First Health Seminar

Recognising & Coping with Depression

It was one of the founding principles of the Association that we would cover all aspects of member's lives including social, physical, health, educational and leisure issues.
So as part of this remit, we host a series of health lectures on interesting topics. The first seminar was on the subject on How to Recognise and Cope with Depression. Click here to read about the content of this talk given by Dr Margaret O’Grady, the newly appointed Consultant Psychiatrist for the Western Health Board.

The Book Worms

Members of the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association have many activities from which to choose. One of these is a Book Club which caters for the”Book Worms” in the group.
The Book Club meets in the Library on the second Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m.
The Librarian takes a list of books which members request and tries to get them for the following month. We each take a book or two which we read and discuss at the next meeting.
The club members have varying tastes . Authors and book titles are suggested which many of us would not normally read. All members have an input, and all our tastes are catered for.
It is an enjoyable and light-hearted meeting. No one is under pressure to read a book if it does not interest them.
The Library staff are helpful and pleasant. As well as books, they provide us with tea and biscuits at our meetings. We enjoy our chats and love the social aspect of the club.
We welcome new members and invite anyone who is interested in joining us to come to our next meeting on Sept. 8th at 4 p.m.
Nancy Ward.

Aran July 2009

A PERFECT DAY
24th June ’09 dawned bright and sunny with clear blue skies. It looked like the perfect day for our day trip to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Isalands.
An impressive 63 members of the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association had booked for this trip which was, for a large number of them, their first visit to Aran.
Armed with sun hats, sun lotion and bottled water, all boarded the 9 o’c train to Galway. With an air of relaxation and in cheerful mood we were whisked off on a double-decker bus through the lovely Connemara countryside to Ros-A-Mhil. Here we joined the large crowd waiting for the Island ferries to take us to our destination
All aboard, we set sail over the calm, blue waters of Galway Bay. A most enjoyable hour later,we sat down with healthy appetites to a lovely meal in the “Bayview Restuarant”
We then had a few hours to explore this beautiful island which is famous for it’s unique way of life. Age old traditions co-exist comfortably with modern living. Some of our members availed of the waiting tour buses to take them on a tour of the island and more went for long walks. The more energetic people hired bicycles and visited Dun Aonghas, one of most dramatic stone forts in Western Europe. The trips on the horse and trap brought back many happy memories of bye gone days. There were a few who were happy to sit , chat, relax and soak up the wonderful peace and beauty of Aran.
It was with reluctance we joined the homeward – bound travellers in the evening. Suntanned, happy and relaxed we enjoyed another lovely sea journey back to Ros-A- Mhil.
We arrived home safely in Ballinasloe feeling grateful for what one can only describe as “A Perfect Day”.
Chris O’Flynn