Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association Online: 2015

"Paddy" at the Black Box. 28th. November 2015

"Paddy" at the Black Box

Today I feel I must tell all my friends in the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association of the wonderful show we saw last Saturday night in the Black Box Theatre in Galway called "Paddy".

This show was written by song-writer Jerry Carney and Tommy Marren. We were already familiar with this group as they produced "The Real McCoy", a comedy we saw last year in Mullingar.

"Paddy" truly provided us with a unique evening of drama and music. The award-winner and well-known singer, Tommy Flemming, plays the leading part. Over fifty of our association attended the show and we had dinner beforehand. We had a brilliant evening and for the duration of "Paddy" none of us were able to catch 40 winks, as we sometimes do !

The storyline is set in Ireland and England in the Sixties. Patrick Murphy, played by Tommy Flemming, leaves Mayo to make some money and then to come home, marry his girlfriend and settle down in his farm. He promises this to his widowed mother and his girlfriend. However, when he gets there his life evolves very differently and it takes him ten years to return to Ireland. By this time he has a wife and family.

His life on the buildings, together with his co-workers, is especially fascinating. I won't spoil it for you by telling any more. A video of this musical will shortly be available , hopefully before Christmas. Perhaps Santa will use one, as a filler, for your Christmas Stocking !

Bridie Loughman

Pride of Place

Congrats to B.A.R.A. Pride of Place team for their prize winning presentation.

L to R Margaret Brennan, Douglas Rafter Charles Doherty Deirdre Hogan Gabriel Rohan

and Breda Mulrennan of Galway County Council.

Westport 28th-29th-30th. September 2015

Our "Indian Summer" Autumn Break 2015

We have just returned from our Autumn Break in Westport, one of my favourite places. The town was ablaze with magnificent colours and trees and flowers full of autumnal foliage and colour at it's best, with Croagh Patrick overlooking this beautiful town. In addition to all that was the announcement that Westport had won the award for the Tidiest Town in Ireland.

The Castlecourt Hotel, plus its two sister hotels The Plaza and The Atlantic Coast Hotel were full to capacity. Our group was part of a very large group; the Western Active Retirement Organisation.

The hotel had organised activities for all of us, including day trips to Achill and one to Kylemore Abbey and that spectacular area of Lennane.

I decided to go to Achill and enjoyed every minute of the trip. The beautiful sunshine was with us all the way. The scenery was fantastic and the high mountains looked sublime in the sparkling sunshine. The beautiful sandy beaches welcomed the Atlantic waters lashing noiselessly on the seashore.

Our talk on W.B. Yeats, organised by the Western Region Committee was very appropriate, as words from "The Lake Isle Of Innisfree" and his many other poems went hand in hand with the beautiful setting of Achill and Lenanne. His poetry is full of heavenly music.

We played Bingo as well, some for the first time and found it relaxing and good fun. Our good friend, Noelle, won herself a lovely prize, so luck was with Ballinasloe Active Retirement all through our stay in Westport.

We had dancing each night after dinner. Needless to say we also enjoyed a few games of bridge in between everything else.

We are looking forward already to our next outing.

Bridie Loughman