‘Work is key to my sense of purpose and daily routine’ – the pros and cons of working past retirement

‘Work is key to my sense of purpose and daily routine’ – the pros and cons of working past retirement

More Irish people are working past the age of 65, but is it out of choice or necessity?

More than 131,000 Irish people aged 65 or over remain in work. Photo: Getty

Roisin Lavelle never imagined herself retiring. "It was an alien concept to me, and probably to most women," says the 73-year-old Achill Islander, whose working life has included DJ gigs in Dublin nightclubs, running a pub, appliance repair, and nearly four decades operating a family B&B.

Now she delivers bus-driver training and manages admin for her husband's seasonal bike-hire business. And she is not alone. Over 131,000 Irish people aged 65+ remain in work, up 26pc since 2021, a surge that raises urgent questions: are the