This thesis contains a detailed study of the current gerontological theories and literature. This data are re-examined from an anthropological point of view. The object of this exercise is to increase the validity of the findings by the addition of the ‘cultural element’ , something which has been missing from the majority of works published on the subject of ‘The Elderly’ . Due to the success enjoyed by studying the field of the elderly using this cultural gerontological approach (See Chapter 4), this document serves not only to introduce but also to advocate this entry point to a subdiscipline that has rapidly gained importance over the last couple of decades. This document also examines Irish ethnography in the light of current theories advocated by the field of cultural gerontology. The first chapter examines the prevailing methods of assessing ‘age’ and the manner in which ‘ age’ is socially and culturally constructed. It deals with the various ‘ types’ of age, such as ‘biological age’ , ‘psychological age’ and so on. The conclusion is reached that since one’s ‘age’ is assessed using social and cultural frames of reference, then the category of ‘ cultural age’ should be taken into account in further studies of gerontological nature. The second chapter provides general information on the elderly in Ireland, under the headings of demography, finances and health to provide a background which is used to aid definition of ‘the elderly’ . A discussion of retirement is also provided here. Chapter Three examines the prevailing attitudes of Western culture and Irish society towards the elderly, and subsequently, the attitudes that these engender in the elderly themselves. General misconceptions about the elderly are also discussed in this section. Chapter Four contains the findings of fieldwork carried out in the Royal British Legion Club.Chapter Five talks about the elderly and the family. The last chapter is devoted to a discussion of current theories about aging. Role Theory is postulated as an alternative to these.