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TILDA at the European Premiere of Just Another Day

A Celebration of Ageing, Connection, and the Power of Storytelling

On Thursday, 6th March 2025, Trinity College Dublin hosted the European premiere of Just Another Day, a poignant play written by Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years) and starring Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed). The performance, held at the Samuel Beckett Theatre, explored themes of memory, ageing, and human connection, offering a deeply moving yet uplifting portrayal of later life.
Representing The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at the event was Regius Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Principal Investigator, who joined attendees from across the Trinity community and beyond to celebrate this remarkable production.

Pictured: Prof. Rose Anne Kenny and Dan Lauria

Pictured: Just Another Day Programme Cover

A Generous Gift to Support Ageing Research

Beyond the stage, this event was particularly significant for TILDA. The producers and actors of Just Another Day, in collaboration with the MASIE Learning Foundation and Broadway/Ireland Connection, made a generous donation towards the establishment of a TILDA award for research on ageism and attitudes towards ageing. The funding will support an upcoming Connecting Generations Award, an initiative that will:

Encourage student-led research and creative projects on ageism, intergenerational connection, and flourishing in later life
Showcase winning projects at the Connecting Generations Event at Trinity College Dublin later this year
Foster meaningful engagement between research, the arts, and public policy

The Power of Theatre in Shaping Conversations on Ageing

The impact of Just Another Day extends beyond the stage. The play reflects the growing public discourse on ageing, an area in which TILDA has been a leader for over 20 years. By capturing the complexity of memory, relationships, and identity in later life, the production aligns with TILDA’s mission: to improve our understanding of ageing and influence policy to make Ireland the best place in the world to grow old.

Looking Ahead: The Connecting Generations Award

TILDA will shortly announce details of the Connecting Generations Award, which will be open to undergraduate and postgraduate students across all disciplines at Trinity College Dublin. The award will support research, creative storytelling, and engagement projects that explore:

The impact of ageism on health, well-being, and social participation
Age discrimination in workplaces, healthcare, and media
The power of intergenerational relationships
Creative ways to challenge stereotypes about ageing

Winning entries will be showcased at a public event at TILDA, Trinity College Dublin, bringing together researchers, policymakers, students, and members of the wider community to continue these important conversations.

A heartfelt thank-you to the sponsors:

Dan Lauria and Patty McCormack, for bringing Just Another Day to Ireland and for their commitment to fostering conversations on ageing
Elliott and Cathy Maisie of The MASIE Learning Foundation and Broadway/Ireland Connection, for their generous support of ageing research at TILDA
The Trinity College Dublin community, for engaging in these discussions and supporting our work to shape the future of ageing research and policy