Dali Museum---- Figueres North/east Spain

Twelve of our group travelled to Figueres on the bus to visit the Dali Museum. The town of Figueres is the Centre of Culture in that part of the Catalonian region close to the foothills of th Pyrenees. Dali became famous when three of his paintings were shown in Pittsburg in 1928 one of which was the Basket of Bread. Later on he became a surrealist artist who produced new sensations in the mind of the viewer by placing contradictory images next to each other in his paintings. In 1940 he did paintings based on science and religion. He worked in all media leaving behind a wealth of oils, drawings, graphics, photographs, jewels and objects of all descriptions .We spent two hours in the Museum and only managed to see half of his work. Afterwards we sat at a table in a leafy square nearby where we had our lunch and fed the pigeons. We got back to our hotel on time to get ready for dinner at 7:30 p.m. It was a most enjoyable experience to have visited the Museum which Dali himself opened in 1974 in Figueres, Spain. Anne Killeen

Thrill seekers on the Costa Brava !!!

One of the most enjoyable days we had in Roses was the day we got on a two carriage train called “Roses Excursions” which took 40 of us up the mountains to visit the towns of Roses and Cadaquis. It was a marvellous excursion. We enjoyed the wonderful views with fascinating background landscapes such as the Bay of Roses and the natural Reserve Park of Cap de Creus
We were like a group of boarders from school on a day out, complete with sun hats, suntan lotion and the odd bottle of water. We spent four hours looking down at the beaches emerging from the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean and learning about the cultural and ancient history of the local towns.
It was even scarier than the Ring of Kerry! As we looked down thousands of feet with nothing between us and deep blue sea there were several prayers silently and loudly said especially from Chris who sat in the back seat with her back to the great “fall”.Dougie and Liam captured the scary sight on video.
Anyway, we all got back safely to “Terra Firma” still holding our breaths and delighted with our day out.
Signed
Kaye Killeen

Trip to Roses North-East Spain

Sept. 09
We thought Jimmy Lyons was joking when he suggested we should go to Roses for our annual sun holiday abroad. We always associated Roses as beautiful flowers one received on a birthday or anniversary (if you were so lucky!) Little did we know that there was also a beautiful little town called “Roses” tucked away on the Costa Brava in north eastern Spain.
After the usual problem of keeping our luggage within the required limits, 60 members of the Active Retirement group headed off in the early hours of the morning on Sept. 16th last. However, our spirits were dampened as we were travelling for the first time without two of our loyal and valued members, Jimmy and Sheila Lyons, as Sheila was awaiting a serious operation
The Victoria Hotel was situated in a perfect location on a beautiful beach. The place lived up to all our expectations. The glorious sunny days were filled by long walks on the prom, trips to various places of interest by boat, bus or the local Roses express train and the inevitable shopping for that something “different” . The sea was perfect for swimming .Even those who previously feared the water, ventured in. Aching limbs were soon forgotten as the group of us splashed away in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. After dinner, we danced under the balmy night sky.
We were very saddened when we got the news that Sheila hadn’t survived her operation and had passed away. Our hearts went out to her beloved husband, Jimmy. In little clusters, we cried and talked, questioned and reminisced about the good times and the many lovely trips we shared down through the years.
We hoped we would be home in time to say our good-byes and so we were. It was a sad home-coming. Sheila will be fondly remembered by us all in the Active Retirement group. May she rest in peace.
Signed
Chris O’Flynn

Shelia Lyons R.I.P.

SHEILA LYONS
A Tribute
For many years. I only knew Sheila Lyons as “one of the teachers in the Tech.”
Sheila joined the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association shortly after
its formation in 2002. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with her and got to know her as a good friend and colleague.
We have worked together on the Social Committee of B.A.R.A. for the past three years and I would like to pay tribute to her hard work, dedication, organisation and input into that Committee. She was focused, level headed and always ready to lend a helping hand .Her constant smile and good humour will always be remembered.
We travelled that road together into the age of technology as we struggled with e-mails and Skype etc. at our computer classes. However, I had the advantage of broadband in town and it hadn’t yet arrived in Belfield, so Sheila, determined not to be left behind ,came to practice in my house.(not without the pot of home-made jam or brown scone!) I do hope Sheila they have Broadband in Heaven!
We also enjoyed working together on the Heritage Project under the guidance of Brendan Smith, D.E.R.I’s outreach officer in Galway. Sheila was one of the first to record her story about her childhood days in her beloved Kerry. It was one of a series of pod cast stories of pre-1950’s Ireland under the title of “Fado Fado” and is now available on D.V.D.
Over the years, we planned and organised many trips and outings both at home and away (making sure it didn’t interfere with her sporting interests). It was with a great sense of sadness that we learned of her death while we were on one such trip to Roses in Spain, (which she had helped to organise) in Sept. ‘09. We were glad she waited for us to come home to give us the opportunity to say our sad farewells.
We will miss your sense of fun, your hospitality, your company and in particular, your smile.
On behalf of the Social Committee, I extend our deepest sympathy to your beloved husband, Jimmy, who is also our Chairman, and to your lovely family.
May you rest in peace.
Signed:
Chris O’Flynn.

Association's Video Documentary "What Will We Do In The Autumn?"

Copies of the Galway Arts Council-funded video documentary "What Will We Do In The Autumn?" produced by the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association in 2004 are still available for members.
In 2004 the Galway Film Centre ran an advertisement looking for suitable projects under it’s I.D. umbrella, and funding would be available. Somebody in the Local Employment Centre spotted the ad and rang Jimmy Crehan about it. The idea was brought up at our next meeting. Chris felt strongly that we had a story to tell, and a message to give. When we replied to the ad, Nuala Broderick, the Galway Film Centre’s Project Co-coordinator, got in touch with us. She arranged a meeting between a delegation from Ballinasloe A.R.A., the Galway City Arts Offices, the Co. Arts Officer, the Galway Film Centre Manager, and herself. To our surprise and delight, our project was accepted and deemed worthy of funding from the Arts Council of Ireland and from Galway Co. Co. Nuala sent Paddy O’Connor, the project mentor, to work with us in Ballinasloe. Paddy asked us about our Organisation, and threw out ideas as to what would be suitable for a D.V.D. When he realised we didn’t have a video camera, he advised us to get one. When the camera arrived, Chris took charge of it. After that, no matter what the group did, the camera came out! We were filmed at our Activity Classes, on our trips at home and abroad, at the St. Patrick’s Day and October parades, and there’s even a picture of a travel-weary group on a hot day in Barcelona, sitting on “bollards”!, licking ice-creams, while waiting for the bus. Paddy O’Connor travelled with us to Derry, and was very pleased with our video footage.
Under Paddy’s expert, but low-key, tutelage, some individual interviews were done, to let others know what involvement in the A.R.A meant to each member. Paddy showed us how to set up props, how to use microphones, and how to take full advantage of light. All this took several weeks. Eventually, we had about eight hours of footage. Then the tedious work had to be done. That eight hours had to be edited down to approx ,twenty minutes. Nobody enjoyed that but, but we all learned so much under Paddy’s expert guidance. We felt privileged to have had the chance to be involved in the whole project.
Out Documentary was entitled “What will we do in the Autumn”. We were invited to the Art’s Theatre in Galway, where our video, and those of other projects accepted, were shown. Later still, our own D.V.D was officially launched on the 14th October, 2004 in Hayden’s Hotel, Ballinasloe by the Co. Galway Mayor, Councillor Willie Bourke, and Ballinasloe Mayor, Councillor Sean Tully.
Our mission was finally accomplished!
In conclusion, I want to say a big “thank you” to the Arts Council of Ireland and Galway Co. Council; to Nuala Broderick and Paddy O’Connor from Galway Film Centre, and to our own Christina O’Flynn and Jimmy Crehan. They all brought us through what was, for us, unchartered waters, and we enjoyed every minute of the journey.
Rath De oraibh uile, agus go mba fada buan sibh.
Signed : Detta Power
Copies of the video are available from the Secretary, Margaret MacDonnell Ballinasloe ARI Co Galway

Walkers at large

The Ballinasloe Active Retirement Walkers Group recently visited the beautiful bogs, wetlands, lakes and fields of the Lough Boora Parklands in county Offaly.
CLICK here to read the article on their trip which is also available in the Irish Excursions & Trips section of this website (see top right)

Colm C.T Wilkinson in Tullamore

CLICK here to read about this concert
Also available in Irish Excursions & Trips