GAA/TILDA partnership brings the ‘secrets of positive ageing’ to every county
Posted on: 21 February 2019
In an era where we are all expected to live longer, Trinity College has joined with the GAA and Irish Life to highlight the secrets to successful ageing through a series of regional seminars.
Did you know that people living by the sea are less likely to be depressed? That optimists live longer? That friendship and good social life is as important as low cholesterol for heart disease? That quality of life continues to get better after 50 for almost another 30 years? These nuggets of knowledge, and much more, will be explored by Trinity’s Professor Rose Anne Kenny, a world expert in healthy ageing, as part of this series of public talks entitled ‘How to Age Well: Evidence from TILDA’.
TILDA, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing is a large-scale, representative, evidence-based study on ageing in Ireland. For more than 10 years, over 8,500 people aged 50 and older have been randomly selected and continue to be repeatedly interviewed and examined regarding many aspects of their lives including happiness, physical and mental health, financial circumstances, quality of life, and perceptions of ageing.
TILDA, in partnership with the GAA and Irish Life (one of the founding sponsors of TILDA) is set to bring the research outcomes that they have gathered through the study right to the heart of the communities around the country.
TILDA wants to see people across the age span attend the free seminars, which are open to the general public and organised by the GAA’s County Health & Wellbeing Committees.
The seminars will take place in Longford (March 11), Limerick (March 20), Donegal (March 22), and Mayo and Cork later in 2019 (dates to be confirmed). The content will highlight themes including the importance of exercise, diet, social connectedness, purpose, and location and how we can develop age-friendly societies for all.
Professor of Medical Gerontology and TILDA Principal Investigator Rose Anne Kenny said: “TILDA is one of the most important research studies in Ireland which helps to better understand why bodies and brains age and how we can best ensure long and prosperous lives, for today’s adults and for future generations. This unique partnership with the GAA will ensure that new research from TILDA and other international studies is quickly communicated to all age groups. As a research institution we are very excited about taking this new knowledge out to the Irish people.”
The partnership with the GAA ties in perfectly with Trinity’s Strategic Plan (2014-2019) and its commitment to building national collaborations and valuable partnerships, whilst demonstrating civic engagement and institutional leadership.
GAA President John Horan said: “The GAA is proud to represent every age demographic in Ireland. These talks are not just for GAA members, they are for anyone in the community that is interested in ageing well. Irish Life is a long-standing CSR partner of the GAA Healthy Club Project and we’re delighted to broaden that relationship through this collaboration with TILDA.”
Speaking about the ‘How to Age Well’ initiative said, David Harney, CEO Irish Life, said: “Our commitment at Irish Life is to make every community in Ireland healthier, and that commitment extends across all life-stages. With life expectancy in Ireland at 81 years, we want to ensure that people fully enjoy the years approaching and beyond retirement.”
“We have been a long-term supporter of TILDA and their vision of making Ireland the best place in the world to grow old. I believe that the GAA’s support of the ‘How to Age Well’ seminar series will bring valuable healthcare information to the wider community and help people of all ages, but particularly those over 50, to embrace change in their physical, emotional and social lives.”
GAA ambassadors from participating counties are supporting the seminar series. They include:
Micheal O’Muircheartaigh, representing Longford,
Maria Devenney, former Donegal footballer,
Anthony Molloy, former Donegal footballer,
Claire Egan, former Mayo footballer,
Denis Coughlan, former Cork dual player,
and Eamonn Rea, former Limerick Hurler.
They visited TILDA’s research hub in Trinity College to experience some of the tests that participants in the research undergo, including cognitive tests, gait analysis, grip strength, bone density, and aural and visual testing. While there, the ambassadors were joined by members of the Trinity GAA teams, who were delighted to meet such sporting legends!
GAA legend Míchéal Ó Muircheartaigh attended the partnership launch and encouraged everyone to attend their local seminar.
He said: “It didn’t surprise me to discover the contribution of social and community connections to positive ageing. The GAA provided me and many of my generation with a social network that allowed us to stay connected and be part of something bigger than ourselves. It still does. I’m sure the seminars will offer everyone who attends new information that will help them age well.”
TILDA wants everyone to explore what makes for a really good retirement in Ireland. They invite everyone to attend the seminars, which are open to everyone across the country. The initial schedule is:
- Longford: Monday 11th March 7-9pm, Longford Arms Hotel
- Limerick: Wednesday 20th March 7-9pm, Woodlands House Hotel Adare
- Donegal: Friday 22nd March 2-4pm, Letterkenny Institute of Technology
- Cork (Date TBC)
- Mayo (Date TBC)
Additional details of the seminars are available on www.gaa.ie/community and further information will also be made available through local media in the participating counties in coming weeks.
To register for the seminars please go to:
- Longford: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/how-to-age-well-evidence-from-tilda-delivered-by-professor-rose-anne-kenny-professor-of-medical-tickets-56036424454
- Limerick: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/how-to-age-well-evidence-from-tilda-delivered-by-professor-rose-anne-kenny-professor-of-medical-tickets-56036684231
- Donegal: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/how-to-age-well-evidence-from-tilda-delivered-by-professor-rose-anne-kenny-professor-of-medical-tickets-56036725354
If you require assistance in registering, you can call TILDA on 01-8964120 and a member of the team will be happy to assist.
Media coverage of the launch
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/want-to-live-longer-be-a-volunteer-not-a-gym-bunny-1.3800612