The Voice of Older People Draw... And the Winner is...
On Behalf of everyone involved with the Voice of Older People, Donegal, we would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year
UNIQUE PROJECT TO GIVE OLDER PEOPLE A VOICE LAUNCHED ACROSS DONEGAL
The Hearing Other People Experiences (HOPE) Project, was officially launched at the Balor Arts Centre in Ballybofey by Dinny McGinley TD, Minister of State, Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht.
Devised and promoted by The Voice of Older People, Donegal, the HOPE project is about strengthening and consolidating the disparate and fragmented voices of older people from all traditions throughout Donegal.
The project, which is mostly funded by the International Fund for Ireland, aims to empower the older people (60+) of Donegal.
It plans to identify the issues which have impacted upon and affected their quality of life as a result of the legacy of conflict and to support them in identifying, developing and implementing appropriate responses that break the culture of sectarianism.
The International Fund for Ireland is contributing €165,300 towards the two year HOPE project as part of its Community Based Economic and Social Regeneration Programme.
Through the use of creative engagement, the project will deliver four distinct programme elements for older people from all traditions throughout Donegal, including cross-community workshops; a training course in cross-community history and genealogy; a story sharing programme and involvement in the publishing of the ‘Joint Pan Celtic HOPE Publication’.
Speaking at the official launch event of the HOPE project, Dinny McGinley TD, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht said: "I am delighted to be here today to launch the HOPE project.
“This project, will bring together people from all parts of the community providing an invaluable record of the personal and very real experiences of older people and how their lives unfolded while living in this region. I’m confident that this project will leave a worthy legacy for the future.”
Speaking on behalf of the International Fund for Ireland, Paddy Harte, Senior Development Officer with the IFI said: “I would like to commend the Voice of Older People group for their hard work and commitment to work together. The IFI is delighted to support this important cross-community project.
“Over the next two years, many individuals will engage with this project, and I am sure it will have a huge impact in our communities. Those participants will take what they have learned and bring it back, to their families and to the wider community. It will leave a lasting legacy for reconciliation across County Donegal.”
Mr Harte also expressed a collective thanks to the international donors who have supported the work of the International Fund for Ireland for almost twenty-five years: namely, the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking on behalf of The Voice of Older People, Donegal, John McGlinchey, Chairperson of the group said: “I acknowledge the tremendous support that the International Fund for Ireland has afforded the Voice of Older People, Donegal.
"This support has enabled the HOPE project to develop from an idea to a concrete tangible reality. The project will provide a solid platform from which the voices of older people from all traditions throughout the County can and will be articulated.”
The official launch event was held at the Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey and was attended by over 50 guests, including a wide range of local representatives, community groups and voluntary organisations representing traditions throughout the region
The Launch of the Hearing Other People Experiences (HOPE) Project
on Friday the 17th June at 4:00pm in
The Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey
Launched by Mr. Dinny McGinley, Minister of State, Gaeltacht Affairs
The Voice of Older People, Donegal - HOPE Project is Supported by the International Fund for Ireland
The Voice of Older People Donegal, Fireside Quiz - And the Winner is....
Congratulations Ann, and a big thank you to everyone who took part in the quiz.
The Voice of Older People Donegal, Fireside Quiz - And the Winner is....
Congratulations Ann, and a big thank you to everyone who took part in the quiz.
South of the Border -
Ballroom of romance
On Saturday 28th November The Voice of Older People held its first South of the Border Ballroom of Romance in Ballyshannon. The dramatic part of the evening was presented by the Ballytour Players under the directorship of Maura Logue.
The company also joined us on Wednesday 2nd and Saturday 5th December in Donegal Town and Ardara where the craic was mighty!
We have commissioned Maura to work with groups in all our 7 network areas if there is a demand and so if you and your members would like to re-live those days of the 50’s Parish Hall dances and are willing to commit several weeks to rehearsals please let us know.
Fortunately the three dances were held in local hotels who were generous enough to give us their venue free of charge as they were happy to be associated with a community event like this one; perhaps you would like to run the evening as a fund-raiser? The Donegal Town groups asked that some of their door money go to a local charity, Blue Stacks Foundation.
The Milford 65+ Group are holding a fund-raising dance on Friday, 26th February and any one looking for a different night out and a bit of a laugh should mark this date in their diary.
AGM Details
On Thursday 12th November the Voice of Older People, Donegal held its Annual General Meeting in the Isaac Butt Visitor’s Centre in Cloghan.
The meeting was attended by our accountant, Dessie Lynch from Brian McDaid & Company, who presented the Company’s accounts and chaired the election of the new committee and directors.
Due to the resignation of 3 directors during the year there was no requirement for any of the attending directors to step down. Mary McGeehan (Buncrana), Breege Connor (Bundoran) and Angela Apitius (Letirmacaward) were all nominated and agreed to join our Board. The committee paid tribute to Roisin Lee who has stepped down from the committee on health grounds.
Our current Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer were all thanked for their work over the past year and re-elected unopposed.
Staff gave an outline of the work that the Project is planning over the next year, including the development and support of the seven networks, the working with Donegal County Council to building of a “Older Adult-Friendly County” and the introduction of training for members interested in expanding their advocacy and leadership skills.
The Company would like to thank all those who attended the meeting, and the staff at the visitors centre who looked after us so well.
The Voice of Older People is managed by a fourteen-person Management Committee, elected annually at our AGM. The date of this meeting is circulated to all the groups and individuals on our data base.
The staff are based in The Volt House in Raphoe and are always contactable for advice and information sharing.
