EDINBURGH 2016/2017

Michael and Jean Stubbs from Active Retirement Mallow went to visit their son Alan and his family in Edinburgh for Christmas and New Year. They had a wonderful time. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and they would highly recommend it as a place to visit as a group or otherwise. beautiful hotels and restaurants, and loads to do and see. Here are some 'photos.

Christmas market

Mike met this fellow while out walking

Mike and Conor

Meeting Santa

Happy birthday Mike!

Dalhousie Castle Hotel

Christmas Wonderland

Afternoon Tea

Christmas lunch dessert

Yum Yum!

Your ARA jacket looks lovely Mike. They are really comfortable and practical.

Mallow ARA

Mallow had a lovely Christmas lunch at Innishannon House Hotel on 7th December. About 80 of our members attended.
On 6th January several members attended the Royal Hotel in Killarney and had a fabulous time.
Some other members went to the Opera house to hear Finbarr Wright.
Other members went to the Celtic Ross hotel and stayed overnight. We had a very enjoyable time.

John Noel, Nora, Mary Margaret,Rene, and Eileen at the Celtic Ross

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