Meath legend, Sean Boylan among host of famous names at Slane Castle to highlight how older individuals are redefining ageing

Meath football legend Sean Boylan spearheaded the inaugural Age Friendly Ambassadors' Day that took place at Slane Castle last week.

Boylan, Meath's Age Friendly Ireland Ambassador was one of a host of well known figures from the worlds of entertainment, sports, journalism, and business. These ambassadors, including prominent figures such as former Irish hotelier and television personality Francis Brennan, Clannad star, Moya Brennan and actress Geraldine Plunkett, gathered at Slane Castle for the inaugural.

This comes after the inaugural Age Friendly Ambassadors' Day held on Thursday May 23rd which is an annual awareness initiative launched by Age Friendly Ireland to champion positive ageing.

Further attendees include singer Sandy Kelly; entrepreneur Gavin Duffy; and Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association Anna May McHugh. Representing a younger perspective on ageism, Rose of Tralee Rachel Duffy from Westmeath is also an Age Friendly Ambassador.

These ambassadors hold honorary positions to promote age-friendly practices within their local authority areas and support local Age-Friendly Programmes across Ireland. This includes countering ageism and prejudice by promoting positive age awareness.

The Age Friendly Ambassadors’ Day is this year themed Ageism Awareness, referring to the stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination directed towards people based on their age.

The ambassadors highlighted how older individuals — there are 806,300 people aged 65 and over in Ireland — are redefining ageing. They noted that older people are more active and engaged than previous generations, with significant shifts in societal attitudes towards health, exercise, and socialisation.

However, they also addressed persistent stereotypes about ageing, which affect both young and old. Terms like "teenage delinquents" and "grumpy old men" continue to perpetuate age-related biases, said attendees.

Sean Boylan, Meath's Age Friendly Ireland Ambassador said: "Age should never be a barrier to participation in society. It's crucial to recognise the contributions and wisdom that older people bring to our communities. I am delighted to be the Age Friendly Ambassador for Meath and attend the Age Friendly Ambassadors’ Day at Slane Castle.

"Promoting the need for us all in Meath to be an age-friendly county is so important to me and I’m delighted to support the excellent local Age-Friendly Programme we have running here. I hope that my experience, both sporting and professional, means I am contributing positively, especially to the overarching vision for Meath as an excellent place to grow old in.

"There is an old Greek word, ‘Paleneo,’ which means the old and the new. This concept is very important because it reflects the essence of life as we age and the harmony between the young and the old. While there are great programmes and facilities designed for the youth, these resources are also available for older people to use, fostering intergenerational connections and mutual benefits”

Kilsharvan, Duleek resident and former presidential election candidate, Gavin Duffy added: “Professionally I have coached many older executives in their job search and interview preparation. The majority of higher executive roles are invariably filled by people under 40. A 50-something executive with a great resume and relevant experience finds it almost impossible to get a job. It takes between 12 to 18 months for them to get a job. It is rare for people to have the same job for life until their mid-60s. So people will be on the jobs market from time to time but if they are over 50 it is a struggle.”

Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer of Age Friendly Ireland, said: "Ageism is pervasive in our society, manifesting in stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination based on age. It can be seen in many areas, from the way older people are portrayed as 'vulnerable' and 'frail,' to self-directed ageism where individuals fear revealing their age. This bias extends to the workplace, where capable older individuals are often overlooked for roles, and to unconscious biases that shape our everyday interactions.

“Positive ageing is crucial because it challenges these harmful stereotypes and fosters an environment where people of all ages are valued and respected. With our amazing Age-Friendly Ambassadors promoting positive ageing, we can ensure that Ireland is not just a great place to grow up, but a great place to grow old as well."

Those wishing to get involved in Age Friendly Ireland can join the Older People’s Councils, running in every local authority area. Alternatively, reach out to the local Age Friendly programme manager in your Local Authority to learn more or visit agefriendlyireland.ie.