Update from South Korea

Teachers at the Entrance to Temple Donghwasa in South Korea

Heading off to Taiwan

Bridge Players at Taipei Airport, Taiwan.

Can you believe that Carmel Murphy, Bridge Class tutor gave her pupils home work while on holidays?
Left to right: Mary Kyne, Mary Howley, Kathleen Dunne and Eileen Mulkerins.

Teachers on the Move - South Korea

I was always fascinated as a child when I received my Christmas presents to invariably see stamped on the bottom of the toy  “ Made in Korea”, “Made in Taiwan”. I vowed that one day I would go and see these two industrious nations. I visited South Korea in July with my teacher friends. Korea has 50 million people and is about the size of Britain. Seoul its capital has eleven million.

Arriving from Seoul airport by road some of the first sights to greet you are its high mountains and residential tower blocks beside the Hangang River. Depending on when they were erected, the buildings have 5 floors, 15 floors and more recent apartments have 30 floors. The names of the corporation that built them – Hansin, Hyundai, Samsung etc are painted in huge letters on their external walls. Residential areas are spread throughout the capital but the business district is concentrated in the center of Seoul where office buildings up to 120 floors tower over former Royal Palaces. Some of these buildings display audacious architecture, which offsets the monotony of the apartment complexes. Underneath this complex of buildings there is a huge shopping mall.

I was amazed to see huge colourful bill boards, flashing neon lights and huge advertisements advertising the newest modern conveniences adorn so many buildings, people dressed in smart fashionable business suits galloping along at break neck speed towards some unseen destinations along tree lined avenues to the cacophony of thousands of cicadas (grasshopper like creatures) in the upper branches.

Cruinniú Cinn Bliana 2012

Tionnóladh Cruinniú Cinn Bliana Múínteoirí Scortha na Gailimhe i Óstán Menlo Park i Mí Meitheamh 2012. Léigh an runaí na mion tuaraiscí. Moladh iad, síneadh iad agus glacadh leo. Thug sí cuntas freisin ar staid airgid an Chumhainn.

Changes to Branch A.G.M.

Following the changes made to the rules and Constitution at the R.T.A.I.  EGM in March 2012 it was decided that:

1.     The Branch AGM for 2013 would be held in December.

2.     Accounts for 2013 should be submitted to the auditors by September 30^th  2013

3.     Accounts for the period March 30th 2012 – September 30^th 2012 be submitted at the December meeting 2012.

4.     Appoint 6 delegates to R.T.A.I. Annual Convention, Dublin in March 2013 at the December meeting

5.     Motions for the RTAI Convention should be submitted in writing at the December meeting.

Election of Officers

The following officers were proposed and seconded. They are to serve until the AGM December 2013.

Chairperson: Vincent Higgins

Vice Chairperson: Mary Howley

Secretary: Mary Kyne

P.R.O.  P. J. Callanan

Auditors:  P. J. Callanan and Sylvester Cassidy

Programme - Fómhar 2012

Members have fun at home and abroad. 

Computer Classes: Beginner’s Course

Dates: September:  Tues.11^th, 18^th, 25^th, October: 2^nd, 9^th, 16th

Venue: Education Centre at 09.45 - 12.00

Tutor: Brendan Smith NUIG

Bridge Classes & Club

Dates: Every Thursday commencing September 13^th at 10.30am - Education Centre at 10.30

Fee: 5euro weekly. Contact: Carmel Murphy: 0879240170 or Mary Howley: 0861767417

Musical Group

Dates: September: Thurs. 13^th, 20^th, 27^th, October: 4th, 11^th, 18th

Venue: Education Centre at 12.15 (after Bridge Class).

Musical Director: Mary Tansey

Lecture: Wednesday November 7th

Topic: “Emma” by Jane Austen

Speaker: Professor Hubert Mc Dermott NUIG

Venue: Education Centre at 11.00am

Book Club: 3 Discussions: Tues: September 25th, Oct. 30^th, Dec.4^th at 13.00 (after Computer Class)

Book for 25^th September “The Glass Castle” by Janette Walls

Outing: Heritage Walk & Lunch - Oughterard

Date: Tuesday, September 4^th at 11am at the Church Car Park. Lunch – Boat Inn

Proposed Trip Abroad: April 2013

Travel Department: 7nights

Dubrovnik, Medjugorje, Elaphite Islands.

Cost: €589 plus €110 taxes & charges (approx.)

Details later.

R.T.A. Notices: If you would like to receive RTA notices by Email tick the box and return please.

Lunches, classes, lectures and bus travel are subsidised from our funds.  

Visit to the Irish National Stud

 Galway Teachers on the Move

                                                                                                                

Pat stop tickling Phil!

In May 50 members of our association visited the Irish National Stud, Japanese Gardens and St. Fiachra’s Garden in Kildare. In 1566 Sir William Sarsfield acquired the present estate and in1650 Patrick Sarsfield was born here. He fought at the Battle of the Boyne and the Siege of Limerick and went to France at the head of the Wild Geese. He was eventually killed in France and was reputed to have said when dieing “Oh that this blood was for Ireland.”

In 1900 Colonel William Hall Walker purchased the lands and commenced breeding racehorses and turned it into one of the best studs in Europe. In 1915 he presented the stud to the British Government and in 1922 the newly formed Irish Government started to press their claim of the stud on the British Government. In 1945 The Irish National Stud Company was formed. It is now a source of National Pride and an international tourist attraction. Queen Elizabeth on her historic visit to Ireland 2011 visited the stud. We got a guided tour of the stud and we now know ‘the birds and the bees of horses!!’

My feet are killing me!

Japanese Gardens

The gardens are adjacent to the stud. Colonel William Walker was a wealthy Scotsman of a famous brewery family and he commissioned Tassa Eida to design and lay out the gardens (1906-1910). The significance of the gardens is not only artistic and horticultural but also religious, philosophical and not least historical. The symbolism of life the garden portrays, traces the journey of a soul from Oblivion to Eternity. We crossed over the Bridge of Life, entered the Tunnel of Ignorance, climbed the Hill of Learning, entered the Island of Joy and Wonder and finally sat on the Chair of Old Age! This garden, we all agreed, is a haven of peace and tranquillity.

Teachers on the Move - Sri Lanka

Phil Moran, Mary Kyne, Mary Howley, Christina O Malley

Memorial to the tsunami victims 2004

Ever since the tsunami hit Sri Lanka Christmas 2004 I have wanted to visit that magical island and see at first hand how these brave courageous people coped with such a tragic disaster.  Mary Howley, Phil Moran, Christian O Malley and I set off on a great adventure. Our hotel was situated on one of the beaches that were swamped with gigantic waves on that fateful morning 2004. Many fishing villages and beach guesthouses were virtually wiped out. Now they are being rebuilt quickly with the aid of foreign investment. People have been re-housed and the areas badly affected are now prospering. Even on a mild day the huge waves thunder and roar as the mighty sand laden surf pounds the shore. We sat on he edge of the powerful dangerous surf with strong undercurrents and marveled at the sheer beauty of the Indian Ocean.

and spices. In the south of the country, men clad in traditional saram fish from wooden perches in the shallow waters. Many fishermen live close to the shore in thatched or wrought iron roofed poorly constructed shacks. 

Women keep them as tidy as they can by continually sweeping around them with long handled brooms – an impossible task, as there is sand and dust in every nook and cranny.

Computer Class 2012

A very dedicated group of our members completed the advanced course in computers under the guidance of Brendan Smith DEIRI. During the course they encountered Flickr, Skype, Conferencing, Mapping and Scratch as well as an introduction to the latest technology. We are very grateful to Bernard Kirk and his dedicated staff at the Education Centre for their continued support.

Bridge Club Outing to Oughterard

Twenty members of the recently formed R.T.A. Bridge Club led by President Mary Howley and tutor Carmel Murphy joined with members of the Oughterard Bridge Club recently for an informal gathering followed by lunch. Mary Kyne welcomed the teachers on behalf of President Mary Faherty, Oughterard who has played bridge for over seventy years.
Mary could teach us a trick or two from experience gained from playing the game over the years.
We look forward to our next meeting in the near future.

R.T.A. Lunch in Gort

Nineteen members from the Gort area enjoyed a three course lunch at the lady Gregory Hotel Gort at the end of March. It was wonderful to see everyone looking so well. Obviously retirement is suiting our members. Having worked in the classroom for so many years we are all aware that:

"Now is the time to enjoy your heart's desire,
To live the dreams you've waited for,
To awaken the depths beyond your work
And enter into your infinite source."

We look forward to the next gathering in Gort.