Kildare Branch

Branch Email: rstakildarebranch@gmail.com

Kildare Branch Christmas Lunch 2024

REMINDER:  RSTA National Conferrence 2025 - 29th April to 1st May.

Full details for booking accommodation and events are available in the latest RSTA Newsletter and on the Home page of this website.

This year's conference takes place in the beautiful and historic city of Kilkenny in the Ormonde Hotel.  We encourage to our members to take the opportunity to treat yourselves to a spring break and avail of the opportunity to take an active part in the Conference.  All members of RSTA are entitled to attend the  Conference and related activities and to take full part in discussions and nominations to the National Committee.  Election of our branch voting delegates and proposals for motions for Conference will be discussed at the next branch meeting.  (Details to follow.)

RSTA Kilkenny Branch

View Photos from Kilkenny Branch here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBpoAc

 Branch Email: rstakilkennybranch@gmail.com

AGM November 13th 2025: Branch Officers elected were:

Chairperson: Olivia Coppinger

Secretary:  Joan Murphy

Treasurer: Delia O'Donoghue

Branch meetings are usually held in the Club House Hotel, Patrick Street,  Kilkenny.

Branch Officers can be contacted using the branch email address.

Members are notified of all branch meetings and activities by email, so if you wish to be included on our email contact list, please email rstakilkennybranch@gmail.com

Wednesday 3rd December 2025 : Christmas Lunch in Newpark Hotel

Some photos from the very enjoyable Branch Christmas Lunch. View more Christmas photos at the photo link above.

Branch Report Year to Date and Future Plans

(Mary Durkin)

Read the report of our branch activities to date and plans for upcoming events here:  Kk_Report_Nov25.docx

Activities in RSTA Tipperary Branch

Branch Email: rstatipperarybranch@gmail.com.

Branch Secretary:  Maureen McHugh

View Branch Photos:  https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAwcss

Branch Christmas Lunch 2025:  5th December at 12.30 pm in Bailey's Hotel, Cashel

Report - Branch Summer Outing May 2025 - Swiss Cottage, Cahir.

Members gathered in glorious sunshine in Cahir for a visit to the Swiss Cottage. Designed by the eminent Regency architect, John Nash, this cottage 'orne' was part of a European fashion on the part of the aristocracy to live the 'simple, rural life' - with servants in the backgrtound of course!

The tour was followed by a leisurely afternoon tea in Cahir House Hotel.

 Branch Presentation March 2023, Bailey Hotel, Cashel

Branch Chairman, Mattie Finnerty, on behalf of Tipperary Branch made presentations at their committee meeting on 7th March to two branch members to acknowledge their contributions to the branch

Elizabeth Hayes has been secretary to the branch since 2010 and Paddy Daly has been a committee member since then.

The Branch committee are picture below making the presentations.

Branch Email: rstaclarebranch@gmail.com.

Secretary:  Mary Carroll

Branch AGM was held on November 19th 2024.

Officers elected:  Chairperson: Helen Meade,  Vice-chair: Nora Liddy, Secretary: Mary Carroll, Treasurer: Marie Burke

Branch Christmas Lunch 2025

Date: 3rd December at 1.30 pm

Venue:  Old Ground Hotel, Ennis.

RSTA Midland Branch

Branch Email: rstamidlandbranch@gmail.com.

View more photos of the trips below and other branch activities here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmLSnfHS

REPORT ON THE CANADA CONTRASTS TRIP 2025

Midland Branch and friends embarked on yet another of their famous group trips in September this year and Rosemary Kiernan has wrtitten an account of their very exciting and eventful trip. More photos in the link above.

Read Rosemary's report here: Canadian_Tour_September_2025.pdf

REPORT ON TRIP TO ISTANBUL AND ANCIENT TURKEY - APRIL 14th to 21st 2024

What an amazing trip! From Istanbul to Gallipoli, the legendary city of Troy and Kusadasai - and much more . . . . . .

Read the full report of the trip here: Branch_Visit_to_Istanbul_and_Ancient_Turkey_April_2024.pdf

Email: kiernanrm45@gmail.com.      Phone: 087 7589287

REPORT ON TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA -  2023 - Rosemary Kiernan

View more photos of the trip here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmLSnfHS

On September 20th RSTA members and friends headed off with The Travel Department to South Africa.  We visited Cape Town, Table Mountain, the wine regions, got marooned in quaint Arniston, swam in the Indian Ocean, chatted to penguins on Boulder Beach, ate wonderful food, met lovely travel companions but Kariega Safari Park, for me, was the highlight. Four days immersed in nature as God intended.  Big shout out to rangers Amber and Rachel who brought us up close and personal with amazing wildlife, arranged surprises like coffee on safari, boat trip, ponchos in the rain (useless . . . we were soaked through!) and were so knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife in Kariega.  Thank you Amber and Rachel!

South Africa is a beautiful place to visit, it exceeded my expectations.

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Wexford Branch

Branch Email: rstawexfordbranch@gmail.com

View more photos from Wexford  Branch:  https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzWDDE 

Branch Christmas Lunch: 4th December at 1.00 pm in Ferrycarrig Hotel

Thursday 11th  September 2025:  Branch meeting and group outing to Wells House

Members assembled at the venue at 11.15 am and enjoyed a guided tour of the historic house followed by a welcome break for coffee and scones in the adjoining café.  Read  the report of the outing here: Wexford_RSTA_Sept_25.pdf

Wednesday 21st May 2025:  Report of Branch Annual Outing.

Destination: Cashel, Co Tipperary

Read the full report of the tour here:  Wexford_Summer_tour_2025.pdf

Group Outing - Guided Tour of Duncannon Fort

On 25th February branch members enjoyed an outing to Duncannon Fort. 

Read a report of the outing here: Duncannon_Tour.pdf

 View more photos of some Wexford Branchactivities here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzWDDE

Upcoming Activities in RSTA Wicklow Branch

Wicklow Branch

Scheduled Outings 2022

Note: All our outings conclude with light refreshments and a chat at a local establishment.

Christmas Lunch:  Monday 4th December at 1 pm in Delgany Golf Club.

October 2023 - Branch Outings

Branch members enjoyed a tour of Kilmacurry Botanic Gardens and a guided tour of Dublin Castle which included a visit to the Chapel Royal.

September 2022:  Treetop Walk , Avondale

Click on the links to read a report of the walk and view photos: Wicklow_Branch_on_the_Treetop_Walk.docx

Photos of Treetop Walk: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAcDA5

October 10th: Branch members enjoyed a guided walk of historic Dun Laoghaire led by Committee Member and National Tour Guide, Michael O'Flaherty.

October 22nd:Members visted the Mermaid Theatre, Bray for a production of Shirley Valentine.

November 21st: Vartry Lake Walk.  11.30 am - to 1pm.  Meet at the carpark in Roundwood at 11.30 am

Photos from Wicklow Branch Here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAcDA5 

Branch Contact:  rstasligobranch@gmail.com

View Branch Photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAcxeV

Report of Branch Christmas Lunch - December 2025

28 of our members gathered in Strandhill Golf Club for a most enjoyable afternoon to kick off the Christmas festivities with delicious food and wine finished off with some extra special gourmet chocolates.

Read the full report of the event with more photos here: Sligo_Report_Dec25.pdf

November 5th 2025: Branch AGM and Talk

The following officers were re-elected:

Chairperson: Imelda Harte, Secretary: Frances Horan,  Treasurer: Mary Benson

For our November meeting, the branch invited Orla Barry, Development Manager North Connaught and Ulster Citizens Information Service Sligo, to speak to us on a variety of issues concerning benefits and entitlements available to retired people.  She aslo touched on Enduring Power of Attorney and the Fair Deal Scheme during a Questions and Answers session.

This was a most enlightening and informative talk from Orla and she encouraged everyone to call to the Citizens Awareness Offce for advice and assstance at any time. Report from Frances Horan, RSTA Branch Secretary.

October 2025: Branch Presentation:  Crime Prevention

The branch invited a Garda Crime Prevention Officer to make a presentation to our members on the issues of online safety and personal security. Read the report of the presentation here: Sligo_Pres.jpg

Branch Trip to Cornwall September 2025

A number of Sligo members and friends enjoyed a visit to  Cornwall in September. 

Based in Newquay the group travelled to the east coast and visited the Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Cornwall Gold and Telgus tin mines.

Read a report of the trip here: Cornwall_Trip.pdf

Branch Summer Lunch August 2025

Report from Frances Horan 

Twenty seven of our members attended a wonderful lunch in the vegan restaurant, Edergole Kitchen, Dromahair, Co Leitrim.

It was a fantastic afternoon with beautiful food in a lovely setting. 

Thanks to Mchael Kilcoyne who entertained us with song and story - an unexpected and very enjoyable muscal interlude.

Report on the second event in Sligo hosted by the three retired teachers' associations in March 2024

The event was organised through the co-operative efforts of the retired members of the three teacher unions RSTA, RTAI and TUIRMA.

A lecture entitled The Wisdom of Our Ages by Gerry Farrell was presented in the Black Box of the Model and Niland Centre Sligo on 12th March 2024.

This is the second successful event the RTS (Retired Teacher Sligp) has hosted.

Read a full report and view photos of the event here: Sligo_report.pdf

Report on "The Best is Yet to Come Event"

"In the world of retired teachers a truly ground breaking event happened in Sligo  . . . . . ." writes Annette O'Connell

Read the full report on the very successful  well-being night The Best is Yet to Come co-hosted by the three retired teachers' associations. Click here for the report.

View Photos of the event here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAcxeV

Cork Branch

Branch Email: rstacork24@gmail.com

Monthly Meetings: First Wednesday of each month at 11am in Hayfield Manor Hotel.

Members are notified in advance by email of all branch activities.

REPORT: Cork Branch Activities 2025

Read the full report of the branch activities here: Coprk_branch_activities_2025.pdf

View more branch photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzQwc8

Cork RSTA Branch Trip to Tuscany 2025

Read a report of the trip here: Tuscany_2025.pdf

Activities in RSTA Galway Branch

Branch Email: rstagalwaybranch@gmail.com.

Branch Secretary: Dorothy Robinsom

Coffee and Chat - on second Tuesday of each month at 11 am

Members meet at the Poppyseed at Galway Crystal.

Christmas Lunch 2025:  17th December at 1.00 pm in Galway Bay Hotel

Report on Events 2024

Thursday 28th November:  Branch AGM

Thursday 12th December: Christmas Lunch in the Galway Bay Hotel

Visit to Dáil Éireann  - October 17th 2024

Galway members were welcomed and hosted by the Leas Ceann Comhairle, Galway Deputy Catherine Connolly TD.