The first age friendly and climate friendly village has been launched in Co Kildare and has been described as a "forward thinking initiative".
Ballymore Eustace was chosen as the first setting for this project as the village has a higher proportion of older residents than many other parts of the country.
It was launched by Tánaiste Simon Harris in a picturesque setting on the upgraded river walk in the village.
"It is a great celebration of community", he told the residents who had gathered with others for the launch.
The objective of this community project is to support older people to partake more in village life and enjoy outdoor shared spaces.
"When you think about those two concepts, how do you make your community more age friendly, how do you make it more climate friendly?
"They both align so beautifully because everything you do to make it easier to move around, to be more sustainable in the community, anything you do to invest in river walks is good for climate but also good for people as they get a little older," he said.
Minister Harris said he met the oldest resident in Ballymore Eustace who is aged 95 and among many people who have been "active" in this project.
Kildare County Council worked with the local community to find out the main barriers to safe walking and then worked to deliver practical improvements.
This included upgrades to the river walk and new accessible fishing stands. The concept is likely to become a template for other villages to follow a similar path. The work was supported through a range of funding, including community grants and Local Property Tax.
"This is a model that can inspire towns and villages the length and breadth of the country to become more age friendly, more climate friendly and ultimately better places to live, work, visit and raise a family," Minister Harris said.
Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Kildare County Council, said it is about making practical everyday changes that help people live well such as safer walking routes, places to rest and accessible public spaces and services.
"Bringing complimentary age friendly and climate friendly objectives together reinforces the importance of both and shows that communities can be age friendly whilst adapting and responding to climate change," she said.
The support garden in the village is an integral part of this project with themes of strength, trust, and care.
The low maintenance garden includes a salmon centerpiece reflecting the local river and biodiversity with a large willow arch at the entrance.
Four trees represent the seasons and the journey through life with the first tree planted today by John Farrelly, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission.
Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer of Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service said the launch marks an important step in building communities that are welcoming to all generations, and that it creates a village that values " inclusivity and sustainability".
