Active Retirement Ireland News Letter 2011

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Active Retirement Ireland NewsWinter 2010/2011

Welcome to ARI NewsIn these uncertain times regarding our

economy and the threat of a damaging budgetit was very heartening to witness the positiveattitude that exists in the members of ourorganisation whom I had the privilege ofmeeting at the Council meetings we held forthe first time in our eight regions.

The first two years of our strategic plan have flown by and I ampleased to report that we are on schedule; in fact we are slightly aheadon some aspects of it.

The sustainability of our organisation is under threat by theuncertainty of the continuation of grant aid from government which hasalways been uncertain.This year alone our funding fromgovernment has been cut by 20%.

Our grant aid agreement with government is on a three year cycle.The current agreement ends in December 2010; to date we can get noconfirmation from government that they will enter into a new agreementwith us from January 2011.

From that you can see that we are very vulnerably exposed to thewhim of government and I feel that this situation must be addressed byour general membership.Serious consideration must be given to findingmore secure ways of funding our organisation.

We hope to continue our good relationship with Atlantic Philanthropyand to that end we will be submitting our strategic plan for grant aid fora further 30 months in September 2011.

All is not doom and gloom within the organisation. A very high level of

activity is happening and has been happening throughout the year, newARAs have been set up, in fact we now have 509 ARAs and there areenquiries in from a number of potential ARAs.

We held a successful National Bowls competition for the first time thisyear and plans are being made to hold another one in 2011.

Regional activity has been at a high level and ARAs have beenavailing of the various training programmes which have been runthrough the year.

Don't forget to mark the date and venue of the 2011 AGM in yourdiaries.The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, 12-14 April.

As this is the last newsletter of 2010 may I wish each and everymember of Active Retirement Ireland every blessing that the holyseason of Christmas can bestow on you.

Keep active, keep well, stay positive.

Tom O MahonyPresident

Whats inside?

Regional Council Meetings

Promoting Your ARA

ARA Activity Around the Country

Have your Say

This newsletter is an opportunity to

have your say.

Send us your items of news, views or

photographs and we will try to include

them in the next edition.

Email us at [email protected]

PROMOTING YOUR ARAActive Retirement Ireland has recentlyfinished the first round of a new set oftraining workshops called PromotingYour ARA.The workshops were based

around promoting Active RetirementAssociations activities to local press andmedia sources.Participants in Limerick,Ennis, Waterford, Nenagh, Dublin andMallow practised their skills at makingposters, writing press releases and eventook part in a mock radio interview.

Everyone involved also shared theirown experiences and ideas of workingwith the media and each venue hadcompletely different ideas to bring to theworkshops.

The second round of Promoting Your

ARA will take place in early 2011. Formore information email [email protected] Promoting Your ARA in the subjectline or call 01-8733836


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2 Active Retirement Ireland News Winter 2010

Hard at work at a press release - Promoting Your ARA in Waterford Posters Promoting Your ARA

ACTIVE RETIREMENT IRELAND HOLDS

REGIONAL GENERAL COUNCIL MEETINGSIn 2010 at the Active Retirement Ireland AGM it was proposed that instead of having one General Council meeting inOctober that 8 regional General Council meeting would be held. This change would facilitate greater membership

attendance and participation resulting in improved communications within the organisation.With support from the Atlantic Philanthropies grant for building the capacity of ARI, 8 regional General Council meetings wereplanned in conjunction with each regional committee. The format for each meeting was the same with each regional Chairchairing the meetings. These meetings were planned and delivered in October and November 2010.

Each Active Retirement Association (ARA) was invited to send three representatives as a means of ensuring effectivefeedback of information to each ARA.

Each meeting was opened by the regional chair, and followed with an address by the President Tom OMahony.

Information was then provided on Structure of ARI Strategic Plan and Outcomes Financial income to ARI Progress of work to-date

Following the presentation the participants were asked to consider if all the actions named were actually achieving the statedoutcomes of the strategic plan. To ensure a lively and interactive response participants were seated at round tables ofbetween 8-10 people, (in the case of one region participants were split into small groups). The purpose of this format was toenable all participants to have a say and obtain direction on future actions from the members.

Each group was asked to discuss the following questions:1. How are these actions benefiting you at ARA level, at regional level, at national level?2. What do you think needs to happen at each level to complete the work on the Strategic Aims?3. Could any of the work happen without a national network?

90 minutes were set aside for discussion and each group was asked to appoint a note taker. The written feedback was

collected on each question and this was then followed by open forum. Over 750 participants from ARAs all over the countryparticipated. The feedback is to form the body of a report on the meetings which will be issued to each ARA as well asinforming work-plans for the organisation for 2011.


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Winter 2010Active Retirement Ireland News 3

REGIONAL GENERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS

Tullamore RGC

Limerick RGC

KillarrneyRGC

Dublin RGC

Claremorris RGC


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ARA activity around the country

BALLYBANE ARE SNAP HAPPY

Ballybane Active Retirement Association in Co. Galway have had avery active 2010. Highlights include their memorable entry to theBealtaine Festival. They invited seven Active Retirement Associationsfrom their surrounds to take part in a scrapbook competition, whichwas judged by Michael Crowe, Mayor of Galway. The standard wasexceptionally high, as befits such a vibrant festival.

The group also visited Cork during the summer, taking in Youghal,Kinsale, Cbh, Fota, Blarney and the Southern Capital itself.Everyone in the ARA had a great and exciting break, especially as theinitially misty weather improved as the trip wore on.

They received a grant from the HSE this year and have put it to verypractical use they have been taking digital photography lessonsfrom tutor Lorraine McManus. Everyone has benefitted immensely and now all are proficient in zooming, deleting and loadingphotos onto computers. A photographic exhibition of the best efforts of Ballybane ARA was then displayed in the local library.

Everyone in Ballybane ARA is keeping active and having fun, and they hope you are too. For more information on this ARA,visit their superb website www.bara.ie

Members of Ballybane ARA at their photography class

All the way back in January, Haddington Road Keep Fit Clubreceived an invitation to visit Abbeyleix and experience thehospitality of Patricia Ward and her establishment Caf Odhrn.Patricia and the staff of Caf Odhrn intend to put Abbeyleix onthe map as a day trip destination for tourists and she told thegroup their feedback as seasoned travellers would be appreciated.In all, 33 members of the club took off on a sunny day to Co. Laoisfor a full day of activities.

On arrival, the travelling party received a wonderful cad milefilteat Caf Odhrn and Patricia and her staff served tea, coffee,

hot buttered scones and delicious fruit pancakes. They had been incontact with Caf Odhrn in advance and Patricia had organisedan itinerary for them. Owner and tour guide Walter Phelan took theKeep Fit Club through the Fly Fishing Museum and regaled themwith tales of fishing, shooting and more from the last 200 years.

They then visited the Heritage House to learn of thehistory of Abbeyleix, including the carpet factory thatoutfitted the ill-fated Titanic. Local genealogist Jane Lyonsgave a talk on family trees and Genealogy, somethingwhich seems to be very popular among visitors to thetown. Town Planner Stanley Fyffe gave a short talk on thehistory of Fyffes of Market Square, a local establishment,and then it was time for a sumptuous meal of cottage piesin the caf.

After dessert and tea and coffee, it was time to return to

Haddington Road, but the group were in agreement there is so much to explore in Abbeyleix that they willhave to experience Patricia Wards hospitality again.

HADDINGTON ROAD KEEP FIT CLUB RECEIVE THE WARMEST OF WELCOMES

MALAHIDE

Malahide Active Retirement have had an excitingyear since reaffiliating to ARI. Their activities havebeen educational, social, cultural and much more.They have visited the Chester Beatty Library in

Dublin, Banbridge in County Down and at the timeof printing are busy organising their ChristmasLunch in the Ciao Restaurant in Malahide. Their finalouting before Christmas will be a trip to the GrandCanal Theatre to see Scrooge.

They are looking forward to an even busier 2011! Members of Haddington Road Keep Fit Club enjoy Abbeyleix


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ARI Members Honouredin Mayo AwardsMayos over 65s were honoured in Ballyhaunis last October atthe inaugural Mayo Golden Years Awards. Prizes werepresented in eight categories in the awards scheme which wasorganised by Homecare Medical Supplies and Mid West Radioand one Active Retirement Association and one individualmember were among the winners.

The group award was won by Charlestown ActiveRetirement Association. The group beat off strong competitionfrom Living Scenes, an intergenerational project betweentransition year students and the older generation.

Kathleen Ryan of Charlestown ARA said the group weredelighted and ecstatic to beat off such stiff competition.

A Judges Special Award was presented to Ann Bourke from

Ballyheane, Castlebar for her contribution to community lifethrough Ballyheane 55 Club and Castlebar Active Retirement.

John Grant, Chairman of the Judging Panel congratulated allthose who were nominated for the Mayo Golden Years awards.

On behalf of my fellow judges Catherine Wiley and Dr.Bernadette OLeary, I would like to pay tribute to everyone whowas nominated for an award. These awards celebrate yourcontribution to all aspects of life in Mayo and your dedicationand zest for life is an inspiration to all of us, said Mr. Grant.

Over 150 people attended the awards ceremony and lunchin Homecare Medical Supplies in Ballyhaunis. Master ofCeremonies for the occasion was Tommy Marren from Mid

West Radio with entertainment provided from Patrick Feeney,Brendan McGuinness and local musicians.All nominees and finalists received a personalised certificate

as a memento of the occasion and the winners received aspecially commissioned individual framed citation honouringtheir achievement.

Ann Bourke Receives Her Mayos Golden Years Award

Members of Charlestown ARA with representatives of LivingScenes at the Golden Years Awards Ceremony

MOUNTBELLEW GO TO THE GARDEN OF IRELANDBy Br. Clement Brady

This summer, 37 members of Mountbellew & District ARA headed to

Wicklow to enjoy a midweek break. The first stop was Tyrrellspass Castle,where everybody enjoyed tea, coffee and homemade scones. Thejourney continued and the group arrived at Glendalough for lunch at 2pm.

A guided tour of the Glendalough Monastic Site was arranged and wittyand well-informed guide ensured that it was enjoyed by all. Check in atthe Glenview Hotel in the Glen of the Downs was followed by a mostappetising dinner. Afterwards some members relaxed in the comfortablehotel surroundings, while others opted to walk the promenade at Bray.

Following breakfast on day two, the group headed for Avondale House,birthplace of Charles Stewart Parnell, the Uncrowned King of Ireland.There we enjoyed a most informative tour of the house, led by anexcellent guide. Powerscourt House and Estate was the next port of calland there members were free to relax and enjoy the many shops and to take in the sunshine.

After enjoying a morning in the Glenviews beautiful gardens, day three began in earnest with a tour of Russborough House.After lunch there, the members enjoyed a tour of the house and then for home with one last stop. The Newbridge Silverware Shopand the Whitewater Shopping Centre provided further retail therapy before departure at 7.30pm and a safe arrival back toMountbellew at Ten oclock that night.

The break was most enjoyable and relaxing and we were blessed with excellent weather. Our driver was careful, courteous andkind, and he contributed in no small way to making our trip enjoyable and memorable.

Mai Booth, Siobhan Keane, Mary Hyland, Mary Potter andBert Booth of Mountbellew ARA in Wicklow


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Mens Sheds at Moynalty ARA and the Third Age FoundationMeath Partnership in collaboration with the Third Age Foundation has established the Mens Sheds in Moynalty andSummerhill. The project is also supported by Age and Opportunity and Pobal.

The Mens Shed provides a space for older men to come together and participate in activities of their liking.The launch of this initiative took place in Summerhill on Monday 11th November with Mchel Muircheartaigh acting askeynote speaker. Pat Cussen, Development Officer with Active Retirement Irelands North Eastern Region, and member ofMoynalty ARA presented Mchel with a portrait of himself to mark both the occasion and his much feted retirement.

Newcastle, Galway City Active Retirement had a lovelyholiday in West Cork during the first week in June 2010.Based in the Quality Hotel in Clonakilty we visitedKinsale, Cobh, Gougane Barra and several other scenicand interesting places. Good weather added very muchto our enjoyment of the trip.

Earlier in the year in April we had a boat trip on LoughCorrib commencing in Cong and visiting InchagoillIsland, it was a splendid day and we were blessed withbeautiful weather.

RATHCOOLE ARAENJOY BUSY 2010By Brna U Loing

The Active Retirement Association servingRathcoole, Saggart, Brittas and Newcastle hasbeen in existence for 4 years and the associationhas gone from strength to strength since itsinception. For those of you who dont know about

us, I will endeavour to give you a short explanationof what we are about. We have about 100 membersand we meet every second Wednesday in theCommunity Hall, Rathcoole. We owe a great debt ofgratitude to the Community Council for allowing us to meet there. Our meetings are held from September to June.

At our meetings we have a variety of activities including art classes, bowling and line dancing. We also have lots of differentboard games available. Some people just come along to meet their friends and chat. We try and have a talk every month andthese can vary from safety first to gardening. Sometimes we also have members Phyllis and Geraldine doing exercises withus to warm us up.

We have an excellent social secretary, who organises all our outings and theatre visits.This year we had our wonderful trip to Scotland and also a great day in Punchestown at the races. We also went to the

Concert Hall to hear a tribute to Mario Lanza. Our social secretary tries to arrange an outing every month for us. She is awonderful social organizer

Some of our members were involved in a clothes show on TV3 and they had a real fun day trying on the different clothes.The members also got involved in the very successful St.Patricks Day Parade.

I would like to say a big go raibh maith agaibhto the Community Council, to our wonderful committee and to all ourmembers, for being the great group they are. Mle buochas.

GOOD WEATHER FAVOURS NEWCASTLE HOLIDAYS

By Ita OMeara

Newcastle, Galway City ARA in West Cork

Members of Rathcoole ARA enjoy dinner in the Lake District


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TUBBERCURRYTELL IT LIKE IT WAS

Tubbercurry and Districts ARA rejoiced at the launching ofThe Way That It Was, a book of memories andphotographs from the 1920-1960s. It was compiled bymembers and gives written authentic accounts of their ownlived experience. The book has gone on sale and they arenow in the process of having a second edition printed.

Tubbercurry join a long list of ARAs who have publishedbooks, including Ballindine/Irishtown and Castlebar in

Mayo and Sligo Town in Tubbercurrys own county of Sligo.The groups November Outing was to The Museum ofCountry Life, Turlough, Castlebar, for a special illustratedtalk on the Cross of Cong, which is Connaughts greatesttreasure, crafted in Roscommon in the 12 th century and is

now on loan to the Museum. They also enjoyed an Evening ofReadings, which was organised by The Leyney Writers. Usualexercise programmes continue twice weekly and the Book Clubproceeds with Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.

Rays of Sunshine in the South East!The Golden Years festival held in the Tower hotel on the 15 th to 17th

November brought sunshine and laughter to Waterford. Organised by the

Sacred Heart ARA from Waterford City the festival was once again ahuge success. Over 300 ARA members enjoyed a range of activitiessuch as horse racing, indoor bowls, talent show, art exhibition and anaccompanied sing along.

The talent show was won by Bill McErney from Bray ARA with 2nd and3rd prizes going to Eileen Nugent, Kilkenny ARA, and Dan McSweeney,St Josephs ARA Cork.

The Bowls competition was won by Tullow ARA Carlow with ProbusWaterford and Gorey ARA coming 2nd and 3rd.

The 1st prize in the art competition went to Nancy Mahony Bray ARAwith Elizabeth Barry taking home both 2nd and 3rd prizes to Kilkenny ARA.

Photos of the Golden Years festival can be viewed on www.activeirl.ie


Southern Region Activity BreakBy Margaret McCarthy

Mallow Active Retirement had a wonderful break at the GleneagleHotel, Killarney for the annual activity break from 17th - 22nd October.Eleven of us travelled from Mallow to join our fellow Active Retirementmembers from all across the region and beyond. The break wasbrilliantly organised with activities going on at all times. We had bowls,exercises classes, dance classes (where we learned to dance theSlush and other steps), cards, swimming and relaxing in the spa as

well as optional tours around Kerry. We went on the ring of Kerry,Dingle and Slea head and visited Muckross house. We also had tripsto town on the hotel bus. We had a hairdresser and beautician onhand which some people availed of prior to the Gala Ball on the lastnight. Fabulous meals were served every evening and the staff could not have been more attentive. There was music in theballroom every night so we could dance or watch the brilliant dancers as we were joined by a group of dancing people of similarage. Some of us went to see Fame in the INEC and it was a wonderful show and a great opportunity to see it. We made newfriends and feel renewed. We cannot wait until next years activity break! For those who travelled by train the hotel bus kindlycollected and returned us to station at no extra cost. Hats off to the Gleneagle and to the Committee of the Southern Region!

Phyllis, Tina, Margaret and Nora from Mallow ARA withtheir new friends Kevin and Buster at Muckross House

Peg Tebay and Babs Murphy, Golden Years Festivalorganisers, welcome President Tom OMahony to Waterford

Catherine Jordan, Tubbercurry, presents a copy of The

Way it Was to ARI CEO Maureen Kavanagh and NorthWestern Region Chair Austin Mulhern


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Active Retirement Ireland News

Email us at [email protected]

Call 01 873 3836

The views and opinons expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of ARI.

The Western Regions ARA GO ON festival took place inthe Salthill Hotel, Galway between October 11th and 13th.Over 350 ARA members attended for the 3 day eventwhich included day trips and dancing each evening.This festival reflects the ethos of Active RetirementIreland which is to enable older people live a full and

active life and it is one festival worth going to.

Following the success of the festival the region rananother successful event - a fashion show on the 17 th

November. The show was suppor ted by Anthony RyanFashions, Galway, and featured ARA members asmodels.

Keep an eye out for more details on this fabulous

fashion show in a future issue of ARI News.

THE WESTS AWAKE!

Comeragh Active Retirement Walking for the Irish Heart Foundation Kinsale ARA at the forefront during the Dawn Chorus 2010

Active Retirement Ireland News Letter 2011

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