Thursday, 23 February 2017

MALLOW CALENDER OF EVENTS


January 31ar AGM

Feb 8th  Art classes x 6weeks with Marian

Feb 10th  Aqua Aerobics x 6 weeks

Feb 16th Visit to the Dail with Sean Sherlock

Mar 7th  Talk from First Responders and presentation of cheque

Mar 21st  Talk on Kinsealogy by Sheila O Hanlon

March 23rd Visit the GPO Dublin

April 18th Talk by Chiropractor Ivan Ban

April 20th  Tour to Newbridge and visit Castletown House

April 26th National AGM at Mount Wolsey

May 2nd Talk by Solicitor Fiona O Sullivan on Advance Care Directive

May 19th  Banquet at Knoppogue castle

May 22nd  Spring break at the Falls Hotel Ennistymon for 3 ngts

June 22th Visit to Kinsale and Charlesfort

July 6th Concert and dinner at Bro Boru Cashel

July 14th 7 night Cruise of Scottish Isles

July 20th Trip to Ballybunion and Listowel Heritage Centre

September 21st  Glengariffe and Garnish Island

October 2ns 3nt trip to Wicklow staying at Arklow Bay Hotel

October 19th trip to Glasnevin Cemetary

November 16th Afternoon Tea at Hayfield Manor

December 7th Christmas Lunch( Venue to be decided)

December 12th Irish coffee morning at the Mercy centre

January 6th Little Xmas ( venue to be decided)

January 30th AGM

Saturday, 18 February 2017

MALLOW VISITS THE DAIL

50 OF OUR MEMBERS VISITED LEINSTER HOUSE ON OUR FIRST DAY TRIP FOR 2017 AS GUESTS OF SEAN SHERLOCK. WE TRAVELLED UP BY TRAIN AND BUS TO KILDARE STREET. WE LUNCHED AT BUSWELLS HOTEL AND A LOVELY MEAL IT WAS TOO . MANY THANKS TO THE STAFF WHO LOOKED AFTER US VERY WELL.BEFORE GOING IN TO LEINSTER HOUSE SOME OF OUR MEMBERS MET THE HEALY-RAES AND HAD SOME CRAIC WITH THEM.
WE VISITED THE DAIL ( ALMOST EMPTY AT THE TIME) AND LISTENED TO RICHARD BOYD BARRETT TALKING ABOUT THE SGT MC CABE CASE. WE ALSO SAW MICK WALLACE AND CLARE DALY SITTING QUIETLY IN THE CORNER , ROISIN SHORTHALL AND FRANCES FITZGERALD AND OTHERS I DID NOT RECOGNISE. WE MET SIMON COVENEY IN THE CORRIDOR AND HAD A CHAT WITH HIM. A LOVELY MAN.WE SAW SIMON HARRIS IN A FIERCE HURRY AND SAW A PAINTING OF COUNTESS MARCOVICH PAINTED BY HER HUSBAND. WE SAW ALL THE PORTRAITS OF FORMER TAOISHIGI EXCEPT BRIAN COWEN AND ALL THE FORMER PRESIDENTS.
WE ALSO VISITED THE SEANAD EMPTY AT THE TIME. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING APPARENTLY THE TOWN HOUSE OF THE FITZGERALD FAMILY ORIGINALLY. AS WE WERE COMING AWAY WE SAW A BIG RUSH OF POLITICIONS COMING IN THE DOOR FOR A VOTE APPARENTLY, INCLUDING JERRY ADAMS AND MARY LOU MC DONALD. MANY THANKS TO THE GUIDES WHO SHOWED US AROUND AND GAVE US LITTLE STORIES ABOUT THE BUILDING ETC
WE HAD A VERY PLEASANT DAY AND WERE PARTICULARLY GLAD  TO WELCOME MANY NEW MEMBERS AND HOPE THEY WILL TRAVEL WITH US AGAIN.
ALSO MEMBERS FROM  OTHER ARAS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME WITH US.



SOME OF OUR MEMBERS OUTSIDE LEINSTER WITH OUR GUIDE


SOME MEMBERS WITH MATTIE MCGRATH





Enjoying our visit to Buswells Hotel

ESSIE MARY AND NUALA


MANY THANKS TO MICHAEL STUBBS OUR VICE CHAIR WHO MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS AND TOOK THE PHOTOS



Monday, 13 February 2017

Doneraile ARA AGM

Doneraile ARA held their AGM on 13th February and elected Officers and committee as follows.
Tess Healy         Chairperson
Cliff O Hanlon   Vice Chair
Mary Nicol         Secretary
Hilary Sheehan   Asst. Sec
Bridget Walsh     Treasurer
Pauline Hoare     PRO

Committee

Anna O Hanlon
Margaret O Rourke
Evelyn Reed
Mary O Donoghue

John Noel Cronin Board member and Margaret McCarthy PRO Southern Region attended meeting



Officers and committee for the coming year
Good luck to the new committee. They have a fantastic ARA in Doneraile with lots of activities film shows exercises trips away and raising funds for charity. I was blown away at their effeciency and diversity of their activities. If they were running the country we would be on the pigs back!

Friday, 10 February 2017

SPRING 2017

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE VIBRANT YELLOW OF THE DAFFODIL TO CHEER YOU UP AFTER THE GRIM WINTER.
THIS BUNCH OF DAFFODILS COST €1.50 IN LIDLS

I HAVE NO FLOWERS BLOOMING IN THE GARDEN YET BUT HAVE CROCUSES DAFFODILS AND TULIPS BUDDING. I ALSO HAVE A FORSYTHIA JUST BEGINNING TO FLOWER. THE FROST AT PRESENT IS HOLDING THEM UP. I LOOK OUT EACH DAY IN ANTCIPATION TO SEE WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE.
THE GARDEN IS A BIT BARE AT THE MOMENT.



THE LAST AMARYLLIS IS BLOOMING NOW. IT WAS IN A COOLER ROOM.
HAS ANYBODY GOT ANY FLOWERS OUT YET?

Spring flowering heather
photo Michael Stubbs

Daffodils on the side of the Cork road
'photo Michael Stubbs
Ginas lovely tulips
'photo Gina Leonardi

Spring in Brittas
'photo by John Noel Cronin
New born lamb

What do you want?
'photos Margaret McCarthy



Purple and white crocuses naturalised by the Cork Road Mallow
'photos Michael Stubbs
Cherry Blossom and Forcythia in Rene's garden


Cyclamen in re-cycled wheel rim in Mikes garden

Primrose
Photos Michael Stubbs
Muscari

Hyacinth planted out last year


Forsythia
In Margaret's garden
Flowers from Renes garden. Fabulous! Well done!

Photo by Rene Collins

Cyclamen called Joe



Pale pink tulips
Photos Mgt McCarthy










Tuesday, 7 February 2017

NATIONAL AGM

THE NATIONAL AGM WILL BE HELD AT MOUNT WOLSEY HOTEL IN CARLOW ON 26TH APRIL. SPECIAL OFFER FOR 2 NIGHTS 25TH/26TH APRIL.
€145 2nts pps

Special coach laid on for those travelling by train at Houston station on 25th.

Thursday, 2 February 2017

Southern Region AGM

The Southern Region will hold their AGM on Wednesday 22nd February at 11 am in the Gleneagle Hotel. All are welcome.

At the AGM Mai Quaid announced that she was not going forward for President next term. She said she enjoyed her time going around visiting all the ARAs and attending meetings etc and would miss us all.
Nancy Hegarty did not attend and Kay Murphy read the minutes and report
Margaret McCarthy PRO said she would not be going forward for PRO and committee after 10 years on committee and four years as PRO. She said she enjoyed her time and mentioned all the hard work put in by the committee for the Marigold Festival in particular and thanked them all and Cathy Courtney from Home Instead Senior Care.
All officers were returned unapposed except PRO as follows

Noreen Lawlor  Chair
Kevin Mc Sweeney  Vice -chair
Nancy Hegarty  Secretary
Martin Casey Treasurer

Committee
Bernie O Leary

A lively discussion followed the election. Among the subjects discussed was fund raising. A lot of people objected to the letters sent out looking for donations. Mai said she was sorry and it was not passed by the board.The subject of the new memberdhips cards was discussed . Mai said new cards would be coming out shortly. This was also a mistake but the cost was being borne by a certain company.The treasurer from Mallow said she was surprised that there was no help or advice  on the website for treasurers. Mai said she would bring it before the board.There was a general discussion about the affiliation fee, most people agreed they would not abject to an increase so long as it was gradual.

Martin Casey, Kay Murphy, Noreen lawler, Mai Quaid and Ann O Brien

Section of the crowd who attended.
Photos Margaret McCarthy
Margaret being presented with certificate of thanks by Noreen Lawlor

Brenda Greene and Michael Stubbs Mallow, Margaret with  Mai Quaid and Monica Kelleher Donoughmore

Brenda and Margaret
Photos Michael Stubbs



I invite you to send me photos of your garden in Spring. It is great to see the flowers poking their little heads out now!

MALLOW AGM 2017

Mallow ARA held their AGM on Tuesday 31st January. A large crowd attended.

Pearl Lowney stood down as Secretary after 4 yrs as well as some committee members.

Our new line up is as follows.

Mary G Murphy Chairperson
Michael Stubbs Vice chair
Phil Regan Secretary
 Maureen O Mahoney Asst Secretary
Breeda Murphy Treasurer

Committee
Bridie O Connell
Gabrielle France
Nora O Connor
 Pearl Lowney 

Sheila Lane 
Eileen Forde


Section of the crowd

Pearl is sad to be going
Enjoying the chat


Front row l to rt Maureen O Mahoney,Phil Regan,Mary G Murphy and Breeda Murphy
Back row l to rt Bridie O Connell, Gabrielle France,Michael Stubbs, Nora O Connor,Pearl Lowney and Sheila Lane. Eileen Forde missing from 'photo as her sheep were lambing!
Good luck to you all I am sure you will have a great programme ready for the year.

Eileen is back from the lambing. only one lamb yet.
I hope to get some 'photos of the lambs soon.
Photo Michael Stubbs