What does ageing well really look like? In Galway, the answer might be a sea swim in the depths of winter, a game of bowls, volunteering to deliver meals, or simply continuing to show up for your community.
Positive Ageing Week (25 September - 2 October) is an annual celebration of the vital and varied contributions older people make to their communities, and an opportunity to challenge ageism. This year's theme, 'Connecting Generations', invites us to build connections, challenge stereotypes and recognise the value, experience and contribution of older people.
A flagship Positive Ageing Local Heroes event was at the heart of this year’s celebrations earlier this week, honouring 26 people from across Galway city and county. Their daily routines epitomise positive, healthy, and active ageing and enrich the lives of so many.
Louise McLaughlin, Head of COPE Galway’s Senior Support Service, is a member of the working group behind this year’s event: “It was a pleasure to meet the 26 remarkable people from across Galway city and county, who are active within their families and wider communities and make such a valuable contribution to society. They show us how keeping active and socially connected helps us all age positively.”
The 26 local heroes are also celebrated in an accompanying booklet, and an exhibition will tour Galway city and county over the coming weeks, starting with Galway City Library this week.
For one local hero, Maureen Grealish of the Claddagh, staying active is part of her everyday life and her health, family and friends are what matter most. She goes sea dipping four days a week, even through the winter months and her approach to ageing well is refreshingly straightforward: “get out, meet people and keep moving - the social side is just as important as the exercise!”
Veronica Cronin, an inspiring pillar of the Ballinfoile community, Veronica Cronin embraces active ageing through activities like bowls, music, bridge, and volunteering. Veronica encourages everyone to get involved in their local communities, keep connected, and speak up if they are struggling, reminding us that local support is always there. Veronica hopes to reach age 100, but her story is less about the number of years and more about how those years are lived – embracing love, laughter, music, friendship and community.
Meeting people and staying involved is what keeps Eamon Mac Giobúin going. A lifelong learner and dedicated volunteer with Meals4Health, a social enterprise of COPE Galway, Eamon supports others through community work, while staying active through parkrun, sport and friendships. His volunteering work has given him a meaningful way to support others and stay connected to his community.
Richard (Richie) Byrne, at 95, remains deeply connected to his family, friends and community. Richie has a deep love of his locality, the GAA and the bog, where he was still turning and footing turf into his nineties. He retired as Chairperson of Kilconly-Kilbannon Community Alert just this year, receiving recognition for his immense contribution. For Richie, being part of the community has remained a way of life.
The Local Heroes' outlook echoes what studies consistently show: a positive attitude to ageing is linked to a longer life, and improved memory and mobility in later years. Louise McLaughlin added: "This is why it is so important to highlight our Positive Ageing Local Heroes. They embody the importance of maintaining physical and mental activity, caring for family, volunteering, continuing to work or learn, maintaining friendships, and playing an active role in the local community. They are an inspiration to all of us to stay connected, keep learning and keep active as we age”.
To learn more about each of the 26 inspiring Galway city and county local heroes, download the booklet, and to see exhibition dates and venues, visit copegalway.ie/positiveageingweek.