Member's Lunch Gort

Members enjoyed a three course lunch at the Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort in October. Congratulations was extended to Tom and Aine Doherty who were awarded the Papal Benemerenti Award by Bishop Martin Brennan for their dedication and life long committment to Parish work in Ardrahan.

European Union Coding Week 2015

Galway Retired Teachers celebrated European Coding week with Brendan Smith and Bernard Kirk, director of the Education Centre, in the company of a filming crew from Munich Germany in October.
After a few more lessons we will be experts in 'Scratch"!

Northern Ireland Tour

 

Group on Derry City walls.

At the end of September in glorious sunshine 35 members and friends travelled north stopping at the newly restored St. Mel’s Cathedral in Longford. On Christmas Eve 2009 a fire destroyed the building exposing it to the elements. Now magnificent limestone pillars adorned by a series of 30 angels who were originally sculpted in 1850 and restored in 2013 by George O Malley shoulder the vaulted ceiling while sunshine on the day highlighted the rainbow colours of the stain class windows.

After attending Mass there we made our way to the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. We immersed ourselves in the story of Irish emigration as we journeyed from the thatched cottages of Ulster, went on board a full scale emigrant sailing ship, disembarked and made our way to the log cabins of a new homeland on the American frontier. On the way we met an array of costumed characters who showed us the traditional crafts, food and told us stories of parting from Ulster and the new life in the strange country across the wild Atlantic.

Under the expert guidance of Mary Glasheen and driver Martin Gately of Marathon Travel we journeyed to the Clanree Hotel Letterkenny where we spent three nights in comfort and luxury. The next day we motored to Derry City, walked the Peace Bridge, toured Guildhall where we viewed  a magnificent collection of stained glass windows,

Peace Bridge, Derry City

Guildhall clock, designed as a replica of ‘Big Ben’ in London, viewed the recently uncovered Time Capsule which was buried in 1887, and explored the exhibition on the Plantation of Ulster. Martin Mc Crossan’s walking tour guide brought us through the Bogside, showed us the murals of the area and filled us in on the historical background to the Troubles and finally took us on a walk of the city walls. Travelling outside the city in the afternoon through rich pasture we reached the stone fort of Grianán Aileach 250 metres above sea level. Its origins date back to 1700BC and it is linked to the Tuatha de Danann who invaded Ireland before the Celts. They built stone forts on top of strategic hills. It is built without mortar and the interior has three terraces. Wooden structures were built against the terraces to provide accommodation in olden times.

Eviction 1850's

On day three after a brief tour of Letterkenny winner of 2015 Tidy Towns competition we journeyed in glorious sunshine to Buncrana and on to Doagh Famine Village. The Village tells the story of a family and community living on the edge and surviving from the Famine of the 1840’s to the present time. Remoteness, isolation and reliance on small plots of land made this area a harsh place to live. Yet the same families lived here for generations. The village now tells the visitor how these people adapted and survived in their environment. The energy, enthusiasm of the owner Pat Doherty who lived in one of the thatched houses with his siblings and parents until 1984 affords a layered presentation of past history for people with different levels of interest. The visitor learns how the evictions of the 1850’s have similarities with to days Ireland. The Wake House tells why the Irish sat for two nights by their dead. The Orange Hall Centre is Interdenominational and attractions include The Orange Hall, Presbyterian Meeting House and a Mass Rock. The Republican Safe House tells the story of the Road to Peace in Northern Ireland. Each room depicts different stages of the Peace Process. To enter each of the rooms you have to find the secret doorway. This attraction keeps adults and children amused.

If you are looking for an authentic experience then look no further than Doagh Famine Village.

We coaxed the driver to take us to the tip of Malin Head up to Banba’s Crown (named after a mythical Goddess of Ireland). The turbulent waters of this region have witnessed more than their share of maritime history. The Aurora Borealis that we went in search of in Iceland last April can often be seen in this area. Perhaps we will return to witness them!

On the last day we visited St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral perched on the Hill of Ard Mhaca from which the city derives its name. A church has stood here since St Patrick’s time 445AD. The Book of Armagh, on display, states that Patrick decreed that the church in Armagh should have pre-eminence over all the churches and monasteries in Ireland, a position it holds to day. A plaque on the outer wall denotes the place nearby where Brian Boru’s body was buried after it was taken from the Battle of Clontarf 1014.

Across from this location towering into the sky were the two gothic spires of St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral over looking the city. It too has splendid stain glass windows, marble high altar and many side chapels.

Our last port of call was Armagh Planetarium. Relaxing in the digital theatre we traced the wonders of our galaxy and experienced the wonders of the creation of our planet. We viewed the 4.5 billion year old nickel iron meteorite. After a stroll in the Astro Park where we saw a scale model of the Solar System showing the relative sizes and position of the planets we turned for home.

A special thank you to everyone who contributed to the enjoyment and success of the tour. Thank you to Kathleen Campbell who lead the singsong and to Ann Costello who supplied the words for ‘Ireland’s Call’ which was sung with great gusto for our Boys in Green who were about to play Italy.

What better way to finish our exciting adventure North but to have a leisurely dinner at the Shamrock Lodge Athlone where we browsed over all the wonderful experiences we had during our sojourn in the North with Marathon Travel.

Mary Kyne September 2015.