For the past ten years the World Health Organisation has been initiating leadership on how populations should plan for the rapidly ageing demographic that is being experienced across the world. In 2019, following a decade of work in this area, under the auspices of the Age-Friendly Ireland Programme, Ireland became the first country in the world, recognised by the World Health Organisation, where all 31 local authority areas are fully committed to, and are implementing an age-friendly programme. This is a wonderful testament to how we value and respect our ageing population across the country.
Since its inception, Age-Friendly Ireland, a shared service of local government, hosted by Meath County Council has worked not only to champion the needs of older people, but to educate and inform the wider population on the pressing need to adjust our environment and our attitudes to cater for a hugely growing demographic.
As part of this national programme, the opportunity has been identified for each local programme area, hosted by each local authority, to have their own Age-Friendly Ambassador and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown are delighted to announce Ronnie Delany as our Age-Friendly Ambassador for dlr.
The Chief Executive for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Frank Curran speaking at the event said that:
The role of Age-Friendly Ambassador for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is an honorary position to promote the need to be an Age-Friendly county and to support the local Age-Friendly Programme here in the county.
Ronnie Delaney is very well placed to be an advocate and an inspiration for the older population of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. His vast experience, his inspiring sporting, professional and volunteering career as well as his passion and professionalism are qualities that will add greatly to our Age-Friendly programme and vision for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown as an Age-Friendly county.
