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Pictured: At the launch of Positive Ageing Week in Castlebar were (l-r) Bernie Sheils, ESB Customer Supply (sponsors of Positive Ageing Week), Castlebar Mayor, Cllr Eugene McCormack and Anne Bourke, chairperson of Castlebar Active Retirement Association.

Pictured: Brian 'Master' Deery is shown some handcrafts by Phylis Watson at an arts and craft fair held in Monaghan as part of Positive Ageing Week.



		ESB Customer Supply sponsors Positive Ageing week 2007 The dust is still settling on Positive Ageing Week 2007 but the general consensus among older people's groups is that Ireland's biggest celebration of ageing was the best yet. Over 450 events were staged by older people and their communities around the country between September 28 and October 6. These ranged from tea dances and vintage car rallies, to sports' days and Ireland's senior conker championship. In addition, six Positive Ageing Week towns - Midleton, Athy, Castlebar, Ballymun, Galway city, Monaghan County - organised a week long series of activities as part of the Age Action event. For the first time groups from both sides of the border gathered in Monaghan to join in the national celebration of ageing. "None of this would have been possible without the whole-hearted, enthusiastic support of our sponsors, ESB Customer Supply," Age Action chief executive Robin Webster said, "In addition to their financial backing, they provided the professional expertise necessary to run such a large project." The Positive Ageing photographic exhibition at ESB's House 29, which was opened by broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan, was a hit with the public. The photographs of older people running, body boarding, playing with their grandchildren and enjoying the hobbies challenged the public perception of ageing. However, if you were looking for evidence that ageing is not something to be celebrated, not feared, then there was plenty of it among the hundreds of organising committees behind the Positive Ageing Week events. Their energy and enthusiasm for the celebrations was testimony to the huge contribution which older people play in their communities. On one level the craic being had around the country may have seemed miles away from the serious issues being discussed at the Senior Select Retain & Retrain conference which took place at Dublin's Mansion House during Positive Ageing Week. It published the findings of a two-year report into the needs of older workers. Yet, the energy and ability displayed by older people during the week is evidence that older workers should not be written off by employers because of their age.		Pictured: At the launch of Positive Ageing Week in Castlebar were (l-r) Bernie Sheils, ESB Customer Supply (sponsors of Positive Ageing Week), Castlebar Mayor, Cllr Eugene McCormack and Anne Bourke, chairperson of Castlebar Active Retirement Association. Pictured: Brian 'Master' Deery is shown some handcrafts by Phylis Watson at an arts and craft fair held in Monaghan as part of Positive Ageing Week.