A NEW Irish News campaign aimed at encouraging people to be more neighbourly and call in on older people in their communities begins today.
The newspaper has joined local charitable organisations and businesses to encourage people to pick up The Irish News for elderly neighbours as part of the Neighbourhood News initiative.
The initiative, which will run until Sunday, March 3, is inviting shoppers to collect a complimentary `neighbour copy' of the Irish News each day from their local SPAR to share with an elderly neighbour in a bid to forge better connections between generations.
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GREAT-GRANDMOTHER Muriel Megarry (89) lives alone but attends an Age NI day centre four days a week, which means "everything" to her.
Muriel says the companionship she has found from other service users and staff at Anna House in Dunmurry has made a huge difference to her quality of life.
Originally from Cork but now living in Kingsway Fold for the past 17 years, Muriel has been attending the day centre for nine of those.
"I would be mainly on my own if I didn't come here," she said. "I have a son Leslie who lives in Moira but he and his wife look after their grandchildren three days a week. He comes down on a Monday and does my shopping and anything else I need.
"I also have a daughter Lynda who lives in Nottingham and she comes over as often as she can, about three times a year."
Before Muriel began attending Anna House, she and husband David led a busy life and were out and about all the time.
However, David died 10 years ago after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, and Muriel missed him dreadfully, which was one of the reasons she began attending the day centre.
Muriel also experienced another tragedy almost two years ago when her son Gerry, who lived in Dunmurry and used to take her out regularly, died.
A secretary and typist for all of her working life - except for a break of 10 years to bring up her three children - Muriel has been widowed twice.
She met her first husband Ronnie Stewart in Belfast and the couple lived there until Ronnie got a job in Craigavon, after which the family moved to Lurgan.
Sadly, Ronnie, who was 13 years older than Muriel, died suddenly aged 62, leaving her to bring up their children on her own.
Three years later, Muriel found love again and married David. They moved back to his home city of Belfast and Muriel has many fond memories of summer holidays spent together at their caravan in Ballyhalbert.
Muriel attends Anna House from 10.30am -3pm and gets dinner every day which means she just needs a cup of tea and a sandwich in the evening.
The centre organises a range of activities including quizzes and games and Muriel is particularly enjoying the recently introduced armchair aerobics and boccia (indoor bowls for people with disabilities).
"I have made some good friends here," she said. "When you come in, you have someone to talk to and you get a laugh. You go home feeling so much better and it gives you a boost until the next day.
"I have my own wee circle of friends here and we all love it."
When Muriel is not at Anna House, her main source of company is the TV and she loves quiz shows in particular.
With free TV licences for over-75s in danger of being axed as part of cost-cutting, Muriel believes the BBC should continue to provide it as a free service.
She said: "When I go home, TV is my company. I paid a TV licence all my adult life, so surely these last few years I should be entitled to it."
