OPC Convention 2023

• Date: 11th and 12th May 2023
• Host: Kerry County Council
• Venue: Rose Hotel, Tralee, Co.Kerry
• Theme: Reconnecting – Fáilte ar ais

Speakers Day 1

• Paula Hilman, Assistant Commissioner, An Garda Siochana, Roads Policing & Community Engagement. Launch of An Garda Siochana Older People’s Engagement Plan
• Jake Ryan, Principal Officer, Department of Rural and Community Development
• Deirdre Walsh

Panel Discussion Day 2

• Philip King, Musician, Film maker, and Broadcaster
• Donnchadh Walsh, Chartered Physiotherapist, Bon Secours Hospital, Tralee
• Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director, Operations Planning, HSE
• Francis Brennan, Age Friendly Kerry Ambassador

Workshops

Reconnecting though Arts	Reconnecting through the Arts will comprise of three key artforms writing, music, and drawing. Participants will be guided through three distinctive workshops with the opportunity to find a new or re-discover a passion for the arts. The afternoon will begin with poet and Kerry Writer in Residence, Máire Holmes, leading a creative writing workshop. Followed by an opportunity to find the beat with Drum Dance Ireland. Local visual artist, Lisa Fingleton, will show what inspiration may be found in nature and how to transform it through drawing. Kerry County Council Arts Office will be present throughout the afternoon to discuss and share the projects that connect us to and through art.
Reconnecting through Sports	Reconnecting through Sports will comprise of three sporting activities which will give delegates an opportunity to engage in group sports that they may have never tried before. These activities include Activator Pole Walking, Pickleball and Bowls. – Activator Pole Walking is an activity that is rolled out by Local Sports Partnerships throughout the country. It is designed to help with balance and to take pressure off your back and lower joints. It can improve stability and posture. This activity can be done both indoors and outdoors. – Pickleball is a growing, fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played on a badminton sized court using a modified tennis net. It can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities. – Short Mat Bowls is an indoor sport which players attempt to score points by rolling a heavy ball along a flat surface, to gain as many shots as possible by getting their bowls nearer the jack than their opponents, and so outscore them.
Reconnecting through Nature	Reconnecting through nature workshop will be held at the Tralee Bay Wetlands. This workshop will be a relaxed two hour tour that will look to consciously observe wildlife, identifying wild native species of tree, wildflowers, and birds, relating the species to its natural history, folklore, and human uses. The workshop will include a visit to the 20m viewing tower providing panoramic views of Tralee Bay and the Sliabh Mís mountains. This provides a great overview of the area, giving context to the landscape and the geological and human influences that have given it shape. This is a perspective that is essential to developing a connection to landscapes that we occupy. During the tour, delegates will be shown the active biodiversity projects at the Centre giving people examples of actions they can undertake in their own gardens and communities to better protect the environment. Including an explanation of food forests and a breakdown of the immature food forest at the Wetlands Centre.
Reconnecting through Technology	Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are public locations which have been selected to receive high-speed connectivity as part of the National Broadband Plan. The locations include public areas such as community halls, libraries, sports facilities, enterprise hubs, tourist locations and other public spaces. In Co Kerry, the use of Broadband Connection Points located in community centres (BCPs) has been named in the county’s draft Digital Strategy as a way to develop new ways of engaging with people and to create new opportunities for participation in meetings and social activities. The Age Friendly Programme has been working with the Broadband and Digital Officer to develop this work. The use of these Hubs has formed part of the work programme to revitalise the Older People’s Council. During this workshop a link will be created with people in two Community Digital Hubs in different locations to show how consultation can take place. Also, there will be an example of how the Hubs can be used for social activities. A digital photography workshop will take place as part of the programme.
Reconnecting through Accessible Communities and Housing	Kerry County Council’s local strategy has been to plan Age Friendly homes into new developments providing purpose designed accommodation for older people to assist in their everyday lives. An Cillín, Tralee is a development of 21 single storey dwellings designed in-house by KCC is local model of good practice in Age Friendly design. The Council identified a specific need to accommodate elderly and persons with specific requirements/disability from the housing waiting list who could live independently within the community. The Killeen site was selected as a suitable location due to its close proximity to a wide range of shops, schools, community facilities and public transport. The fully accessible homes are arranged in small clusters surrounding high quality public realm spaces, providing a great sense security and community. Tobar Naofa was developed as part of the Mitchels- Boherbee Community Regeneration Project. The Tobar Naofa complex consists of four apartment blocks with a total of 42 apartments, all of which have been designed to a very high standard and are heated by a district heating system fuelled by a wood chip boiler.
Maintaining Connections (Dementia and Age Friendly Tralee)	Tralee Dementia Friendly Interagency Group was established in May 2019 with the aim of raising awareness of dementia in Tralee. It is an interagency group with representatives from a wide spectrum of the community including the HSE, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, Tralee Chamber Alliance, Kerry County Council, Kerry Age Friendly, an Garda Siochana, the local GAA, and representatives from voluntary and statutory agencies. Family members of people with dementia and local groups for Older Persons are also represented on the group. Since it was founded, the group has worked on and delivered many programmes in Tralee and has supported work in other towns in Co Kerry. Some of the initiatives undertaken by the group include a ‘Tips for Friends, neighbours, businesses and service providers’ information card, dementia awareness and inclusive design training for businesses, a Brain Health Awareness Evening, training for GAA Stewards in collaboration with the GAA. A Walkability audit has been undertaken in Tralee in collaboration with the Age Friendly Programme. Tralee Memory Technology Resource Room has assistive technology products on display. People with memory difficulties and their carers get to see a range products and how they work and access expert advice about assistive technology.