The symposium was generously funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and brought together cultural stakeholders, advocates and researchers to discuss the complex opportunities and challenges around an ageing society in a European context.
Speakers included Alison Bough (Active Retirement Ireland/Age Platform Europe), Patricia Conboy (University of Galway), Prof. Desmond O'Neill (TCD), Dr Christine O'Kelly (DCU), Prof. em. Joachim Fischer (UL), Dr Tara Byrne (Age and Opportunity), Paula Carroll (Cuimhneamh an Chláir), Dr Luis Freijo (KCL), and Dr Maggie O'Neill (University of Galway). The day kicked off with a powerful keynote by Alison Bough titled "Amplifying Older Voices: The Age Manifesto and the European Elections 2024", followed by panels addressing questions around ethics, care and inclusion; lifelong learning and the age-friendly university initiative; and European, national and regional projects.
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The event concluded with a literary reading from the recently published anthology 'Well, You Don't Look It! Women Writers in Ireland Reflect on Ageing" (ed. Éilίs Nί Dhuibhne and Michaela Schrage-Frueh, Salmon Poetry, 2024) with writers Mary O'Donnell, Eileen Casey and Mary Rafferty.
The presenters' engaging and inspiring talks as well as the insightful contributions from the audience turned this event into a huge success and started an important dialogue on how to amplify older people's voices and embrace ageing as an integral part of society.