This gallery contains 3 photos.
This week the Men’s Group took a trip to Offaly and Westmeath. We visited the wonderful Clara Bog (including the very educational Visitors’ Centre) and the fascinating Ballard Organic Farm. We learned a lot on our trip: about carnivorous plants and native … Continue reading
This gallery contains 3 photos.
The Mens Group visited Arigna Mines yesterday, for a guided tour around the last working coal mine in Ireland to close. It was a very involving experience, led by a former miner, two-hundred feet underground into the tunnels and shafts of this … Continue reading
This gallery contains 5 photos.
Not the newest political party on the scene, nor yet the members of the latest Dail, but some images of our Men’s Group visit to Leinster House on Tuesday 12th July! We enjoyed a fantastic tour of the Dail and … Continue reading
This year’s pool competition came to an exciting end on Tuesday, when Joe McGarvey beat Tommy Smith by six games to two in a hard-fought match.
We began in May with a record number of 16 people in the competition. All the practice people put in has paid off as the standard was better than ever before.
There were three knockout rounds before Joe and Tommy made their way to the final. These two have very differing styles: Tommy is quickfire and a whirlwind; Joe is methodical and precise. It was a great game to watch and the group has rarely been as quiet!
The competition was much closer than the scoreline might suggest but in the end Joe proved a very worthy winner.
Thanks to Liam and Lisa for creating the amazing display; to Tony for making the presentation at the end; and to our friends in Dublin Trophies for supplying such great plaques and medals.
Watch this space – the training for 2017 has already begun!
Back in November, we decided our next challenge as a group would be to construct a window-box.
We started out with some old planks of wood, a few tools, a basic sketch and lots of enthusiasm.
Every Thursday over the next few months, members of the group measured, sawed, hammered, drank tea, consulted the plans, sanded, stenciled and, finally, varnished the completed boxes.
Yesterday we planted a selection of herbs and beans and put the boxes in place.
They’ve found a home at the reception area of Ozanam House, so please remember to look out for them when you are passing.
The boxes look fantastic, and we are all excited about tasting the wonderful herbs when they are ready to eat!
A HUGE Thanks to our amazing volunteers Tom, Eamonn, Jezz and Noreen as well as our members Larry, Jack and Robert for all their work!
We are taking a short break in the Men’s Group, but will return on 14th July at 1pm for our 6-week programme of summer outings. We will keep you updated on our trips as we go.
Todays Activities:
Tuesday Activities:
We had the Men’s Group Pool Competition final today. John and Tommy were our finalists, the two men who had battled through the competition to make it to the end.
It was a great match, a real nail-biter. It was very closely fought but John won through in the end and became the well-deserved 2015 champion.
Appetites were whetted for next year, and already talk has turned to the 2016 competition, so watch this space!
We were surprised and thrilled when the staff of Ozanam House made a presentation to the Men’s Group this week, to thank us for the restoration work we did on the bureau now in the main hall.
It was great to experience that appreciation and sense of belonging. Now to find our next project after the summer! 🙂