About the Dementia Awareness Evening
A local working group, with the support of the HSE and Breffni Family Resource Centre, is organizing a Dementia Awareness Evening in Carrick-on-Shannon. The event is designed to help the town become more inclusive for people living with dementia and their families. It will take place on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Landmark Hotel, and entry is free for everyone who wishes to participate.
Why this matters
Across Ireland, more than 64,000 people are living with dementia, and this number is rising. The majority of people with dementia live in the community, supported by families, friends, and local services. While Leitrim already offers a number of inclusive organisations and services, there is significant potential to strengthen this support and make everyday life easier for those affected. This evening aims to translate awareness into practical actions that help neighbours, customers, colleagues, clubs, and community groups include people with dementia in meaningful ways.
What to expect on the night
The evening will be facilitated by a community member of the Working Group and will feature guest speakers who will discuss the importance of dementia-inclusive communities and brain health. Speakers include:
- Dr. Catherine Dolan, Psychiatry of Old Age, Memory Assessment & Support Service, Sligo/Leitrim
- Teresa Keegan, Dementia Advisor for Sligo/Leitrim with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland
- Sharon Richardson, Project Manager for the Implementation of the Dementia Strategy, HSE
The evening will also include an interview with Laura Dunlop, a person living with dementia, presented by Sharon Richardson. The aim is to share lived experience alongside professional insight to emphasise practical steps everyone can take to foster a more dementia-inclusive community.
A personal perspective
Maria Farry, a community member of the Working Group, explains the local impact: “My family is one of many families living in Carrick-on-Shannon who have been impacted by Dementia. We as a community can do a lot to ensure our services and businesses are inclusive for those living with dementia, this alone can have a significant positive impact on the individual and their families.”
Practical steps for an inclusive community
The evening will highlight tangible actions individuals and organisations can take to support people with dementia. These include:
- Providing clear, simple communication and staff training on dementia-friendly interactions
- Ensuring venues are easy to navigate, with good lighting, comfortable spaces, and quiet areas
- Creating flexible services and events that consider memory challenges and routine changes
- Offering memory-friendly programming in community groups, clubs, and local businesses
- Raising awareness among customers and neighbours to reduce stigma and encourage inclusion
How to participate
The Dementia Awareness Evening is free and open to everyone—individuals, businesses, services, community groups, and clubs. No RSVP is required. Just come along to the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon on October 1, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. The event is a collaborative effort among the local Working Group, Breffni Family Resource Centre, and the HSE, all dedicated to building a more inclusive town where people with dementia can remain connected to their communities as independently as possible.
What happens next
Beyond the evening, the partners promise ongoing momentum to implement practical changes across services and public spaces. The aim is for Carrick-on-Shannon to be a community where dementia is understood, treated with dignity, and addressed with practical, everyday actions that support people living with dementia and their families.
