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