News & Events 2012/2013
Dr Gemma Carney presents at the What-IF International Conference in Brussels, 24th April, 2013
Dr Gemma Carney presented Findings from New Research on Intergenerational Relations in Ireland at the What-IF International Conference. The conference was hosted and chaired by Kartika Tamara LIOTARD, European Parliament Rapporteur on the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and co-hosted by Maria da Graça CARVALHO, European Parliament Rapporteur of Horizon 2020.
Click here to download the poster presentation
Media Coverage on the launch of the Changing Generations report
Pictured Professor Thomas Scharf, Irish Centre for Social Geronotology, NUI Galway, Professor Virpi Timonen, Director of the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Róisín Ingle, Journalist for The Irish Times, Dr. Catherine Conlon, Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Dr. Gemma Carney, Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway.
Pictured Dr PJ White, Design Care, IT Carlow
and Mamo McDonald, Hon President of Age and Opportunity.
The Changing Generations study, carried out by Trinity College's Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC) and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology in NUI Galway, was launched in report form on Wednesday, April 17th, 2013.
The research, which involved interviews with 100 men and women aged between 18 and 102 living in Ireland as well as interviews with 20 leaders from the public, private and civil society sectors, found that family networks and a strong bond between young and old are keeping many Irish people afloat during the recession.
An advance media notice and photo call invite was issued in advance of the event and a press release was released on the morning of the launch.
Media coverage from the launch of the Changing Generations report:
Broadcast Coverage:
RTE Radio 1, Today With Pat Kenny, Wednesday, April 17, 2013
News clip on UTV Radio syndicated to Dublin's FM104, Dublin's Q102, Cork's 96fm/ C103, Limerick's
Live 95fm, LMFM, U105, Beat 102103 and Galway Bay FM
Online Coverage:
The Irish Gerontological Society Website
Print Coverage:
Irish Independent, 'Retirees keep their adult children afloat', 18-Apr-2013
Irish Times, 'Strong bonds between young and old help families to withstand recession',
18-Apr-2013
Daily Mail, 'Families staying afloat with help of grandparents', 18-Apr-2013
Daily Mail, 'Older and Wiser', 18-Apr-2013
26 April 2013
Intergenerational Bond Keeping Families Afloat During the Recession - New Report Finds
Pictured Professor Thomas Scharf, Irish Centre for Social Geronotology, NUI Galway, Professor Virpi Timonen, Director of the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Róisín Ingle, Journalist for The Irish Times, Dr. Catherine Conlon, Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Dr. Gemma Carney, Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway.
Family networks and a strong bond between young and old are keeping many Irish people afloat during the recession, according to new research on intergenerational relations launched Wednesday, April 17th, 2013.
The Changing Generations study, carried out by Trinity College's Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC) and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology in NUI Galway, involved interviews with 100 men and women aged between 18 and 102 living in Ireland as well as interviews with 20 leaders from the public, private and civil society sectors.
The research sheds light on how people of all ages are coping at a time of great challenges for the Irish economy and society. In particular, the research focused on relationships between different generations in Ireland against the backdrop of economic recession and demographic change.
The research found that people in Ireland practise and value intergenerational solidarity in every aspect of their lives. The report demonstrates how family members are providing high levels of support to one another through periods of unemployment, emigration and financial difficulty. In many instances older generations are providing extensive financial, housing and childcare supports to younger generations.
Strong views of solidarity between the generations were expressed by all age groups who participated in the research. The general view among younger participants in the research was that older people's welfare entitlements are deserved and must not be cut. Older people who expressed desire for improved age-related benefits also tended to call for improved supports for some younger age groups.
Socio-economic inequality, rather than differences between the generations, was identified by researchers as the most significant division in Irish society. In households where economic resources are most scarce, young people opt to close down options, such as further education, travel or job seeking, that are taken for granted by their peers in middle and higher socio-economic groups.
Speaking at the launch of the report in Dublin, Professor Virpi Timonen, Director of the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre in Trinity College Dublin, said: "Our research points to strong solidarity between generations in Ireland. This is an abiding strength of Irish society. Solidarity between family generations is perhaps the most important reason why Ireland is managing to maintain a reasonable degree of social cohesion under massive economic pressure."
Professor Thomas Scharf, Irish Centre for Social Geronotology, NUI Galway, added: "Our research shows the strong bonds between young and old in Ireland. These bonds are not only helping people to cope with the current recession. They also provide a solid foundation for the future welfare state, which will increasingly depend on the give and take between the generations."
Changing Generations was launched by Irish Times journalist and author Róisín Ingle. The launch was followed by a panel discussion entitled 'Challenges and Opportunities for Intergenerational Solidarity in Ireland' featuring Patricia Conboy, Director, Older and Bolder; John Lonergan, author and former Governor of Mountjoy Prison; Karen Kiernan, Director, One Family; and John Logue, President, Union of Students in Ireland.
For media queries please contact Fiona Tyrrell, Press Officer for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Trinity College Dublin at tyrrellf@tcd.ie or tel: + 353 1 8964337
Click here to download the report
19 April 2013
Findings from New Research on Intergenerational Relations in Ireland
This report presents key findings from the Changing Generations study - a collaborative research project undertaken between 2011 and 2013 by the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC), TrinityCollege Dublin, and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology(ICSG), NUI Galway.
Click here to download the report
16 April 2013
Launch of new research on Intergenerational Solidarity in Ireland
The Social Policy & Ageing Research Centre (SPARC), School of Social Work & Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin and The Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG), NUI Galway invite you to a launch of findings from their collaborative project Changing Generations - Towards a new national dialogue on intergenerational solidarity and justice in Ireland by Róisín Ingle, Irish Times columnist and writer.
Date: April 17th 2013 Time: 1.00 (Lunch served) - 4.00pm Venue: City Wall Space, Woodquay Venue, Dublin City Council Civic Offices, Dublin 8. Event is free but places are limited so please RSVP by April 10th to: Catherine Conlon, by email: conlonce@tcd.ie or telephone: 01-896 3363
Click here for more information
12 April 2013
Presentation by Catherine Conlon to Cross-Border Group on Friday 11 January at Cleenish Centre Bellanaleck Co Fermanagh
An invited paper drawing on Changing Generations was presented at an event to mark Nollaig na mBan entitled 'Women Through the Ages' organised by Monaghan and Fermanagh Rural Enablers. See here
Please follow this link to download presentationPresentation by Prof Timonen at the Closing conference of European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 Croke Park, Dublin
This conference celebrated the achievements and main highlights of the Year in Ireland and provided a forum for identifying how the Year can help to keep active ageing and solidarity between generations on the agenda of all stakeholders with an interest in building an age-friendly society in Ireland. The conference encouraged dialogue on issues of policy and research on active ageing and solidarity between generations.
Please follow this link to download presentationProf Thomas Scharf presents at CARDI EY2012 event
The Centre for Ageing Research and Development (CARDI) hosted a half-day meeting to reflect on the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012. The event attracted participants from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Prof Thomas Scharf was invited to outline some of the key challenges that lie ahead once the European Year has ended.
Please follow this link to download presentationGerontological Society of America 65th Annual Scientific Meeting
On the 15th November, the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology presented at the Gerontological Society of America 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, in San Diego, California.
Please follow this link to download presentationPresentation at the launch of Cavan County Council Social Inclusion Week 2012
On 22nd of October, Dr. Catherine Conlon presented at the launch of Cavan County Council Social Inclusion Week.
Please follow this link to download presentationProf Virpi Timonen Presents at the Finnish Social Policy Association's Annual Conference
Prof Virpi Timonen delivered the keynote address at the Finnish Social Policy Association's annual conference, 25-26 October 2012. The Finnish Social Policy Association is the oldest social policy organisation in the world, established in 1908. The conference attracted an audience of 300 this year. The Conference theme was 'Gender and generations in contemporary social policy' and the meeting was hosted by the University of Jyvaskyla in Central Finland. Prof Timonen's keynote was entitled Intergenerational solidarity and justice: public and private constructions of fairness between generations and it can be accessed here
The Generation Game
Irish Times article discusses 'Changing Generations'.
Professor Timonen Presents to the European Social Policy Network
On the 6th - 8th of September, Professor Virpi Timonen presented to the European Social Policy Network on Re-conceptualising intergenerational solidarity and justice through the Grounded Theory approach.
Please follow this link to download presentationDr. Conlon Presents to the British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Conference
On the 5th - 7th of September, Dr. Catherine Conlon presented to the British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Conference on Exploring 'Obligation', 'Expectations' and 'Care' among family generations using Constructivist Grounded Theory.
Please follow this link to download presentationDr Gemma Carney presents to the British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference
In July Dr Gemma Carney presented a paper 'Towards a grounded theory of intergenerational solidarity in Ireland: critical reflections on methods and methodology', to the British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference, July 11-13 2012.
Please follow this link to download presentationCommunity Event To Mark 2012 As International Year For Active Ageing And Intergenerational Solidarity
Date: Tuesday, 24th April 2012
Time: 12 noon to 4pm
Location: Aula Maxima, National University of Ireland, Galway
Pictured above are attendees at the event on 24th April, including the Changing Generations Project Team, Professor Nollaig Mac Congail, Registrar of NUI Galway (who opened the event) and Vicki Titterington of the Beth Johnson Foundation.
Please follow this link for summary of event
Please follow this link for a report on event
Press Reports
Irish Times
Sunday Business Post - Actual Report - Text of Report
Workshop on Coding and Categorizing in Grounded Theory Research by Prof. Kathy Charmaz
Date: Wednesday, 28th March 2012
Time: 10am to 12 noon
Location: Room 1.10, Trinity College School of Nursing and Midwifery, 'The Gas Building', 24 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 (please follow link for map)
Prof Kathy Charmaz is one of the world's leading theorists and exponents of grounded theory and author of seminal textbooks and articles on the method. To Charmaz, grounded theory must move on from its positivist origins and incorporate many of the methods and questions posed by constructivists over the past twenty years to become a more nuanced and reflexive practice. The 'Changing Generations' research team from the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC), School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin and Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG), Lifecourse Institute, NUI Galway are honoured to have Prof Charmaz chair the project's Scientific Advisory Group. Prof Charmaz will visit the project in March 2012 and while here will offer a two-hour workshop on 'Coding and Categorizing in Grounded Theory Research'.
View presentation handout
Stakeholder's Briefing Seminar on Changing Generations Project
Date: Oct 18th 2011
Time: 2.30-4.30pm
Location: Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin
As we begin this project on Intergenerational Solidarity in Ireland, we invite all organisations with an interest in ageing, youth, family and social justice to a seminar setting out the focus and approach of the research. This project is intended to stimulate an informed discussion on solidarity and justice between generations among interest groups, policy makers and the wider society. Stakeholders will have a key role to play in this. The seminar is intended to begin this conversation.
View Presentation Slides
View report from meeting