Irish people are the loneliest in Europe. That’s according to a study carried out by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre which found that one in five people in Ireland feel lonely. Isolation in rural Ireland – particularly for elderly people – continues to be a major concern.
However, there are a number of groups and organisations such as Friends of the Elderly – an Irish volunteer-based charity – working to combat this issue.
Friends of the Elderly members Georgina Clarke and Michael McEvoy.
They bring friendship and companionship to older people who feel lonely with a practical approach – providing social engagement programmes such as home visits, a friendly call service and day trips.
Feel-good place
John and Dolores Boylan will be married 55 years this September and have known each other since they were 16. They enjoy the social aspect that the Friends of the Elderly group sessions bring and at nearly 78 years of age, they have no intention of stopping.
“We usually go on a Wednesday afternoon for some music and dancing,” says Dolores. “It does so much for the two of us to get some social interaction because quite simply, it’s a feel-good place. There are so many events on from a Tuesday straight through to Friday, such as coffee mornings and social clubs and on Thursday and Friday, there is aerobics.”
Dolores says the home visitation service really makes a difference. “During the pandemic when we couldn’t leave our home, the volunteers would ring to check in on us.
“I love to read and was left a book hamper at my door. A lot of older people really suffered during this time with the loneliness. It’s little things like that which show they are very personal in the work they do.”
Dolores says although she has a walking stick, her mind is very active. “I love when the music starts and everyone gets up for a boogie,” she says. “It allows us to relive our youth, but on a Tuesday afternoon.
“There is no reason for people like myself and John to stay at home all day, every day. We need more and more places to actually be social with people our age, in a relaxed setting.
“There is a man from Kildare who travels to our group every week on the train and another who has even started coming from Monaghan on the bus.”
The couple are looking forward to meeting with other group members on Valentine’s Day for singing, dancing and a cup of tea. Dolores says the key to a happy marriage is quite simply to – ‘have a laugh’.
For more information on Friends of the Elderly, contact 01-8731855 or email info@friendsofthelderly.ie.
St Munchins Community Centre, Limerick
This is a variety of groups for older people including a seniors club, a Wednesday club (with a beautician who does hand waxes for arthritis), a dementia clinic and a men’s group. Members of all ages are encouraged, with their oldest member aged 102. There will be a Valentine’s Day event with tickets available at reception. For more information, email lindaledger@stmunchinscc.ie or call 053-9375466.
Bunclody Library Knitting and Film Club
Bunclody Library hosts a knitting group every Thursday from 10.30am to 12pm. A film club also takes place on the last Friday of every month. No booking is required. Check out wexfordcoco.ie or call 053-9375466.
Irish Men’s Sheds Association
The Irish Men’s Shed association is a community-based health promotion programme aimed at supporting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of men of all ages across Ireland. There are currently 450 Men’s Sheds in Ireland. For more information, menssheds.ie or call 0818-900800.
Engage with Age, Inverary community centre, Belfast
Based in Belfast, Engage With Age hosts dances, walking events and games as well as a telephone befriending service. To sign up, contact info@engagewithage.org.uk or call
+44 2890735696.
Community Lunch CLubs, Cope Galway
There are a number of community lunch clubs in the Galway area that provide a positive environment where older people can meet, enjoy a good meal and socialise with their neighbours. Some of the areas include city centre, Salthill, Mervue, Ballinfoyle, Claregalway and Oranmore. For more information, email communitycatering@copegalway.ie or call 091-700800.
Ballinamore Hen’ Shed, Leitrim
Ballinamore Hen’s Shed
Ballinamore Hen’s Shed takes place every Monday from 11am to 1pm in the Island Theatre in Ballinamore. Not just for older people, it hosts a variety of activities including health, wellness and basket making.
For more information, contact 087-769651 or facebook.com/Cluckcluck19.
Cairde Club Kilkenny, Clara Community Centre, Kilkenny
Members of Cairde Club Kilkenny
A social club for those aged over 60, both men and women, this Kilkenny group hosts exercise classes, bingo groups, arts and crafts and occasional speakers. The group meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 11.30am. For more information, contact Eileen Ryan on 056-7722789.
Senior Line (National Confidential Listening Service for Older People)
This service gives bereaved callers a time to talk about the people they have lost. Seniorline Freephone: 1800 804591 is open 10am to 10pm every day of the year. For more information, see thirdageireland.ie.
Read more
Meet the Maker: Irish bog oak sculptor Eamonn Heffernan
Irish Horse: the French connection
Irish people are the loneliest in Europe. That’s according to a study carried out by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre which found that one in five people in Ireland feel lonely. Isolation in rural Ireland – particularly for elderly people – continues to be a major concern.
However, there are a number of groups and organisations such as Friends of the Elderly – an Irish volunteer-based charity – working to combat this issue.
Friends of the Elderly members Georgina Clarke and Michael McEvoy.
They bring friendship and companionship to older people who feel lonely with a practical approach – providing social engagement programmes such as home visits, a friendly call service and day trips.
Feel-good place
John and Dolores Boylan will be married 55 years this September and have known each other since they were 16. They enjoy the social aspect that the Friends of the Elderly group sessions bring and at nearly 78 years of age, they have no intention of stopping.
“We usually go on a Wednesday afternoon for some music and dancing,” says Dolores. “It does so much for the two of us to get some social interaction because quite simply, it’s a feel-good place. There are so many events on from a Tuesday straight through to Friday, such as coffee mornings and social clubs and on Thursday and Friday, there is aerobics.”
Dolores says the home visitation service really makes a difference. “During the pandemic when we couldn’t leave our home, the volunteers would ring to check in on us.
“I love to read and was left a book hamper at my door. A lot of older people really suffered during this time with the loneliness. It’s little things like that which show they are very personal in the work they do.”
Dolores says although she has a walking stick, her mind is very active. “I love when the music starts and everyone gets up for a boogie,” she says. “It allows us to relive our youth, but on a Tuesday afternoon.
“There is no reason for people like myself and John to stay at home all day, every day. We need more and more places to actually be social with people our age, in a relaxed setting.
“There is a man from Kildare who travels to our group every week on the train and another who has even started coming from Monaghan on the bus.”
The couple are looking forward to meeting with other group members on Valentine’s Day for singing, dancing and a cup of tea. Dolores says the key to a happy marriage is quite simply to – ‘have a laugh’.
For more information on Friends of the Elderly, contact 01-8731855 or email info@friendsofthelderly.ie.
St Munchins Community Centre, Limerick
This is a variety of groups for older people including a seniors club, a Wednesday club (with a beautician who does hand waxes for arthritis), a dementia clinic and a men’s group. Members of all ages are encouraged, with their oldest member aged 102. There will be a Valentine’s Day event with tickets available at reception. For more information, email lindaledger@stmunchinscc.ie or call 053-9375466.
Bunclody Library Knitting and Film Club
Bunclody Library hosts a knitting group every Thursday from 10.30am to 12pm. A film club also takes place on the last Friday of every month. No booking is required. Check out wexfordcoco.ie or call 053-9375466.
Irish Men’s Sheds Association
The Irish Men’s Shed association is a community-based health promotion programme aimed at supporting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of men of all ages across Ireland. There are currently 450 Men’s Sheds in Ireland. For more information, menssheds.ie or call 0818-900800.
Engage with Age, Inverary community centre, Belfast
Based in Belfast, Engage With Age hosts dances, walking events and games as well as a telephone befriending service. To sign up, contact info@engagewithage.org.uk or call
+44 2890735696.
Community Lunch CLubs, Cope Galway
There are a number of community lunch clubs in the Galway area that provide a positive environment where older people can meet, enjoy a good meal and socialise with their neighbours. Some of the areas include city centre, Salthill, Mervue, Ballinfoyle, Claregalway and Oranmore. For more information, email communitycatering@copegalway.ie or call 091-700800.
Ballinamore Hen’ Shed, Leitrim
Ballinamore Hen’s Shed
Ballinamore Hen’s Shed takes place every Monday from 11am to 1pm in the Island Theatre in Ballinamore. Not just for older people, it hosts a variety of activities including health, wellness and basket making.
For more information, contact 087-769651 or facebook.com/Cluckcluck19.
Cairde Club Kilkenny, Clara Community Centre, Kilkenny
Members of Cairde Club Kilkenny
A social club for those aged over 60, both men and women, this Kilkenny group hosts exercise classes, bingo groups, arts and crafts and occasional speakers. The group meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 11.30am. For more information, contact Eileen Ryan on 056-7722789.
Senior Line (National Confidential Listening Service for Older People)
This service gives bereaved callers a time to talk about the people they have lost. Seniorline Freephone: 1800 804591 is open 10am to 10pm every day of the year. For more information, see thirdageireland.ie.
Read more
Meet the Maker: Irish bog oak sculptor Eamonn Heffernan
Irish Horse: the French connection
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