map was officially launched at the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival in April 2025 at the Central Library.
The event brought together participants, families, Headway staff, and festival visitors. Feedback highlighted both the pride of participants and the emotional impact of their stories.
Phase 2 Launch
Phase 2 of the Headway Resilience Map was launched at the Mallow Library during Heritage Week 2025.
This second stage expanded the project’s reach and engagement, marking another important milestone in celebrating resilience and lived experience.
