Positive Ageing Week

1-7 October 2023

Embracing Ageing and Celebrating Our Older Heroes

Positive Ageing Week is a great opportunity to highlight the positive aspects of ageing and to celebrate the amazing contribution of the many older people who make our families, workplaces and communities better places.

The 2023 theme is Challenging Ageism – Reframing how we think, feel and act towards ageing and older persons.

Embracing Ageing and Celebrating Our Older Heroes

1 – 7 October, 2024

Find out how you, your school, family, children, business or community group can mark positive ageing week this year.

Throughout the week we take the opportunity as individuals, workplaces and community groups to celebrate older people we know who enrich our lives and communities.

A key part of the campaign is our positive ageing local heroes exhibition – a collection stories of older heroes from across Galway City and County who are contributing greatly to communities and/or are a great example of healthy and active ageing.

For more information on how to get involved, email Jacquie at jlynskey@copegalway.ie.

The 2023 theme is Challenging Ageism – Reframing how we think, feel and act towards aging and older persons.

Meet the 2023 Local Heroes

READ THEIR STORIES

Colouring Competition

We are inviting children to get involved in Positive Ageing Week by colouring in one of our unique design cards and giving them to an older person who is special to them.

Be in with a chance to win a year’s family pass to Galway Atlantaquaria by capturing this moment and sending the photo to competition@copegalway.ie.

This is a great way to show appreciation on Grandparent’s Day which takes place on the 6th October.

The competition closes on the 8th October, so make sure to get your pictures in before then!

Pick up free colouring cards at:

Galway Atlantaquaria, Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Galway City Museum, all Galway County and City Libraries and Youth Work Galway centres.

Positive Ageing Week Events

Take part in a Positive Ageing Week event near you.

Tuesday 3 October, 2023 | 11am to 1pm

Kilcornan Community Hall (H91 RW3Y)

Positive Ageing Panel Discussion

With Galway Rural Development, Healthy Galway, Galway Sports Partnership and Guests. MC: Frank Fahey, Fitwalk Ireland. Siel Bleu taster indoors. Activator poles taster on looped walk. Tea and coffee provided. For more information galwayactive@galwaycoco.ie. Free event. All welcome.

Wednesday 4 October, 2023 | 11am to 1pm

Ballybane Resource Centre (H91 VP6D)

Positive Ageing Week, ‘Come & Try’ (Free)

Activator poles, scooch, boccia ‘Go for Life’ games. Tea and coffee provided. For more information galwayactive@galwaycoco.ie.

Thursday 5 October, 2023 | 10am to 12noon

Oughterard Community Centre

Positive Ageing Week, ‘Come & Try’ (Free)

Activator poles, scooch, exercise tasters, boccia, line dancing and indoor bowls. Tea and coffee provided. For more information oughterardcc@gmail.com or galwayactive@galwaycoco.ie.

Colouring Competition

We are inviting children to get involved in Positive Ageing Week by colouring in one of our unique design cards and giving them to an older person who is special to them.

Be in with a chance to win a year’s family pass to Galway Atlantaquaria by capturing this moment and sending the photo to competition@copegalway.ie.

Pick up free colouring cards at:

Galway Atlantaquaria, Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, all Galway County and City Libraries or Youth Work Galway centres.

Positive Ageing Week 2022 Highlights

2022 Positive Ageing Local Heroes.

We had the honour of sharing the inspiring stories of 22 wonderful Galway heroes who contribute so much to our families, neighbourhoods and communities.

Their stories featured in the 2022 Positive Ageing Local Heroes Exhibition in Eyre Square Shopping Centre, in the Galway Advertiser and other local media and on the COPE Galway Facebook page.

READ THEIR STORIES

Galway Art Club Paintings.

Members of Galway Art Club produced 12 outstanding paintings for Positive Ageing Week.

Carrying the ‘Positive Ageing’ theme, the paintings depicted various aspects relating to positive ageing and included pieces like “Never too old to Rock and Roll” by John Connolly (Chairperson of the Art Club), “Spending Time with the Grandson” by Graham Bradtke, and many others.

Age Proof Event

International bestselling author, Professor Rose Anne Kenny, was keynote speaker out a Positive Ageing Week event hosted by COPE Galway, Age Friendly Galway and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology.

The event, title after Professor Kenny’s book, Age Proof, Professor Kenny shared insights on simple changes people can make, right now, to ensure that they live longer, happier and healthier lives.

Special notes for our older heroes

Children across Galway coloured in one of the 2022 ‘colour me in’ cards, added a message and gave the card to their grandparent or other special older person in their lives.

They also had chance to enter their photo into a competition and win a year’s family membership to Galway Atlantaquaria Aquarium. The winning entry was Holly, Ella and Ava Hennessy with their Granddad Paddy.

Massive thanks to our card sponsors Galway Atlantaquaria, Charlie Byrnes Bookshop, Pale Blue Dot Recruitment and Meals4Health.