Latest news with #Age&Opportunity
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford nursing home receives top award
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) and Age & Opportunity are teaming up again this year to celebrate National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, taking place on Friday, May 16, as part of the 30th anniversary of the Bealtaine Festival. Now in its fifth year, this special partnership highlights and celebrates the vibrant creativity, artistic expression, and storytelling traditions flourishing within nursing homes and care settings across Ireland. Homes and day centres nationwide are planning events to showcase the wonderful creative work of their residents and members. Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said: "We are extremely proud to partner with Age & Opportunity in supporting National Arts in Nursing Homes Day. This important initiative reminds us of the deep creativity, storytelling and artistic expression that lives within our nursing homes. Across the country, residents and staff are embracing the day with enthusiasm, showcasing the vibrant communities that thrive within them." Mr Daly also paid special tribute to Oakfield Nursing Home in Wexford, which has been awarded one of the National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Awards for 2025. Oakfield Nursing Home has collaborated with renowned community artist Rachel Uí Fhaoláin to develop a unique traditional song and folklore project focusing on St. Brigid and the local wells dedicated to Ireland's patroness saint. Oakfield Nursing Home has been recognised for its special collaboration with community artist Rachel Uí Fhaoláin on a traditional song and folklore project centred on St. Brigid and the local wells dedicated to Ireland's patroness saint. Through a series of traditional song and folklore workshops, residents are working with Rachel to develop a new cultural collection of stories, songs, prayers and social history, culminating in a community participatory event on 16 May. "Oakfield Nursing Home's collaboration with Rachel Uí Fhaoláin is a wonderful example of the creativity and cultural richness that nursing home residents contribute to wider community life," said Mr Daly. "Their work preserves vital traditions while giving residents an active, meaningful role in cultural storytelling and knowledge transfer across generations." Dr Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity, added: "We are so delighted to congratulate Rachel Uí Fhaoláin and Oakfield Nursing Home on winning one of our National Arts in Nursing Homes Day awards for their special folklore project and event on 16th May. On the 30th anniversary of Bealtaine, and in our fifth year of running this important initiative with our partner Nursing Homes Ireland, we are confident that more residents of nursing homes like Oakfield are engaging in enjoyable arts activities that give both themselves and the staff of those settings a greater sense of purpose and meaning."
Irish Independent
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Lots in store for Bealtaine festival in Sligo as it celebrates 22 years
The Bealtaine Festival Sligo has grown by including local arts and cultural venues, artists' studio collectives, community gardens and care settings. This May 2025, marks 22 years of the Bealtaine Festival Sligo. The festival is part of a national Bealtaine Festival run by Age & Opportunity, the leading national development organisation working to enable the best possible quality of life for us all as we age.. The Bealtaine Festival provides opportunities for adults 50+ to be more creative more often, to create meaningful participation and celebrate how our creative potential can improve with age. This year's Bealtaine Festival Sligo is a full and varied programme of events from exhibitions, drama workshops, artists talks, mentor sessions to name but a few of the events taking place in Co Sligo over the month of May. A feature event on this year's programme is 'Michael', a group exhibition by 12 potters & artists inspired by and celebrating the late, artist, mentor and potter Michael Kennedy. Michael was one of Ireland's leading potters. A ceramic artist, who incorporated sculptural elements, rich surface textures and a wide range of colours to create his original style of functional and decorative ceramics. He set up his first pottery studio in Sligo in 1979. In building and growing his studio he also nurtured and created a vibrant ceramic community in Sligo. As a result of Michael's skill as a craftsman and artist, his business acumen and his bravery to forge ahead, a lot of young creatives straight out of Art college could find employment with a great teacher, and become part of a strong network which he had created. This legacy will live long into the future. The exhibition opens in the Hyde Bridge Gallery, Yeats Building, Sligo on Saturday, May 10 at 12noon, all are welcome. For a full list of festival events see the Bealtaine Festival Sligo social media Instagram and Facebook pages.
Irish Independent
25-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
47 Wexford groups to avail of grant to promote physical activity in older residents
The Grant Scheme is a combined initiative from Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland with funding provided by the Government of Ireland. While it is funding €300,000 to 988 groups around the country overall, 47 groups in Wexford will be receiving €13,530. These range from Active Retirement Groups, ICAs, Men's/Women's Sheds, Physical Activity Leaders (PALs), care settings and other sports and social groups. Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan said: 'As outlined in the Programme for Government and the National Sports Policy 2018-2027, increased participation in sport by all is a key objective for this Government. As such, we are committed to a Sport for All approach aimed at ensuring that all persons have the opportunity to partake equally in sport and physical activity, regardless of age or social-economic status. Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue higlighted the importance of this partnership. "The continued collaboration between Sport Ireland and such organisations plays a vital part in the Department's ongoing commitment to create opportunities in people's everyday lives to exercise more.' According to Sport Ireland CEO Dr Úna May, by financially supporting organisations to buy equipment and host activities specifically designed for older people, the grant helps older people reap the health benefits of being active. "Being active is the key to healthy aging, and this funding is vital in building an Ireland where older adults have more opportunities to stay active and socially connected. Sport Ireland's Local Sports Partnerships do tremendous work in encouraging people to get involved in physical activity as a means of promoting a healthy lifestyle – and the Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme will allow them to continue to work in that area,' she said. 'We know from the Irish Sport Monitor report that participation levels among older people are on the rise so it's important that there are opportunities for people over the age of 50 to be involved in a variety of sports. It makes a real difference in our communities.' And while Sue Guildea, Active Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity, welcomed the news, she emphasised that there is still much more to be done. "While we celebrate the progress made, there is always more to be done. Our commitment to advocating for policies and initiatives that empower older people remains steadfast,' she added. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The successful recipients are; Access 2000 Wexford CLG, Adamstown Community Centre, Adamstown ICA, Askamore Community Centre, Ballymitty Women's Shed, Boolavogue ICA, Bree ICA, Bunclody Mothers Union, Camross ICA, Castlebridge Manor Nursing Home, Castletown Liam Mellows Walking Club, Cherry Grove Nursing Home Ltd, Cushinstown Mens Shed, Davidstown ICA, Doers & Dreamers, Duncannon ICA, Enniscorthy Mens Shed, Ferns Mens Shed, Gorey Family Resource Centre, Grantstown Daycare Centre, Hook Pickleball, Kilanerin Ballyfad Community Association (KBDCA), Kilanerin Mens Shed, Kilmyshall ICA Guild, Kilrane/Rosslare Harbour ICA, Monaseed ICA, New Ross Active Retirement Association, New Ross Community Hospital t/a New Ross Community Care Home, Oulart ICA, Pickleball Wexford, Poulpeasty Womens Group, Ramsgrange Mens Shed, Reach Ability, Riverchapel & Courtown Ladies Club, Rosslare Harbour, Kilrane Women's Shed, Southend Family Resource Centre, St John's Community Hospital Wexford, Taghmon/Camross ARA, Taghmon Day Centre, Taghmon Family Resource Centre, Taghmon ICA, The Tuesday Club Clonegal, Tomhaggard Community Development Group, Tomhaggard Women's Shed, Wexford Mental Health Association, Wexford Working Mens Club, Women's Collective Wexford.
