Inspirational life awards: former GAA president honoured

A CUT to the old age pension would be “absolutely pitiful” and “totally wrong”, Senator Mary White has said.

Speaking in Dublin yesterday, the Fianna Fáil Seanad spokeswoman for older people said “these people have contributed to our country when our country had nothing, and those people had nothing. To take that back off them, what they have earned, I think it’s crazy, absolutely crazy.”

She also criticised the mandatory retirement age in the public service, saying it amounted to “cutting people off and denying them their human rights”. She said that particularly during a recession, “the rich experience and mentoring” that older people could offer to younger workers was invaluable.

Ms White was speaking at the All Ireland Inspirational Life awards, which recognise the contributions of older people to society.

She said “the greatest achievement of the 20th century is the increase in life expectancy”, and that the achievements of those being honoured showed that “age is not an inhibition for anything”.

Former GAA president Mick Loftus, who has worked as a GP and a coroner, was honoured with a lifetime All Ireland Inspirational Life award for his work to combat alcohol abuse.

Dr Loftus said he was “thrilled and humbled” to receive the award and warned that “all other drugs pale in comparison to what alcohol is doing”.

Muiris Prenderville (92) was recognised for his work with Blanchardstown Active Retirement. Seán Kinsella and Philomena Gallagher were recognised for their work with older people in the community. The Irish Museum of Modern Art was honoured for its initiatives to engage older people in the art world.