Pictured at the event in Clara Library were: Eileen Hughes, Age Friendly regional programme manager; Gerry Bruton, Offaly Age Friendly programme manager; Honor Ridgeway, executive librarian; Patricia Cunningham, Offaly Libraries Age Friendly coordinator; Jacqueline McIntyre, senior executive librarian; Ann Dillon, council director of services, and council chief executive Anna Marie Delaney.

Age-friendly recognition for Clara library staff

Published: Sat 2 Aug 2025, 2:50 PM

Staff at Clara Library have been honored for their efforts to make it an age-friendly service.

The library staff were chosen for an Age Friendly Ireland Judge’s Special Recognition Award, and received a special presentation from Offaly County Council chief executive at an event held in the library recently.

Ireland’s National Public Libraries were honoured with the Judge’s Special Recognition Award at the National Age Friendly Recognition & Achievement Awards last November, acknowledging the exceptional dedication of library staff nationwide.

The judges highlighted how library teams go above and beyond to create welcoming, accessible, and relevant services tailored to the diverse and evolving needs of older people.

Offaly’s Chief Executive, Anna Marie Delaney, accepted the award on behalf of the National Library Service, in her role as Chair of the City & County Management Association (CCMA). The CCMA agreed that the trophy would be circulated to each of the libraries in the National Network of Age Friendly public libraries, in turn.

The award will take pride of place in Clara Library for a period and before being passed to the County Library Service in Longford.

"I am delighted to present this award to Clara Library in recognition of the library’s status as Offaly's First Age Friendly Library," Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney said.

Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer Age Friendly Ireland, also attended the event. She thanked all the library staff in Clara for their service to the older person’s community in Clara. Age Friendly Libraries have gone through a thorough process to ensure that all aspects of their facilities and services are right for older people.

Offaly libraries play a vital role in facilitating the roll-out of many initiatives recognised by Age Friendly Ireland, with the addition of the Magic Table across six of the county's libraries promoting physical activity and engagement for people with dementia and cognitive disabilities.