Fergus Finlay: Let's give Ireland's older generation the respect that they have earned

I'm one of the lucky ones. But look around at the resilient people who helped make Ireland a better and more progressive place, and you'll see many who are not faring so well

Progress has happened because the older generation — the ones whose votes really mattered to them — expressed intergenerational solidarity by weighing in behind the needs of younger people. Stock image

I’M here to tell you. Old age isn’t for wimps. Not that I’m admitting to old age, but I can’t deny that I’m getting older. 71 for Pete’s sake! And, they tell me, crankier.

Now, as you’re reading this (and I hope you are) I’ll be opening my favourite birthday present. I have children and grandchildren and close relations who are fond of me — or put up with me — and I can always look forward to lots of kindness and good wishes on my birthday, which is today. But there is one gift above all that I look forward to with keen anticipation.