Clare Age Friendly County

Age-Friendly Ireland

Established in January 2014, Age-Friendly Ireland hosted by Meath County Council, coordinates the national Age Friendly Cities and Counties Programme. The Programme guides the development of effective city- and county-based, multi-agency Age Friendly Strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of older people throughout Ireland.

In an international context, Age-Friendly Ireland also provides the links between the National Positive Ageing Strategy and the Global Age-friendly Cities Guide, published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2007.  

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has included County Clare in its Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.  As a member, County Clare is part of a growing global movement of communities, cities and other sub-national levels of government that have pledged to meet the needs of their older residents.  

The Global Network currently includes 541 cities and communities in 37 countries, covering over 179 million people worldwide. Among existing members are Dallas (USA), Reykjavik (Iceland), Barcelona (Spain), Rennes (France), Busan (South Korea), Porto (Portugal), Volvograd (Russia)  and Liverpool (UK).

Clare Age Friendly County Strategy 2024 - 2030

The Clare Age Friendly County Strategy addresses the opportunities and challenges posed by a predicted growth in the ageing population internationally, nationally and at county level. The latest strategy was developed in 2024 following consultation with all key stakeholders and research from the public consultation event which took place in October 2024.  It outlines an Action Plan which aims to ensure that the county’s social, cultural, economic and physical environment is undertaken in an age friendly manner that supports a healthy and positive experience of ageing.

The Age Friendly programme in the county is managed by the Clare Age Friendly Alliance and is implemented by an implementation team, both of which work on the principle of inter-agency collaboration.

Clare Age-Friendly Alliance

• Carmel Kirby (Interim Chief Executive, Clare County Council & Chairperson)
• Mary O'Callaghan (Chair, Older People's Council)
• Larry Hally (Deputy Chair, Older People's Council)
• Madge O'Callaghan (PRO, Older People's Council)
• Doirín Graham (Chief Executive, Clare Local Development Company)
• Cathal O'Neill (Homecare Service Manager, Clarecare)
• Sgt. Dominic Regan (An Garda Síochána)
• Sgt. Catriona Holohan (An Garda Síochána)
• Sgt. Gerard Harrington (An Garda Síochána) 
• Angela Frawley (General Manager, HSE Community Services for Older People)
• Anne Gaughan (Manager, Local Link Limerick Clare)
• Fiona Hartigan (Support Manager, Community, Family Carers)
• Dr. Rose Galvin (Ageing Research Centre, University of Limerick)
• Breda O'Driscoll (Community Education Facilitator, Limerick & Clare Education and Training Board)
• Maria Hanley (Ennis Lions Club)
• Shanelle Waring (Age Friendly Programme Manager, Clare County Council)

Clare Older People's Council

The Clare Older People’s Council (OPC) represents the voice of older people in County Clare. It is a key stakeholder group of the Clare Age Friendly County Programme and aims to ensure consistency of services, supports and outcomes of the Clare Age Friendly County Strategy. Its members attend the Age Friendly Alliance and Implementation Meetings of the Clare Age Friendly Programme. 

Clare OPC can be contacted on (065) 684 6240 or email: agefriendlyclare@clarecoco.ie Facebook page: Clareopc

WHO Age-friendly network

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has included County Clare in its Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.  As a member, County Clare will be part of a growing global movement of communities, cities and other sub-national levels of government that have pledged to meet the needs of their older residents.

The Global Network currently includes 541 cities and communities in 37 countries, covering over 179 million people worldwide. Among existing members are Dallas (USA), Reykjavik (Iceland), Barcelona (Spain), Rennes (France), Busan (South Korea), Porto (Portugal), Volvograd (Russia) and Liverpool (UK).

Visit www.who.int for more on the WHO Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.