President Michael D Higgins to address conference in Ballyconnell this morning

The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, is due in Ballyconnell around now to address the Active Retirement Ireland (ARI) AGM in the Slieve Russell Hotel.

The Anglo-Celt will be live streaming Michael D. Higgins' arrival in Ballyconnell and his keynote address on our Facebook page

Over 500 delegates are attending the conference in west Cavan today (Wednesday) representing more than 24,500 members. They are meeting to discuss issues that affect older people in Ireland.

ARI, the country’s largest community-based older people’s organisation, will today call on the next government to once and for all address the National Positive Ageing Strategy and end the “plague of loneliness” that is one of the biggest contributing factors to poor health in old age.

Mai Quaid, President of Active Retirement Ireland, said the challenge of loneliness is growing more difficult for community groups to overcome. She said: “Ireland has a generation of hidden citizens – left behind in a recession and not party to any recovery. Our hidden citizens come from all walks of life. They are in our cities, towns and villages; they are living alone in the middle of nowhere. They need our help. They need the hand of friendship.”

Active Retirement Ireland has continued to highlight the serious issue of loneliness in our older communities in 2016 and called on the new government to address the National Positive Ageing Strategy. Mai Quaid added: “We understand that homelessness and hospitals will take precedence for the next government, but that is no excuse for pushing the problem of Ireland’s hidden citizens further down the road. This will affect everyone. We must see action from the Government to alleviate the isolations and loneliness that impacts our older people. In order to do this, the National Positive Ageing Strategy must be a priority for the next government.”

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins will give the keynote address at the conference, which saw members from as far afield as Kerry and Donegal make the journey to Cavan. President Higgins has been Patron of Active Retirement Ireland since 2012.

The Anglo-Celt will be live streaming Michael D. Higgins' arrival in Ballyconnell and his keynote address on our Facebook page