The 100-Year Life: What 20 Years of TILDA Tells Us About Our Future Selves

On Monday, 8 June 2026, hundreds of guests gathered at Trinity Business School to celebrate twenty years of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at a special public event exploring how longer lives are reshaping our society.

Researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, students, TILDA participants and members of the public came together to reflect on two decades of research and to explore what the future may hold for ageing populations in Ireland and around the world.

The event featured Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Professor Sarah Harper CBE, Professor Alan Barrett and Professor Cathal McCrory, with the panel discussion moderated by science broadcaster Jonathan McCrea.

Twenty Years of TILDA

Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Founding Principal Investigator of TILDA and Regius Professor of Physic at Trinity College Dublin, reflected on the remarkable journey of the study since its establishment in 2006.

Drawing on twenty years of research and the participation of thousands of people across Ireland, Professor Kenny highlighted how TILDA has transformed understanding of healthy ageing, social connection, wellbeing, work, retirement, cognition and longevity.

She also explored how evidence generated through TILDA has informed policy and practice nationally and internationally and continues to shape conversations about ageing and the future of healthcare.

Keynote Lecture

Preparing Together: Rethinking Ageing in the Modern World

Professor Sarah Harper CBE, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford, delivered the event's keynote lecture.

Professor Harper explored how individuals, communities and institutions can adapt to a world in which longer lives are becoming the norm. Drawing on decades of international research, she examined the implications of population ageing for healthcare, education, housing, transport, employment and intergenerational relationships.

Her keynote challenged audiences to think differently about longevity and how society can ensure that longer lives are accompanied by health, purpose and fulfilment.

A Conversation on Ageing

The event concluded with a panel discussion chaired by Jonathan McCrea.

• Regius Professor Rose Anne Kenny
• Professor Sarah Harper
• Professor Alan Barrett
• Professor Cathal McCrory

Together, the panel explored healthy ageing, social and economic inequality, population change, social connection, quality of life and the opportunities and challenges presented by longer lives.

Key Insights from 20 Years of TILDA

• Positive perceptions of ageing are associated with better health outcomes.
• Social participation supports physical and mental wellbeing.
• Volunteering contributes positively to quality of life.
• Education is associated with improved outcomes in later life.
• Access to blue spaces and outdoor environments benefits mental wellbeing.
• Informal carers make a significant contribution to Irish society.
• Social connection remains critical throughout life.
• Healthy ageing is influenced by social, economic and environmental factors.

TILDA at 20 Anniversary Booklet

Explore two decades of TILDA research, discoveries, impact and the people who have helped shape our understanding of ageing in Ireland.

Download PDF Version

Media Coverage

Ahead of the event, Regius Professor Rose Anne Kenny spoke with the Sunday Independent about some of the key findings from twenty years of TILDA research and what they tell us about ageing well in Ireland.

The feature explored how social connection, volunteering, education, physical activity and positive perceptions of ageing can contribute to healthier and more fulfilling lives as we grow older. It also highlighted the significant contribution TILDA has made to informing policy and improving understanding of ageing in Ireland.

Read the full article:

What 20 Years of Research Can Teach Us About Ageing Well in Ireland – Sunday Independent