Loughrea Play

I do not like thee Dr. Fell by Bernard Farrell

We attended a play in The Temperance Hall, Loughrea. It was a bitterly cold evening but we really enjoyed the play. It was produced by our very own John Boland, a most accomplished actor.
The play is a comedy, a strange kind of comedy with moments of sadness and mystery but still very funny. The story is built around a group therapy session. Suzy, an American, is group co-ordinator. Her remedy for everything is “relax, relate and communicate”. Roger is an intellectual who is obsessed with group therapy sessions. Peter, a builder and his wife Maureen , are having marriage problems or as Peter would say, “Maureen is highly strung”! Rita is a widow. She speaks of her late husband, who she still loves, and of her 12 cats named after the Twelve Apostles!!
Finally we have Joe, the Dr. Fell, who is the mysterious one and by his deceptions has a huge effect on the other participants and then there’s Paddy, the group attendant who regards them all as “weirdos”.
The cast was wonderful and the night’s performance was well-received by a large audience.
Bridie Loughman

Wanted---- Photographs

Members please forward any photos relating to our organisation
These photos may or may not be used, but more important is that they are not lost forever. we can store them on our B.A.R.A. computer for our library. Please attach names ,locations and dates. Posterity calls
Doug.

ballinasloeactive@gmail.com

Debate

“There’s For and Against”

There was a great air of excitement and anticipation in Gullane’s Hotel on Wed. 10th Nov.’10. It was the 1st venture for the members of the Active retirement association into what proved to be a very entertaining and light-hearted debate entitled “ We Senior Citizens are a burden on the state”
The tension was clearly visible on the faces of the six brave volunteers. Bridie Loughman acted as a very professional compere. Doug,as timekeeper, came armed with bell and an enormous clock!! Each speaker was allowed exactly three minutes.

The three member team in favour of the motion, Ml. Walshe, Nancy Ward and Mgt. McDonnell put forward some very convincing points claiming we had too many perks and allowances, that we could well afford to pay our own way and start fending for ourselves. After all our country was bankrupt!!


“Mike Nancy and Margaret”

The opposing team, Pearl Finnegan. Jane Treacy, and Sr Dorothea retaliated by stating we, senior citizens, were loved by the state and that we well deserved our grants and allowances. We had worked hard all our lives and contributed greatly to the ecomomy


Pearl Jane and Sr Dorothea

The debate was followed by a lively audience participation before our Chairman and Judge, Gabriel Rohan, declared , to much applause, the opposing team to be the winners.


All in all ,it was a very enjoyable afternoon and I hope it will be the first of many. However, I do feel our participating teams would be a hard act to follow!
Congratulations and well done to all concerned!
Chris O’Flynn