BELFAST CITY Council has been awarded an All Ireland Inspirational Life Award for engaging older people in the community in Northern Ireland.
The life award is the first of its kind in Ireland and is sponsored by The Irish Times.
The award was conceived to highlight the campaign against ageism, promote the rights of older people and encourage the development of an all-Ireland positive ageing and anti-ageism campaign and help strengthen links in both parts of Ireland.
The council’s campaigns include the “Be Warm” drive, a fuel-oil stamp savings scheme launched to more than 133,000 households in Belfast and an online data tool that provides detailed fact sheets on a variety of topics affecting older people.
Other winners include Carmel Devaney (73). Ms Devaney won the award for being an outstanding role model as chairwoman of the Athlone Carers Support Group.
Prof Des O’Neill was also honoured for his leadership in engaging older people to lead active and fulfilling lives, for developing the Irish Gerontological Society and also for his involvement in the Leas Cross report.