The choir grew from a simple but powerful idea: that singing could offer something meaningful to people living with the profound changes to voice and identity following total laryngectomy. Inspired by the trailblazing work of Dr. Thomas Moors and the Shout At Cancer choir in the UK, and sparked by a conversation during a visit to the surgical voice restoration clinic at the South Infirmary–Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH), Good Vibrations was born.
Our first rehearsal took place in September 2024, marking the beginning of a journey built on connection, creativity, learning — and plenty of craic. From the outset, the choir became a space not only for vocal exploration, but for camaraderie, peer support, and shared confidence-building.
The choir’s first public performance at the SIVUH Head and Neck Patient Information Day in November 2024 was a significant milestone, both musically and emotionally. Since then, the impact of Good Vibrations has continued to grow.
Good Vibrations has attracted growing national and international interest as an example of arts-based rehabilitation in practice. The project has been shared at the Irish Head and Neck Cancer Society Conference, as well as at international conferences in London and Seattle. In October 2024, we were honoured to join the Shout At Cancer choir on stage in London for their 10-year anniversary concert, celebrating collaboration, solidarity, and the global laryngectomy choir community.
I continue to collaborate closely with an interdisciplinary clinical team at SIVUH, Cork, and I am currently developing a publication arising from clinical observation of a total laryngectomy.
Good Vibrations is an evolving project, with exciting opportunities ahead. Above all, it stands as a testament to the courage, openness, and generosity of the singers themselves. I am profoundly grateful to every person who has taken part — your willingness to explore, experiment, and step into something new is what makes this work possible.