Mental health concerns in older people are linked to heightened feelings of loneliness and a sense of disconnectedness from their communities, according to a study published in recent weeks by the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

The research, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Public Health in August, explores the critical issue of social disconnection and its link to a ‘wish to die’ among older adults, which is an important clinical marker for future suicidal behaviour.

TILDA researchers identify social disconnection and deaths by suicide among older adults as critical public health concerns, but say increasing social connection can play a huge part in protecting people from negative thoughts towards self-harm.

“Both loneliness and suicide among older adults have been increasing and are now viewed as critical public health concerns,” says Dr Mark Ward, lead author of the research and senior research fellow at TILDA, which is based at Trinity College Dublin.

“Adding to a growing body of evidence, this study from TILDA clearly shows that loneliness in later life is associated with an increased risk of individuals wishing for their own death.

Social activities

“On the other hand, pro social behaviours, including attending religious services and other communal activities, protect against these negative thoughts.

"Our findings again highlight the importance of promoting social activities and networks to safeguard against loneliness and related psychological distress.”

Both loneliness and suicide among older adults have been increasing

Dr Robert Briggs, consultant geriatrician at St James’s Hospital and co-author of the TILDA research, said the study of over 8,000 older people showed that social activities protected people from wanting to end their lives.

“This study demonstrates the importance of addressing mental health concerns and maintaining social connectedness in later life,” he says.

“‘Wish to Die’, which involves wishes for one’s own death or thoughts that one would be better off dead, is strongly linked with future suicide attempts. An enhanced focus on improving access to mental health care and addressing social isolation in older people should therefore, be a priority for policymakers.”

Closing doors

One of the biggest contributors to the decline in social connectivity in rural Ireland in recent years has been the demise of the local pub.

Figures released by the Vintners Federation of Ireland last month showed a huge decline in the number of pubs operating around the country, with 574 premises closing in the past five years alone.

Professor Anthony Foley of Dublin City University, (DCU)’s Business School conducted the research on behalf of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, where he examined the total number of pub closures over an 18 year period from 2005 to 2023.

According to Prof Foley, there has been a 23.8% decline in the number of publican licences since 2005, from 8,617 to 6,563. Current pub closures are in excess of 100 annually and the number has worsened in recent years.

A previous study carried out by Prof Foley in 2023 found that reasons for the declining numbers included; the retirement or death of publicans, the weak economic and commercial sustainability of pubs, tighter drink driving laws and weak or non-existent public transport, along with population changes in rural Ireland.

“The decline in the number of public houses partly reflects the wider problems of rural Ireland in terms of the range, proximity and quality of many private and public services,” he says.

Bleak situation

One rural region that is bucking the trend, having welcomed the return of its local pub, is Cloghan, in Co Offaly. Residents of the village and wider catchment area once had their choice of five public houses which catered for a rural population steeped in agriculture.

However, up until March of this year there was no pub in the village, forcing those living locally to travel to nearby Birr or Ferbane in order to meet up with friends or family socially or to simply enjoy a few quiet pints.

This all changed when an Offaly native, who has made New York his home for the past 20 years, decided to buy the last pub to close in Cloghan, which shut down during the pandemic.

Cathal ‘Charlie’ Kenny was on a visit home to nearby Belmont in 2023 for a stag do last summer when he suggested to his siblings that they all go for a pint. Horrified to learn there was no longer a local pub in Cloghan, he returned Stateside vowing to do something to remedy such a bleak situation.

Fast forward 12 months and Cathal has bought and restored the former Come On Inn, which has been renamed Paddy Flynn’s Bar, after Cathal’s maternal grandfather.

The pub at the main crossroads on the N62 is now a thriving local social hub that has reinvigorated the region and offered a lifeline to people of all ages.

Rambling House nights

Cathal’s sister Jolene Minogue said the restoration of the pub had been a whirlwind journey which culminated in it hosting a grand re-opening in time for St Patrick’s Day this year.

As well as offering a social outlet for the community, the bar employs 18 people and is open seven days a week. It has, says Jolene, given the village a new lease of life.

“We’ve been blown away by the reception we’ve got from the community who all are delighted to have somewhere to come to meet up and enjoy each others’ company,” says Jolene.

“The local retirement group have held a hugely successful Rambling House event with us over the summer and are planning another one in the coming months. We have a steady trade of farmers who would call in after the marts being held over in Birr.

We’ve been blown away by the reception we’ve got from the community who all are delighted to have somewhere to come to meet up and enjoy each others’ company

“We saw a huge trade during the Tullamore Show with people calling in to us both on the way there and on the way home and while we are still only offering scones and sweet treats, we hope to launch a food menu soon.

“The bar manager sent me a video the other evening of an impromptu session that had the place hopping, people just arranged to meet up with their instruments and then next thing you have an incredible occasion that everyone feels a part of.”

Jolene says community buy in has been crucial to the success of the venture and hopes that the support continues.

“There have been a number of housing developments built around the village in the past few years but up until we opened, there was nowhere for people to meet up,” she says.

“It’s not about alcohol, we offer a full range of alcohol free drinks that are very popular among our customers.

“St Mary’s Church is right behind us here but again, before the pub reopened when people came out of Saturday evening Mass, there was nowhere for them to go so they just dispersed.

“Now they can come here for a cuppa or a coffee or something stronger but it helps people feel more connected to the community when they’re meeting up and spending time together.

“Some of the locals joke that we should have called it the Last Chance Saloon because people appreciate that if they want to hold on to a pub in the village they need to support it, but they’re doing that in spades.

“We’ve already celebrated not one but two 95th birthday parties here and we’re only open six months so we have big plans for the future.”

The vastness of the pub, which includes a spacious beer garden and a purpose built ‘traditional cottage’ to the rear, allows for an intergenerational clientele to mingle, catering for everyone.

“If you come in here at 6 o’clock in the evening you’ll find people of all ages, from all walks of life, sitting at the bar having the craic,” adds Jolene.

“It’s breathing new life back into Cloghan and we’re delighted to have such fantastic support. We see the difference it’s making to people of all ages and that is very gratifying.”