Chaos.... it’s that time of the year again, the Health & Harmony Festival was approaching. After last year’s successful event we decided to again initiate members of the public to the wonderful world of massage. Nine intrepid therapists (Mairead Phelan, Julia Szvath, Carla Gallagher, Carolina Clondell, Gillian Clarges, Victoria Power, Linda Keogh, Anne Ivory, Katherine Lapsley-Joyce, plus myself) tried to do just that. Through rain (a little) heat (a lot) we provided just over 114 treatments - I lost count towards the last half hour on Sunday - over the two days. We were originally scheduled to do 30 minute sessions for €25, but due to recessionary times, Linda had the bright idea to offer 10 minute sessions for €10, 15 minutes for €15 etc., and this got the punters in and kick-started our weekend.

Over the two-day event we provided Indian Head, Chair, Sports, Aromatherapy, Swedish, Lomi Lomi and Mau-ri massage. Julia, who offered Mau-ri massage, was interviewed by the Internet radio station who was covering the Festival and also had lots of photographs taken while working on clients. (Permission was obtained from the clients first). Mairead and Carla provided sessions to the Lord Mayor and her assistant and were highly praised for their skills.

We had two fainting clients as the heat was a little overwhelming, but that just added to the challenge of the event. Being the professionals that we are, we took this in our stride and carried on as normal.

It was lovely to see the therapists working together as if they had being doing so for years. Everything went smoothly and it looked like a well-choreographed dance. A little nod, smile or twitch of the elbow conveyed multiple meanings. Katherine and Carla, who provided the chair massage on Sunday, got into a lovely synchronised system as they had a few ‘couples’ bookings and did side by side treatments. By the second one they were mirroring each other. It was a pleasure to watch and was noticed and commented on by the public. These were therapists that had never worked together before but due to space and time constraints seemed to harmonise well.

All had a fun weekend. We made new friends, therapists we hadn’t met before and also renewed old acquaintances and we are looking forward to meeting again at our Regional Meetings.

I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who participated at the weekend. Everyone gave more help than they had originally signed up for, and it was greatly appreciated. The event would not have gone so smoothly without all the co-operation. Both Katherine myself agree that we have a very enthusiastic and helpful group in Wicklow and South Dublin and we look forward to working with them in the coming year.

Fiona McCabe, Regional Officer, Wicklow & South Dublin Region