Dublin South RTA

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

Three retired teachers reflect on the simple financial habits that supported them throughout their careers and share practical, reassuring advice for younger teachers starting out today.

When you’re starting your career in teaching, retirement can feel a lifetime away. Payslips are closely watched, increments are exciting, and the idea of ‘financial wellness’ often takes a back seat.
There’s also often a perception that unless you’re saving large amounts, you’re not really making progress.
However, for three retired teachers, now looking back on long and fulfilling careers, financial well-being wasn’t built through big, dramatic decisions. Instead, it was built quietly, steadily and often without much fuss at all.
Ruairi Mac Donail, Noelline Connell and Audrey Johnston are all long-time members of Comhar Linn INTO Credit Union. While their careers took them to different parts of the country, their advice for younger teachers is remarkably similar: start early, keep it simple and don’t underestimate the power of small, regular habits.

MAKE SAVING AUTOMATIC AND FORGET ABOUT IT
All three lauded the benefits of saving “at source”. Regular deductions taken directly from salary meant savings happened before there was any temptation to spend.
“It was saving without even knowing you were saving,” says Audrey. “Because it was done before the money hit my account, I just learned to live on what was left.”
For Ruairi, who began teaching in the late 1980s, this habit became the foundation of his entire financial life. “It was the first sensible thing I ever did,” he laughs. “Money was taken at source, so I never had to think about it. Even now, with my pension, it still goes straight into the Credit Union.”
Over time, those steady contributions built a safety net, one that made borrowing for cars, home improvements or education far less stressful.

THINK MEDIUM-TERM, NOT JUST LONG-TERM
While pensions are important, all three admit that in the early years of teaching, retirement planning wasn’t always front of mind. They too focused on achievable, medium-term goals: a reliable car, an extension or college fees.
“Every car I ever owned came from a Credit Union loan,” says Ruairi. “You owned the car from day one. There were no hidden costs or surprises, and you always knew exactly where you stood.”
That same approach applied to home improvements. Rather than extending mortgages over decades, manageable loans allowed work to be done in stages, without creating long-term financial pressure.
For younger teachers, this kind of thinking promotes balance, supporting planning for the future while still allowing life to happen along the way.

USE YOUR INCREMENTS WISELY
Be smart and make the most of early-career increments.
“In the beginning, increments come every year,” Ruairi explains. “That’s the easiest time to put a bit extra into savings and still budget comfortably. As the years go on, those increments become fewer, so it makes sense to use them well early on.”
This is a simple shift in mindset that can quietly strengthen financial well-being.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP
Confidence – or lack of it – plays a huge role in how people manage money. Noelline believes this is where Comhar Linn really stands apart.
“People can be terrified walking into a bank,” she says. “But with Comhar Linn, it’s smaller, more personal. You can ask questions, and you will get help.”

She also points out that feeling respected and listened to makes a real difference, especially for younger members navigating finances for the first time.

THINK BEYOND YOURSELF
All three retirees also spoke about the importance of family involvement. Opening accounts for children, encouraging partners to save, and normalising good financial habits helped build confidence across generations.
“I encouraged my children and my partner to join as well,” says Audrey. “Saving as a family, in a place you trust, makes such a difference, and it truly helped us over the years.”

A QUIET PATH TO FINANCIAL CONFIDENCE
Ruairi, Noelline, and Audrey all agree: financial peace came not from big risks or high earnings, but from small, steady habits – automatic savings at source, sensible Credit Union loans, and smart use of early increments.
For today’s younger teachers, their advice is simple and encouraging: start early, keep it automatic, and let consistency work its magic. Join Comhar Linn INTO Credit Union, set up regular deductions, and watch small steps build a strong future.
Visit comharlinnintocu.ie for more information

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 andrelevant 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

Yours in decision making

Micheál Mac Fhlannchadha 

p/p Org Committee

16/01/2026