Community Awards Night in Mallow

Mallow Sports and Leisure Annual Awards were held on Saturday night last 27th February at Springfort Hall.
This year Margaret McCarthy of Mallow Active Retirement was nominated as Clubperson of the year.Margaret was shocked and amazed to get this nomination as she went about her business as Chairperson of Mallow and PRO of the Southern Region.
Photos show Margaret with her award which was presented by Eamonn Ryan Coach of the Cork Ladies Football team in recent times.

John Noel Cronin, Margaret and Michael Stubbs

Eileen Cronin, Margaret and Rene Collins

Eamonn Ryan and committee of Sports  and Leisure Awards

Table 4

Back: Joan Murphy,Mary Flood, Michael Stubbs and Nora Long

Front John Noel Cronin, Rene Collins and Margaret

Margaret with her family daughter Fiona and her husband Philip, her husband Joe and grandson Mark

Photos by Michael Stubbs

Thanks to my family for the lovely flowers

Southern Region AGM

The Southern Region of Active Retirement held their AGM on Monday 15th February in the Gleneagle Hotel. this was attended by May Quaid our President , our CEO Maureen Kavanagh and Board Member Kay Murphy. John Noel Cronin stood down as chairperson having completed his term of office. He was thanked and complimented for his dedication by our President.
New Committee
Noreen Lawlor  chairperson  Carrigaline
Kevin McSweeney  Vice Chairperson  Ovens
Nancy Hegarty  Secretary Killarney
Martin Casey  Treasurer  Ovens
Margaret McCarthy  PRO  Mallow
Bernie O Leary  Committee  Killarney
John Noel Cronin committee Mallow and Kilshannig

May Quaid advised us to speak to the politicians and demand a Minister for older people.
Maureen Kavanagh advised us to ask about Positive Ageing Strategy and what they are doing about it. Also healthy ageing and protection of our income.
A lively discussion ensued including subjects such as home help care, bed blocking, empty nesting,etc
Our President said she hoped to meet us at the National AGM in the Slieve Russell hotel on 25/26th of April.
John Noel said we would be going ahead again this year with the marigold Festival at the Mallow Home and gardens show at the Racecourse on  27/28/29 May and he has great plans for it building on our experience of last year.
Maureen also spoke about the 4 day initiave being hosted by the Gleneagle in conjunction with Active Retirement called Give it a Go . This is a four day event mid week in the Gleneagle when we can try different activities once or more times including Bridge, Bowls,Golf ,Pitch and Putt, Online dating, sky diving,surfing, motor bike ride outs, photography,art creative writing etc etc There is a special offer to stay in the Gleneagle or the Brehon. You can also attend for one day for €25.
Call 064 6671550 or e mail info@gleneaglehotel.com or book on line at www.gleneaglehotel.com
The dates for that are 13th to 17th June.
After lunch we had dancing with music by The Singing Jarvey and had a very enjoyable day.

May Quaid and Ned Reck from Middleton ARA who recruited the most men last year.

Mixed group of dancers

Enjoying the Slosh

Margaret Gretta and Eileen

Gretta Michael Joan and Eileen

Maureen

Maureen Kavanagh, May Quaid, John Noel Cronin,Margaret McCarthy,Kay Murphy and Eileen Cronin

Michael and Jean Stubbs Visit to Australia and New Zealand

Michael and Jean Stubbs of Mallow ARA have just returned fro a visit to Australia and New Zealand with a stopover in Abu Dhabi for three nights. They visited their son Keith in Sydney who has a prestigious position and leading a very good life out there.
Keith then took them to South Island New Zealand for a 10 day trip.
Michael kept us in touch during his holiday by Facebook. Some fabulous photos.

I am including only some of these due to lack of space.

photos Mike and Keith Stubbs

Mallow Calender of Events Feb to July 2016

Tuesday 9th Feb  Erina Mc Sweeney, Nutritionist will give a talk on memory and mobility in relation to dementia.

Wed 10 th Feb Imperial Hotel Cork at 2pm. Active retirement Ireland and Age Action are hosting an information session and chance to meet our local politians prior to the general election.

Mon 15th Feb AGM of Southern Region in the Gleneagle Hotel at 11 am.

Tuesday 16th Feb Pat buckley WHO Health Care will give a talk on Macular Degeneration of the eye.

Thursday 18th Feb Day Trip to Dublin by train to visit the National Museum of Ireland, decorative arts and design organised by Breeda Murphy.

Tuesday 23rd Feb Nurse Mary O Keeffe will give a talk and demonstration on Cardiac Resssuciation.
Mary is also First Responder for the local area.

Thursday 31st March  Day Trip to Blackrock Observatory and lunch organised by Pearl Lowney.

Thursday 21st  April  day trip to Fitzgeralds park and Museum. Tea/Coffee/scones at museum cafe followed by lunch at The Elmtree Glounthaune and visit to The Jameson Distillery organised by Mae Canny.

Mon 25/Tues 26th April National AGM at Slieve Russell hotel Cavan.

Monday 9th May  Spring Break 4days /3nights at Ballymascanlon house hotel in Louth, the smallest county in Ireland with JMG Travel.Choice of Day Tours each day.€260 and €15 each night single supplement.Organised by Mary G Murphy.

Thurs 19th May  Day Trip to Inchydoney beach and Michael Collins museum Clonakilty. Dinner at Dunmore House Hotel organised by Sheila Lane.

Fri/Sat/Sun 25/26/27th May Marigold Festival at the Racecourse Mallow in combination with Home and Garden Event.

Thurs 23rd June  Day trip to Caherciveen, Waterville and the chocolate factory organised by Mary O Shea.

Thurs 21st July Day Trip to the Wetlands in Tralee. Visit the beach(weather permitting)or other tourist attraction. Dinner at Fels Point Hotel organised by Mary G Murphy.

Visit to Cuba

Rene and Jerry Collins from Mallow ARA recently went on a trip to Cuba. They travelled from Dublin via Amsterdam to Havana approximately 13 hours and arrived at 3pm on New Years Eve. They were picked up at the airport on their arrival and taken to their accommodation , a family home and three flights up to their room. They had elected to travel with Trailfinders and stay in family homes known as Casas. That evening they met at a local restaurant where they were introduced to the rest of the group mostly packpackers  mainly  from Australia.The sun was shining which was lovely but it was extremely hot and they needed to keep well hydrated. They were warned not to drink tap water or even brush their teeth with it. They found the country very strange , no Irish breakfast only eggs bread and fruit every day. Jerry likes his vegetables and they were not in plentiful supply.A few of their group succumbed to the heat and strange food but settled after a few days.
The group was divided up as regards accommodation and they spent one or two nights in each casa so there was a .lot of moving around. They went around by coach and their guide was wonderful. The houses were mostly small with one or more additions.There were fabulous american cars there but looking a bit the worse for wear.The streets were narrow and cobblestoned. The shops were empty for the most part.The people seemed to be very happy despite being poor and they loved to sing and dance. Each evening they met at the village square dressed in their finery and danced and sang and played music. in family groups.
 They visited the Bay of Pigs, Guantamino and saw the monument to Che Guavara and the tomb where Fidel Castro will be laid to rest.They also visited a cigar making factory which definitely would not pass health and safety standards here.!
 They had a very enjoyable holiday unusual and definitely something to talk about but were exhausted after 16 days trekking.However my motto is we might as well travel while we can as we don't what's around the next corner.

A small flavour of Renes holiday

Tomb where Fidel Castro will be buried

Market place

Re cycling cans

The jarveys in Havanna

A butcher's shop in Cuba

Art in Cuba

More art. Fabulous colours!

Monument to Che Guevara