We’re all living longer, on average twenty years longer compared with people in the last century, and to recognise this the United Nations has designated 1999 the International Year of the Older Person.

Preparations for this special year were first put in place in 1992, when the UN General Assembly invited all member states, including Ireland, to join in the planning of activities.

Everyone, young and old, will be encouraged to participate The theme chosen by the UN is ‘Towards a Society for All Ages’

Older people, in particular, are invited to share their talents, express their needs, and assert the right to integrate fully into the community.

The year of celebrations will, of course, be marked in many different ways all over the world but with one common goal being to actively develop a positive vision of ageing according to the UN Principles for Older Persons: Independence, Participation, Care, Self-Fulfilment and Dignity.

In Ireland, every village and town will mark the year with some sort of celebration and the National Steering Committee has even devised a strategic plan. The aim of this plan is to develop a new and positive vision of ageing here so that, through inclusion, recognition and representation, the rights and needs of older people are asserted in all aspects of Irish society.

Many activities have been planned already though, including Drama projects in collaboration with the Abbey Theatre’s Outreach Programme and an Art Project Partnership between local older people and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

If you would like to find out what is going on in your area or if you would like to become involved or to have your initiatives publicised, please contact:

Iris Charles, of the Sandymount and Ringsend Old Folks Centre, the doyenne of concerned work for older people in our area for almost the past fifty years, and still going strong at the grand young age of 92.