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| February Newsletter |
| A Happy New year to one and all Another year, another set of new year’s resolutions! Hopefully your u3a can help you to make them a reality. We have lots of activities up and running, more events planned and definitely something you can participate in and enjoy. Remember its YOUR u3a so if you have suggestions for activities and/or event please let us know and we will explore how we can get these up and running. |
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| On the subject of it being your u3a, another plea for new committee members. A number of officers have completed their term and we have vacancies so if you are interested come and chat. There are still members who have email difficulties that prevent them receiving these newsletters If you know of anyone who is having difficulties can you let them know that a copy can be found on our web site…..https://www.u3aarmagh.org/ |
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 Given the great time had at the Xmas lunch we are keen to make out-to-lunch events a more regular thing. There is one this week at Dungannon and given this was “sold out” less than a day after being advertised we are actively planning for another in March. Remember to get in quick as these always have limited places and are very popular with members. |
 A quick reminder to all who have reserved seats for the Armagh Theatre Group performance of My Brilliant Divorce on Friday 10th February at 7.30pm in Abbey Lane Theatre, Abbey Lane, Armagh. The doors open at 7.15pm. You need to pay £10 at the door and this covers a glass of wine/Schloer at the interval. IMPORTANT NOTE – If you do have places and find you are unable to make it please let Tim know ASAP. This event is currently sold out but you can still apply to be put on the reserve list as it is likely there will be drop-outs. For both eventualities contact Tim at timbohanna1953@gmail.com. |
 After the enforced COVID break and long search for a venue, the much missed Monthly Meetings are back on the schedule. These will take place on a Friday morning in the Cardinal Ó Fiaich Memorial Library. The opening event will be on the 24th February. As before this has coffee from 10.30 am with the presentation starting promptly at 11.00 am. Fittingly, the first talk will be given by the Library Director, Roddy Hegarty on the library and its collection. So come along for a chat and to be entertained. |
Oh, just in case you thought we’d forgotten, we certainly have not. There are plans for one of our popular coffee mornings but it still in the planning stage and we are aiming for early March. More details as soon as we have definite news. |
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| February Calendar |
| Hill Walking Group This group complete walks along country lanes, in forest parks, hills, and mountains. Walks are usually 2-4 hours.They meet weekly on Thursdays at the Armagh Palace car park by the children’s play park and depart promptly at 9.30 am. For more information contact, Caroline at cbgood@doctors.org.uk and add your mobile number to join the WhatsApp group. Tuesday Walkers For those seeking a more gentle walk and talk. The schedule for this month is…….Feb 7th – ArgoryFeb 14th – RossmoreFeb 21st – Portadown TowpathFeb 28th – Clare Glen The group meets on Tuesdays at the Palace car park near the children’s playground at 10.00 am.For more details contact, Patricia McConville at patriciamcconville@btinternet.com. Cycling group. Given that poorer weather is likely over winter the group will probably meet infrequently. Those interested or requesting date information should contact Peter Good at pdgood@doctors.org.uk and add your mobile number to join the WhatsApp group. Cycling is mostly on secondary or minor roads, occasionally on major roads. Distance cycled is approximately 30-35KM (3hours) with a coffee stop along the way. Members must have their own bikes, helmets and Hi-Vis tops and be comfortable with cycling on roads. Communication is by a WhatsApp group. Pilates Classes are underway once more with 2 classes each Wednesday (10.30am and 11.30am). At present these are full but we often have vacancies so if you are interested contact Margaret. For more information contact Margaret at tro111@hotmail.com Bridge – Online Group The online sessions are held on a Wednesday at 7.00 pm using the BridgeBase Online platform that is very easy to use, for full details of how to play online contact, Dennis at denu3a@gmail.com Bridge – Face-to-Face Group The face-to-face sessions are each Monday held in the Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich Memorial Library between 2.00 and 4.30pm. We have a beginners group who are starting from scratch and a playing group for those with a little more experience. If you are interested please come along or contact, Patricia at patriciamcconville@btinternet.com u3a Choir The choir meet at 9 vicars Hill on Wednesdays between 3.30 and 4 30 pm, so come along and get those vocal cords working!If you are interested contact Kathleen at Kathleen.daly41@icloud.com. Possible Tai Chi Classes In the dim and distant past we ran Tai Chi classes and we are currently exploring possibilities of resurrecting this activity. Note this is not primarily an exercise class but a mind-body discipline originating from ancient China, where it started as a famous martial art. These days, it’s practised around the world as an effective exercise for health. Tai Chi can be many things for different people, but regular practise will improve your wellbeing. At the heart of it, Tai Chi is a moving meditation in the form of a series of gentle exercises that create harmony between the mind and body. If it helps 20 million Chinese live to well over 85 years-old then I’m in 😋. Also interested? Then tell us by clicking on the button below and leave your details. I’m interested in Tai Chi |
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Pilates Group
Pilates has started again and we have 2 classes running at 10.30 am and 11.30 am in the Armagh City Hotel gym.
If your new year resolution is to get fitter then the good news is that there are a small number of places available in the later group.
It will cost between £20/25/month depending on the numbers. Classes are run by the in-house instructor Lldy who has a great reputation. If you are keen then let me know ASAP.
Out-to-Lunch Bunch: Dungannon Catering College
We are planning an out-to-lunch event for,
Thursday 2nd February
at
Dungannon Catering College
This will be a 3-course lunch for the incredible price of £12.
UPDATE the places for the upcoming Dungannon lunch are all taken but if you want to be on the reserve list contact
Margaret Oaks at tro111@hotmail.com
Please note, exact timings will be provided later and you will need to arrange transportation to the college.
My Brilliant Divorce
As we previously advertised, the Armagh Theatre Group have organised a special performance of My Brilliant Divorce exclusively for u3a members and their guests.
A hit throughout 2022 with packed-out performances in Armagh, Belfast, Coalisland and Monaghan this is a play which should not be missed!!
My Brilliant Divorce by Geraldine Aron is a kind of mid-life Alice in Wonderland. Angela, played by Bridie Heaney, is shocked into a predicament she was not expecting – no spoiler here, her husband has left her! However, a resourceful lady like Angela must face her suddenly altered circumstances with a newfound determination. Geraldine Aron’s script has an irresistible Irish twinkle – it is funny, sad, angry, insightful and above all, articulate. Here is a play with grounded warmth and humour which ripples with wonderful tiny moments.
This will be performed in the Abbey Lane Theatre, Armagh on Friday 10th February at 7.30 pm. Tickets cost £10 including an interval glass of wine.
Payment will be taken at the door but you need to reserve your seats as Abbey Lane has limited seating.
To do this please email Tim at timbohanna1953@gmail.com and include,
· Your name, email address and telephone number
· and indicate the number of tickets you require
Hope to see you all there to kickstart the year in style.
December Newsletter
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| 🎄December Newsletter |
| Merry Xmas!It’s nearly here and your committee wishes you the most festive time over the holidays. To help get you in the mood we have organised some Xmas events and hope as many can attend as possible. Details are given below and can you let us know if you are likely to attend? You do this in the usual way by clicking on the associated buttons. So Merry Xmas and a Happy Hogmanay and hoping to see you at all the events! If you know of anyone who is having difficulties receiving these newsletters can you let them know that a copy can be found on our website…..https://www.u3aarmagh.org/ |
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| 🔔 Holiday Events |
   XMAS QUIZ After a COVID hiatus, the Xmas Quiz is back! This will be held in the … Armagh Golf Club on December 12th starting at 10.00 am Coffee and mince pies kick off our event and since its Xmas they are of course free! As always this is a fun quiz but we have prizes for those who do well. Turn up as a team of four or just yourself and we will organise teams. To give us an idea of numbers let us know if you’re going to attend – so we can order the mince pies – by clicking on the button below I will be at the quiz |
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 As with the quiz we are to hold our Xmas lunch after a 2-year gap and as always this will be on Friday, January 13th! Margaret Oaks and Anne Cassidy have done an excellent job in negotiating to achieve the best venue – the Armagh City Hotel – and menu. This year members will be greeted with a hot punch followed by a selection from the menu below. Note, you make your choice at the event so you don’t need to worry about forgetting what you ordered 😋 Starter: Chef’s Homemade Soup of the Day Chicken Caesar Salad Tossed with Bacon Bits, Parmesan Cheese Shavings and Creamy Dressing Main: Slow Roasted Irish Sirloin Beef Served with Yorkshire Pudding, Rosemary & Shiraz Gravy Pan Seared Salmon Vegetarian Pasta Dish Desert: Pavlova Fruit Cocktail If you have any special dietary requirements you can let us know when booking. To tempt you even more we will be subsidising the event so this will only cost £25/person. All this and raffle prizes and maybe even some form of entertainment. We do spoil you! We need you to book your places before the lunch and will be in the Armagh City Hotel foyer on December 14th and January 4th between 10.30 am and 12.15 pm to collect payments. Again to let us plan can you click on the link below if you’re going to attend. I will be at the lunch |
 In collaboration with the Armagh Theatre Group, we are proposing to host a private audience of u3a members and friends, on a date to be confirmed in January 2023. This will be of the group’s massively successful production of My Brilliant Divorce by Geraldine Aron and held in the Abbey Lane Theatre. Armagh. The cost will be a discounted £10 per ticket and this will include a glass of wine. My Brilliant Divorce is a kind of mid-life Alice in Wonderland. Angela, played by Bridie Heaney, is shocked into a predicament she was not expecting – no spoiler here, her husband has left her! However, a resourceful lady like Angela must face her suddenly altered circumstances with a newfound determination. Geraldine Aron’s script has an irresistible Irish twinkle – it is funny, sad, angry, insightful and above all, articulate. Here is a play with grounded warmth and humour which ripples with wonderful tiny moments and should not be missed!!! Produced by Kevin McEneaney and with support on stage by Margery Quinn and David O’Toole, you are guaranteed a great night’s entertainment to start the New Year. As always numbers dictate the viability of such events so can you please let us know if you are interested and remember to bring as many friends as you want? Kick start the new year with a group theatre outing. Let us know before January if your likely to attend and how many tickets are required. I’ll be there and require tickets |
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 Xmas present idea Our own Lorna Quin has just published her second volume of “Yes! We Have No Bananas”, a collection of personal memories gathered through interviewing individuals who grew up during the years of the Second World War. She has stories from various places in Northern Ireland, two interviews from the Republic of Ireland, two from England and two from America and has also interviewed a lady who grew up under the Nazis in Austria. As Lorna says, “each story is unique and if we don’t preserve these memories, sadly they are going to be lost as they are moving out of living memory.” All profits from book sales are given to Research into Parkinson’s Disease at the Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The book is available in local shops including Macari’s, Whittle’s, Hunter’s, Tandragee Garden Centre, Winnie’s Portadown, Dodd’s Hamiltonsbawn, Wood’s Richhill etc. |
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 We have finally managed to find a venue for our monthly meetings. These will be held in the, The Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich Memorial Library on the third Friday of each month Our first meeting will be in February. Full details of what’s happening will appear in next month’s newsletter. |
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| DECEMBER Calendar |
| Hill Walking Group This group complete walks along country lanes, in forest parks, hills, and mountains. Walks are usually 2-4 hours. We meet weekly on Thursdays at the Armagh Palace car park by the children’s play park and depart promptly at 9.30 am. For more information contact, Caroline at cbgood@doctors.org.uk and add your mobile number to join the WhatsApp group. Tuesday Walkers For those seeking a more gentle walk and talk. The schedule for this month is 6th Darkley Forest 13th Carnagh 20th Bantry The group meets on Tuesdays at the Palace car park near the children’s playground at 10.00 am. For more details contact, Patricia McConville at patriciamcconville@btinternet.com. Cycling group. Given that poorer weather is likely over winter the group will probably meet infrequently. Those interested or requesting date information should contact Peter Good at pdgood@doctors.org.uk and add your mobile number to join the WhatsApp group. Cycling is mostly on secondary or minor roads, occasionally on major roads. Distance cycled is approximately 30-35KM (3 hours) with a coffee stop along the way. Members must have their own bikes, helmets and Hi-Vis tops and be comfortable with cycling on roads. Communication is by a WhatsApp group. Pilates Classes are underway once more with 2 classes each Wednesday. At present these are full but often have vacancies so if you are interested contact, Margaret. Please note that we are negotiating with the hotel to get the second group a more accessible time. For more information contact Margaret at tro111@hotmail.com Aqua Aerobics Given that December is busy for both members and the hotel, classes will cease at the end of November and restart in January. More information will be in the next month’s newsletter. If you are interested then contact Dennis at denu3a@gmail.com Bridge – Online Group The online sessions are held on a Wednesday at 7.00 pm using the BridgeBase Online platform which is very easy to use, for full details of how to play online contact, Dennis at denu3a@gmail.com Bridge – Face-to-Face Group The face-to-face sessions are each Monday held in the Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich Memorial Library between 2.00 and 4.30 pm. We have a beginners group who are starting from scratch and a playing group for those with a little more experience. If you are interested please come along or contact, Patricia at patriciamcconville@btinternet.com u3a Choir The choir meet at 9 vicars Hill on Wednesdays between 3 30 and 4 30 pm. They are preparing for an event on 13th December so come along and get those vocal cords working! If you are interested contact Kathleen at Kathleen.daly41@icloud.com. |
November Newsletter
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| November Newsletter |
| Up and Running!The good news is that many of the groups are now active and we have details about these below. In addition, can we thank all those who attended our first “Out-to-Lunch” of the season held in Armagh Golf Club Parkland restaurant We had 22 attendees who agreed the food was excellent, the company good and the craic to be appreciated. The consensus was that this was a success and we need to plan another. If you know of anyone who is having difficulties receiving these newsletters can you let them know that a copy can be found on our website…..https://www.u3aarmagh.org/ |
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| We are hoping to plan another coffee morning later this month so watch this space. Full details will follow once the venue and date are agreed upon. |
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 The main problem in restarting these is finding a suitable venue. We have lost the use of the Armagh Golf Club and are still searching for a suitable alternative. Again we will keep you informed of developments. |
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 As in previous years, we are hoping to organise a December quiz and want to know the format you prefer. There are two options; a pub quiz format with teams and a quiz master or a more relaxed affair where a paper quiz is available and you complete this at your leisure. Let us know by clicking on the button below. What type of quiz? |
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| November Calendar |
| Hill Walking Group This group complete walks along country lanes, in forest parks, hills, and mountains. Walks are usually 2-4 hours. We meet weekly on Thursdays at the Armagh Palace car park by the children’s play park and depart promptly at 9.30 am. Please remember that hiking carries risks and participation in hiking or walking activities can result in injury. It is the responsibility of each walker to ensure they have the experience, clothing and fitness for any walks they undertake. For more information contact, Caroline at cbgood@doctors.org.uk and add your mobile number to join the WhatsApp group. Tuesday Walkers For those seeking a more gentle walk and talk. The schedule for this month is…….. 1st Hope Castle 8th Scarva Towpath 15th Dungannon Park 22nd Loughgall Park 29th Palace Demense The group meets on Tuesdays at the Palace car park near the children’s playground at 10.00 am. For more details contact, Patricia McConville at patriciamcconville@btinternet.com. Cycling group. Given that poorer weather is likely over winter the group will probably meet infrequently. Those interested or requesting date information should contact Peter Good at pdgood@doctors.org.uk and add your mobile number to join the WhatsApp group. Background – Cycling is mostly on secondary or minor roads, occasionally on major roads. Distance cycled is approximately 30-35KM (3 hours) with a coffee stop along the way. Members must have their own bikes, helmets and Hi-Vis tops and be comfortable with cycling on roads. Communication is by a WhatsApp group. Pilates Classes are underway once more with 2 classes each Wednesday. At present these are full but often have vacancies so if you are interested contact, Margaret. For more information contact Margaret at tro111@hotmail.com Aqua Aerobics In collaboration with the Armagh City Hotel, we have organised class to be held in their pool on a Thursday at 10.00 am. The first FREE class was held in the last week of October and the feedback was very positive. There are still places so…… If you are interested contact Dennis at denu3a@gmail.com Bridge – Online Group The online sessions are held on a Wednesday at 7.00 pm using the BridgeBase Online platform which is easy to use for full details of how to play online contact, Dennis at denu3a@gmail.com Bridge – Face-to-Face Group The face-to-face group meet each Monday in the Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich Memorial Library at 2.00 pm. We have a beginners group of about 12 who are starting from scratch and a playing group for those with experience. If you are interested please come along or contact, Patricia at patriciamcconville@btinternet.com u3a Choir The choir have had two meetings at 9 vicars Hill and meets Wednesdays between 3 30 and 4 30 pm. They are preparing for an event on13th December so come along and get those vocal cords working! If you are interested contact Kathleen at kathleen.daly41@icloud.com. |
Aqua Aerobics
Sorry to report that there has been insufficient interest in the Aqua Aerobic classes to make them cost-effective at this time. I will periodically ask again to see if the situation changes so stay tuned.
Local History Group
The local history group classes have resumed and are being held in the:-
O Fiaich Library on the third Thursday of each month at 11.30 am.
Aqua Aerobics
In conjunction with the Armagh City Hotel, we have a chance to start an u3a Aqua Aerobics class on Thursdays at 10.00 am. We currently have 9 members interested but to keep costs to a minimum need to get as near to the maximum number of 15.
We are hoping to have a 2-week taster session so members can decide if this is for them. If you did not previously show interest but feel you want to try Aqua Aerobics out let me know by replying to the email denu3a@gmail.com and we will get the ball rolling on organising the taster event.
Choir Restarting
The choir will be starting again next Thursday, 6th October.
Venue – Cathedral Music Hall Number 9 Vicars Hill.
You can park cars in the cathedral grounds!
Day/Time – Every Thursday at 4.00 pm starting on Oct 6th
Come along yourself and try!
For more details contact Kathleen at Kathleen.daly41@icloud.com