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Summer events with RTAI Corcaigh

Don’t miss the opportunity to partake in these events, due to take place shortly!

1. Friday May 25th. 11.30a.m. Griffin’s Garden Centre.  Talk by Margaret Griffin, followed by lunch. €20. Organised by Mary Fitzgerald.

2. Thursday May 31st. Adare Historical Tour, led by Pat Naughton. This is sure to be  lively and interesting tour! Meet at Adare Heritage Centre 11a.m. Please see text message for contact details of Pat, and Mary Cahill (Committee).

3. Thursday 31st May. Camera Group have their final meeting before the summer. SMA centre Wilton. 2p.m.

4. Thursday June 7th. Mixed Golf outing/scramble at Muskerry G.C. Tee off 1.30 p.m. Names to Joe Lane by June 5th please.

Keep an eye out for text messages regarding more events before the summer break!

Our Camera Group

Our Camera Group meets on the last Thursday of the month at the SMA centre in Wilton. We are a group of camera enthusiasts of varying skills and with varying camera equipment, but we all learn from each other, and from our tutor Tony.

After our Thursday meeting we generally plan an outing during the following fortnight, to focus on some aspect of photography. To date these have included night photography, bokeh, portrait photography and landscapes.

We exhibited our work at the AGM last November and at the coffee morning in December.

In April we intend to visit some exhibits of the Cork Photo 2018 festival. We hope this experience will give us some ideas as well as confidence in our own ability!

Killavullen Hill Walk

On Tuesday February 13th a brave group of RTAI members travelled to Killavullen for a hillwalk. The walk was led by Mairead Twomey. Despite the extremely cold weather and rather icy roads, a group of 16 braved the elements. We met in O Regan’s shop in the village for a cuppa and facilities prior to the walk. Mairead was a font of information regarding the village. This small sleepy village has been birthplace to at least two famous people-Nano Nagle (no biography necessary) and Richard Hennessy- creator of one of the world’s best known and most-respected Cognac brands.

We set off at 11.30 and the walk proved to be most enjoyable. We experienced the proverbial “4 seasons” in one day. In fact one could well have thought that we were in the Alps as can be seen from the photographs. Snow fell heavily at one stage but the scenery was spectacular.

Afterwards a group retired to the Wild Goose in Dromahane for refreshments. However a number of the walkers had to forego lunch as they had a date with Sir Henry at the Opera House. Well done to Mairead for organising this most enjoyable walk. Next Hillwalk will take place on Mount Hillary on Thursday March 15th. This will be led by Mairead Twomey and Joan McCann. I will send details anon-names to be sent to me -Kathleen Lowney-as Clare Shelly is away.

Out of the Mist and into the Blue. Kinsale walks in January.

The 2018 walking season got off to a great start on 11th January.

The majority of the participants drove from inland regions, through the dense fog, wondering if they would be able to see their noses in front of them on the walk!

The sun was shining in Kinsale with hardly a wisp of fog.

The new year saw 34 hillwalkers stepping it out 9.5 km via the Dock, and Ardkilly, to Sandycove under the leadership of Angela Foley. We stopped on the ridge to admire the view back over Kinsale, and the Archdeacon Duggan bridge. Angela and Seán gave us a fascinating insight into the life of this remarkable man. (You can read more about him here).

8 amblers chose to stay in Kinsale, under the leadership of Clare Shelley, walking around the town and viewing the sights from Compass Hill.

Both groups joined up for lunch. The staff of the Trident Hotel provided delicious soup & sandwiches.

Lunch by the sea
View from the ridge
Downhill to Sandycove

September Events

It’s that time of year again. The whole nation seems to be preoccupied with Back-to-School, while we relish the freedom ahead! Here is a list of the planned activities for September:

1st. Friday:  Coffee morning at Clayton Silversprings Hotel. 11 a.m. (Please note: €3)

4th. Monday: Choir practice resumes. New members welcome. SMA Hall, Wilton. 11.20 a.m.

4th. Monday: Drama group resumes. SMA Hall, 4 p.m. Volunteers welcome for backstage work to support our upcoming production.  Contact Marian O’Callaghan 0864072037.

5th & 6th. Tuesday – Thursday: Hillwalking in the Burren. (Fully booked).

8th. Friday: Line dancing classes begin. SMA Hall, Wilton. 11 a.m.

9th. Saturday: Annual BBQ. Lee Valley Golf Club. 8 p.m. till late. Ceol & craic!

14th. Thursday: Amblers’ walk. Ballycotton. Time TBC.

28th. Thursday: Photography group meets. SMA, Wilton. 2 p.m.

All events are subject to confirmation by text message.

Bealtaine 2017

The following events are planned for May 2017

5th. Friday: Social Coffee Morning. Clayton Silversprings Hotel. 11 a.m. (Pádraig Ó Conaill)

11th. Thursday: Amblers’ Walk. Youghal.

16th. Tuesday: Hillwalkers. Hike to Torc Waterfall. Killarney.

23rd – 30th: Best wishes to our Choir which will participate in a festival in San Marino.

31st. Wednesday: Spike Island visit. Departs Kennedy Quay, Cobh, 10.45. Pre-booking essential (see text message).

Please Note! Coffee mornings and walks are subject to confirmation by text message, which will be sent prior to the event. Hillwalkers will receive an email with full details. The Choir will have their own arrangements.

Are you interested in the Arts? The Bealtaine Festival runs throughout the month of May, all over Ireland. Click here to see the full website.

Dew Drop Inn for a Dropeen le Seán Ó Callanáin

For many years I’ve been mildly curious about The Jameson Heritage Centre, Midleton. Recently the RTAI gave me the push I needed to visit. I was hugely impressed and am most grateful to Marie Dennehy for making it possible.

Multi-storied limestone buildings on a grand scale highlight the historical importance of distilling locally. The 18th, 19th and 20th centuries live on in a seamless pursuit of whiskey perfection while the vast complex of new buildings leave little doubt that a profitable future is well in hand.

There was lots for the eye to enjoy and our photographers had an exciting challenge. Our excellent guide pleased the ear and answered our many questions with ease. Our noses were tantalised with the pleasant ambush of whiskey vapour escaping from patient barrels content to lie still for 3/5/12 or 18 years. Clearly our palates were being teased before we tasted the golden dew.

As teachers, in our bones we anticipated the end of tour assessment with confidence. As high achievers, we saw off the challenge……. down to the very last drop!!

Ar m-anam, chuireamar preab san ól !!