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)
• Brendan Boyce (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

Clare Older People's Volunteer of the Year Award 2024

The search is on again to recognise those who give their time, energy and skills to help others in the local community.  

For a nomination form please email: agefriendlyclare@clarecoco.ie or telephone (065) 6846240 or alternatively download the form using the following link Nomination Form [PDF].  Nomination forms must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday 1st March 2024.

Age Friendly Technical Advisor

A member of staff at the appropriate technical level of expertise has been assigned as our local authority’s Age Friendly Technical Advisor. This will ensure that our local authority can provide technical advice to:-

• Our own local authority staff and members
• Private sector developers who have an interest in providing age-friendly housing
• Approved Housing Bodies who have an interest in providing housing for older people
• Individuals from the public who may need advice on right sizing or adapting their own dwellings with age friendly universal design principles

Contact:Jean McInerney, Executive Architect & Age Friendly Technical Advisor

Email:jemcinerney@clarecoco.ie

Telephone:(065) 6821616

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.