Retiree banks on online music

A retired banker who became tech-savvy to indulge his love of music is the country’s top silver surfer.

David Lowen, 61, from Greystones, Co Wicklow, has build up an extensive music collection on his computer and regularly streams music.

Mr Lowen said retirement four years ago meant he could fully embrace the digital world. Up to then he only used computers to look at markets.

But the music aficionado, who is a big fan of the Beach Boys, has long since thrown off his computer training wheels. He has learned to shop, bank, and book holidays online and uses Google Translate to talk to a relative living in Peru.

“What I like best about new technology is that you can use it to satisfy your curiosity about anything,” he said.

His daughter, Susan O’Keeffe, who nominated him for the Google Silver Surfer Awards with Age Action, said her father had become very comfortable with technology.

“I am supposed to be the digitally engaged person in the family but I just find myself getting advice from him all the time,” she said.

“When his grandchildren visit he’s able to show them cartoons and funny video clips using his iPad and they have great fun.”

The Hobbies on the Net Award went to Seamus Harkin, 76, a retired farmer and undertaker and a sought after fiddle repair man from Creeslough, Co Donegal.

Mr Harkin, who left school 14, is known locally as the “singing undertaker” and has written seven books on his computer and has used the internet to publish songs and buy old fiddles.

The Golden IT Award went to Michael Gorman, 86, from Sandymount, Dublin, who worked as a theatre director, a magazine editor, and a tourism executive with Bord Fáilte over 40 years. He uses computers and the internet to pursue his various interests and communicate with friends around the world. He has two iPads and will not go anywhere without them.

The New to IT Award went to Austin McPartlin, 56, from Navan, Co Meath, who left school at age 14 to become a fitter.

He learned how to use computers in 2007 while recovering from major heart surgery. He used his skills to produce a 64,000-word biography, Parts of my Life 1957, which he presented to his five children.

Winner of the It Tutor of the Year Award is former school principal Ann Egan from Dundalk, Co Louth, who has opened up the world of computers to almost 200 older people in Co Louth over five years.

Ms Egan, who is in her 70s, manages and co-ordinates computer classes for older people on a voluntary basis says she truly believes education is a lifelong experience.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte said older people were setting a fine example by showing how they benefited from embracing opportunities online.