Mayo Abbey Active Retirement Association

About Mayo Abbey Active Retirement Association

Mayo Abbey Active Retirement Association (A.R.A.) is in existence since September 2001and is affiliated to the Irish Federation of Active Retirement Associations. Since its start it has gone from strength to strength. New members are always welcome to the group.

Being a rural community, social isolation is always a concern and the Active Retirement Association was set up to provide a social outlet for the older members of the parish as well as to source funding which could benefit them.

The group meet for a social dinner at the Resource Centre each week. This is quite often followed by an activity such as bingo.

The Local Link bus which is run in conjunction with Local Link Ireland provides transport to the Resource Centre for the social lunch each week. Members who do not have access to transport, or who are unable to drive themselves to the centre can be picked up at their homes and brought to the centre for their lunch each week and then returned home again by bus – further information about the Local Link Transport Service from the Resource Centre can be found by clicking here.

The Resource Centre can also organise for meals to be delivered to those in the community who are unable to come into the Centre for their lunch – For more information about the meals delivery service please click here.

The group also organise social events such as social evenings and day trips. Mayo Abbey Active Retirement Association was one of the first in the county to bring in outside groups to afternoon socials. Over the years, the group have attended socials in other centres including Balla, Louisburg, Kilmovee, Lahardane, Parke, Ballina, Crossmolina and Loughrea. In return, the Association has hosted many socials at the Resource Centre in the evenings with refreshments on arrival followed by music and dancing until 11pm. These socials have been attended by other Active Retirement groups including Louisburg, Kilmovee, Lahardane, Parke, Loughrea, Ballina, Balla, Crossmolina, Taugheen and Westport.

In earlier years, the group were successful in their application to The Community Foundation for Ireland. The application provided funding for a facilitator called Bettina Peterseil to be employed. Bettina met with members on a number of days, and guided them in ways to draft their childhood memories. These drafts were then compiled into a book, called “Childhood Memories” which was published in 2007.write about.

The book is dedicated to the memory of the deceased members of Mayo Abbey Active Retirement Association. Of the 50 members we had when doing the project, 20 members wrote articles that are included in the book. The book contains features that will remind members of school days past. It will also give younger people an idea of the times their grandparents grew up in, and a lifestyle so far removed from to-days. Although the writers came from many different backgrounds and places, you will see similarities in the way they lived.

The book titled “Childhood Memories” is available for purchase at the Centre at a cost of €10.00. Feedback on the book has been very positive and that it is an enjoyable read.

The facilities available to the elderly population at Mayo Abbey are as a result of the partnership between the different sections and committees of Mayo Abbey Community Council and its associated companies who work with HSE, Department of Social Protection, MSLETB, Local Link Mayo and other government departments, bodies and agencies to continue to deliver and expand on the services to the older population.

To make contact with Mayo Abbey Active Retirement Association please use see the Contact Page

Current Committee Members

Mayo Abbey Active Retirement Association Officers are as follows:

• Chairperson – Tom Donoghue
• Secretary – Catherine Gibbons
• Treasurers – Winnie Tunney & Martin Gibbons

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