At the launch of the Silver Surfer Awards by Age Action and DCU with George Hook were Noeline Brennan from Lucan, Adrienne Swan from Malahide and Marie O’Gorman from Walkinstown. Photo: Marc O’Sullivan
NOMINATIONS have opened for this year’s Silver Surfers Awards as Age Action searches for people over the age of 50 who are getting online and mastering new technologies. This year’s awards were launched by Newstalk’s George Hook at an event in DCU accompanied by past winner Marie O’Gorman and new learners Adrienne Swan and Noeleen Brennan.
Although as many as 70 per cent of older people don’t use the internet, our Silver Surfers have overcome the challenge of learning something new and are now expert googlers, skypers and tweeters. nWhether it’s keeping in touch with grandchildren overseas, paying bills, starting your own blog or researching your passion, Age Action wants to highlight the achievements of the over 50s in Ireland.
One of last year’s winners, 86-year-old Paddy Crean, said: “I was amazed by all the different contributions to technology from different Silver Surfers, from finding crochet patterns online to writing stories for grandchildren to setting up online book clubs.”
Eamon Timmins, CEO of Age Action, said: “Last year we had more nominations than ever before and we hope to top this in 2015. “The Silver Surfer awards are a great way to show an older relative or friend your appreciation and we’re urging everyone in Donegal who knows a great silver surfer to nominate them. We hope they will inspire other older people to take the plunge and to get online.”
All nominees will be invited to the Awards Ceremony in October, organised by our partners for this year’s Silver Surfers, the DCU Age Friendly Project. Christine O’Kelly, Age Friendly Project Coordinator with DCU, said: “As Ireland’s Age Friendly University, DCU is delighted to support the Silver Surfer Awards which are a fine example of how it is possible to create learning opportunities for people across the generations.”
Nominations can be made online at www.ageaction.ie/silversurfer or by phoning Anne Marie Walsh on 01 475 6989. Closing date for nominations is Sunday 4 October 2015. The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 20 October at The Helix Theatre, DCU.
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