West Offaly Partnership

Active age Groups in West Offaly

The Partnership currently supports 17 active age groups in West and South Offaly. These groups of older people meet in their own local areas on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. There are groups in Ballinahown, Ballyboy, Ballycumber, Banagher, Barna, Belmont, Birr, Cloghan(2), Ferbane (2), Kilcormac, Mountbolus, Pullough, Rahan, Rath and Shannonbridge.

The groups’ activities are very varied and include:
- adult/community education
- availing of talks and presentations
- participating in physical activities
- cup of tea and chat
- opportunities to avail of local social services
- social activities such as storey telling and tea dances
- art and creativity courses and events
- outings to places of interest

Over the past 4 years older people from different groups have availed of Physical Activity Leadership (PALS) training. Group members were able to avail of the PALS training in locations in West Offaly This training has resulted in members being able to lead their groups in physical activities. Groups have also have accessed ‘Go for Life’ grants to buy physical activity equipment and avail of exercise programmes.

Also for the past 4 years groups have hosted social nights and have invited neighbouring groups to these events. These social nights prove to be very popular and consist of food, music, song and dance. The social nights provide opportunities to get out of the house and to meet new and old friends in the following locations: Ballycumber, Cloghan, Kilcormac, Mountbolus, Pullough and Shannonbridge.

In 2008 West Offaly active age groups organised and hosted 12 different events in this year’s Bealtaine Festival. These events were part of the annual national arts and creativity festival during the month of May for older people. West Offaly Bealtaine events in 2008 included:
- Pullough Active Retirement Association’s Music and song get together
- Shannonbridge Active Retirement Association’s Exhibition of paintings
- Belmont Active Retirement Association’s Making Pots Workshop
- Pullough Active Retirement Association’s Stroll in the Boora parklands
- West Offaly Active Retirement Association’s morning of ‘Tomfoolery’
- Mountbolus Active Age Group’s Memories, Music and movement
- Birr Active Retirement Association’s Printing Workshop
- Cloghan Active Retirement Association’s Evening of Song and Dance
- Ballyboy High Milage Club’s Afternoon of Storytelling
- Banagher Active Retirement Group’s Afternoon of Storytelling
- Eglish Rath Senior Group’s Exhibition of Artwork

This is just a sample of some of the activities that active age groups in West Offaly. If you are interested in joining a group, forming a group in your area, or finding out information please contact West Offaly Partnership.

For further information contact:
Declan Costello
Tel: (057) 9151622
Email: dcostello@westoffalypartnership.ie


	ONTACT USVACANCIESNEW COURSES
		Active age Groups in West Offaly The Partnership currently supports 17 active age groups in West and South Offaly. These groups of older people meet in their own local areas on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. There are groups in Ballinahown, Ballyboy, Ballycumber, Banagher, Barna, Belmont, Birr, Cloghan(2), Ferbane (2), Kilcormac, Mountbolus, Pullough, Rahan, Rath and Shannonbridge. The groups’ activities are very varied and include: - adult/community education - availing of talks and presentations - participating in physical activities - cup of tea and chat - opportunities to avail of local social services - social activities such as storey telling and tea dances - art and creativity courses and events - outings to places of interest Over the past 4 years older people from different groups have availed of Physical Activity Leadership (PALS) training. Group members were able to avail of the PALS training in locations in West Offaly This training has resulted in members being able to lead their groups in physical activities. Groups have also have accessed ‘Go for Life’ grants to buy physical activity equipment and avail of exercise programmes. Also for the past 4 years groups have hosted social nights and have invited neighbouring groups to these events. These social nights prove to be very popular and consist of food, music, song and dance. The social nights provide opportunities to get out of the house and to meet new and old friends in the following locations: Ballycumber, Cloghan, Kilcormac, Mountbolus, Pullough and Shannonbridge. In 2008 West Offaly active age groups organised and hosted 12 different events in this year’s Bealtaine Festival. These events were part of the annual national arts and creativity festival during the month of May for older people. West Offaly Bealtaine events in 2008 included: - Pullough Active Retirement Association’s Music and song get together - Shannonbridge Active Retirement Association’s Exhibition of paintings - Belmont Active Retirement Association’s Making Pots Workshop - Pullough Active Retirement Association’s Stroll in the Boora parklands - West Offaly Active Retirement Association’s morning of ‘Tomfoolery’ - Mountbolus Active Age Group’s Memories, Music and movement - Birr Active Retirement Association’s Printing Workshop - Cloghan Active Retirement Association’s Evening of Song and Dance - Ballyboy High Milage Club’s Afternoon of Storytelling - Banagher Active Retirement Group’s Afternoon of Storytelling - Eglish Rath Senior Group’s Exhibition of Artwork This is just a sample of some of the activities that active age groups in West Offaly. If you are interested in joining a group, forming a group in your area, or finding out information please contact West Offaly Partnership. For further information contact: Declan Costello Tel: (057) 9151622 Email: dcostello@westoffalypartnership.ie

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