Mayo nursing home residents experience VR tour of heritage sites

Residents of a Mayo nursing home got to experience the sights of the Battle of the Boyne, Kilkenny Castle, and more from the comfort of their armchairs in VR.

The residents of Saint Attracta’s Residence in Charlestown got to try out the unique and otherworldly experiences as part of the buildup to National Arts in Nursing Homes Day.

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The event saw those who popped on the headset transported to a whole raft of important places in Irish mythology and history, including the Céide Fields, Kilkenny Castle, the Battle of the Boyne, and Kilkenny Castle, as well as multiple others.

The experience was brought to the nursing home by the Office of Public Works, as well as Global Van, a Belmullet-based company that supplied the VR headsets.

Trina Donohue, the general manager of Saint Attracta’s Residence, believed that the experience brought great enjoyment to those in the residence’s care.

“The visit to St. Attracta’s Residence from the OPW and Global VAM was a resounding success,” she stated. “This development in technology has amazing potential for those who are unable to travel as much as they did before, and can really bring the world into their home.”

National Arts in Nursing Homes Day will take place around the country on Friday, May 16.