Social Development & Inclusion

Olympic Gold Medalist Ronnie Delany announced as Age-Friendly Ambassador for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

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Age-Friendly Ambassador 2022
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Age-Friendly Ambassador 2022
Age-Friendly Ambassador 2022

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Age-Friendly Ireland are delighted that Ronnie Delany, Ireland’s 1500m Olympic gold medalist from the 1956 Melbourne summer games and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown resident, has agreed to take on the role of Age-Friendly Ambassador for the County.

This is an honorary position to promote the need to be age-friendly and to support the local Age-Friendly Programme in raising awareness of Age-Friendly practices.

Speaking at the event to formally appoint Ronnie Delany to the role, An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Councillor Lettie McCarthy said:

As a county with one of the highest proportions of people over the age of 65, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is aware of its responsibilities to the older population of the county and it is important we have a suitable ambassador who can represent all that is happening in dlr to make it a wonderful place in which to grow old.  Whether in the activities provided through the Council’s age-friendly programme in communities, libraries and sports, or the facilities we have in the County, which are designed to be accessible to people of all ages, I am delighted that Ronnie Delany has agreed to pick up the baton and accept this role.

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.

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