The GAA is encouraging clubs and members across Ireland to "share the warmth of friendship" this Christmas by supporting Irish charity ALONE's campaign to help older people struggling with loneliness and the increasing cost of living.
The "Share Your Warmth" campaign aims to motivate people to donate to ALONE so that the charity can support older people struggling with growing levels of loneliness in Ireland.
A recent report published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has found that Ireland is the loneliest country in Europe, while ALONE has provided 30,000 individual supports to older people in Ireland in 2023, with loneliness ranking as its number one issue.
The GAA pointed to the many clubs across Ireland who made a big effort to support lonely and vulnerable people in the community, singling out the work of Scotstown in County Monaghan.
The GAA said the club has done "tremendous" work in the local community over the last seven years through its award-winning "Make Your Céilí" initiative, which encourages members to alleviate rural isolation by visiting a neighbor who may be suffering from loneliness.
The initiative is run by a Céilí Committee, which engages local primary and secondary schools to encourage cross-generation participation.
"It brought the community closer together in that people were talking about it and getting involved in it and seeing how great a thing it was to do," Scotstown Healthy Club Officer Bernie Sherry told the GAA website.
"I think through GAA clubs is the best way to do initiatives like this because they're at the heart of their communities. I know our community got a great feel-good factor from it and continues to do so.
"Even if each person make one visit the difference that can make in a community is huge because it gives everyone a sense that we're all watching out for one another.
"The Céilí has now just become part of our community. I got a nice message recently from a younger person in the club who recently brought her children on a visit. They made the effort to visit someone for an evening and they had a great time playing cards."
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