Louth’s ‘Ardee Garden Care & Repair’ project shortlisted for age friendly award

Age Friendly Louth, Ardee Tidy Towns and Dee Hub An Garda Siochana are finalists for the Age Friendly Environment Award at the 2024 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards. Their Ardee Garden Care & Repair’ Project, based in Co. Louth is shortlisted for their exceptional contribution to making Ireland an outstanding place to grow older. Recognised by Age Friendly Ireland, these projects exemplify best practices which are both impactful and can inspire similar efforts across the country. 

Curated by Age Friendly Ireland, the annual awards celebrate individuals, organisations, and agencies nationwide that are spearheading initiatives to improve the lives of older adults in Ireland. The 2024 awards ceremony will take place on 7 November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Northwood, Santry, Dublin, hosted by Fingal County Council. 

Speaking on the annual awards, Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer of the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service said: "The shortlisted projects represent the gold standard of innovation and dedication, showcasing how communities are coming together to improve the quality of life for older adults across Ireland. These initiatives stand out not only for their immediate impact but also for their potential to be replicated across the country." 

The 2024 National Age Friendly Awards include eight categories, each aligned with a World Health Organization (WHO) Age Friendly Theme. These include awards for best in Age Friendly Transport; Active and Healthy Ageing; Business Innovation; Safety and Security; Communications; Environment; Community Innovation; and Housing. 

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Commenting on the nomination, Louth County Council said: “This is an innovative community project which provides free gardening services to older people living in Ardee,  Co Louth.  This no-cost service assists older people with small gardening projects including grass cutting, garden tidying, weeding and hedge cutting and much more.

"Tidy, well-maintained gardens and outdoor spaces enable people to age with confidence and dignity in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, providing comfort, privacy, safety and security. Exposure to the natural environment also helps contribute to greater connection with nature and improves overall health and wellbeing. We hope this model can be scaled up and replicated across other parts of Mid Louth in 2025.”

Previous winners of the National Age Friendly Awards have included initiatives such as Healthy Islands, Specsavers, and the Dublin City Council Central Area Office. For more information about this year’s awards and to learn about all the finalists, visit agefriendlyireland.ie.