Representatives from the Westmeath Age Friendly Programme receiving their award at the ceremony in Limerick last night. Included are Annette Barr Jordan, local manager, Cllr Bill Collentine, An Cathaoirleach, and Barry Keogh, chief executive.

Westmeath named Best Age Friendly Programme 2026

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Westmeath has been named Best Age Friendly Programme 2026 at the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards.

Westmeath’s Age Friendly Programme was recognised for its strong community engagement, innovation and consistent delivery for older people.

An early adopter of the Age Friendly process, the programme has an Older People’s Council membership of more than 700, a strong programme of activity, flagship health and wellbeing initiatives and a clear commitment to Age Friendly housing.

The winners were announced at the 10th annual ceremony in Limerick last night, organised by Age Friendly Ireland, the national body supporting Ireland’s 31 local authorities to deliver the government’s vision of an Age Friendly Ireland.

Hosted by Limerick City and County Council at the Limerick Strand Hotel and MCed by Marty Whelan, the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards celebrate practical initiatives improving everyday life for older people and showcase Age Friendly innovation that can be shared and replicated across Ireland.

This year, the awards are also an EU Associated Presidency event. These are events organised independently of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union which align with the themes and priorities of Ireland’s EU Presidency.

Annette Barr Jordan, Age Friendly Programme manager, Westmeath, with representatives of IPB Insurance as Westmeath received the award for the Best Age Friendly Programme 2026, sponsored by IPB Insurance, at the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards in Limerick. Photo: Keith Wiseman Photo by Keith Wiseman

The 2026 winners were:

• Age Friendly Transport Award: TFI Local Link Laois Offaly.

• Age Friendly Safety and Security Award: Storm Ready Packs, Longford.

• Age Friendly Healthy Ageing Award: The Great Care Co-op, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin.

• Age Friendly Community Innovation Award: Connemara Memory Café for Brain Health, Galway County.

• Age Friendly Communication Award: The Cyber Safety Project, Munster Technological University, Cork.

• Age Friendly Housing Award: Greenhills Grange, Louth.

• Age Friendly Business Innovation Award: Rock the Rails Family Store Kilrush, Clare.

• Age Friendly Environment Award: The Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum Restoration and Accessibility Initiative, Kilkenny.

• Age Friendly Active Living and Leisure Award: DCC Community Wellness Programme in Partnership with the HSE, Dublin City.

• Age Friendly Intergenerational Award: Product Design for Age Friendly Communities, TU Dublin.

In addition, the GAA received the Judges’ Special Recognition Award, while Westmeath was named Best Age Friendly Programme 2026, sponsored by IPB Insurance.

Kieran Kehoe, chief executive of Meath County Council and Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service, said: “Being recognised as an EU Presidency associated event provides an important opportunity to showcase Ireland’s leadership in responding to the needs of an ageing population.

“These Awards demonstrate how Age Friendly principles are being translated into practical action in communities across the country. What makes these projects particularly valuable is that they respond to real needs identified locally. By recognising and sharing what works, we can help successful ideas travel beyond the communities where they began and contribute to wider learning both nationally and across Europe.

“I would like to extend my thanks to Limerick City and County Council for hosting the awards this year. We’re proud to be celebrating this year’s awardees here in the Treaty County. I would also like to thank our sponsor, IPB Insurance for their continued support of the Age Friendly programme.”

Catherine McGuigan, chief officer of Age Friendly Ireland, said: “These Awards demonstrate what Age Friendly action looks like in practice. The winning projects have listened to older people, identified what can improve everyday life and turned that insight into practical action.

"By recognising these initiatives nationally, we want to celebrate their impact while encouraging other communities and organisations to learn from them, adapt them and build on what works.”

John Kearns, CEO of IPB Insurance, said: “IPB Insurance is proud to partner with the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards in our centenary year, and particularly to sponsor the Best Age Friendly Programme Award.

"Westmeath is a deserving winner, demonstrating the kind of strong local leadership, sustained community engagement and practical delivery that can make a real difference to older people. As Ireland’s only mutual insurer, we see the value of this work across the country, and Westmeath is an excellent example of what can be achieved through long-term commitment and collaboration.”

For more information about this year’s Awards and the winning projects, visit agefriendlyireland.ie.

Westmeath Age Friendly Programme

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