Ballinrobe came to a standstill on Friday last when dozens of senior citizens took to the streets and danced their way down the roadway in perfect formation.
The flashmob was drawing attention to the launch at the Ballinrobe TACU centre of the local befriending service, all part of Befriending Mayo week.
Beverley Flynn TD launched the initiative and paid tribute to the TACU centre and to the volunteers who have been specially trained to provide a friendly voice to those who are lonely, isolated, or on their own.
“To feel alone and isolated is a more debilitating condition than physical illness, and it undermines the sense of worth and wellbeing of the person affected.
“While it is true that we have done much good work in the provision of day care centres and other day services for the elderly, there are many who long for the sound of a friendly voice or for a listening ear, someone to break the loneliness of a long day in isolation without human contact of any kind,” said Dep Flynn.
She added that modern living makes no allowances for the old values of neighbourliness and daily contact.
She paid tribute to TACU and to the Health Promotion Unit of the HSE on the new service.
The South Mayo County Befriending Service will cater for the Ballinrobe and Headford areas, and is in addition to the similar services which have been launched in Castlebar, Claremorris, Westport, Crossmolina, Knockmore, Ballina, Kiltane, and Lacken.
