There's no need to slow down in later life. As the Bealtaine festival shows, there's still plenty to do, reports Olivia Kelleher
'Winding down" isn't in Gerry Smyth's vocabulary. Now proudly 97-and-a-half years old, he won a gold medal at the World Senior Games in the US last year. The former teacher is just back from a trip to Nice and is already planning a pilgrimage to Lourdes. All the while he keeps up the power walking that brought him so much success at the games, in Utah, last autumn.
Smyth, of Summerhill in Co Meath, has a busy schedule, what with attending his son's retirement party, filling out new passport forms and organising weekends away in Spain. The nonagenarian claims that too many of his contemporaries become "fossilised" when they reach retirement age. A keen member of Summerhill Active Retirement Group, Smyth believes in "dancing and singing" until you drop from exhaustion. "Anywhere there is sun, sea and sangria I am there. You need something to look forward to. I'd love to get back to Las Vegas, so I could be a one-armed bandit on the slot machines. You can even gamble in the churches there."
The father of eight is a regular sight in Trim, where he power walks round town. He has just received the brochure for this year's World Senior Games and is hoping that a corporate sponsor will pay for him to return to Utah.
Smyth has fond memories of his first trip abroad, at the age of 23, when it took three days to reach Nice by land. His "travel bug", he says, is what keeps him youthful. "I really do have a case of itchy feet. I love going away. Spain is a real favourite. I'd go anywhere with a bit of a push. You have to keep going in life. If you go in to a corner, then you will be left there to gather dust."
Mary Nally, a former nurse who set up Summerhill Active Retirement Group in 1988, says older people are generally ignored or patronised by younger members of society. Until she founded the group it was a case of "bingo or nothing" for the town's pensioners. Now the 90 members of the group go to classes in art, drama and computing. They also travel abroad regularly and take part in intergenerational projects at local primary schools.
Nally, who took early retirement because of poor health, says her life has been enriched and broadened since she set up the group. She is delighted when she sees members visiting schools to teach young children arts and crafts.
Local pensioners also gave a series of talks to young people in which they explained what Ireland was like when they were young. Nally says older people are becoming increasingly computer literate. The retirement group has set up a website, and members are au fait with the technology involved in using webcams and digital cameras.
"Being older isn't a disease. You still have a lot to contribute to society. I would urge older people to get out there and explore their options before life passes them by. We had an 88-year-old woman in this morning, manning our senior helpline. One member, Mick Loftus, jogs three miles five times a week."
Mamo McDonald, of Clones, in Co Monaghan, refuses to let her age get in the way of an active life. The mother of 11, who is president of Age & Opportunity, went to university for the first time at 70. She commuted from Clones to University College Dublin every week, recently completing her master's degree in women's studies.
McDonald claims Ireland isn't as far ahead as the US when it comes to challenging stereotypes of the aged. She has three remaining ambitions: to build a house, make a garden and write a book.
"People of my generation married young and had large families. There wasn't much time for hobbies when you had 11 children.
"Women of my age had their ambition quelled for so long. It wasn't ladylike to achieve. This is my opportunity to do what I want in life. Older people don't have to be dependent. Don't smother them with overprotectiveness."
Bealtaine 2004
The annual Bealtaine festival is taking place this month throughout the country. The nine-year-old event, which celebrates creativity in older age, has an ethos of empowerment.
The actor and raconteur Peter Ustinov, who died in March, once spoke of keeping the "windows open" as you age. Bealtaine is about exploring new avenues as you continue the journey of life.
The most prestigious part of the festival, the annual visit of an older international poet, is well served this year by Fleur Adcock, whose poetry has been much admired and anthologised. She is taking part in readings, discussions and workshops in Dublin and across the country.
You can get a full programme of this year's events, which continue until the end of the month, by calling Age & Opportunity at 01-8057709 or visiting www.olderinireland.ie.
