THE SEARCH is on to find Ireland's best grandparent. The Friends of the Elderly Group has already located our fittest grandparent (73-year-old marathon runner Paddy Craddock) and our oldest women's mini-marathon participant (83-year-old Maureen Armstrong).
Now it is asking people to nominate Ireland's greatest grandparent. Nominations close on September 21st and the result will be announced on September 28th when Ireland's second Grandparents' Day will be held.
Friends of the Elderly spokesman Dermot Kirwan said he did not know what to expect from the nominations. "I suppose we are looking for the most moving tribute. We want to know why they love their grandparents so much," he said.
He said events like this were important because Friends of the Elderly was often contacted by older people who received no visits from their relatives even though they lived nearby.
This was one of the reasons for adopting Grandparents' Day from the UK last year, he said. Friends of the Elderly has called on all community leaders to encourage their local councils to sponsor a Grandparents' Day event. "There should be a Grandparents' Day activity in every town and village in Ireland," Mr Kirwan said.
Grandparents' Day activities in Dublin include a 5km family fun run in Phoenix Park, a St Stephen's Green Sunday Stroll and a family quiz.
Friends of the Elderly is also looking for 2008's fittest grandparent and is asking sports organisations to contact it with details of their oldest active members.
See www.friendsoftheelderly.ie for details of the events.
