MEDIA COURSE WITH LIFE FM RADIO CORK

SOME MEMBERS OF ACTIVE RETIREMENT TOGETHER WITH OTHERS HAVE COMPLETED A COURSE IN MEDIA STUDIES WITH TERRI KRUSKHE AND LIFE FM COMMUNITY RADIO IN CORK.WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED OUR CERTIFICATES IN WOOD QUAY VENUE IN DUBLIN WHERE WE MET OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO COMPLETED THIS COURSE.

SOME MEMBERS ARE GOING ON TO PRESENT SMALL SLOTS ON RADIO AND OTHERS MAY MAKE A CAREER OUT OF IT BUT EVERYBODY LEARNED SOMETHING OUT OF IT.

THE SUBJECT WAS SPEAKING UP FOR A CHANGE.

                                                        MARGARET AND ANN

 ANN TOM CON AND PHILIP

TERRI AND JOAN

ANN JOAN AND MARGARET

MALLOW ARA ANNUAL HOLIDAY IN PROVENCE

SOME MEMBERS OF MALLOW ARA AND DONOUGHMORE HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A FABULOUSHOLIDAY IN BURGANDY THE RHONE AND PROVENCE WITH RIVIERA TRAVEL.
WE TRAVELLED FROM DUBLIN TO LYON AND JOINED OUR SHIP THERE FOR A RIVER CRUISE ON THE RHONE AND THE SOANE . THE MS COUNTESS IS A FABULOUS SHIP ACCOMODATING 130 GUESTS ON 3 LEVALS.

EACH DAY WE HAD FULL BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER AS WELL AS AFTERNOON TEA AND COFFEE/TEA AND COOKIES AVAILABLE ALL DAY AND NIGHT. SO WE WILL HAVE TO DO PLENTY OF WALKING NOW THAT WE ARE BACK TO GET RID OF THOSE EXTRA POUNDS.

THE WEATHER WAS FABULOUS EVEN A LITTLE HOT AT TIMES.CRUISING ON THE RIVER IS A REALLY LOVELY SENSATION SO RELAXING TO WATCH THE WORLD SLIDE BY. EACH DAY WE CALLED TO A DIFFERENT TOWN AND WENT ON WALKING TOURS AS WELL AS COACH TO TOWNS FURTHER INLAND. WE VISITED PLACES SUCH AS LYON CHALON,BEAUNE,VIENNE, TOURNON.THE ARDECHE GORGES,ARLES AND AVIGNON.

WE VISITED A VINYARD AND WINERY AND SAMPLED THE WINE.A LIVELY MARKET IN BEAUNE,VISITED CASTLES ,CHURCHES ,STOOD ON THE FAMOUS PONT DU GARD, VISITED A LAVENDER FARM AND PERFUMERY, VISITED THE MADELEINE GROTTO ,THE POPES PALACE IN AVIGNON AND STOOD ON THE FAMOUS BRIDGE IN AVIGNON. I AM SURE A LOT OF YOU WILL REMEMBER FROM SCHOOL THE SONG IN FRENCH CLASS "SUR LE PONT D'AVIGNON"
THERE WAS A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF ROMAN OCCUPATION WHERE THE LARGE STONES AND WALLS WERE BLENDED INTO THE PRESENT DAY BUILDINGS. AND OF COURSE THE VATICAN WAS BASED IN AVIGNON FOR A LONG TIME. WE WERE TOLD NINE POPES REIGNED THERE BEFORE RETURNING TO ROME.MY ABIDING MEMORY IS OF THE HEAVENLY SMELL OF LAVENDER PINE AND CYPRESS.
WE FLEW BACK TO DUBLIN FROM MARSEILLES AFTER 7 NIGHTS ON BOARD.

NOW FOR SOME PHOTOS BUT THEY ONLY TELL SOME OF THE STORY AS WE WERE ENJOYING OURSELVES SO MUCH.

OUTSIDE THE CATHEDRAL IN LYON

A FRENCH CAFE

MONICA AND RENE

VINYARD IN BEAUNE

MARKET

ROMAN GARDENS IN VIENNE

ROMAN ROAD

CASTLE BUILT ON ROCK

ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE NOW USED FOR ROCK CONCERTS 

 RENE

MONICA

MARGARET

PONT DU GARD

PONT D'AVIGNON

PALASIS DE PAPES

RENE FOUND THE PUB!

PHOTOS MARGARET MC CARTHY

MARGARET AND MONICA

Monica and Andre our chef

FROM RENES IPHONE

Rene and Margaret at Cafe Van Gogh in Arles

Photo by Monica Kelleher

MIDLETON ARA

MIDLETON ARA ARE CELEBRATING 10 VERY SUCCESSFUL YEARS.
 IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE THEY HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE A 3 NIGHT STAY WITH ACTIVITIES IN MIDLETON PARK HOTEL. OTHER ARAS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THEM.
DETAILS AS FOLLOWS
3 NIGHTS B&B PLUS DINNER €149
€179 SINGLE ROOM

DAY TIME ACTIVITIES BOWLING-CARDS-GO FOR LIFE-AND IN-HOUSE DEMONSTRATIONS.

NIGHT TIME ACTIVITIES CHOIR-SING-A-LONG -BINGO -DANCING-MUSIC

BOOK AT MIDLETON PARK DIRECTLY ON 353 (0) 21 4635 100
E MAIL amy@midlepark.com

SUBMITTED BY NED RECK

WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR NEIGHBOURING ARAS.
 CONTACT NED RECK FOR SPECIAL CONCESSIONS TO ATTEND ONE OR MORE NIGHTS.
021 4632220
087 2568782 PREFERRED

nedreck@eircom.net

Cobh and Spike Island

 A group from Mallow ARA had a lovely visit on Sunday 14th to Cobh and Spike Island.They travelled by train from Mallow to Cork and on to Cobh. Cobh was buzzing on the day as there was a festival on  with loads of live music and lots of stalls around the harbour.There was a cruise ship " The  Caribbean Princess" in dock also.We had lunch in Cobh and then got the boat to Spike Island and a tour of the Island and prison.We had a lovely guide named John G who was very knowledgeable and answered lots of questions from the group.We spent over 3 hours on the Island. I would highly recommend a visit.
We had lovely sunny weather and had a great time.

Michael Stubbs

Little Nellies birthplace

Cobh harbour

Lish Noreen and Kathleen

Photos Michael Stubbs.

Thanks Michael display

De Ceadaoin Mallow ARA

We have just had a wonderful afternoon at Kades Counrty Glenville at an afternoon tea dance. The local committee gave us a great welcome and showed us how to do different dances.while Dave Rea provided the wonderful music. We had a break for tea and buns after about an hour and then mini bingo before resuming the dancing. All in all a great time. We will be back!