Dublin South RTA

Dear RTA colleague, I wish to remind you that our guest speaker on Wednesday 4th March, will be Ms Patsy Fitzsimons from Decision Support Services ( DSS)
This promises to be a most interesting and informative presentation, as it will outline how
people can make legal arrangements on how they can be supported in making decisions
about their personal welfare, property and affairs.
Ms Fitzsimons will outline the services the DSS provides. In addition, she will discuss the
following:
Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity ) Act 2015
What is/not capacity
Assisted Healthcare Directive (AHD): creating, maintaining, changing & ending an AHD
Role of Designated Healthcare Representative
Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA)
Process of creating, registering, maintaining, changing, ending an EPA and related costs
It is hoped to have a 10/15 min Q/A session at the end of her presentation. If you would like
me to raise a question on your behalf, just email me your query, and I will bring it to the
attention of Patsy, mmacfhlann@gmail.com
In the meantime, I suggest you log on to the DSS website, which contains a large amount of
related information, and read about some of the aforementioned.
Looking forward to your attendance on the day in Ballyroan Community Centre
Kindly note that doors to the hall will be open from 11:45 hrs onwards. So come early and
have a tea/coffee before the start of the talk at 12 noon
Yours in decision-making
Micheál Mac Fhlannchadha
p/p RTA Org Comm

Cycle Trip

Our  last  cycle  had  to  be  postponed  again  so  weather  permitting  it  will  take  place  on  the
 24th  of  February.  We  will  meet  at  the  car  park  beside  the  tower  in  Sandymount  at  10.30am
 and  cycle  to  Dalkey  and  back.  For  your  safety  wear  a  helmet  and  a  high  vis  top.

March Drop-In

For our Drop-In on Wed 4th March 2026 we will have Ms Patsy Fitzsimons from the Decision
Support Service in attendance to address us on the topic of Assisted Decision Making. As we
“mature” it is very important to know what services / actions are available in relation to
decision making . Ms Fitzsimons will address the following in her talk
1 Short history of Decision Support Service, (DSS) its purpose and how it operates
2 Assisted Decision Making Act 2015: brief outline of its main contents
3 What is/not capacity
4 Assisted Healthcare Directive (AHD, brief summary/ its legal status
5 Role of Designated Healthcare Representative (DHR)
6 Who can/not be a DHR
7 Creating ,monitoring, changing , ending an AHD
Enduring Powers of Attorney , (EPA)
A Outline what EPA is
B Describe what an EPA covers
C Outline the process for creating, registering, maintaining, changing, ending an EPA
agreement
D Costs, approx., in relation to creating an EPA agreement
This promises to be a very informative, interesting and relevant talk. Consequently ,we, the
members of the organising committee, would dearly welcome your attendance on the day.
If you have a query you would like me to raise with Patsy, on your behalf, email your query
to me and I will bring it to the attention of our guest speaker: mmacfhlann@gmail.com
So, note Wed 4th March in your diary and hoping you can be present on the day

Howth Walk – Wednesday Feb 25

Meet : Howth Railway Station (Darts arriving at 10.48 and 11.08) We will depart after the latter and
have an early toilet stop at the East Pier, where we will rendezvous with drivers who have parked
closer to that. 

Route: Purple Route from Balscadden. The plan is to do the entire route via Red Rock (Lunch stop at
the beach). Returning to Howth via the Golf Course and Tram Tracks.
If the weather is inclement we will make a decision whether to take a shortcut via the Summit Car
Park and the upper tram tracks to join the lower tram tracks at Grace O’ Malley Drive.
Those who don’t want to do the full route may decide to take this option anyway. If there is a “split”
we may need a leader for this group.

Golf lessons with Gilliam Burrell and Maura Morrin at Stepaside Golf Centre, will resume on
Wednesday 11 th March 2026. The times for Gillian’s lessons have changed, lessons will start and
finish half an hour later. The times for Maura’s lessons remain unchanged.

Gillian will have three groups, one for beginners and two for improvers. Group 1, 10.30-11.30 :
Group 2, 11.30-12.30 : Group 3, 12.30-13.30 on Wednesdays 11 th March, 18 th March, 25 th March,
8 th April, 15 th April.
Maura will have two groups for improvers. Group 1, 11.00-12.00 : Group 2, 12.00-13.00 also on
Wednesdays 11 th March, 18 th March, 25 th March, 8 th April, 15 th April.
There will be no lessons with Gillian or Maura on 1 st April.
Lessons will cost €70 and there will be a charge of €6 for a small basket of golf balls for each
lesson.
If you wish to book a place, please contact Connie Steele 087 2190666 or email
mrsmcsteele@gmail.com with your name, contact number, email address and level at which you w
golf lessons.
Enjoy your golf lessons!

Each June, RTAI South Branch organises a golf outing to St Helen’s Bay, Rosslare This is a great opportunity for all our golfers, and especially for members who are new to the game to come along and to enjoy an outing with your peers, in a friendly atmosphere and to enjoy a break in the sunny south east. There are plenty of vacancies in hotels and guest houses at that time of year!

Prizewinners at last year’s outing to St Helen’s Bay

Our February Social Walk will take us to Merrion Square in the heart of
Georgian Dublin.
DATE: Wednesday 18 February 2026.
VENUE: Merrion Square and the National Gallery.
LEADER: Mary O’Shea
A walk around Merrion Square will be followed by a visit to the current
exhibition at the National Galley. We will enjoy a coffee break together in the
Gallery Coffee Shop after the walk and Gallery Visit.
MEET at 10.00 am at the Oscar Wilde Statue opposite No.1 Merrion
Square, on the Merrion Square and Clare Street corner, for walk around
Merrion Square.
Proceed to the National gallery to visit the current Picasso exhibition.
Refreshments in Gallery Café from 12noon (optional).
TRANSPORT: Luas to St Stephen’s Green. DART to Pearse Station.
Buses to Merrion Square.
Looking forward to your company on our second social walk for 2026.
Mary O’Shea Mobile 087 6836728
Carol Jackson Mobile 086 8849892
Social walks are held monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. Flat
or nearly flat walks that are 5km approx. Some walks will be shorter but
include a cultural aspect. Comfortable trainers or walking shoes
recommended. There is always a stop for refreshments arranged for after
each walk.

The weather outside has been frightening, rain and more rain; floods and darkness. We have a number of activities to cheer you up!

Miscellany on Tuesday 10th February in the Teachers’ Club at 11.30am Denis Costello will give a talk entitled “The Sistine Chapel by a Sculptor” There will be a €5 cover charge to cover a light lunch.

Royal Canal, Tolka Valley Park and Botanic Gardens Walk, led by P HOgan. This is an easy walk along the Royal Canal. The duration is about 2 hours, about 8kms long

Cycle Tuesday 10th February. Meet at the tower in Sandymount at 10.30am and cycle to Dalkey and back. Remember to wear a helmet and a hi-vis top

Social Walk on Wednesday 18 February Mount Merrion and the National Gallery

March Drop-in on Wednesday March 4th. There will be a guest speaker. More details closer to the time

Due to severe weather conditions, the Maudlin walk is cancelled

Deirdre

There was a very good turn out for the first Social Walk of the year. Despite the weather being miserable, sixteen of us braved the elements on the walk and then visited MoLI, the Museum of Literature Ireland, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Our thanks to everyone who came along.

Our  next  Rtai  cycle  takes  in  Sandymount to Dalkey. We  meet  at  the  car  park  in  Sandymount  beside  the  tower  on  Tuesday  the  27th  of  January  at  10.30am.  From  Sandymount  we  cycle  past  Blackrock,  Seapoint,  Dun Laoghaire,  Coliemore  Harbour  and  on  to  Dalkey. For  your  safety  wear  a  helmet  and  a  high vis  top  is  advisable. We  will  stop  on  our  return  journey  for  lunch  break  in  Sandymount.

Regards

Mick Griffin

Pat Fitzgerald 

Our walk next Wednesday, January 28th, is a hill walk to Maulin Mountain, in Wicklow, and will take 3.5 – 4 hrs. 

Meet at Crone Woods Car Park at 10.30am. Location code is 5Q8J+2V.

Car park is accessible via R 115, towards Glencree, turning left onto L 1013, after the turn for Glencree. Car park is approximately 6km from that turn. 

Also accessible from M50, taking the turn for Glendalough at Kilmacanogue, turning slight right onto R760 after 3km, and  after Coolakay House turning right onto L1013.

The journey from the southside of the city to the car park takes about 40 minutes. 

Hiking boots and walking poles are essential for this walk. The ground will be wet after all the recent rain and could be very muddy in places. 

Bring lunch, a drink and waterproofs.

This is a lovely walk,  but is uphill for about 90 minutes till we reach the top of Maulin , where we should have nice views over towards Djouce.

 After lunch the walk is all downhill, mostly on the Wicklow Way, with views of Powerscourt Waterfall and the Powerscourt Estate. 

Looking forward to a good turnout!

Leaders: Mary Lyons, 086- 3187885

Deirdre McGloughlin, 087- 7741953