*Mike Hanrahan, Clare Age Friendly Ambassador (front left), and Karen Fennessy, Clare Age Friendly Programme Manager, Clare County Council, with Age Friendly Charter recipients at an event in Hotel Woodstock.
Fourteen Ennis businesses have been acknowledged as part of the Age Friendly Town initiative.
Hotel Woodstock, County Boutique, the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis Leisure Centre, Lucas’ Bar, Nozomi, Sweet n Green, the Temple Gate Hotel, Treacy’s West County, de Valera public library, Bank of Ireland and the three O’Connor’s Bakery stores in the town received a framed Age Friendly Charter which they will display at their premises to signal the value of the custom they receive from their older clients.
An initiative by Age Friendly Ireland, it is part of the national Business Recognition Programme. Older people account for up to 50 percent of consumer spending.
All of the Ennis businesses involved received special online training earlier this year by Orlaith Carmody, Age Friendly Ireland Business Consultant, to help them develop their actions. Clare Age Friendly Ambassador, Mike Hanrahan (Stockton’s Wing), congratulated the businesses on the actions they have implemented for their older customers.
Clare Age Friendly Programme Manager, Clare County Council, Karen Fennessy commented, “the businesses in Ennis have really embraced this initiative by developing low cost/no cost actions to deliver great customer service to older people. They understand that the growing demographic of older people in Ireland delivers a lucrative market that is increasing all the time”.
CEO of Ennis Chamber, Margaret O’Brien felt the businesses acknowledged were “at the forefront of delivering an improved customer service experience to older people in Ennis. For the first time this year we have included an ‘Age Friendly’ category in our Chamber Awards, held last week”.
