Dublin's Lord Mayor, Senator Joe Doyle, announced yesterday he has postponed his retirement until he reaches 68 years. For his plan to succeed, however, the voters have to return him to the City Council at the next local elections on June 11th.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the next stage of the Dark Horse Venture, an award scheme aimed at encouraging people aged over 55 to develop their talents and abilities.
Fear of having nothing to do is at the heart of Senator Doyle's decision, the veteran Fine Gael politician explained. "When I thought of retiring, one problem that I had to grapple with was what would I do with my free time? "I had been very actively involved in politics and I felt that to cut myself away totally from it would be a mistake, and so I am glad I have taken this decision."
The Dark Horse Venture originated in Liverpool in 1988 and was launched here by the Dublin Healthy Cities Project in 1993.
The scheme is not confined to Dublin, however. Groups in Cork, Meath and Kildare also participate, as do individuals in different parts of the country.
Projects entered for the scheme include walks, charitable activities and educational programmes.
People or groups taking part in the scheme are asked to take up an activity and keep at it for one year.
Yesterday's ceremony was timed to coincide with World Health Day (designated by the World Health Organisation), which had the theme "Active ageing makes the difference."
There is now only a 50 per cent chance that men and women will work until they are 65, Senator Doyle said.
"Only 50 per cent of women are economically active after 60 years of age. It is quite possible that for people who reach the age of 55, another 30 years lie ahead. It is a period in which they have to grow again, and many people in that age group can offer assistance to older people in a community." And in what may be a further insight into the future Mr Doyle has planned out for himself, he added: "In China and many other countries politicians are only coming into their own at 60 years of age and they continue, in China, until into their 70s and 80s."
The Dark Horse Venture can be contacted at Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, tel. 01-8722278.