Introduction

Age Friendly Galway City is delivered by Galway City Council and works to improve the services and facilities that our older people have identified as being important to them, and the wider community, as they live healthy and active lives.  

The programme involves a multiagency, multi-sectoral approach to age-related planning and service provision.  Our projects, in partnership with other organisations and agencies, include: 

• Outdoor Spaces and Buildings  
• Transportation  
• Housing  
• Respect and Social Inclusion  
• Social Participation  
• Communication and Education  
• Civic Participation and Employment  
• Health and Wellbeing  

The key contributors to the age friendly programme are the Age Friendly Alliance and Galway City Older People’s Council. 

The Alliance is a voluntary partnership made up of representatives from the following public sector agencies in the area and other organisations that promote a positive approach to ageing.

• Galway City and County Council
• The Health Service Executive
• An Garda Síochána
• GRETB
• University of Galway
• Údarás na Gaeltachta
• COPE Galway
• Galway Rural Development
• Galway City Partnership
• Forum Connemara
• Galway City Community Network
• Galway PPN
• Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI)
• Croí na Gaillimhe (SVP)
• Local Link – Bealach na Gaillimhe
• Volunteer Galway

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The National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards:

Preparations for the 2025 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards are well underway. The Awards will be jointly hosted by Galway City and County Council in The Galmont Hotel, Galway, on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025.

The awards celebrate innovative projects from across this range of areas that have real impact on the lives of older people and have the potential to be showcased and replicated.

The Summer saw shortlisted projects visited by the judging panel, including Galway’s own ‘Positive Ageing Week – Local Heroes Exhibition’, which is nominated under the ‘Age Friendly Active and Healthy Ageing Award’ category.

The evening is sure to be a spectacular one for nominees, who can expect a glamourous night celebrating the incredible work of individuals, organisations, and agencies nationwide, as well as delicious food and drink, local live music and dancing until late.

Positive Ageing Week 2025 (29th September – 3rd October 2025)

Positive Ageing Week is a chance to shine a light on the positivity of older age. The aim of the initiative is to highlight all the great things older people bring to our lives and communities.

Positive Ageing Week is celebrated locally in Galway through the ‘Local Heroes Exhibition’. This exhibition highlights the inspiring stories of exceptional older individuals from Galway City and County who have graciously shared their personal experiences of ageing, showcasing their resilience and contributions to our community.

The exhibition will be launched on the 30^th September with an event in the Town Hall theatre, where 28 older people from Galway City and County will be recognised and celebrated for their wonderful contribution to family, friends and wider society. The Mayor of Galway City, Councillor Michael Cubbard, and the Cathaoirleach of Galway County, David Collins will award each nominee with a professional photo on stage.

The ’Local Heroes Exhibition’ is nominated for a 2025 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Award, with the Judging panel conducting a visit of the project in September. Some of the organisers and past nominees were in attendance to share their experiences of the project. Previous year’s Local Heroes represented the project and their locales exceedingly well – a very big thank you to Peter McDonagh, Natalie Taraniuk, Dónal Ryan, and Tom McWilliam for their wonderful contribution on the day.

Galway City Interdepartmental Team established

The Galway City Age Friendly Interdepartmental Team held its inaugural meeting in September.

To enhance internal working relationships within the local authority, Age Friendly Ireland recommends the establishment of an Interdepartmental Team, comprised of key decision makers and section heads. This supports the principle of embedding Age Friendly objectives into all service areas of the local authority.

Galway City and County Council are currently in the final stages of drafting the Age Friendly Strategy for Galway 2025 – 2030 and the Interdepartmental Team will be a key strategic support in the delivery of a coordinated approach to implementation of actions for Galway City Council.

Contacts

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