Clare Age Friendly County

Age-Friendly Ireland

Established in January 2014, Age-Friendly Ireland hosted by Meath County Council, coordinates the national Age Friendly Cities and Counties Programme. The Programme guides the development of effective city- and county-based, multi-agency Age-Friendly Strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of older people throughout Ireland.

In an international context, Age-Friendly Ireland also provides the links between the National Positive Ageing Strategy and the Global Age-friendly Cities Guide, published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2007.  

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has included County Clare in its Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.  As a member, County Clare is part of a growing global movement of communities, cities and other sub-national levels of government that have pledged to meet the needs of their older residents.  

The Global Network currently includes 541 cities and communities in 37 countries, covering over 179 million people worldwide. Among existing members are Dallas (USA), Reykjavik (Iceland), Barcelona (Spain), Rennes (France), Busan (South Korea), Porto (Portugal), Volvograd (Russia)  and Liverpool (UK).

Clare Age-Friendly Strategy & Action Plan

The Age-Friendly County Strategy for Clare addresses the opportunities and challenges posed by a predicted growth in the ageing population internationally, nationally and at county level. The latest strategy was developed in 2018 following consultation with all key stakeholders and research from the Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative.  It outlines an Action Plan for the following five years. The Action Plan aims to ensure that the county’s social, cultural, economic and physical environment is undertaken in an age-friendly manner that supports a healthy and positive experience of ageing.

The age-friendly programme in the county is managed by the Clare Age-Friendly Alliance Board and is implemented by an implementation team, both of which work on the principle of inter-agency collaboration.

Clare Age-Friendly Alliance Board

• Pat Dowling (Chief Executive, Clare Co. Council & Chairperson)
• Maurice Harvey (Chair, Older People’s Council)
• Larry Hally (Deputy Chair, Older People's Council)
• Madge O'Callaghan (PRO, Older People's Council)
• Doirín Graham (Chief Executive, Clare Local Development Company)
• Cathal O'Neill (Homecare Service Manager, Clarecare)
• Michaela Moloney (Inspector, An Garda Síochána)
• Angela Frawley (General Manager, HSE Community Services for Older People)Anne Gaughan (Manager, Local Link Limerick Clare)
• Fiona Hartigan (Support Manager, Community, Family Carers)
• Dr. Rose Galvin (Ageing Research Centre, University of Limerick)
• Breda O'Driscoll (Community Education Facilitator, Limerick & Clare Education and Training Board)
• Maria Hanley (Ennis Lions Club)
• Kelly Slattery (Programme Manager, Clare County Council)

Clare Older People's Council

The Clare Older People’s Council (OPC) represents the voice of older people in County Clare. It is a key stakeholder group of the Clare Age Friendly County Programme and aims to ensure consistency of services, supports and outcomes of the Clare Age-Friendly Strategy. Its members attend the Age Friendly Alliance Board and Implementation Meetings of the Clare Age Friendly Programme. 

Clare OPC can be contacted on (065) 684 6240 or email: clareolderpeoplescouncil@gmail.com  Facebook page: Clareopc

WHO Age-friendly network

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has included County Clare in its Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.  As a member, County Clare will be part of a growing global movement of communities, cities and other sub-national levels of government that have pledged to meet the needs of their older residents.

The Global Network currently includes 541 cities and communities in 37 countries, covering over 179 million people worldwide. Among existing members are Dallas (USA), Reykjavik (Iceland), Barcelona (Spain), Rennes (France), Busan (South Korea), Porto (Portugal), Volvograd (Russia)  and Liverpool (UK).

Pat Dowling, Chair of the Clare Age Friendly Alliance and Chief Executive of Clare County Council, commented, “By joining the Network, agencies involved in the implantation of the Clare Age Friendly Programme commit to sharing and promoting the values and principles central to the WHO Age-friendly approach, implementing the necessary steps to create age-friendly communities in line with the Clare Rural Development Strategy and actively participating in the Network including the sharing of experiences with other members.”

Mr. Dowling confirmed that a new Age Friendly Strategy is currently being prepared in consultation with older people and local agencies dealing with older people.

“As life expectancy increases, this strategy aims to future-proof the county for its ageing population and make Clare a place where older people are supported, connected and valued for their contribution,” he added.

Visit www.who.int for more on the WHO Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.