“Still as mischievous and interested and sparky as we always were”

Positive Ageing Week (September 28 – October 2 2020), is an opportunity to show our appreciation to
older people in our lives and to reach out to those who may be feeling lonely or isolated at this time of
ongoing public health guidelines to limit our social contacts.

A number of agencies in Galway have come together to bring to light the many people of older age who
epitomise healthy, positive ageing and are active in their families and communities.

Galway Art Club members have created some beautiful – and some cheeky! – paintings in honour of
Positive Ageing Week, which can be viewed in the windows of Age Action (3, Francis Street, Galway).
Those receiving meals from COPE Galway’s Community Catering will receive some surprise visitors and a
goody bag during the week, and the Galway tourist train has put on some extra tours for some older
people and their young buddies!

On Thursday (International Day of Older Persons, October 1st) Galway 2020 is bringing a number of pop-up
musical performances to older people’s residential settings across Galway city and county.

Local media will showcase people in the city & county who are active and engaged across our
communities, and some letters of thanks from children to their grandparents or older people who are
significant to them in their lives will be publicised.

Tune in to Galway Talks on Galway Bay FM at 11.10
every morning during Positive Ageing week to hear from some very busy older people in our communities,
and hear some children thanking their grandparents for all they do for them in their lives.

We encourage all to use #PositiveAgeingGalway on social media for more information and to publicise your
own events. You can also use this hashtag to post outlines an older person in your area who actively
contributes to your local neighbourhood or community? (with their permission of course)

Popular TV presenter and now novelist, Richard Osman, has put the ethos of positive ageing succinctly in
his new novel, The Thursday Murder Club: “We are obsessed with young people, but people in their 70s
have identical brains to those in their 50s or their 30s. Our circumstances change and our physicality
changes and we have a great deal more experience, but we’re still as mischievous and interested and
sparky as we always were.”

Remember, any day is a good day to thank people for what they do for others, but let’s remember those
active older people in our communities especially during Positive Ageing Week.

Agencies involved in Galway :
COPE Galway, Galway Contact, Age Action, Westside Age Inclusion, Croi Na Gaillimh, St Vincent de Paul,
Galway City Partnership, Community Guards, Galway Rural Development, Galway City and County Councils,
Galway Age Friendly and many more