RTA HILLWALKERS

The June Hillwalking event takes place next Friday, 13th June, in Glenbarrow in the Slieve Blooms,Laois.

Walkers will meet in The Hare’s Corner Cafe at 10.30 am and travel together from there to walk start point.

The walk is approx 2.5 hours long with moderate climbing.

You will enjoy some lovely views and a scenic picnic spot!😎

Hoping for dry weather 🙏🙏

KILDARE RTA BOOK CLUB

All those, who attended the launch of the Kildare RTA Book Club, enjoyed a lively discussion in Naas Library on Thursday morning. There were many interesting suggestions, spanning  numerous genres.
The book for the inaugural reading is The Salt Path by Raynor Winn. Coincidentally, there is a film based on The Salt Path being released in the next week, so perhaps some of us may like to follow up our reading experience with a trip to the cinema.
A Whatsapp group has been set up for the members of The Book Club, conveying details every month.
The first meeting of The Book Club is Wednesday 18th June,  11.15 to 13.00 in Meeting Room 3 in Naas Library.
As the Library will help by supplying some copies of selected books and naturally need notice, a date for the discussion of the second book is Wednesday 2nd July at the same venue.
Looking forward to many inspiring discussions, sharing ideas and ultimately contributing to all our reading experiences.
An interesting article about the book/film appeared in a recent Independent. (I think you need Independent Papers access to read whole article.) But seemingly the article encapsulates the train of thought and the variety of feelings the reader encounters while reading the book.
Hopefully the film will still be showing after 18th June, our Book Club get together. 📚

 

CULTURE VULTURES

Message from Ann Enright:

A reminder of our upcoming Culture outing on Tuesday June 24th.

Guided Tour of Mainie Jellet/Evie Hone exhibition in NGI at 11am €17(including guide) followed by

Lunchtime Concert in NCH at 1.00pm €15 which lasts 1hr 5mins.

Lunch afterwards to be decided upon depending on numbers.

Please let me know asap whether you will attend as tickets must be booked and paid for in advance. I have provisionally booked the NGI tour which costs an extra €100 for 15 on top of entry. So first 15 for that one.

Please state your name when booking places as some of you are not in my contacts. Thanks. Ann

AUTUMN TRIP TO CLARE

There have been many requests from Kildare Retirees for a resumption of tours. I suppose those of us who have previously toured with Kildare Retired Teachers have great memories of the trips.

So after some discussion, we’re starting with a “home” trip to the Banner County (but who knows where we’ll go next…. the world is our oyster! Who know but that we might eat a few in Clare!!!)

 

The trip is open to Kildare retirees and their friends/family.

SEPTEMBER IN CLARE

Explore the outstanding beauty of Clare on a 3- night/4-day trip in September.
Date: 14th – 17th September 2025, based in the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon
Cost: €365 pp sharing -Bed & Breakfast and dinner each evening
Single supplement:€30 per night
Transfer by McGinley’s luxury coach to and from Kildare.
Please indicate your interest by contacting Bernadette Doyle, vice chairperson or Anne Rogan, Secretary Kildare

DANCING

Dancing has been a popular activity for Kildare Retirees for many years. This is thanks to teacher, Brian Keyes and his enthusiasm and knowledge. Thanks also to the organisational skills of Fidelma who takes care of venue booking and sending out fortnightly reminders to the dancers.

The DANCING takes place every second Wednesday in the TOWN HOUSE HOTEL, NAAS, with the dancers meeting at about 10.30 for tea and coffee.

Two hours of dancing follows – an excellent and very pleasant way to keep fit.

You are more than welcome to bring non-teaching friends.

Dancing will finish up this month for the Summer and will resume in September. Reminders will be posted on Oidí Scortha App

RTA GOLFERS

RTAI Annual Golf Classic will take place in Athlone GC on June 16th. Two 4 person Stapleford  teams from Kildare organised by the capable Ted Rooney will be participating.

Kildare Teams:

Ted, Mick Doolan, Anne Flanagan, Gobnait Walsh.

Anne Connolly, Judy Curley, Jim Hanafin ,Ed Kirwan.

Reserves  Annette French and Padraig Ashe

 

Golfers to make their own way to Athlone.
Tea/scone before game. Dinner after. Branch will fund  teams, tea and dinner.
Tee times on 16th June are 10.20 and 10.40.

Summer 2025 Meeting Report and Photo Gallery

SUMMER MEETING KRT JUNE 2025

(Please scroll to end to see photo gallery)

Thanks you to all our committee who work on our behalf

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Our meeting began with a warm welcome to new members, condolences and apologies.

Minutes of last meeting were read and approved (Thank you Anne and Maura)

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Financial Report shows that we are living well within our means and transparently which is so important. The meeting approved suggested funding for the various Branch activities. (Thank you Fidelma)

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Each of the organisers of the various activities of our Branch gave a short (but very impressive) report on what is happening. Thank you to all organisers and also luckily there is always some capable and willing member to step into the breach when required – thanks to them too. Each organiser has set up a WhatsApp group for ease of communicating with participants.

List of organisers:

Ann Enright- Culture Vultures

Anne Rogan- Hill Walking

Anne Rogan and Fiona Thompson- Cards and Games and Social

Bernadette Doyle – Outings and Holidays

Breda Fay- Blog and Oidí Scortha App

Fidelma  Farrell & Brian Keyes- Dancing

Maura McAuliff – Flat Walking

Stephanie Bergin – Book Club

Ted Rooney – Golf

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Máire Ní Choinuinneagáin RTAI President was unable to attend but sent on a report which Michael Minogue read to meeting. (Thanks Michael) The report emphasised the 2 aspects of RTAI: (1) Business/Financial side and the equally important (2) Social side.

(1) Business/Financial

(a) Her report on Annual Convention can be read in Comhnasc as can the good news on pay increases (1% in Aug 2025, 1% in Feb 2026, 1% in June 2026). she advised members when the occasion allowed to remind our TDs about the importance of parity AND the voting power of the retired teachers.

(b) Department of Ed  proposes some changes (all of which will be dealt with in Comhnasc or RTAI newsletters)

  • an option to convert to digital payslips
  • new ways to contact DE Payroll Section on DE Website
  • new ways to update your records with DE online

(c) Pension Declaration Forms will be issued to about 13000 teachers this summer (to prove you are still able to receive the pension). This will be an annual event for over 80s.

(d) Retired Teachers returning to work (article in Spring Comhnasc)

  • after break of less than 26 weeks – you will be making pension contributions to Teachers’ Pension Scheme until you’re 70
  • after 26 weeks or more and retired since 2013 – you will be making pension contributions to Public Service Pension Scheme until you’re 70

(2) Social

(a) Very successful Singing Group (See RTAI website)

(b) Annual Golf Classic (see our own Blog)

(c) ARTI Autumn Trip to White’s Hotel Wexford Oct 6th – 9th 2025 (RTAI Website and Comhnasc)

(d) New look ARTI Website/ Facebook and Linked-In – search for Retired Teachers’ Association of Ireland (rather than ARTI)

(e) check out over 70’s Household Benefit Scheme – YOU MUST APPLY FO IT

(f) NOTE- your Public Service Card, GP Visit Card, Drug Repayment Scheme, Driving Licence, EHIC Card all have expiry dates – ALSO your NEW Free Travel Card from September will include a companion!

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Some questions on Health Insurance, pay parity, webinars followed before RAFFLE (thanks to Anne)

LUNCH (photos thanks to Fiona Thompson)

   

   

   

Míle buíochas

RTA ACTIVITIES for JUNE

We had a great meeting in Killashee today. Great to see everyone and to hear about the wide variety of activities that is being organised for our group.
Below you will find a calendar of planned activities for June 2025.
Going forward I plan to use the Whats App OIDÍ SCORTHA to inform you about or remind you of events on our calendar.
All the details of the events times, venues, prices, etc will be available on the individual Whats App groups.
The details will also be published on the BLOG retiredteacherskildare.ie
Also on the BLOG, I will publish a short account and a few photos to let you know how an event went.

HERE’S JUNE CALENDAR:

DANCING:
Wed 11th June (tomorrow) Town House @ 11am
HILL WALKING:
Fri June 13th – meet at The Hares Corner Cafe @ 10.30 for Slieve Bloom walk
GOLF:
Mon 16th June in Athlone; tee times 10.30 and 10.40
CARD & GAMES (25s, Whist Scrabble, etc)
Tues 17th June in Riverbank Newbridge @ 11am
BOOK CLUB:
Wed 18th June @ 11am in Room3, Naas Library. Currently reading The Salt Path
CULTURE VULTURES:
Tues 24 June  Mainie Jellet/Evie Hones Exhib in NGI + lunchtime concert in NCH+ maybe lunch
AUTUMN OUTING:
14-17 September Co Clare

 

Retired Teachers Book Club

Kildare RTA Book Club

Kildare RTA Book Club was launched this morning Thursday. After introductions  there was a lively discussion on suggested genres and book titles.

The book for this month is

The Salt Path by Raynor

A film based on The Salt Path is being released in the next week, so perhaps some of us may like to follow up our reading experience with a trip to the cinema.

A  whatsapp group has been set up for the members of The Book Club to keep readers up to speed with details every month.

The June meeting of The Book Club will be

Wednesday 18th June,

11.15 to 13.00

Meeting Room 3

Naas Library

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The July meeting will  be

Wednesday 2nd July

same time and venue.

Looking forward to many inspiring discussions, sharing ideas and ultimately contributing to all our reading experiences.