Former WHO leader to highlight inequality and community action at COPE Galway 60 event
Dr Michael Ryan, former Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organisation, will today (Tuesday, 10 March) reflect on how societies respond to inequality and vulnerability when he delivers the keynote address at a special event marking 60 years of COPE Galway.
Dr Ryan will speak at the commemorative gathering in Galway, where he is expected to highlight the importance of dignity, inclusion and community-led responses to social challenges. His address comes at a time when many economically advanced countries continue to grapple with deep social inequalities and growing pressures on community and social support services.
Dr Ryan has previously noted that “the measure of our society is how we treat our most vulnerable,” a theme that organisers say resonates strongly with COPE Galway’s six decades of work supporting people experiencing hardship.
Founded in December 1965 as the Galway Social Services Council, the organisation began as a volunteer-led initiative providing Meals on Wheels to older people in the city. It has since grown into one of Ireland’s leading social service organisations, now supporting more than 3,000 people each year through a comprehensive range of homeless, domestic abuse and senior support services.
The anniversary event will include the launch of a new historical publication, 60 Years in Galway, charting the charity’s evolution alongside changing social attitudes to issues such as inequality, domestic abuse, isolation and homelessness.
Speaking ahead of the event, COPE Galway CEO Michael Smyth said the organisation’s work has always been rooted in community.
“COPE Galway was born from this community and is sustained by it. For sixty years volunteers, staff, partners and supporters have come together to respond when people need support most. While much has changed over the decades, the need for compassion, dignity and community has not. This anniversary is a moment to reflect on that shared effort – and to renew our commitment to building a society where no one is left behind.”
The event will also feature a panel discussion with frontline service leaders who will share insights into the realities facing people today and the innovative programmes the organisation is developing to respond to emerging needs. These include initiatives supporting children experiencing homelessness, programmes promoting healthy relationships among young people, and services helping older people remain connected and supported in their communities.
Dr Ryan is expected to reflect not only on global challenges and leadership, but also on the role organisations such as COPE Galway can play in responding with courage, innovation and compassion in a rapidly changing world.
The event will be attended by honoured guests MrMichael D. Higgins, former President of Ireland and Mrs Sabina Coyne Higgins, Patron of COPE Galway. In a foreword to the 60 Years in Galway publication, MrHiggins describes the charity’s contribution as a testament to community action and shared humanity:
“COPE Galway has given a voice to those silenced, strength to those weakened, and hope to those subjected to the most daunting injustices. The work carried out over six decades stands as a powerful reminder of the positive difference that collective action can make in the lives of those most in need.”
The commemorative event will reflect on COPE Galway’s journey from a small volunteer initiative to a major community organisation, while also looking ahead to the future challenges facing communities and social services. COPE Galway’s vision is for a community where every person is safe, connected and has the opportunity to thrive. Achieving this will require continued partnership, courage, innovation, and above all, community.
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Further information: Colette Coughlan, COPE Galway Media and Communications Lead – 085 8589781