WCD services and information event, Bloomfield House Hotel
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Una Darcy, Development and Compliance officer, Local Link Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon; and Brigid Geoghegan, Sláintecare Healthy Communities.Image 2 of 12
Tony McCormack, Bernie Leavy and Peter Ormond from Westmeath Community Development.Image 3 of 12
Garda Fiona Walsh (Mullingar Community Policing Unit) with Joe Bingham from Killucan Men’s Shed.Image 4 of 12
Christine Glennon, Kinnegad Active Retirement, Robert Troy, TD, and Marie Palmer, Rochfortbridge Social Services.Image 5 of 12
Barry Regan, Irish Wheelchair Association, and Ciara Gill, Mullingar Regional Hospital Outreach Team.Image 6 of 12
Patsy Jordan, Ballynacargy, Marian McGlynn, Coole, Trish Ryding, Collinstown, and Phil McCormack, Castlepollard.Image 7 of 12
Mary Mooney and Una Reilly, Westmeath Centre for Independent Living.Image 8 of 12
Kathleen Farrell and Orla Ryan took to the floor at the WCD event in Bloomfield House Hotel.Image 9 of 12
Members of the Keegan and O'Toole families from Ballymahon presented a cheque for €1000 to Donal Murphy from The Alzheimer Society Of Ireland.Image 10 of 12
Christine Joyce and Caroline Nevin from the Westmeath Traveller Project.Image 11 of 12
Geraldine Loughrey, Carmel Kerrigan and Veronica Larkin from North Westmeath Hospice with Tracey Noone from the National Meals on Wheels Network.Image 12 of 12
Angela Frost and Vincent Dornan from Mullingar Homecare Services.Almost 40 providers and more than 300 people attended the 19th Westmeath Community Development (WCD) services and information event on Monday May 22 last at Bloomfield House Hotel.
The morning started with the Midlands Radio 3 outside broadcast of their morning show, which continued till noon, and included interviews with WCD CEO Frank Murtagh, and Donal Murphy from the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
TFI provided the transport to allow many older people from all round the county to attend the event.
Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, cathaoirleach, Westmeath County Council, formally opened proceedings, and Brendan Campbell, chairperson, Disability working Group, welcomed everyone.
The speakers included Mark Ahern, chairperson, Independent People with Disabilities (IPWD), on the work of that group; Annette Barr Jordan from the county council on the Age Friendly strategy in Westmeath; and Ann Moran on Healthy Homes.
Carmel Cummins spoke on behalf of a colleague who is living with cancer who was too unwell to speak. Alice McDonnell gave a talk about the work of the IWA and Donal Murphy discussed the work going on in Westmeath and the need for the Friends of Alzheimer’s groups in Athlone and Mullingar.
The final speaker was Linda-Jo Quinn of WCD, who told the story of when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and then presented a cheque representing the donations from her 60th birthday to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
Mr Murtagh closed the event and thanked Linda-Jo and her team, and after that Noel O’Farrell provided light entertainment while guests and service providers mingled.
Ms Quinn thanked Dermot in IPWD “for all the admin help he gave the team” and Cathy Moran, Department of Social Protection, for sending out the information about the event to clients.
She also expressed her gratitude to all the service providers attended with their stands and to everyone who visited.
The event was funded by the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme, IPWD and a small grant from Westmeath County Council.