The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Donegal GAA Host Sporting Memories Event in Donegal.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI), in collaboration with Donegal GAA Health & Wellbeing Committee, has announced details of the first Sporting Memories event in Donegal on Saturday, June 24.
Sporting Memories is a free event and takes place in The Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, from 2pm to 4pm.
Sporting Memories is an awareness and support programme involving remembering and talking about sports to help improve health and wellbeing, especially of people living with Dementia. This programme aims to tackle Dementia, depression, and loneliness through safe, friendly sessions, led by people with a passion for sport and a desire to help people with Dementia and their Family Carers remain engaged in their communities.
The ASI encourages people of all ages, including those living with Dementia, to attend and reminisce about some of the county’s greatest sporting moments. Almost 2,500 people are living with Dementia in Donegal.
Key stakeholders in this project include Donegal GAA Health & Wellbeing Committee Donegal County Council, The HSE CHO1, Donegal Sports Partnership, Slainte Care Donegal, members of the Donegal Dementia Stream, Community Health Nurses, and the extended ASI service team in Donegal.
National Community Engagement Manager at the ASI, Cathryn O’Leary, said: “Sport plays a big part in the lives of so many people. Whether a person played a sport in their youth or later life, was a member of a local club, or watched and listened to matches and games, sport creates a sense of identity and a set of memories that can last a lifetime,
“We encourage as many as possible, especially those living with Dementia and their families, to come along and enjoy this opportunity to relive the great GAA moments from the past, to meet former stars and to enjoy being part of the GAA community once again,”
Sporting Memories brings people together to reminisce about their lives through the medium of sport, using images, video, and other tools to spark memories and encourage social engagement”.
Special guests include Brian McEniff, Anthony Molloy and Declan Bonner, who were all part of the historic All-Ireland win back in 1992.
Emer Gallagher, of the Donegal GAA Ladies Team and a well-known TG4 GAA Analysts/ Pundit has also kindly agreed to attend.
Some other great GAA players from yesteryear will be in attendance to show their support and reminisce about great GAA sporting days.
There will be displays of match programmes, photographs, jerseys, and other memorabilia to help trigger memories of GAA events and matches of yesteryear.
Chairperson of the Donegal GAA Health & Wellbeing Committee, Cora Harvey, said, “On behalf of the Donegal GAA Health & Wellbeing Committee we are delighted to partner with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland in hosting Sporting Memories. From the word go, the committee embraced this concept and values those in our communities who are ageing, and or living with Dementia.
Sporting Memories is a unique event whereby we endeavour to trigger memories for those who were involved in Gaelic games in any capacity. We hope that by leading the initial event as a county event that clubs in Donegal will host their own sporting memories within their own communities using our template.
It is important that we remember and, more important, that we help those who cannot remember. I encourage you to come along and think about a neighbour or friend that you could bring along and might benefit from this event,” said Ms Harvey.
The ASI Staff will provide information about support and services available to people living with Dementia, their Carers and family.
By using sporting cues, it is possible to stimulate memory, improve communication and social skills among members and create a sense of belonging within a local community. Sporting Memories groups tend to focus on the age group for whom sport was a major form of recreation and social activity.
Please contact Charlie McGinley, (087-1887932) charlie.mcginley@alzheimer.ie, Cathryn O’Leary (085-8566478) cathryn.oleary@alzheimer.ie), Kevin Mills (087-2170806) kevinmillsj@gmail.com or Cora Harvey at chair.hwc.donegal@gaa.ie for more information.
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