News Roundup for the New Year

Posted on January 20, 2012 by coolamber71

Dóibh san a bhfuil suim acu ins na siúlóidí:
I hope that you received our calendar of activities in the regular post just before the Christmas and noted on the calendar that a walk in Ballinastoe Woods is planned for Wednesday next, 25th January. This walk is for more regular walkers – hill walkers – and our following one on 8th February will hopefully meet the needs of lowland walkers. You will find attached a message from Deirdre McLoughlin and Betty Behan who will lead this walk in Ballinastoe. Please read it and take note of its contents.
The branch now has a greater than ever number of members on email and we will do our best to keep you informed of all branch activities. Please check in on the branch blog – try it today – https://dublinsouthrta.wordpress.com.  If you subscribe to the blog, it’s free!, each posting will be sent directly to your email inbox.  Posting information to members, now over the 1000 mark, is a costly exercise, so using the blog and email are by far preferable and much more cost effective.

There will be another email over the weekend regarding Digital Camera Course, Trip to Cardiff, Club Miscellany and Golf.

The time of our drop-in in Ballyroan Community Centre has been moved to a slightly earlier slot from 11am to 1pm.

Is there interest among members in attending “The Steward of Christendom” – a play by Sebastian Barry which will be staged  in the theatre of Club na Múinteoirí during the month of February?  If there is sufficient interest in it we may be able to organise a group from the branch to attend. As well as night time performances there are also two day time performances – 21st and 28th February.
Ag súil le buíon mhaith coisithe ar an 25ú lá

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Walk in Ballinastoe Wood

Posted on January 20, 2012 by coolamber71

The Walk in Ballinastoe will be led by Betty Behan and Deirdre McLoughlin and the following message from Deirdre to me is self explanatory – my sincere thanks to both of them for their guidance and support to South Dublin RTAI branch and to those interested in the walking activities.

Please note  the helpful advice and words of caution from Deirdre especially regarding the necessity for warm clothes – while temperatures in the lowlands may be very tolerable they can drop quite low in the exposed upper reaches of the hills – especially at this time of year – wear a few layers!!!

Micheál Ó Gríofa

 

I will be leading the walk on Jan 25th with Betty Behan. It would be great if you could let people know that this is a more challenging walk than the last one which Betty led. Each month there will be one easy walk on fairly level ground and one more challenging one for those who like to walk in the hills. The walk on Jan 25th is of the more challenging variety and is definitely not an easy stroll through the woods.

For those who wish to do the walk, there is a choice of meeting places:

  • I will be at the car-park in the Spawell, Templeogue leaving at 9.45 am on the morning of the 25th in the part on the left nearest to the entrance, and will drive from there to Ballinastoe Woods.
  • Betty will be at the Silver Tassie  leaving at 10 am for those who will be travelling from that direction. There is parking for about 20 cars at Ballinastoe so car-pooling, particularly at the Spawell would be a good idea.
  • If people wish to make their own way, Ballinastoe woods is on the road between the Sally Gap and Roundwood. Coming from Rathfarnham, turn left at the Sally Gap; drive 5km and Ballinastoe car-park is on the left, with a sharp left turn at the entrance. It is signed.

The walk follows the Wicklow Way from the woods and goes up towards Djouce Mountain on a boardwalk. Fairly close to the top, we leave the boardwalk and climb up the last stretch over a rough track.

There are marvellous views across to Lough Tay, Lough Dan, Lugnaquilla, and Luggala on the way up.

From the top, there is a steep path down which requires hiking boots, and if possible, walking poles. They are a great help on the steep stretch which has a lot of loose stones and can be slippery. We can see right across to Howth from here on a clear day.

We rejoin the boardwalk to walk back down to the car-park. The total length of the walk is about 3 hours. People will need warm clothes, as this area is very exposed and there is no shelter whatsoever along most of the route. A drink and a snack would also be a good idea as we will probably stop somewhere close to the top to take in the views.

If people need any more information, my email is dmcgloughlin@eircom.net

Regards,

Deirdre McGloughlin

PS If you need to ring me, my mobile is 0877741953.

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Winners All the Way!

Posted on December 16, 2011 by coolamber71

Our recent meeting at Club na Múinteoirí saw a bumper attendance.  Over 169 members signed in for the meeting and attended lunch afterwards in the Club.  Tadhg Mac Pháidín was put to the pin of his collar to keep the lunch queue moving!

Two members got their Christmas presents early!  There was a draw for the members attending the meeting and the two lucky recipients of vouchers were Tom Gilmore and Colm McGlade.  Well done and congratulations to both Tom and Colm.

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Final Drop-In of 2011!

Posted on December 15, 2011 by coolamber71

You are invited cordially invited to drop in for a cuppa tomorrow morning in Blackrock Education Centre, Kill Lane. (11am until 1pm) This is our final drop-in of 2011 and thanks to all of those who have come along to any of the three Drop In centres since last September. Tá súil agam gur bhainis féin taitneamh as ár niarracht chun daoine a chur i dteangmháil lena chéile i rith na bliana. Munar tháinig tú go dtí aon cheann des na hionaid fós, bain trial as. Tá ár mbuíochas tuilte ag na daoine éagsúla ‘sna trí ionaid a fháiltigh romhainn agus a chabhraigh linn deis a thabhairt dár mbaill bualadh lena chéile. Blackrock Education Centre – Friday – 11am

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Ballyroan Drop In December 7th

Posted on December 5, 2011 by coolamber71

Beatha agus sláinte chughaibh uiliig!. Hopefully you have by now digested and survived Budget Mark One 2012. On this Wednesday (7th Dec) Dublin Sth. branch will host the usual drop in in the Community Centre, Ballyroan. Mar a deirim, i gcónaí, tá fáilte romhat bualadh isteach le haghaidh cupán tae nó caife aon am idir 11.45 agus 1.30. To those who are recent “recruits” to the ranks of the RTAI or who have received this invitation for the first time you are very welcome to come along for the cuppa and hopefully recognise a face or two, exchange tales and gossip or anything else within the law!! Our thanks to the staff in Ballyroan Community Centre who have been most helpful and welcoming since we started our monthly drop in in September. Ag súil bualadh leat ar an gCéadaoin seo,

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November Walk

Posted on December 1, 2011 by coolamber71

On the last day of November, on a cool, bracing morning, our group met in Dun Laoghaire under the able leadership of Betty Behan to embark on a “mild” hike of “The Metals”.  About 30 members met outside of “Teddy’s” and set off along by the side of the Dart line,  up Killiney Hill Park and on to Dalkey.  Then back by the coast road again to our starting point.  For the more experiened among us it may have been a gentle hike, but for the more unfit, such as yours truly, it was a marathon endeavour, especially the “easy” little climbs along the way.  No doubt my vascular surgeon will say it did me a power of good, and I will probably agree with him when the muscles in my calves cease quivering!

Our thanks to Betty Behan for arranging the walk, taking us yunder her wing and giving us an impromtu local history lesson along the way, as she pointed out landsights and gave us their history.  We hope to resume these walks next spring.  Below is a pictorial montage of the highlights of the walk.

Incidentally, Betty assures me that if I can manage one of her walks, anyone in the branch can manage it!
MR

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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Digital Camera Course

Posted on November 29, 2011 by coolamber71

Three members have expressed an interest in participating on a digital photography course.  We really need about 10 people on a course to make it worthwhile, so we would welcome another 7 volunteers!  The course would be run in the Blackrock Education Centre as an integral part of the “Drop-In” morning in that centre.  Participants would need to bring their laptops and cameras with them.  The course would be a practical “hands-on” one, with a minimum of theory and maximum practical work.  The course would cover:

  • disk storage
  • downloading photos to the computer
  • editing software
  • cropping, straightening, correcting under/over exposure, reducing red eye, printing, uploading to web etc
  • photographic techniques for better shooting

We would also welcome expressions of interest in other aspects of computing such as how to use your computer to do basic things such as wordprocessing, accessing email, using a web browser to surf the Internet, how to use a printer, Skype for video conferencing etc.  If there is sufficient interest we would be delighted to organise a course.  If you are interested in the Digital Photography course or indeed, in a course on any other aspect of the computer, please let us know by posting a comment to this post.  Just click on the comment link below and let us know what you are interested in!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUKzPbCxoMs

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Last Walk of the Year!

Posted on November 28, 2011 by coolamber71

Nollaig Shona

The next RTAI Dublin South walk is planned for this Wednesday, 30th November. On this occasion walkers are asked to assemble in Dún Laoghaire for a gentle walk to Dalkey and its environs. Walkers will be under the safe guidance of Betty Behan. Please wear walking shoes / boots and appropriate gear and don’t be put off by any gentle mist or even shower. Dublin South walkers are made of sterner stuff!!! Assemble in the car park opposite Teddy’s Ice Cream shop – Teddy’s is on your right if you take the coast road from Dún Laoghaire towards Sandycove. Get the DART to Dún Laoghaire if you wish and it’s a short walk to Teddy’s. You may have your ice cream there or a cuppa coffee in the Promenade Cafe next to Teddy’s. The walk will move off at 10.30 so don’t be late. We should be back in Dún Laoghaire between 12.30 and 1pm. This is your final opportunity to get in trim to face Chrismas Dinner with all the trimmings!  Ag súil le lá breá geal agus fonn siúlóide ar gach éinne.  We also take this opportunity to wish all our members a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

 

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November Branch Meeting

Posted on November 26, 2011 by coolamber71

Many thanks to all ( 165+ ) who turned out for today’s general meeting of the branch and for the co-operation and good spirit with which the business was transacted. Arising from the discussion at the meeting I have combined into one the list of contacts by emails for activities. Hopefully that will improve the channels of communication. Whether it’s walking, drop-in, bridge, book clubs, information will issue to all of those on the full list. On this Friday (25th November) we will host a drop-in in the Blackrock Education Centre to which you are very welcome. A cup of tea or coffee will be available – from 11am to 1pm. The Education Centre is located on Kill Avenue, close to Baker’s Corner. The entrance is shared with that to Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. We look forward to having a good turn out for the chat, the gossip or whatever strikes you. Tá a scéal fhéin le hinsint ag gach éinne – bíodh sé fíor nó bréagach. Tabhair leat do scéal. Beidh fáilte romhat.

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Correction!

Posted on November 9, 2011 by coolamber71

In a recent Bridge Competition notice that went out with your notice of meeting, there was a mistake that has now been drawn to our attention!  The price mentioned for entry to the competition was €25 per person.  This of course should have been €25 per couple!  Please forgive us for making such an elementary error, but the notice wasn’t proof read before going to post!

A number of people have asked me if we are thinking of offering a course in digital photography.  Many members have a digital camera but don’t know how to download the photos onto their computer, and don’t know how to do some basic editing on their photos, to remove red eye for example.  If sufficient members indicate their desire for such a course, I would be happy to oblige by offering a beginners’ course in Blackrock EC, on one of our drop-in mornings.  Please indicate your willingness to attend such a course by responding to this mailing with a comment.

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