Council Events Celebrating Positive Ageing Month Across the District

Newry, Mourne and Down and District Council launched its Positive Ageing Month celebrations on International Day of Older People on 1 October with a special event in Newry.

Designed to celebrate senior citizens and the invaluable contribution they make, the Council is running events across the district until mid-December, with the first taking place at The Quays Shopping Centre organised by the Newry District Electoral Area (DEA) Forum.

The forthcoming events, activities and programmes funded by the Public Health Agency,
will be hosted by the Council’s Newry, Downpatrick, Rowallane, Slieve Croob, Mournes, Crotlieve and Slieve Gullion DEAs celebrating senior citizens and the invaluable contribution they make and promoting the development of a society that works for people of all ages.

Over the coming weeks, various events open the door to people to discover and enjoy activities, services, groups and services available in their local area, fostering social connections between local schools, health and social care providers and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

The events are designed to bring older people together, improve social connection, help reduce isolation and celebrate the contribution they make to their respective communities. 

Siobhan Casey, Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland said, “It was a real pleasure to attend this year’s Positive Ageing Celebration at The Quays in Newry. It was a wonderful way to honour the contribution that older people make to their communities. I would like to thank those who turned out to the event and the many organisations that hosted information stalls. Events like this make a real difference to older people in the community, offering an engaging and entertaining opportunity to connect older people and those who work in the many organisations and groups which offer them support.”

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna said, “Positive Ageing Month celebrates the wisdom, experiences and contributions of our older adults in our community.

“We are hugely proud of our Positive Ageing Alliance and Strategy in partnership with many stakeholders in the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. Positive Ageing Month is not just about a specific period on the calendar, it’s about recognising that ageing is a natural part of life and a journey that we all embark on, each at our own pace. 

“It's a journey that is marked by resilience, courage and the accumulation of a lifetime of memories,” he said. “Let us not forget that ageing is not a barrier to new beginnings and many of our older adults embark on exciting journeys of self-discovery and personal growth in their later years. Positive Ageing Month is about celebrating life itself, cherishing every moment along the way.”

The Chairperson thanked the Council’s partners for joining the launch of the Positive Ageing initiative including the Public Health Agency, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, 
Southern Age Well Network, Volunteer Now, Newry U3A and independent volunteers, with special thanks to students and teachers at St. Colman’s College, Newry, for donating their time to volunteer.