TV's Brendan Courtney Helps Launch Wicklow Town Memory Café For People With Dementia

A new initiative aims to provide vital emotional support for people with dementia and their carers

A community group has launched a Memory café in Wicklow Town as a vital emotional support for people with dementia, their carers and families.

Organisers say the café, which is being supported by Codling Wind Park, will take place once a month in The Pastoral Centre as a free, safe and welcoming space for people affected by the condition.

The new café was launched by presenter, broadcaster and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion facilitator Brendan Courtney.

The Wicklow resident, knows first hand the challenges faced by sufferers and families, as his mother was diagnosed with the condition in late 2023 before she passed away a year later.

Jane Sheeran Purcell, who is chair of the local voluntary committee says they want to create a space where people living with dementia, family members and carers, healthcare professionals and members of the community can chat and support one another in a relaxed social setting.

“We really want to reduce isolation for people with dementia and carers and one of the best ways to do that is to encourage open discussion about the challenges people affected by this condition face and by building supportive relationships. As well as increasing social interaction and enjoyment, cognitive stimulation through activities for people with dementia leads to improved mood and reduced stress.”

“So we are delighted to launch the Wicklow Town Memory Cafe and are very grateful to all our sponsors, including Codling Wind Park, East Coast Credit Union, Staffords bakeries, Wicklow community care and Wicklow town Supervalu. We hope that the Cafe will prove to be a welcoming, informative and happy space for those living with dementia and their carers to come to on a monthly basis.”

 “The focus here is very much going to be on conversation, support and social connection in a relaxed atmosphere rather than medical treatment. As well as the chats we’re planning on having some guest speakers and activities such as music, games and storytelling.”

Codling Wind Park Project Director, Scott Sutherland said the project was delighted to support this excellent community led initiative.

 “Dementia is a major and growing public health issue in Ireland and people with the condition and their carers really need support. It’s also important to increase awareness of dementia in the community and to build strong local support networks. Research shows cafés like this one can improve well-being, confidence and social connection over time and we’re very happy to support the local community in Wicklow Town in this way and wish everyone involved the very best with it.”

The concept for Memory cafés comes from the Alzheimer Café model which was developed in the Netherlands in the 1970’s by Dutch psychologist Bére Miesen.

He saw the need to address a lack of social and emotional supports for people with dementia. The idea took off internationally and is widely used in Ireland and is the latest ‘Memory café’ to be the third established in Wicklow.

About 64,000 people are currently living with dementia in Ireland and this is expected to more than double in the next 20 years or so.

The Wicklow Town Memory Café will take place on the last Friday of very month in the The Pastoral Centre (A67FX65) between 2 and 4pm.