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.)

Activities in RSTA Kilkenny Branch

Branch Email: rstakilkennybranch@gmail.com

Branch Secretary:  Joan Murphy         Branch Chairperson: Mary Durkin

Branch meetings are usually held in the The Club House, Patrick St, Kilkenny.

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

Events held this year to date include a wonderful outing to Altamount gardens, a visit to the Watergate Theatre to see 'An Cailín Ciuin', a meeting to discuss future plans and a talk on Healthy Living, a visit to the Butler Gallery. . . . and more.

UPCOMING EVENTS 2025

February - date to be decided:  Outing to the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. (Car Pooling.)

Other events being planned - a CPR course, A history talk (We are awaiting confirmation from speaker), a book club.

RSTA National Conference: April 29th - May 1st. Ormond Hotel Kilkenny.

Early booking is advisable. Details in the RSTA Newsletter and the Home page of this website.

May 2025:  A visit to the Botanical Gardens, Kilmacurragh, Wicklow.

If you are interested in any of these events, contact Joan at the above email address.

Activities in RSTA Tipperary Branch

Branch Email: rstatipperarybranch@gmail.com.

Branch Secretary:  Maureen McHugh

Report - Branch Summer Outing 24th May 2023

We assembled for morning coffee in Mike Ryan's followed by a guided tour of the Rock Of Cashel. Pictured below are branch members outside Cormac's Chapel on the Rock of Cashel.

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.

View more photos from Tipperary here:  https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAwcss

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

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

PROPOSED TRIP TO SLOVENIA AND THE GULF OF TRIESTE - May 9th 2025. 7 nights

Full details on the Travel Department website. 

Please contact Rosemary  Kiernan if you have any questions at 087 7589287

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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Upcoming Activities in RSTA Wexford Branch

Wexford Branch

Branch Email: rstawexfordbranch@gmail.com

Wednesday 21st May 2025:  Branch Annual Outing.

Destination: Cashel, Co Tipperary

Full details of the itinerary, time-table, bus etc are outlined in the link below.

Please contact Margaret at 087 2827420 as soon as possible if you plan to join.

 Cashel Trip Itinerary: Annual_Outing.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

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.

View photos from Cork Branch trips and activities here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzQwc8

EVENTS 2024

Following our most successful Spring break to The Dunraven Arms in Adare we spent a wonderful morning in early April being guided around the little church of the Ascension in Timoleague. Parts of the exterior have been restored and the interior continues to be a work in progress. The story of the mosaics in the church is worth the trip alone. Unfortunately the foggy weather prevented us from continuing to Courtmacsherry . . . all for another day.

Over 20 members of the branch attended our Annual Conference in Wexford.

On May 23rd we visited Lismore Castle Gardens. The guide (paid for by the branch) greatly enhanced our visit, not only talking about the plants but also the history of the castle and the surrounding area.

Our book club met in May and we will continue our regular meetings again in September.  Meanwhile our monthly gatherings take place in Hayfield Manor Hotel on the first Wednesday of every month at 12 noon. Members are emailed in advance of all activities.

View photos of the events at the link above.

Report on Trip to Sardinia 2023

A very large group left Cork Airport on Oct 2nd for a 4-night stay in Sardinia. Alghero was our base. The hotel was situated by the sea and a lovely walk to the old town.

We did a day trip along the coast to the beatiful town of Bosa where we enjoyed a tasting of the local Malvasia wine and cheeses. This was followed by a fantastic meal in a restaurant in Bosa Marina. 

The weather was gorgeous with sun filled days and warm evenings. Lots of fun and lovely memories made.

 Blarney Castle Tour - Summer 2023

RSTA Cork had a wonderful mid-summer outing to Blarney Castle and gardens attended by 30 members. 

The sun was shining and we were guided around the gardens by Adam, the head gardener, who not only showed us the rare plants and trees but had stories as to how they got there. 

The branch kindly paid for the tour guide.

 Spring Break in Dunraven Arms Hotel - March 2023

30 members and friends enjoyed a most relaxing two night stay in the lovely Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co Limerick. 

Dinner was included on one night of our stay and some of us dined in the 1826 Restaurant where we were lucky enough to meet the wonderful chef himself, Wade Murphy.

View more photos from the visit here:  https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzQwc8

Cork Branch welcomes new members!          

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.

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.