September 2017 – RTAI CORK BLOG – Suíomh na Múinteoirí Scortha Chorcaí

Events: October to Christmas 2017

October Events

2^nd (Monday) Choir practice 11.20 a.m. SMA, Wilton. Mary Fitzgerald

Drama rehearsal 4 – 6 p.m. SMA, Wilton. Marian O’Callaghan

3^rd(Tuesday) Drama rehearsal 4 – 6 p.m. SMA, Wilton.

4^th(Wednesday) Art Class. 11.00 SMA, Wilton. Claire Bradley

4th & 5th Hill walkers: 2 days walking in Allihies, Beara Peninsula. (Committee)

6^th (Friday)

Social Coffee morning: 11.00 Clayton Silversprings Hotel. Padraig O Conaill

Line dancing. 11.00 SMA, Wilton. Marie Power

9^th (Monday) Choir a.m. Drama 4/6 p.m.

10^th(Tuesday) Drama 4pm /6pm

11^th (Wednesday) Art Class

12th (Thursday) Amblers walk. Rostellan. (Time to be notified by SMS)

13^th (Friday) Line dancing.

Oct 13 /20 (Friday/Friday ) Dubrovnik Trip. Frank Tobin/ Mary Cahill

13th (Friday) Line dancing.

16^th (Monday) Choir a.m. Drama 4/6 p.m.

17^th (Tuesday) Drama 4/6pm

18^th (Wednesday) Art Class

21st (Saturday) Dinner and Show: Niamh Kavanagh (Eurovision winner) and her band The Illegals, play the Hotel California album (The Eagles), as well as the Rumours album (Fleetwood Mac) in the Everyman Palace at 8p.m. Group rate €23 per person.

Early Bird options at Isaacs 5.30p.m.

Those attending may choose from 2-course (€23) or 3-course (€26) menu, or a la carte. To be paid directly at Isaacs.

Contact Mags McCarthy

23rd (Monday) Choir a.m. Drama 4/6 p.m.

24th (Tuesday) Drama 4pm /6pm

25^th (Wednesday) Art Class

26th (Thursday) Photography Group. SMA, Wilton. 2 – 4 p.m. Mags McCarthy

27^th (Friday) Line dancing.

30^th (Monday) Choir a.m. Drama 4/6 p.m.

31st (Tuesday) Drama 4 p.m. /6 p.m.

November Events

3^rd (Friday) Social Coffee morning in Clayton Silversprings Hotel Padraig O Conaill

3^rd (Friday) Set Dancing Class 1. SMA, Wilton. Marie Power

6th (Monday) Choir a.m. Mary Fitzgerald

7th (Tuesday) 8 p.m. “There Goes the Bell.” Performance by our Drama Group, at Cork Arts Theatre (CAT CLUB), Carroll’s Quay, Cork.

8^thWednesday Drama “There goes the Bell.” Second performance.

8th (Wednesday) Art Class. Claire Bradley

9^th (Thursday) Amblers’ walk. Ballincollig Regional Park Marie Power/ Claire Bradley

10^th (Friday) Set Dancing Marie Power

10^th (Friday) Insurance Talk by Dermot Goode.

LEE VALLEY GOLF CLUB. 2 – 4 p.m. Marie Dennehy

13^th (Monday) Choir

14th (Tuesday) Hill walkers. Mill Cove Walk. Rosscarbery. Committee

15^th (Wednesday) Art Classes

17th (Friday) Set Dancing

22nd (Wednesday) MASS OF REMEMBRANCE 11 a.m. ORIEL HOUSE HOTEL

AGM 12.30 p.m. ORIEL HOUSE HOTEL

LUNCH 1.30 p.m. ORIEL HOUSE HOTEL

23^rd (Thursday ) Photography Group. SMA. 2 – 4 p.m. Mags McCarthy

24th (Friday) Set Dancing

27^th (Monday) Choir

29^th (Wednesday) Art Class

December Events

1^st (Friday) Social Coffee morning. Clayton Silversprings Padraig O Conaill

1st Set Dancing Marie Power

6^th (Wednesday) Art Classes Claire Bradley

8^th (Friday) Christmas Lunch. Hayfield Manor. Marie Dennehy

14^th (Thursday) Amblers’ walk. Bishopstown. Marian O Callaghan

15^th (Friday) Set Dancing.

Nollaig Shona agus Ath-bhliain fé mhaise!

Drama at RTAI Cork There Goes the Bell

There Goes the Bell

Cork RTAI Drama group are busily rehearsing for their upcoming debut performance in Cork Arts Theatre. The dates are Tuesday, November 7th and Wednesday, November 8th, 2017.

The play is newly written by Helen Hallissey and is a hysterical look behind the scenes of a fictional country school in Ireland. There’s a very large cast and plenty of action throughout.

Helen and the cast have put in hours of hard work and preparation for this production and would appreciate your support. If the laughter at rehearsals is anything to go by you won’t be disappointed.

Tickets are €15 and are available online at the CAT club website

http://www.corkartstheatre.com/whatson.html or from Marian O’Callaghan at 0864072037

If any member would like to help out backstage or with promotional work or in any way, please contact Marian. Looking forward to seeing you all.

Ar Bhealach an Bhoirinn

On September 5th, a group of approximately 30 RTAI Cork members arrived in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare at lunchtime. Having checked in to our accommodation at the Hylands Hotel, we were ready to head out for our first walk. A short drive took us to Fanore Beach, where we assembled, and after the “Rolla” we set out. After a short walk on road and path we followed our guide Marty Holland, into the Caher Valley. Interestingly, the Caher is the only river in the Burren that runs entirely above ground.

Leaving Cert Geography was brought to mind, as we remembered terminology we hadn’t heard in oh, so many years! The clints and grikes were scattered with erratics! We recalled transhumance, on hearing that cattle are wintered in the Burren to get the benefit of the limestone grazing. Later on we saw plenty of fossils of coral, too.

What are you doing on my land?

Fossil of coral

Clints and grikes

We almost escaped the rain! Fortunately for us, we were beside an old ruin when the heavens opened, so we could huddle together for a bit of shelter! The views across to the Aran Islands left a lot to the imagination, but we could just make them out through the mist. On our final turn downhill, we had a fine view of Fanore below us.

A tough climb!

Looking towards Fanore

Burren lakes (turloughs)

Gimme shelter!

Back in Ballyvaughan, we were glad of a hot shower. Some of us wondered if we would be able to get out of bed the following morning – but never fear, the full compliment of hikers were up bright and early to tackle Mullagh More.

Mullagh More

On Wednesday, we drove out to Kilnaboy, passing the Poulnabrón Dolmen. From here we entered the Burren National Park, and began our steep ascent of Mullagh More. The terrain was much more demanding today, with loose stone and grikes to watch out for. There were areas near the summit that required a bit of scrambling. With the support of each other we all managed it, though. The views were wonderful. We paused occasionally to take in the vistas below us; lakes, green patches and grey, grey stone. Some sharp-eyed members of our group spotted Fr. Ted’s house in the distance.

A well earned break.

Amazing erosions

The Hardy Boys!

Ar scáth a chéile…

We’re not tired!

There was a palpable sense of achievement as we approached the final kilometre. Some hardy souls considered that a swim in the sea would be a fitting way to celebrate! With time to spare before dinner, some people went to visit the nearby Caherconnell Fort, others to the Dolmen, others enjoyed some retail therapy.

Mary, Angela and Claire at Bishop’s Quarter.

The Flaggy Shore

On the third morning, a leisurely walk was planned along a stretch of coast known locally as the Flaggy Shore. Seamus Heaney’s poem Postscript is all you need to read if you want to know more about this beautiful place.

Thank You

Marty Holland (retired lecturer MICE) was our guide for the two days hiking in the Burren. He has indepth knowledge of the area as he walks there frequently. Marty has walked the coast of Ireland in an effort to raise funds for cancer research. You can read more about that amazing journey here.

Mary Cahill was the organiser of the entire Burren Experience. Hotel, meals, guide, walks and detailed advance information were all co-ordinated efficiently and without fuss. Go raibh míle maith agat, a Mháire.

Clare Shelley supported Mary in the advance preparations, and didn’t forget the whistle! Maith thú, a Chláir.

Go raibh maith agaibh, Pádraig Keating agus Helen Kiely as na griangrafanna a sheoladh isteach.