Posted In Events | 17th September 2025
Wisdom of the Herd: Dublin Zoo and Age Action Launch Positive Ageing Week 2025
Dublin Zoo and Age Action are proud to partner for Positive Ageing Week 2025, launching on Friday, 26th September, with a celebration that honours the resilience, experience, and invaluable role of older generations in society. To mark Positive Ageing Week 2025, Dublin Zoo is inviting all guests aged 65 and over to enjoy free entry to Dublin Zoo from 26th September to 3rd of October 2025*.
The theme for this year, Wisdom of the Herd: Connecting Generations, draws inspiration from elephants, whose herds are guided by their matriarchs, relying on their knowledge, memory, and leadership. Similarly, communities and families around the country flourish when the experiences and wisdom of older people are recognised and celebrated.
Pictured are Patricia Pickett, Dublin Zoo Volunteer and John Hayes, Age Action Volunteer, at the launch of Dublin Zoo and Age Action’s partnership for Positive Ageing Week 2025.
Volunteers: The Heart of Dublin Zoo and Age Action
At Dublin Zoo, a team of over 100 volunteers, many of whom are part of the older generations, selflessly dedicating their time to visitors’ experiences by sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for conservation, biodiversity and nature. Age Action also relies on the invaluable support of over 800 volunteers to provide vital programs and services, such as Getting Started Digital Literacy classes and the Care and Repair service which offers small household repairs free of charge to ensure older people can remain safely in their homes.
Moments of reflection at the Elephant Family Matters Trail
During Positive Ageing Week, Dublin Zoo invites visitors of all ages to take part in the guided volunteer tours, and enjoy the Elephant Family Matters Trail, along the Kaziranga Forest Trail. The trail celebrates blended stories about elephant herd life with reflections on human connections and intergenerational wisdom.
Christoph Schwitzer, Director of Dublin Zoo, said:
“At Dublin Zoo, we see every day how powerful shared experiences can be. Families come here to explore, to learn, and to create memories that last a lifetime. Our volunteers, many of whom are older or retired, play an extraordinary role in making these moments possible. They generously share their knowledge, passion, and time with our visitors, embodying the spirit of Positive Ageing Week and this year’s theme of connecting generations. Partnering with Age Action gives us the chance to celebrate not just our visitors but also our volunteers, whose wisdom and dedication enrich the Zoo community. Just as elephant herds rely on the leadership of their matriarchs, our own communities thrive when we value the guidance, resilience, and contributions of older generations.”
Patrick Connolly, CEO of Age Action, said:
“Positive Ageing Week is a chance to highlight not only the resilience and adaptability of older people, but also the pivotal role they play in passing on knowledge and values across generations. Older people are the memory-keepers of families and communities, and their experience guides and strengthens us all. Partnering with Dublin Zoo for this campaign is especially meaningful because the Zoo is a place where people of all ages come together, often across three or four generations, to enjoy time as a family. By connecting the wisdom of elephants, who rely on the leadership of their matriarchs, with the wisdom of older people, we are reminding everyone that age is not a barrier to contribution, but rather a source of strength and inspiration.”
*One free adult per booking when a full-priced single child or adult ticket is purchased at the gate only. Offer applicable on single tickets only, not valid when purchased online or with other promotions or with bundle and concession tickets. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid from September 26th – October 3rd, 2025.
