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COUNTY
ROSCOMMON
ACTIVE
AGE
PROJECT
Secretary:
Tony Kenny
Phone: 090 6622385
087 9099688
“The most important thing one person can do for another is to
illuminate and
expand their sense of actual possibilities”
- Rich
For the late Eileen McDermott
- The French writer Rich, summed up the motivation for setting up the Active Age Project in Co.
Roscommon. The Adult Education Organiser with the support and co-operation of the Western Health
Board and a community worker developed the Project.
In 1984 the first group was set up with a philosophy of self help and the
recognition of the contribution rural older people can make to society and the
community in which they live. The aim of the project was;
“To create a sense of
independence and self help, to raise consciousness and to encourage the
continued development of talents and abilities in older people’’
(Tommy
Murray, Journal of Health Gain)
From the beginning the V.E.C.’s contribution was
enormous, but at the same time older people were able to express there views,
talents and activities without too much fuss.
The start up is undertaken by finding around six to eight men and women
in the locality. Then the Co.
Roscommon V.E.C. Adult
Education Service, runs an eight week programme, a facilitator provides the
advice and ‘know how’ to build confidence, independence and self esteem. At
the end of the course there will be a core group who will be able to run that
group but yet remain in the background.
There are now
sixteen Active Age Groups in Co. Roscommon. Each group
has its own programmes. Activities are varied. There is drama, choirs,
storytelling, history, set dancing, swimming (where members in their seventies
and eighties have learned to swim). Exchange visits with other countries
are undertaken. Many members represent older people on national committees such as
Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, Older Women Network (Ireland) and on more local
committees, the aim being to highlight inequality of older people.
The drama festival was held in 1993 to mark European Year of Older
People. That has now become part of the Bealtine Annual Festival; a national
event. Indeed it was Eileen McDermott of the Boyle Active Age Group who gave the
festival its appropriate name, as it is a May month long festival and gives an
opportunity for everyone over 55 years to display their creativity in arts,
crafts and other talents.
Each group participates in creative writing and to date Roscommon Active
Age groups have published thirteen ‘Age
is
Opportunity
’ annuals; a collection
of stories, poems, history and memories. There was also two books published;
Evening Echo and Evening Twilight and in 2001 a selection of verse entitled
Gathering Dusk was also published.
Two videos were made, one ‘On Hallowed Ground’ with guidance from the
Outreach Officer from the Irish Film Centre, telling the history of all the
religious buildings around Boyle. The second video ‘Pensioners How are ya’
is an archive of recollections, music and song from around
Roscommon
County.
Anyone over 55 years with time on their hands can join. There is
something for everyone from just wanting to socialise to being more adventurous
and especially if you are living in isolation. There is a group not too far from
you. At present there are Active Age groups in Athleague, Athlone,
Ballaghadereen, Ballyleague-Lanesboro, Boyle,
Breedogue, Brideswell, Castlecoote, Drum, Elphin, Four Roads, Kiltoom,
Roscommon, Rooskey and Strokestown.
For
more information Contact – Tony Kenny 090 6622385
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