Friends in all places..

Lorna Hogg lists some of the numerous ‘friends ‘ groups around the country covering a wide range of interests

Friends - people we can all rely upon, even more so when help is needed. Illness, life changes, home moves and even retirement, show us how much we need our friends. Often unsung, and in the background we need them - not only our own lives, but also in society. Fortunately, Ireland has plenty of Friends who provide care, support and back-up, ranging from health care and the Arts, to charities and animal welfare, plus working with the challenges of our society and times.

There is another aspect of course – becoming a Friend of a cause dear to your heart is a good way to get to know new people, to become more involved with the community or develop interests. Shared goals help to produce shared lives. So, whether it’s through fund-raising, dog walking, cat sponsoring, volunteering for fund raising walks, washing up dishes at fund raising events or answering phone calls – all round, it really is `rather nice to have Friends’.

A friend in need..

Friends of the Coombe. ‘Engages with hospitals, clinics and patients and supporters,’ to aid funding which cannot be given by the hospital or any other source – specialist equipment, funded education and training and research’. It sounds complex, and these Friends have indeed used some innovative thinking to raise funds for equipment and care. But of course, the innovative thinking doesn’t have to be medical – they also come up with bright and practical ideas. Don’t think, however, that the fundraising is always in the tens of thousands of euro. www.coombe.ie

One of the most heartwarming donations came from a taxi driver, in gratitude for the support after the birth of his delicate baby granddaughter, who is now a happy, healthy little four year old. He, meanwhile, plans to do some more fund raising – on the next Dublin Marathon.

Friends of the Elderly

Quite simply – these Friends bring friendship and companionship to the elderly. Many older people live alone –which is good in terms of independence. However, what is not so good is the fact that too many often feel isolated. Happily, the Friends of the Elderly aid older people to feel connected to a wider community, by helping to alleviate loneliness. They take a highly practical approach - with a programme of Home Visitations, Friendly Call Service, Social Club – and Day Trips. The aim is to generally alleviate loneliness amongst isolated older people in Ireland. The challenges are varied and solutions often highly creative – ranging from dealing with caller shock at receiving a large electricity bill – through to effective decluttering and neighbourly `garden shares’! They also have a strong fund raising programme.

friendsoftheelderly.ie

Festival Friends

Music and theatrical fans are particularly well served in Ireland, with a wide variety of festivals. The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival offers Friends packages for all tastes in Ireland’s summer opera season. Unsurprisingly, and in keeping with most opera, seats are not cheap. There are, however, several packages available, and also plenty of opportunities to volunteer – ideal for those who love backstage atmosphere. The settings are spectacular – e.g.- Lismore Castle, and Castlemartyr - the main challenge is the Irish weather!

blackwatervalleyopera.ie www.irishnationalopera.ie www.wexfordopera.com

Irish National Opera is all about access for all to high quality opera – often in a venue near to you. Its style includes thought provoking modern takes on traditional opera, and they are also starting to work with Virtual Reality Community Opera. The INO offers its Friends some intriguing choices – with backstage and behind the scenes tours, Master classes, and studio performances. They travel the country on tours, so keep an eye out for nearby performances.

The Wexford National Opera Festival is internationally acclaimed, as well as being famed for its inclusion of some of the lesser known operatic productions. It started in 1951, when a local group of opera lovers set up a performance in their local theatre. Unsurprisingly, it attracts now attracts international visitors as well as regular followers, and is an established, glamorous social occasion on the international musical calendar. Expect some top rated treats as a Friend, along with plenty of glamour and wonderful music.

The Crawford Art Gallery in Cork, is housed in the city’s old Custom House, dating from 1724. It holds some 3,000 works, with 18th century Irish and European sculptures, with casts from the Vatican Museum. It now has a loyal and well served group of Friends. They enjoy a wide range of exhibitions, events, talks, previews and private tours. crawfordartgallery.ie

Want to learn something new?

A warm welcome awaits you at Dublin City University -Ireland's first Age-Friendly University.

Did you know you can choose from a broad range of modules offered under the AFU programme without the need to take exams or assignments?

In addition, the Lifelong Learning Programme offers a selection of customised modules such as Geneaology, Life Writing, English, Histor y, Botanical Art, Choir and more...

There are also opportunities to engage in contributing to research, social, cultural and wellness programmes, attend guest lectures and engage in intergenerational exchange.

If you would like to hear more about how to get involved in DCU's Age-Friendly programmes come along to the "Taste of DCU" on Friday, 1st September from 9.30 - 4 pm where you can experience being a student for the day, take a tour of the campus and hear more about the work of the AFU.

For more information visit: dcu.ie/agefriendly/news

E: afuinfo@dcu.ie

T: 00 353 1 700 5454

Friends of The National Gallery

Gives you free entry to all paid exhibitions, members-only lectures and events, plus exclusive discounts to the gallery shop and café.

Nationalgallery.ie /friends tcd.ie/library

Trinity College Dublin’s Library Long Room is an internationally acclaimed destination as the home of the Book of Kells – plus some other priceless volumes. So, it is unsurprising that The Friends of the Library enjoy some nice invitations, along with their efforts to ensure that the collections, and aims of the College Library, continue to prosper. Friends can enjoy a variety of lectures, after attending Commons (traditionally the students’ evening meal) in the magnificent Dining Hall. There are some nice treats as well, with private views of Long Room Exhibitions, and occasional summer visits to other noteworthy Libraries, such as those in Rome, Prague and Bruges.

Action Ireland Trust. Marian Finucane has left a splendid legacy - the Trust has proved that true Friends need no job titles. Her work in Lesotho has helped to educate, mentor, and increase skills in the community. In 2006, after a visit, she and her partner/future husband John Clarke, were so influenced by the poverty and lack of life chances that they set up a cooperative and schools for communities in the Eastern Cape. Its guiding philosophy was that self -help is the pathway out of poverty. They renovated a hospital and extended a school – amongst other developments. Foster homes, childcare, orphanages and schools helped to keep children not only alive, but thriving. Marian died in 2010 – but her astounding work goes on, with volunteers from the Action Ireland Trust. info@actionirelandtrust.ie

Friends of the Earth

Fuel, energy and poverty are now increasingly commonplace concerns, and the decades of warnings of groups like Friends of the Earth are starting to have some effect. They campaign for faster climate action, and a fossil free future, plus an end to plastic - and Irish Friends are fully involved. Volunteers aim to create community energy schemes, as well as continue waging the war against plastic.

Friends of the Earth has a public profile which is often linked to young people. However, older Irish Friends have their own particular agenda – and many are especially interested in bold climate action. This reflects the concerns of many of the over 60s - including carbon emissions, the future costs of retrofitting full home insulation in the often poorly insulated current housing stock, plus, of course, the extent and frequency of public transport.

friendsoftheearth.ie

These are merely, of course, a few examples of the wide range of associations and groups in Ireland, where Friends are needed and welcomed. Spend some time on the internet to learn about numerous other ‘friends’ groups. This is merely a ‘snapshot’ of what’s out there We need them - to volunteer, to put in the unpaid hours of help, to listen, donate, to fund raise, to sponsor, care and encourage, and give the practical assistance. Which goes to show that at every level – we really all do need friends.

DCU established the Ten Principles of an Age-Friendly University (AFU) in 2012 and leads a global network of over 100 universities representing Europe, South East Asia, North and South America and Australia.

Despite being a "young" university, DCU's commitment to increasing age diversity is evident in the number of older people on campus. It is not unusual to see AFU participants meeting between modules in the Helix for coffee or taking advantage of the DCU Sports Centre Active for Life Programme. There are events and activities on an ongoing basis open to all who wish to take part in educational, research, social and cultural opportunities and make new friendships.

For those considering a course of study to experience university without committing to a four-year programme, it is possible to undertake a single module from a selection of undergraduate programmes without the need complete assignments or take exams. It is a perfect option for those curious about a topic who want to keep their minds active and engage in a learning experience. This audit option provides participants with a student card, email address and library access. With over 150 modules to choose from, there is plenty of variety and the opportunity to experience intergenerational engagement with the traditional student cohort. These programmes run from September to December and January to April and are modestly priced at €100. One can also choose to take these modules for credit which cost €500 which is ideal for those who need an accredited module for their work.

A Love of Lifelong Learning Programme runs concurrently during the academic year and offers modules in Music, Genealogy, Life Writing, History, English, Botanical Art and specialist modules. DCU lecturers deliver these 6-week programmes and are very popular with older people. They not only offer a learning experience but also help participants understand how to navigate around the university and experience different lecturing styles. There is also a social aspect to both programmes with seasonal get-togethers, and cultural visits.

John Mullins served in the Garda Síochána for 37 years and joined a DCU music appreciation course as part of the Love of Lifelong Learning programme. Not having had the opportunity to go to university, he was delighted to be on campus, interact with the students and lecturers, and found the experience incredibly uplifting. During the course, John played music with his classmates and extended his knowledge about the history and construction of music. He made lifelong friendships and often went for a meal together after the class with the other participants.

When Catherine Clancy first heard about the AFU, she was inspired to join the life writing programme and signed up to improve her writing skills. It was the impetus Catherine needed to write her memoirs as a legacy for her grandchildren. “I also made new friends and opportunities to engage in research projects in the university” said Catherine.

Michiel Drost said “DCU’s AFU scheme has enriched my life and opened up new horizons for me - I signed up for a photography course. Every Wednesday morning for eight weeks. A number of different teachers, all very knowledgeable on their subjects, delivered the lectures. It was not just an instructive occasion but also a very social affair as the students compared cameras and notes. A few months later I enrolled for one semester of the philosophy module on an audit basis for one hour three mornings a week. Our lecturer Dr. Ian Leask, delivered the subject in a very engaging fashion, always drawing the students into the mind-set of the philosopher. One of the lectures about Michel Foucault’s book “Discipline and Punish – The birth of the Prison” introduced me to the former penal colony for young offenders in Mettray, near Tours in France where the cult writer Jean Genet spent some of his teenage years. I went to visit the place. "

There are unlimited opportunities to engage in DCU under the AFU programme, whether it is to continue the lifelong learning journey, contribute to research, wellness social, and cultural opportunities so why not give it a go?

We have regular social and cultural events, visits to sites of interest as well as a choir and a dedicated Coordinator and support staff

Join us on Friday, 1st September, for the annual "Taste of DCU" to hear more about the range and breadth of courses and other activities we offer in DCU. It provides an opportunity to visit the campus, meet with DCU staff and students and experience lectures and workshops on various subjects. The event is free, refreshments will be provided, and more seasoned participants will be on hand to share their Age-friendly University experiences.

Register here for the Taste of DCU event. Visit our website www.dcu.ie/agefriendly or contact us at afuinfo@dcu.ie

Radisson

Tue 12th & Wed 13th September 10am – 4pm Daily

FEATURING: 50 displays, demonstrations and exhibits covering health, hobbies & pastimes, painting workshops, personal finance advice, cooking demonstrations, internet tuition, musical entertainment, holidays, rights and entitlements, further education, recruitment and volunteering. ADMITS

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