Dublin South RTA

• Social Walk:  Our next social walk will be in Rathfarnham Castle on Wednesday 19th February. We will meet at the Rathfarnham Castle Tea Rooms at 11.00. There will be a twenty park walk followed by a guided tour of Castle and Exhibitions, cost  €4.  A lunch table is booked for 12.30 after the tour. 16 ,15B, S6 and 74 busses service this route.
• Unfortunately nutritionist, Gaye Godkin, is unable to address our April Drop-in. She will be available to us in October. We are in the process of trying to secure another speaker for April
• Volunteering for Bealtaine Festival.  Please find attached details of Volunteering for Bealtaine Festival. Sounds like that could be fun.

The TGS is a vibrant golfing society open to both men and women golfers from the teaching fraternity and retired teachers!

Should any of your members or their family members  wish to join our society, our Captain Bridie Byrne (RTAI North Dublin) at bridiebyrne52@gmail.com or  our secretary Anne Reville reville.anne@gmail.com  would  be glad to supply all details..

Thank you for your time in reading this request.

Beir bua agus beannacht,

Eamonn O Dúlainn

President TGS . 

OUR    cycle  on  Tuesday  the  18th  of  February  will  be  to  Adamstown.

We  will  meet  at  the  car  park  beside  the  Black  Horse  pub  in  Inchicore.

We  set  off  at  10.30am  and  cycle  beside  the  canal  all the  way  to  Adamstown.

This  is  an  easy  cycle  and  should  suit  all  cyclists.

It  is  also  important  to  wear  a  helmet  and  a  high-vis  top.

As  usual  we  have  coffee/lunch  break  before  returning.

Regards

Mick  Griffin

Pat  Fitzgerald

The walk next Wednesday, February 12th is an easy flat walk along the Royal Canal,  Tolka Valley Park, crossing Finglas Road into Glasnevin Cemetery and ending in the Botanic Gardens. 

START:  Canal Bridge beside Castleknock Railway Station
FINISH:    Botanic Gardens

TIME:       10:40 a.m. DURATION: 2 hrs Approx.

DISTANCE:         8km approx

TRANSPORT :
TRAIN:  Maynooth Line from Connolly Station leaves at  10:17, via Drumcondra 10:21, Broombridge 10:26
 and arrives in Castleknock at 10:35

LUAS GREEN LINE and MAYNOOTH LINE

Luas Green Line to Broombridge to connect with Maynooth train to Castleknock.   Connect at Broombridge to Maynooth Line train at 10:26 a.m. arriving in Castleknock at 10:35

  Please check times on the day if using Luas Green Line and Mainline.

BUS:  37   Alight at stop 1675 just after M50 Flyover. Walk towards Blanchardstown. After bridge over railway turn left on path towards Castleknock Railway Station entrance.
BUS: 38 Alight at stop 1674. Walk towards Blanchardstown. After bridge over railway turn left on path to Castleknock Railway Station entrance.

Please note 38A doesn’t go through Castleknock.

At the end of the walk, exit Botanic Gardens, turn right on to Botanic Road, continue up to Mobhi Road junction (this is a crossroads). Across the road there is a bus stop with a predictor. Buses 4,9,83. Ten minutes to city centre.

ROUTE:  We follow the canal from Castleknock to Lock 10 at Ashtown. We proceed through Rathborne Village and enter Tolka Valley Park.  We walk along the Tolka to Finglas Road. We turn right onto Finglas Road and walk to Glasnevin Cemetery.  We walk through Glasnevin Cemetery and enter the Botanic Gardens where the walk ends.  There are toilets and cafes in Botanic Gardens. 

 There are toilets at Pearse and Connolly Stations. There are none at Drumcondra, Broombridge or Castleknock railway stations.

Trail shoes are fine for this walk as there is a good path all the way. 

The walk will be led by Patrick Hogan   Mobile 0863150312. Please contact if you need further details.

The February miscellany took place on Tuesday, February 11th in The Teachers’ Club @ 11.30

Sheila Flitton ( she was the banshee in The Banshee of  Inisherin) performed a one woman show called Beezie.

It was about the life & times of a woman called Beezie! and it was approximately an hour long. It was a riveting and entertaining show!

Here are some pictures, compliments of Donal O Loingsigh

Dear RTA Colleague

This letter is to update you on the situation re dancing classes 2025.

Our ballroom dance classes resumed on Thurs. 16th Jan. with a full house of eager and enthusiastic. participants. Such was the level of interest in the classes that I was unable to accept all those who

wished to participate and a waiting list was affected. I am in negotiations with the manager of the

Teacher’s Club and our dance teachers with a view of running 2 dance classes on a Thursday

morning, come Sept. 2025, should numbers warrant same. One class would start at10:30 and the

second at 11:30 , ending at12:30 . If you would like to join a class in Sept ’25 email me or text me

and I will get back to you in late Aug for an update from you. This term’s dance steps include slow

foxtrot, slow waltz, rumba, cha cha-cha, jive, quickstep, barn dance and some line dancing. You

might even get an opportunity to embellish your prowess at an Old Time Waltz at the next term of

classes.

On the away front, a return trip to Marbella (San Pedro del Alcantara) is going ahead from 13 – 18

Oct 2025. Last year’s outing there proved to be an outstanding success with a most enjoyable and

action-packed week had by all in attendance. This year’s outing is almost fully booked out with just

a few places still remaining. So, if you would like to unleash your passion for dance and learn the

fiery rhythm of salsa, the playful sway of cha cha-cha and the smooth moves of bachata and

merengue why not join us for the week??? Classes run from 11:00 hrs to 13:00 hrs Tues – Sat (incl).

Remember dancing is not just a workout, it’s a way to celebrate life, connect with others, enhance

one’s wellbeing and improve mental acuity by learning and recalling dance steps: more important

still, it’s about having FUN.

If you would like any further info on the above email me ( mmacfhlann@gmail.com) or text /call me

087-6305440 and I will be glad to assist you.

Yours in dance

Micheál Mac Fhlannchadha

28/01/2025

December 10 dawned, bright and sunny, temperate for the time of year. Ideal weather for our Christmas Miscellany. The Club was once again filled with members from all over the capital, gathered for a fest of Christmas carols, fun and frolics!

Carmel Uí Loingsigh, our bean a’ tí, was in sparkling form, literally, in a sparkling black number, as she introduced all the usual performers. The incomparable Joe Johnston accompanied the carol singing, accompanied by Úna and Peter, on the guitar. The talented Shanley duo, Mick and Eithne entertained us with a sketch and a wonderful rendition of the iconic Fairytale of New York.

We had poetry – Úna Ní Cheallaigh, story telling with Carmel Dempsey, saxaphone playing with Bernie Mangan, and group carol singing. Una Johnston led the audience in a group rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas with the audience actively joining in with sections performing as each of the 12 days.

Finally, birthday wishes were offered to Tadhg Mac Pháidín, this being his birthday. Our thanks to the Club for continuing to host our gatherings, to the staff who organise the furniture and the meal and to Doreen for her front of house activities.

We wish all our members a very happy Christmas and we hope to see you at our next miscellany in February.

Denis Costello who made a presentation on the early sculptures of Michelangelo, including The Statue of David, to the South Dublin branch of the RTAI in Club Na Múinteoirí on 13 February 2024. Photo courtesy of Dónal Ó Loingsigh

November 27th Was this the first snowfall of winter? A little snow doesn’t deter RTAI walkers! A brave cohort still sallied forth, braving the cold and the elements! Beautiful day at Powerscourt with 12 other hardy walkers. John Tuohy, with a snow covered Maulin in the background. The Waterfall in full spate behind Nuala and Deirdre. I am indebted to Deirdre McLoughlin for the photos below.