For Connection

Community 5 min read

04 Mar 2026

The Friday Afternoon Club, held in Mulranny, is an important gathering point for residentsparticularly older members of the community who might otherwise spend long stretches of time alone. Each week the club provides a warm space where people can meet, chat, share tea and refreshments, and simply enjoy each other’s company. While the atmosphere is relaxed and informal, the impact is incredible.

Social isolation is an increasing challenge in many rural areas. With families spread across the country or abroad and limited local services, it can be easy for people, especially older residents, to feel disconnected. The Friday Afternoon Club offers a simple but powerful remedy: a place where everyone is welcome and no one has to feel alone.

Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxW56SSQO30
 

Westport Credit Union stepped in to help financially support the club’s activities. The funding will assist with refreshments, supplies, and the practical costs that come with running a regular community gathering. For the volunteers who organise the club, every euro helps ensure the doors can remain open and the kettle can stay on. For the people who attend, it means another opportunity to laugh, talk, feel part of something and take loneliness.
 

In small communities, the most meaningful change often begins with modest gestures. That’s exactly the case in Mulranny, where a small but thoughtful contribution from Westport Credit Union is helping a local social group continue its work tackling isolation and strengthening community connections.