For many of us, the period between our youth and middle years was filled with a career, rearing a family or caring for other relatives. However, as we get older, the combination of retirement, the moving on of family, and perhaps the death of a spouse or other peers, challenges us to make new connections and form different social networks.

Active Retirement
There are currently 24,000 members in 469 branches of Active Retirement Ireland.

“Each group decides on their own activities according to what members want, and membership is open to anyone of 55 and over,” says Helene Boran of Active Retirement.

Harry Donnelly, 87, has been a member of Active Retirement on Dublin’s north side for around 18 years. “My wife died when I was 66, just shortly after I retired, so any plans we had for the future were destroyed,” he says. “My life very much revolved around my own family, and many of our friends were through my wife. I found myself with a lot of time on my hands, and the family were grown up and gone, so I joined Active Retirement, and have never looked back.

“It was almost like going back to my single days again. I made loads of new friends, joined in several activities, went on holidays, and went to all the meetings and coffee mornings. I’ve made a lot of women friends because there are very few men in our group, so we have great conversations, and a laugh,” says Donnelly.

Education
Education can be a great way to meet other like-minded people and, with many older adults having missed out on formal education due to lack of time or money, second-chance learning can be the way to go. The Department of Education and Science have funded a national U3A (University of Third Age).

Supported by Age Action Ireland, U3A groups are usually set up by people who come together to learn in a way that suits their life. Learning often comes from within the group, with members sharing their knowledge and expertise.  The website www.learningireland is good for older adults interested in undertaking a degree course in their local college or university. Mature students don‘t need a leaving cert to gain entrance.

Third Age Foundation
Based in Summerhill, Co Meath, Third Age Foundation is an older person’s organisation, run by older people for older people. The organisation runs trips and socials, drama and arts workshops, craft classes, computer courses, dance and fitness, and reminiscence sessions. They also have a resource centre.

Volunteering
Getting involved in voluntary work is another popular way to make new connections. Most towns around the country have one or more charity shops such as Oxfam, Enable Ireland, St Vincent de Paul, Mrs Quinn’s etc, where you can sign up to help out in the shop or storeroom for a few hours each week. Third Age Foundation also runs the Senior Helpline, which is also operated by older volunteers.

Offer Valid: 19/02/2009 - 01/01/1970

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