Mayo success at age friendly recognition and achievement awards

Mayo has savoured success at the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards held in Dromoland Castle.

The primary aim of these awards is to recognise and reward achievement in age friendly initiatives around Ireland.

This year, eight categories of awards, aligning to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Age Friendly themes, were chosen for accolades.

These projects and initiatives have a meaningful impact on the lives of older people in Ireland.

A total of 27 projects out of 221 were shortlisted for the awards, and two out of the three projects shortlisted from Mayo were winners.

Age Friendly Mayo and Age Friendly Clare, Ireland West Airport Knock and Shannon Airport were named as winner (joint first place) in the Age Friendly Transport category for the development of the world’s first Age Friendly Airports.

Both airports became the first airports in the word to be recognised as Age Friendly, as endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in June this year.

An Garda Síochána were named as the winner of the Age Friendly Safety and Security category for their Digital Mapping Older Persons Register, where they developed an App for Digital Mapping of Older Persons Register for the Ballina/Belmullet Community engagement Area.

The other Mayo project which was nominated for the awards was Mayo Local Link in the Covid-19 Community Response Section, for delivering critical supplies to the elderly and the vulnerable in Mayo.

The cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor Seamus Weir, congratulated the Mayo winners.

"These awards recognise the great work that both successful groups have done in promoting age friendliness," he stated.

Age Friendly Mayo, in conjunction with Mayo County Council, congratulate all groups involved for their participation and for the valuable and substantial contribution they have made and continue to make to communities throughout the county.