The next golf outing- 3p scramble- is planned for Monday April 7th in Abbeyleix Golf Club.

Arrive at 1030am for cuppa.

€25 pp.

Text Michael Martin @ 0861223421 if you intend pplaying.

(This message is from Ted who will be playing in Killeen that day.)

Once again, Maura triumphed in the weather forecasting and the walkers had lovely weather for the March walk.

Here is a selection of comments and photos:

Hi All a great day out on the Derrybawn Ramble Way. Great company, banter and ‘Craic’. Míle Buíochas, Maura for organising the walk and recommending the café in Laragh. Delicious array of cakes! 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️ 🍰🧁🍥 (Stephanie)

Many thanks Maura for organising another most enjoyable day out. A great location and of course the cafe stop at the end added to it!
Also thanks for the photos ladies.😀 (Martina)

Thanks for organising a great hike Maura. It was a lovely day out in a most beautiful place . (Maria)

 

Coffee Morning

WHERE: Kilashee Hotel
WHEN:
Thursday, March 20th.
TIME: 11.30 a.m.

All welcome! Hope to see you all there.
Fiona Thompson
( Anne Rogan RTAI Kildare committee )

National gathering of RTAI Singers!*

Join us for a heartwarming afternoon of music performed by the talented National RTAI Singers.

*Details* :
* Date: Saturday March 22nd
* Time: 3:00 PM
* Location: St. Saviour’s Church, Dominic Street

Over 200 dedicated retired primary teachers, after weeks of rehearsal, are ready to share their passion for music in a special performance.

Enjoy a delightful program in the beautiful St. Saviour’s Church. All are welcome!

Spread the word and join us for a wonderful occasion.

We look forward to seeing you there! ‎

From Maura:

Just to give you all plenty of notice, I’m thinking of doing our next walk on Thursday week, (13th March) weather permitting.
The walk I have in mind is not completely flat. But it’s not a hill walk either!

It’s the Orange trail in Glendalough, described as a ramble along Derrybawn Woodland Trail. It’s 8km long and is about a third of the way up Derrybawn mountain. Once you have completed the initial incline of 160m, the road runs parallel to the Glendalough Valley below with wonderful views. It then comes down along Poulanass waterfall.

Personally I think most of you will find it very doable. We will take the initial climb very slowly, stopping every 5 minutes or so – we’re in no hurry!! Then it’s fairly flat until we come down along the waterfall. Bring a walking stick if you have one.

I’ll put up a poll on Walkers App (when I figure out how to do that!!). If most people are unhappy about a climb, we will just do the Blessington Greenway.

Raise Your Voice! New RTAI National Singing Group Concert!

RTAI National Social Choir Concert takes place on Saturday 22nd March.

Meeting at the Teachers Club, the ‘singing for fun session/concert’ will take place between there and nearby Dominican Church, St.Saviours.

The hard working group of singers of our Kildare branch have enjoyed meeting up to practise the songs in the Moat Theatre (auditorium!) Naas, followed of course by tea/coffee and chat.

Thank you to our Branch for support to hire the theatre.

Those of you who attended the Talk / Reading by author and playwright JohnMc Kenna in Naas Library on Monday 17 th February were treated to a very inspiring talk.

John Mc Kenna shared his literary journey with the group ; mentioning all the people who influenced his approach to writing reading extracts from his works and displaying his acting prowess as he gave us an insight into one of his characters in his play ‘ Mental’.

He created a very informal setting and all those attending felt at ease posing questions and interacting in a lively discussion with this very successful writer, a Kildare native.

Everyone enjoyed chatting while enjoying the refreshments and confectionery treats during the interval.

John certainly whetted the appetite of some of us to indulge in creative writing and forge ahead with confidence, using our own experiences and those of others.

John was very happy with the response to his Talk/ Reading and would be willing to oversee a creative writing workshop for those interested later in the year. Many thanks to you all who made the experience very worthwhile and enjoyable.

Regards Stephanie

From our flat walk organiser, (and intrepid weather forecaster!!!) Maura McAuliff:

We were blessed with the weather on Wednesday last for a lovely canal walk of nearly 14km in total, along the Grand Canal/Barrow Blueway.

 

 

 

We started with coffee and had a quick stop at the monument erected to Gerard Manley Hopkins who visited the town regularly as a nature escape from Dublin in the 1880s.

 

 

 

The canal walk is scenic and leads to Fisherstown Pub which is a picturesque, thatched gem. The inside is like a museum.

 

 

 

O   

One notable piece is the old “mangle” – who remembers feeding sheets and towels through one of those in your childhood?

 

 

 

Continue reading “February flat walk”

Message from our leader, Maura

Next Walk:
According to the forecast, the best day next week is Wednesday February 12th. So we will go with that.
Meeting Monasterevin at ALFINA cafe between 10:15 and 10:30. We will start walking at 11:00 sharp.
Route is along the canal from Monasterevin to Fisherstown; break for lunch there and then walk back again.
Alfina cafe is on the way into Monasterevin on the left hand side, just past those big derelict buildings on your right – delicious coffee etc. There is on-street parking just past the cafe and turn right. We will walk from there.
The walk is about 7km max one way. It’s perfectly flat with a good surface – runners are fine. Don’t let the distance put you off; we will have a good lunch break rest before walking back.
The owner of Fisherstown pub will open up specially for us – so we can use the toilets and get tea/coffee (compliments of RTA). Bring your own sandwich as he doesn’t do food.
The pub is well worth a visit – it’s like a museum! Alfina cafe will be expecting us – but the RTA will NOT be paying for whatever you have there!
Let me know if you plan to walk. As usual try to car pool. It’s about 35 minutes from Naas and very handy for those coming from Newbridge.

DANCING

RTA dance class resumes on Wednesday 29th January, Town House Hotel, Naas @10.30am. All are welcome.

WRITING

Writer John McKenna will give a talk Monday 17 th Feb, at 11am – 1pm, Naas Library, entitled ‘The Writing Life’ from hobby to full- time job! An insight to one writer’s journey. There will be a follow up Workshop later in the year.

Reply by WhatsApp if you would like to attend. +353 83 429 8713