31/05/2026
Active Retirement Ireland are delighted to announce that we have been awarded €7,500 under the Department of Foreign Affairs' Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) 2026 programme.
This marks ARI's third consecutive year participating in the initiative and creating opportunities for older people to engage with European issues and have their voices heard.
On Friday, representatives from Active Retirement Ireland attended the official launch of the 2026 Communicating Europe Initiative. The announcement was made by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD and Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne TD at Citywise Education in Tallaght, a youth education organisation reflecting the community-centred spirit of the initiative.
As part of the event, attendees were shown a short film highlighting Active Retirement Ireland's 2025 CEI project, featuring ARI National President Mai Quaid, Newbridge ARA Chairperson Brian Newman and ARI Head of Policy & Advocacy Alison Bough reflecting on the importance of ensuring older people's voices are included in discussions about Europe's future.
The CEI supports projects that deepen public awareness of the European Union and encourage participation in discussions about Europe's future. Our 2026 project will continue to amplify the voices of older people and promote meaningful engagement with EU issues ahead of Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Active Retirement Ireland would like to thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their continued support and look forward to building on the success of our previous CEI projects.
Pictured at the launch with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD are ARI National President Mai Quaid, Newbridge ARA Chairperson Brian Newman, ARI Head of Policy & Advocacy Alison Bough and ARI National Board Member John Horan.
The government press release is here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-foreign-affairs/press-releases/communicating-europe-initiative-grants-announced-ahead-of-irish-eu-presidency/
Watch the CEI Video featuring ARI here: https://youtu.be/-r1tJOnRuoY
The Communicating Europe Initiative provides funding to voluntary o...
