Knitting Blankets for Belarus
Every Monday morning, about 1 2 dedicated members of Ballinasloe Active Retirement get together in Gullane’s Hotel for a very good cause.
Here the knitting group happily spend a few hours chatting away while busily “clicking” away on their knitting needles.
The result of their year’s work was on display in the Gael Scoil on Dec. 3rd ’08. Margaret McDonnell (Sec.) presented, on behalf of the group, the most beautiful collection of colourful blankets and toys to Mr. Pat Dillon for the benefit of the Orphanages in Belarus.
Mr Dillon expressed his gratitude to these very talented ladies for all their wonderful work.
Well done to all these industrious ladies for your very charitable work!
If you find any spare balls of wool and a pair of knitting needles around the house, please come along and join them.Chris O’Flynn.
Here the knitting group happily spend a few hours chatting away while busily “clicking” away on their knitting needles.
The result of their year’s work was on display in the Gael Scoil on Dec. 3rd ’08. Margaret McDonnell (Sec.) presented, on behalf of the group, the most beautiful collection of colourful blankets and toys to Mr. Pat Dillon for the benefit of the Orphanages in Belarus.
Mr Dillon expressed his gratitude to these very talented ladies for all their wonderful work.
Well done to all these industrious ladies for your very charitable work!
If you find any spare balls of wool and a pair of knitting needles around the house, please come along and join them.Chris O’Flynn.
Don't Mug My Granny!
Two teenage girls held the home-made placard aloft, as high as they could reach.
The message, in black paint, a little bit uneven, told that they had come in support of their Gran’s protest against the Government’s action in withdrawing the automatic right of people over 70 to a full medical card.
Joining their Gran outside Leinster House was a coach load from Ballinasloe Active Retirement. Our bus had left the Square at 8.30 that morning. We were all determined to show that entitlements, which we had built up over years of contributing to the national coffers, could not be taken away.
When we stopped at the Lucan Spa hotel, the management shared our view. For just two euros each we enjoyed a lovely breakfast. That kept us going and gave us the energy to cheer and applaud.
All of Kildare Street in front of Leinster House was full of people. The crowd extended down behind, making an island of the platform in the midst of pensioners from all parts of the country.
The atmosphere was relaxed , friendly but meaningful .Although the Minister had rowed back on his budget proposals, this was to show that pensioners still had a value. Ni neart go cur le ceile
The message, in black paint, a little bit uneven, told that they had come in support of their Gran’s protest against the Government’s action in withdrawing the automatic right of people over 70 to a full medical card.
Joining their Gran outside Leinster House was a coach load from Ballinasloe Active Retirement. Our bus had left the Square at 8.30 that morning. We were all determined to show that entitlements, which we had built up over years of contributing to the national coffers, could not be taken away.
When we stopped at the Lucan Spa hotel, the management shared our view. For just two euros each we enjoyed a lovely breakfast. That kept us going and gave us the energy to cheer and applaud.
All of Kildare Street in front of Leinster House was full of people. The crowd extended down behind, making an island of the platform in the midst of pensioners from all parts of the country.
The atmosphere was relaxed , friendly but meaningful .Although the Minister had rowed back on his budget proposals, this was to show that pensioners still had a value. Ni neart go cur le ceile
The Algarve
41 members of the Ballinasloe Active Retirement had a wonderful holiday in the Algarve from the 9th to the 19th September 2007. We stayed in the luxurious Villamoura Hotel which was located practically on the beachfront. The weather, the food, the entertainment and the "craic" were second to none. There was something different for everyone. Some went on day trips to the nearest towns, while the "markets" for the bargain hunters were ever popular. 5 members did the praying for the rest of us in Fatima where they stayed overnight. It was a wonderful opportunity to visit this famous shrine and were full of the joys of life on their return.
It was difficult to leave the lovely sunshine and return to the rain and cold at Dublin Airport.
However,we are now bronzed and rested, and ready to face the winter again. We are looking forward to our next break which will be next May - our Cruise on the Med.
Chris O'Flynn
It was difficult to leave the lovely sunshine and return to the rain and cold at Dublin Airport.
However,we are now bronzed and rested, and ready to face the winter again. We are looking forward to our next break which will be next May - our Cruise on the Med.
Chris O'Flynn
1930
For people like me who grew up in the 30's which was the era of the parriffin oil lamp to have to leap forward to the twentyfirst century where the the world wide web and the internet have taken over is like moving into a different planet.
To help cope with this enormous challenge we have been greatly assisted by Brendan Smith who has taken a group of elderly retired persons who were totally computer illiterate a little over a year ago and taken us to the stage that we now can book flights on the internet,get in touch with relatives overseas(some of us)and search for all sorts of stuff on the world wide web
it has been a wonderful experience
To help cope with this enormous challenge we have been greatly assisted by Brendan Smith who has taken a group of elderly retired persons who were totally computer illiterate a little over a year ago and taken us to the stage that we now can book flights on the internet,get in touch with relatives overseas(some of us)and search for all sorts of stuff on the world wide web
it has been a wonderful experience
Role of Active Retirement.
For most people , Retirement creates a huge void in their lives. You lose your identity, your sense of belonging, and often you lose touch with the friends you’ve made throughout your working life.
Retirement often coincides with the death of a partner and the “empty nest syndrome”. This results in a lot of loneliness, isolation and depression.
The A.R.A., for me, meant a new beginning. It filled that huge void in my life and provided a new focus. As a member of the A.R.A. I was helped to lead a full, active life once again.
Present
With the growth of our association in Ballinasloe, the members come from all walks of life. You have the opportunity to use the expertise gained during your working life, and to form new friendships. You can avail of the wide range of activities, holidays, outings and socials, creative and learning programmes, sports and community work.
Future
The role of the A.R.A will become more important in the future, especially in the field of communication.
With letter-writing a thing of the past, the closing of the Post Offices and small town banking facilities and the corner grocery store, not to mention the demise of the local pubs, the personal touch and friendly chat over the counter has long gone. The sound of the human voice on the phone has now been drowned out by texting. Email and Internet can now do shopping and all business transactions, in silence. Gone too, are neighbourly visits and the little pieces of gossip exchanged over the garden fence.
Hence, the importance of the A.R.A. in our future. This is a place where we can escape from this “press-button” world .A place to enjoy the friendly “cuppa”, to chat and share anxieties. We can also learn to go froward, at our own pace, into this fast world of technology.
By Chris O'Flynn EMAIL ADDRESS chrisflynn99@yahoo.com
Retirement often coincides with the death of a partner and the “empty nest syndrome”. This results in a lot of loneliness, isolation and depression.
The A.R.A., for me, meant a new beginning. It filled that huge void in my life and provided a new focus. As a member of the A.R.A. I was helped to lead a full, active life once again.
Present
With the growth of our association in Ballinasloe, the members come from all walks of life. You have the opportunity to use the expertise gained during your working life, and to form new friendships. You can avail of the wide range of activities, holidays, outings and socials, creative and learning programmes, sports and community work.
Future
The role of the A.R.A will become more important in the future, especially in the field of communication.
With letter-writing a thing of the past, the closing of the Post Offices and small town banking facilities and the corner grocery store, not to mention the demise of the local pubs, the personal touch and friendly chat over the counter has long gone. The sound of the human voice on the phone has now been drowned out by texting. Email and Internet can now do shopping and all business transactions, in silence. Gone too, are neighbourly visits and the little pieces of gossip exchanged over the garden fence.
Hence, the importance of the A.R.A. in our future. This is a place where we can escape from this “press-button” world .A place to enjoy the friendly “cuppa”, to chat and share anxieties. We can also learn to go froward, at our own pace, into this fast world of technology.
By Chris O'Flynn EMAIL ADDRESS chrisflynn99@yahoo.com
Setting Up a Family Photo Album 'Online'
Thanks to our computer & Internet Awareness course, quite a few members now have their own websites and online photo galleries.To view some of these sites and to learn how you too can set up your own version, go to Chris O' Flynn's website kmk
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