New network aims to seek out Irish pensioners in Britain

A NEW nationwide network is reaching out to ill and isolated Irish pensioners in Britain.

Called the Irish Pensioners of Great Britain, it brings together many existing Irish pensioners’ groups.

The network was launched yesterday by Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Coughlan at the Irish Centre in London’s Camden Town.”

“We in Ireland are in your (Irish pensioners) debt because all of you contributed so much to the Irish economy when times were hard,” Ms Coughlan said.

She said this year the State had allocated €870,000 for services for the elderly in Britain and that funding for emigrant advice and information had been increased substantially from €127,000 to €427,000 this year.

Sally Mulready, development co-ordinator for Irish pensioners in London and a Labour councillor in east London, said that while there were a lot of established Irish pensioners’ organisations throughout Britain they were mainly attached to major Irish communities.

“We hope the network will identify Irish pensioners scattered throughout Britain in little pockets who are totally isolated and out of touch,” she said.

Over the last five years there had been a growing demand for a network so that isolated Irish pensioners could communicate with each other, she said.

Ms Mulready said she would love to see Irish pensioners in Britain and the United States winning recognition for their contribution to the Irish economy, particularly when times were tough in the 1930s and right through to the 1960s.