Some projects deserve to be shared, even if we are a little late to the moment.
Back in December, we welcomed residents of Trust Us Day Care Centre Tallaght to WorkIQ Tallaght as part of Eng-AGE: Young at Art, a community arts initiative exploring visibility, empowerment and agency as we age.
Led by multidisciplinary artist Paula Mongey and photographed by Ria Ridge, Eng-AGE brings together older adults, students and children in a shared creative process. At its heart is a simple but powerful message: growing older does not mean becoming invisible.
The photoshoot took place during Storm Bram. The weather was relentless. Doors were shaking. Equipment had to be physically held in place. Our Christmas tree showed impressive resilience – the plant pot, not so much.
And still, the residents arrived ready.
Wearing high-visibility garments created as part of the project, they stood confidently outside our building. Against a dramatic grey sky, the colour was striking. The contrast between storm and brightness feels almost symbolic. Visibility, quite literally, in high-vis.
The final images are extraordinary. They are joyful, bold and unapologetically present. They challenge assumptions about ageing and instead celebrate personality, creativity and connection.
In her speech at the exhibition, Paula Mongey reflected on that day:
“To Work IQ, thank you for the hospitality you showed us on what can only be described as a memorable day. We arrived for a photoshoot during Storm Bram, the doors were shaking, plants and Christmas trees were flying, residents had the door of their van blown off on the way over, and Cody, Ria’s nephew, threw his entire body over our equipment to hold it down. And yet Lisa and the entire team welcomed us like it was just another Tuesday, giving us a tour of their gorgeous building and very generously catering for us. That generosity of spirit says everything about your commitment to helping the community.”
Although the Eng-AGE exhibition has now concluded, the impact of this Tallaght arts project remains. The photographs continue to speak clearly: creativity does not retire, and visibility has no age limit.
Our sincere thanks to the residents of Trust Us Day Care Centre for their energy, to Paula Mongey for her vision, to Ria Ridge for capturing it so powerfully, and to everyone who supported this meaningful community arts initiative. We are proud that WorkIQ Tallaght could play a small part for work that celebrates ageing not as a fading, but as a presence in full colour.
Eng-AGE – Young at Art
Never forget to play
February 2025–February 2026
Growing older does not mean disappearing.
Eng-AGE: Young at Art challenges assumptions of later life as quiet, grey, or invisible.
Eng-AGE is an intergenerational project bringing together residents of Trustus Day Centre, Whitestown Way, children from Blossoms Creche, Killiardan, and, through the Creative Schools initiative, transition-year students from Kingswood Community College.
Led by multidisciplinary artist Paula Mongey, the project began with weekly creative sessions exploring mark-making, clay, storytelling, drama, and painting. These sessions quickly became spaces of shared dialogue, playful experimentation, and connection, allowing residents to challenge the sense of invisibility they sometimes felt. In those quiet moments, they jokingly referred to their environment as “God’s waiting room.”
Working with artists including videographer Mary Guinan, photographer Ria Ridge, and jewellery-maker and illustrator Ciarna Hackett (Kiki-na-art), residents ‘played’ across generations, producing work that celebrates who we are, the power of creativity, and the joy of being seen. By the end of the year, “God’s waiting room” had transformed into a space alive with energy, laughter, and shared stories.
Eng-AGE demonstrates how creativity nurtures connection, sparks conversation, and reminds us that play is essential at any age.
Our sincerest thanks to Trustus Senior Care for trusting us.
Proudly supported by SDCC, Creative Ireland, Rua Red and Work IQ in Tallaght.