Former Deputy General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Michael Ryan, has warned against growing public narratives that blame vulnerable people for wider social problems, saying Ireland must continue to respond with compassion, dignity and community action.
Speaking in Galway at an event marking 60 years of COPE Galway, Dr Ryan said societies risk losing sight of their values when those on the margins are portrayed as the cause of social challenges.
“We are in a cruel phase of public discourse where people on the margins of society are too easily blamed for wider problems,” he said. “Ireland must not fall into that trap.”
Dr Ryan delivered the keynote address at the anniversary event at the Mick Lally Theatre in Galway. The event reflected on six decades of community action supporting people experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse and social isolation across Galway.
The global health leader said organisations rooted in communities often play a critical role in responding to hardship.
“Behind every statistic is a person – someone who found warmth on a cold night, someone who discovered safety after fear, or an older neighbour who realised they were not forgotten,” he said.
“And behind each of those moments is this organisation, the community that supports it and the agencies who fund it.”
Drawing on his experience responding to epidemics, disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide, Dr Ryan said community-based organisations are often the most effective responders.
“The organisations rooted in communities are often the most resilient, adaptable and innovative,” he said. “They recognise that people and communities experiencing trauma need safety, solidarity and dignity – not pity.”
However, he warned that community organisations must be properly supported and resourced. “Delivering services through community organisations can be hugely impactful,” he said.
“But it should never be seen as the cheaper option. Governments remain accountable for ensuring the resources are there to meet growing needs.”
The event also marked the launch of 60 Years in Galway, a new publication charting COPE Galway’s development from a volunteer-led Meals on Wheels initiative in 1965 to a modern social service organisation supporting more than 3,000 people each year.
Opening the event, COPE Galway CEO Michael Smyth reflected on the organisation’s roots in community action.
“COPE Galway was born from this community and shaped by it. For sixty years, people across Galway have stepped forward to ensure that dignity, safety and care are not abstract ideals but realities in people’s lives.”
Assistant CEO Martin O’Connor outlined the organisation’s history and the changing social context in which it has worked.
“From modest beginnings to a modern organisation driven by skilled staff, dedicated volunteers and a community that refuses to look away, COPE Galway has grown with the times,” he said.
Guests also heard from a panel of service leaders who spoke about the realities facing people today and the innovative programmes being developed to support children experiencing homelessness, promote healthy relationships among young people and help older people remain connected in their communities.
Reflecting on the organisation’s 60-year journey, Dr Ryan said the work of community organisations remains vital.
“For sixty years COPE Galway has shown what can happen when people come together with purpose and kindness,” he said. “The work is not finished, but the past six decades show that real change is possible.”
