"The Plough and the Stars 2010

“The Plough and the Stars” by Seán O’Casey
On Saturday August 14th 30 members of the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association went to the Abbey Theatre in Dublin to see Seán O’Casey’s classic play, “The Plough and the Stars”. This play is regarded as his masterpiece and the one most closely associated with the Abbey Theatre.
After our train to Heuston and lunch in Wynns Hotel, we arrived at the Abbey for the afternoon matinee in great anticipation. We were not disappointed. It was a wonderful production with a cast of sixteen. There are four acts and I always marvel at the ease with which one act blends in so easily into the next.
It is a very intimate play about the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary times. The play is set in a tenement house and the period is the 1916 Easter Rising. Jack and Nora Clitheroe are a young couple. Jack is a member of the Irish Citizen Army but Nora doesn’t want him to have anything to do with it as she loves him and wants him to stay. However, when Ireland calls, Jack must choose between love for his wife and duty to his country.
The play involves tragedy but has moments of comedy and farce as well. The overall mood is one of hopelessness in the face of violence in Ireland in 1916. It shows the futility of violence when compared to the basic problems of the tenement inhabitants, such as poverty, illness, loneliness and unhappiness.
Throughout the play there are scenes of great joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. The character Fluther Good provides great comic moments with his turn of phrase but it is the great destruction caused by conflict and violence which becomes increasingly evident as the play progresses. Nora suffers because of her husband’s absence. Mrs. Grogan suffers because of her sick child Mollser. Bessie Burgess, despite showing great kindness to Nora in her hour of need, is committed to the opposing British forces and pays the ultimate price.
Altogether a very satisfying theatrical experience was had by all.

Bridie Loughman

St. Brigit's Gardens and Aughnanure Castle

Careful Deirdre the gang are watching.




Our visit to St Brigit’s Gardens and Aughnanure Castle


A fine sunny day is what we hoped for as 36 of us boarded our bus headed for Brigit’s Gardens, near Oughterard on 4th Aug. ‘10
As we sped down the motorway, we felt as excited as schoolchildren on our first school outing. As soon as our bus arrived at the Gardens, we were met and welcomed by a very charming tour guide, Sabina. We enjoyed delicious tea, coffee and scones before setting off on our tour of this beautiful, Celtic inspired garden. As you stroll through the garden you explore the cycle of the seasons. Then you emerge onto a nature trail to discover a stone chamber, a crannog and a calendar sun dial. We checked out the hand-crafted basket swings and sat on the 6000 years old bog-oak throne. We refreshed our senses with scents of herbs and wild flowers .
It was a magical experience particularly enjoyed by the keen gardeners in our group who sniffed and admired the wonderful display of wild flowers.
Reluctant to leave these beautiful ,relaxing surroundings, we journeyed on for a visit to Aughnanure Castle which lies in picturesque surroundings close to the shores of Lough Corrib. Here we were again given a very informative guided tour of this Castle built by the O’Flahertys c.1500. The O’Flahertys and the powerful Mayo O’Malleys were joined in the marriage of Donal an Chogaidh O’Flaherty and Grainuaile/Grace O’Malley. The Castle is a particularly well preserved example of an Irish tower house.
We finished off a very full and interesting day in Kelehans Restaurant in Bushy Park. With hearty appetites, we sat down and enjoyed a lovely meal in beautiful surroundings before setting out on our journey home.
It was the last of our Summer day trips for 2010 but a memorable one it was for all of us.

Signed: Chris O’Flynn

KNITTING GROUP
Photo of members of Ballinasloe Active Retirement Knitting Group supporting Age Action Ireland in their “Innocent Big Knit” campaign
Knit some woolly hats for the Innocent smoothie bottles. For every smoothie bottle with a woolly hat sold, 25 cent will be given to Age Action. They are aiming for 90,000 hats from all over Ireland. By joining in this we will be helping Age Action to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society this winter.
The money raised will go towards Age Action Ireland’s annual winter warmth public education campaign.

Bridie Loughman PRO

New Contact Address

All queries, messages, photos, comment to;

ballinasloeactive@gmail.com

50th Wedding Anniversary

Martin and Bridy Loughman celebrating their golden wedding Anniversary

Cong July 2010

Trip to Cong
On Wed. 14th July’10, 47 members of the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association had a very pleasant trip to Cong. We started off by bus from St.Michael’s square at 8.30 a.m.. The weather forecast was bad, but we needn’t have worried as we managed during the day to escape most of the showers.
We drove to the pretty village of Cong and from there we took a boat up the Corrib. Our Captain gave us an entertaining talk as we passed various islands. He told us that many years ago the Corrib was a busy trading area, boats plying up the full length to the City of Galway. He also told us about the Canal that never was! A lot of time and money and manpower was spent in digging this canal between the Corrib and Lough Mask. When it was eventually finished, the porous limestone could not hold the water, so the canal had to be abandoned.
After the boat trip, we went to see Ashford Castle and were impressed by it’s size and the beautiful grounds. . Unfortunately we were not residents and were not allowed inside. A few intrepid members of our group peeped in the door, and some more courageous went into the diningroom.
Then we went to Ryan’s Hotel for our lunch. And a very good lunch it was too!
After lunch we were taken on a tour of the sites of the film “The Quiet Man” We had a very witty and entertaining guide who encouraged us to act out parts from the film. This started off with Jimmy Lyons being allocated the part of “the dying man” This character in the film, hearing that a fight had started in the street outside his house forgot about dying, jumped our of bed and ran the length of the street while holding up his trousers!
After getting off to such a good start, we all entered into the spirit of the thing, and enjoyed all the “craic”
We got back to Ballinasloe at 6.15, tired but happy with our day and thankful to Bridie Whelan and Chris O’Flynn for all the hard work of organising the outing.

Signed: Eileen Quinn







Members try out as extras on the set of "The Quiet Man"

Scotland Summer 2010

Social Commitee Bridie - Chris - Margaret



Saturday, June 26th to Thursday, July 1st 2010

Saturday:

Ballinasloe 3.30 am, fifty-nine of us gathered in the gloom and left by coach for Dublin Airport, arriving at approximately 5 am. From there we travelled to Prestwick where our “Highland Heritage” coach and driver awaited us. On our way north we had some time in the city of Stirling. Some of the party took the opportunity to do shopping and sightseeing; others, suffering from the after-effects of lack of sleep, found quiet corners in which to relax. On then to our hotel in Tyndrum, having viewed “Hamish” on the way. What can we say about our hotel? Situated in a beautiful spot, surrounded by mountains, it was like an oasis after our long journey. We were warmly welcomed by the manager, resplendent in his kilt. He took the opportunity to lay down some simple ground rules - times of meals, nightly entertainment, etc. The hotel was everything we could have wished for with comfortable bedrooms, very good food and nightly entertainment after dinner.

Sunday

Started wet but by the time we reached Loch Lomand for our cruise the rain had almost ceased. We enjoyed the cruise and after proceeded to Helensburg, a lovely little town on the estuary of the River Clyde. By now the sun had appeared and we had a grand afternoon.

Monday:

Today saw us head northwest, passing through Rannoch Moor and Glencoe, the latter the sight of the massacre of the McDonalds by the Campbells. Our driver told us that a local hostelry boasts a sign to the effect that no Campbells would be served there! On through Fort William where we stopped briefly, for refreshments and a bit of shopping, before proceeding over the Caledonian Canal, where we saw “Neptune’s Staircase”- a man-made structure, beautiful in its own way. On to the fishing village of Mallaig for lunch and a stroll around this seaside place with a view of nearby islands. Back then, to our hotel, through spectacular scenery.

Tuesday:

We travelled southwest to the Isle of Bute, reached from the mainland by a four minute ferry ride. Our bus then took us to Rothesay, the island’s principal town where, after lunch, we had a few hours for sightseeing, in glorious sunshine. We noticed, among other things, a small commemorative plaque to the men of Bute, who, in 1298 left the island to join William Wallace in his fight against the English. None of them survived.


Wednesday:
Our last full day took us west on a short journey to Oban, a very busy port. There was no shortage of restaurants or shops and we had an enjoyable few hours before going south to the Isle of Seil. Here our driver drew our attention to the humpbacked bridge which brought us on to the island. She promised to let us leave the bus on the way back to, as she put it, “walk across the Atlantic”, which we duly did but not before spending some time on the quaint little island. Wednesday night, being our last night, we had a gala dinner at the hotel. Some of us even managed to eat the haggis, a Scottish delicacy, which is much like our own white pudding. This was piped into the dining room with due ceremonial.

Thursday:

Early start this morning, in the rain, which persisted for some time as we went south but, thankfully, had cleared by the time we reached Prestwick. Our flight to Dublin was pleasant. Our coaches met us at the airport and we carried on to the Spa Hotel in Lucan for a very welcome and substantial meal. This had been arranged by our hard working committee. An hour and a half on the coach found us in Ballinasloe at 6 pm, tired, but well content after a great holiday.


It is only fitting before we finish that we should give full credit to the committee who arranged everything so efficiently - they even had enough money left to pay for our meal in Lucan. Well done!

Maureen O’Malley
Noreen Briscoe