About Third Age

Third Age is a national voluntary organisation celebrating the third age in life when people may no longer be in paid employment, but can remain healthy, fulfilled and continue to contribute to society. The longer that people are encouraged to remain in this life stage, the better for older people themselves, their families, communities and society as a whole.

Third Age, through a variety of local and national programmes, demonstrates the value of older people remaining engaged and contributing in their own community for as long as possible.

Third Age recognises and celebrates the fact that older people are a diverse group with different needs, abilities, backgrounds and experiences. Third Age responds dynamically continually developing new responses as new needs emerge.

Programmes and services are designed so that members have a real say in their development, thus instilling a sense of ownership, responsibility and mutual support.

Given that older people are often marginalised, a policy and philosophy of social inclusion underpins all programmes. This extends to older people living in long-stay residential care, Travellers, non-Irish nationals and through the generations.

Third Age plays a role in the championing of older people locally, nationally and internationally in an interconnecting range of initiatives, including the challenge of negative perceptions and the representation of older people at policy-making fora.

The patron of Third Age is President Michael D. Higgins