Bray Active Retirement celebrates its 30 years
BRAY Active Retirement Association celebrated its 30th anniversary recently at the Little Flower Hall.
The party took place on Friday, October 26, on the very date the organisation was founded three decades previously.
Up to 100 guests attended the celebration, which included tea or coffee and sandwiches, as well as music and dancing and cake to mark the happy occasion.
Former presidents Pat Ralph and Angela Troy as well as longest member Bill McInerney were present. They addressed the crowd, regaling them with memories of the club and its foundations.
Guests heard that BARA had started as a very small and humble group before growing to an association of more than 100 members.
The association has a wide variety of activities, which they hope covers all tastes, ages and abilities. Membership is open to those over 50 years of age. They do everything from French conversation and bridge, to tai chi, line dancing, and they have three walking groups. Some members enjoy creative writing and art, and others to come for coffee to the monthly meeting on the first Friday of each month.
Those meetings always take place in the Little Flower Hall, behind the Holy Redeemer, from 10.30 a.m., and includes a speaker whenever possible.
There is a ‘men’s shed’ type branch of the association, called An Bóthan, for the male members, with activities there including exercises, woodwork, interesting talks, and more.
Chairwoman of BARA Helen Mangan said that the anniversary party was very enjoyable. She also spoke about the benefits of membership of an active retirement association, not least the friendships to be made, as well as the opportunity to remain active. ‘When you retire there can be that gap of something to do, and company,’ said Helen.