Hermann Görtz was a German spy in Britain and Ireland before and during World War II, liaising with the Irish Republican Army. After the war, he committed suicide rather than be deported from Ireland to Germany.

The title of our next talk is “Van Diemens Women, a history of the transportation of Irish Women convicts to Tasmania in the 1800’s.”

Dr Joan Kavanagh is a Wicklow historian and was responsible for setting up the Wicklow Family History Centre which indexed church records throughout the county.

She travelled to Tasmania and gained access to records of the Irish women transported there and was able to to follow their family histories.

Her book gives a fascinating insight into the lives of these women and their families and should be an interesting talk.

Google Maps says it can't be done. Actually it said "Can't seem to find a way there". Well Peter and his bike found a way!

He will recount his trip for us which promises to be quite an adventure. Not to be missed - one show only.

Frank Tracy, eminent historian, will speak to us on Queen Victoria's visit to Killarney in 1861. Not much is known of this visit nor indeed written about it, but according to Frank, it is a fascinating subject and much in demand, and her visit helped to put Killarney on the map and make it the famous place it is today.

Luke O’Neill is Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He is a world expert on innate immunity and inflammatory diseases. He is listed by Thompson Reuters/ Clarivates in the top 1% of immunologists in the world, based on citations per paper. Professor O'Neill is co-founder of Sitryx, which aims to develop new medicines for inflammatory diseases. Another company he co-founded, Inflazome was acquired by Roche and is carrying out clinical trials in Parkinson’s disease, heart disease and asthma. with a potential new medicine that began in Luke’s lab in TCD.

He was awarded the Royal Dublin Society / Irish Times Boyle Medal for scientific excellence, the Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal for Life Sciences, The Society for Leukocyte Biology (SLB) Dolph O. Adams award, the European Federation of Immunology Societies Medal, the Milstein Award of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society and the Landsteiner Award from the Austrian Academy of Sciences. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy, EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation) and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Luke also has a passion for communicating science to the public. He has a weekly radio slot on the Pat Kenny show on Newstalk and has published several popular science books, most recently ‘Never Mind the B#ll*cks Here’s the Science’ which won the 2020 Irish non-fiction book of the year, and ‘Keep Calm and Trust the Science – an extraordinary year in the life of an immunologist’ which was his diary during the COVID19 pandemic.

Siel Bleu is a charity which offers exercise programmes on line and in person in Residential and Day Care, with organisations, in communities and in private homes.

Thomas will start off the talk with an introduction to the type of exercises they do and will devote 20 minutes to demonstrating the type of exercises they conduct. It should be a very valuable and useful talk for us all.

Carina Harte is chairperson of Wicklow's Older People's Council (OPC) since May 2023. OPCs are representative groups of older people (over 55) who work together with key state and voluntary agencies to make Ireland and Wicklow a better place in which to grow old.

Carina will be joined by Marion Van der Wel, Wicklow Health Age Friendly Home Coordinator on 12-12-2024. Marion in her own work, carries out a needs assessment in people's homes to establish what supports are required to enable people to live independently in their own homes for as long as they can.

Carina Harte is Secretary of Delgany Commerce Council and is the Greystones Municipal District representative on the Public Partnership Network (PPN). Carina has worked as an economist on national economic financial and fiscal policies in the Central Bank of Ireland and HM Treasury in London. Her career as an economist in the public sector spanned over 30 years when she represented the Irish Central Bank and the British Government at EU and other international meetings.

Dr. Michael Kennedy will speak to us on the history of the curry houses in Dublin, from the arrival of the first curry house at the turn of the Century in the capital to the establishment of many curry houses, as Dublin people's tastes changed and oriental cuisine became more established in Dublin.

Dermot, who is retired as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, will speak on CS Parnell. Dermot studied Psychology at Dublin Business School, Georges Street in Dublin, finishing with a HETAC BA degree, followed by a further 2 years receiving certificate in Psychotherapy (2010-2012)

Dermot will speak on CS Parnell as follows:

1. Avondale House- the Home-History of Avondale

2. Story of John Henry (father) Delia Tudor Stewart (mother)

3. The Family Life at Avondale

4. Politics Home Rule League- Land Reform-Irish Land League

5. Story of Katherine Wood (Kitty O'Shea)

6. Parnell Legacy

Stephen Ferguson has been archivist in the GPO for most of his career and will talk to us on the history of this iconic building in O'Connell Street. The GPO was the centre of the 1916 Rising and is one of Ireland's most famous building and landmarks. It was the last great Georgian public building to be erected in the capital. It was designed by the great architect Francis Johnston in 1814.

Hugh works as a tour guide in the well known Powerscourt Distillery, Co. Wicklow. He will speak to us on the distilling and maturing of whiskey and all that entails in bringing this wonderful product to sale.

We have all heard of Lemons sweets and I am sure this talk will bring back nostalgic images of times gone by when Christmas was not complete without a big box of Lemons sweets. Cormac will speak about the history of this famous firm of confectioners since the 19th Century, how it survived the Easter Rising on O'Connell Street and how it sadly had to go as its products were replaced by other types of confectionary in keeping with the demands and trends of the times.

Helen is going to kick off our new term with some poetry about Autumn. Helen is a poet and has composed many lovely poems on the beautiful Irish landscape and will share with us her thoughts and images for Autumn

Grace Perrott, from Bray, has been a tourist guide, since 2019, having left the world of Financial Services after nearly 20 years, where she worked in Communications and Human resources. Perhaps not such a huge change, given that the world of the tourist guide is all about managing people and telling stories.

Grace will speak about the training required to become an approved Tourist Guide in Ireland, the key things all tourist guides need to know and describe some of her favourite tours around Dublin and Wicklow, her main stomping ground with groups and individual tourists.

The presentation provides an overview of the planning, design and construction of the Harbour Marina in Greystones. The talk includes a review of the history of the old harbour and north beach, and how the new facility was designed to enhance and protect the harbour for future generations.

Sean Mason is a consulting civil engineer with over 40 years experience specialising in ground engineering. He is a Director with Ove Arup and Partners Ireland, and was the Project Director for Arup on the Greystones Harbour PPP (Public, Private Partnership) Project. Sean is also a resident of Greystones.

In 1891 the children's home recently established in Delgany attracted unwelcome attention as a result of an allegation of proselytism.

This talk will offer an account of the background to the case and its outcome. The story ranges from the leafy lanes of Delgany to the mean streets of Monto, and its principal actors include a public-spirited parson and a Parnellite priest, philanthropic ladies, a rising political star and a destitute widow and her little daughter, the unwitting focus of this local instance of confessional conflict.

Rosemary Raughter, Historian, lives in Greystones and is involved with the Greystones Archeological and Historical Society, as well as being involved with the La Touche Legacy Seminar. Her talks focus on local women from the early Burnaby Estate days.

Frank has spoken to us before on the goings on of the Anglo Irish and here is another tale of a wealthy Anglo Irish family, the Massys, and their activities.

The Massys were a family of Cromwellian origin, arrviing here in 1649, who had inherited the estate at Kilakee in the 19th Century, by marrying into the White family, reputed to be the richest family in Ireland at the time in 1820. They lived in an isolated "Big House", at Kilakee, on the edge of a mountain, during a lawless time in Ireland.

John Thomas Massy , the 6th Baron of his line, who held the estate through most of the 19th Century, led an extravagant lifestyle and by 1915, when he died, leaving the estate to his grandsom Hugh, the family was heavily in debt.

We have had James speak to us on two occasions and he has proved to be very interesting and popular speaker.

The air crash occurred on August 12th 1946, high up in the Wicklow mountains. A group of French Girl Guides walked away from the plane wreck in what has become the stuff of local legend.

In the aftermath of WW11, the teenagers were flying to Dublin to meet their Irish counterparts for a holiday. Little could have prepared them for their disastrous journey, as their old military plane crashed into the side of Djouce Mountain.

Gay Conroy has been a ember of the Irish Genealogical Research Society since 2004. From 2018 to 2020, she occupied Chair of the Ireland Branch Committee.

Gay is a Trinity College Dublin Classics graduate. For the past fifteen years, she has focussed on genealogical research.

Her article Pedigree and History of the Colclough family of Staffordshire and Wexford was published in the Journal of the Wexford Historical Society No. 22, pps 50-60.

In keeping with her classics background, Gay is a member of the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies in Athens and travels to Greece frequently.

From 2009- 2015, she represented the IGRS on the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations.

Mary trained as a nurse in St. Vincent's University Hospital and later did an MSc in Constructivist Psychotherapy. In 2003, she founded a humanitarian organisation called "The Rose Project", focussing on the provision of healthcare to those living with HIV in East Africa, and especially in Malawi.

Over a period of time, The Rose Project has funded five new health care facilities, including the principal maternity hospital in Lilongwe, the capital, as well as providing healthcare to in excess of 1,000,000 people.

Mary is currently funding a child care programme in Lilongwe.

In 2010, she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Trevor White, who founded the Little Museum in Dublin, has already given us a delightful presentation on the life and times of the former Dublin Lord Mayor, Alfie Byrne, which was very interesting. Trevor is now going to speak to us about his new book published recently, on Dublin, entitled " A Little History of Dublin ".

Dr. Patricia McCarthy is an architectural historian and author of "A favourite study: Building the King's Inns" (Dublin 2006),

Life in the country house in Georgian Ireland, (London and New Haven, 2016),

Her recent book is "Enjoying claret in Georgian Ireland- a history of amiable excess (Four Courts Press Dublin 2022).

Saint Margaret of Scotland, was an English Princess and a Scottish Queen. She was sometimes referred to as "The Pearl of Scotland". She was born in Hungary in 1057 to the English Prince, Edward the Exile. Margaret married Malcolm 111 of Scotland at the end of 1070. She was the mother of three kings of Scotland. She was considered an exemplar of the "just ruler", and influenced her husband and children. She was canonised in 1250 by Pope Innocent 1V.

William is a Bass member of Bray Choral Society and is a keen Beatles fan. He also plays the piano. William will regale us with stories of the Beatles and their music. He and some other friends, back in the creative 60s, had a group going and used to play and perform Beatles numbers. He will go through the Beatles history and as he does so, will play music composed at this specific time of their lives, thereby giving more meaning and poignancy to the music.

Sean Kelly Conroy, who is a member of the Greystones Music Circle, has kindly agreed to present a talk on unknown and not well known composers of the 17th to 20th Century, with fantastic visual overheads, giving great depth and meaning to the music being played. We have wonderful violinists, cellists and opera singers on video from various orchestra in the US and Europe, giving us lively performances of the music which Sean will display.

This will be followed by a lunch in the Delgany Golf Club.

One of the Antarctic explorer's adoring eight sisters, Eleanor, share more than initials with her famous brother. Training as a paediatric nurse and midwife at the beginning of the 20th Century, the story of her long career, which brought her from London to Canada and the Western Front to Salonika, shows the extent of her humanity, concern for others under her care, and endurance in difficult circumstances.

Dr. Sharon Greene is an archeologist and historian from County Kildare, close to the birthplace of the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Her ongoing research includes the lives and careers of the less famous, but equally interesting, Shackleton sisters. Sharon works for Abarta Heritage and is editor of Archeology Ireland magazine.

Dr. Alice Ryan is the Curator of the James Joyce Tower in Sandycove. Alice has a PhD from the UCD Research Centre for Joyce Studies and she holds an MA in Anglo-Irish literature. She is a Member of the James Joyce Institute since 2015, she has led an 18-week course in reading Ulysses at Saor Ollscoill Na hEireann and co-edited "James Joyce remembered" with Helen Solterer, published in 2022 by UCD University Press.

This talk will give an introduction to the work of James Joyce, a review of his stature as an artist in world literature and take a look at the stylistic innovations that have made his work famous.

The title "Making the Invisible visible, reflects the hidden nature of precious groundwater. About half of the world's population get their drinking water from groundwater and groundwater also supplies agricultural and industrial needs. It is also the reason why our rivers continue to flow during periods without rainfall. Despite its importance, there is a low awareness about groundwater, even among many policy makers and water managers. In this talk, Bruce will explain how groundwater occurs, the ways in which it is used across the globe, and the opportunities it provides for helping us to manage adverse impacts of climate change.

Dr. Bruce Misstear is a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin, where he has taught hydrogeology and environmental engineering for more than 25 years. Before then, he was divisional director at engineering consultancey Mott MacDonald, working on groundwater projects in Africa, Middle East and Asia, as well as in the UK. He is author and co-author of around 200 publications on topics ranging from groundwater resources and protection, to air quality monitoring. He is about to publish a new book "Wells and Wellbeing: The Hydrogeology of Irish Holy Wells". Between 2016 and 2020, Bruce served as Secretary General of the International Association of Hydrogeologists.

Unfortunately Rachael Linton, who was scheduled to speak to us on Arklow Pottery, on the 12th oct, has been exposed to Covid, as she is carer for her husband, and will not now speak on the 12th Oct. However, James Scannell, who has previously spoken to us at the U3A on John Hinde Postcards, has kindly agreed to step unto the breach and come and speak to us on the 12th Oct on the cinema in the 50s and 60s.

Des Burke-Kennedy studied Business studies, Russian and Philosophy, in Trinity College Dublin. He has been MD for various organisations in Ireland: IDA Ireland,D'Orlan UK, Chloride Ireland, Continental AG, Germany. He has taken part in the Whitbred Round the World Yacht Race, Team Manager of the Red Arrow Motor Racing in the UK, he is a lifetime Honorary President of the Golden Falls Waterski Club, President of the Trinity Business Alumni 1991 and 1992 and Dalkey Tidy Towns Project management and social media management ongoing. He is the author of "Murder, Mutiny and the Muglins" which can be found on Amazon.

Des will speak to us on Dalkey Coastal Watchers. This is the story of a little known group called the Dalkey Coast Watchers and the critical role played by them and 83 similar groups around Ireland's coastline in 1939 to 1945. As one of 14 neutral countries in the War, Ireland faced invasion threats by several and also found ways to provide the Allies with critical assistance and information. This presentation gives an insight to the role of a small group in Dalkey and what they achieved.

Neal Doherty was born in Dublin and has an MBA from the Open University. After 37 years in the food business, he became a tourist guide and now works as a freelance tourist guide in French and English for various tour operators. As a guide, Neal has extensively researched many aspects of the history, heritage and inhabitants of Ireland. His book, entitled, The Complete Guide to the Statues and Sculptures of Dublin City is the end result of that research.

We pass by the sculptures and statues in Dublin every day without knowing what is eally behind them or giving them a second thought-their sculptors, their erection dates, their symbolism, but most importantly why they were erected. His book is the result of two year's work.

In today's talk, historian James Scannell will talk and show the history of the postcard in Ireland, and in particular those postcards of John Hinde. This will be a nostalgic talk, as so many of us will remember these lovely colourful postcards of the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s and will bring us back to a different Ireland.

The theme of this talk is ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The RNLI crews consist of hairdressers, accountants, Marketing Executives etc. Now retired from running his own company, Ed Totterdell decided that sailing and the sea would form part of his new stage in life. He has acted as Race Officer for many local national and international sailing events. Ed was part of the first crew of Dun Laoighaire's Inshore Lifeboat and served on the All Weather Lifeboat from 1986 to 1995. He turned to duty in 2017 as a Launch Authority and then became Lifeboat Operations Manager in 2021. As LOM, Ed has the responsibility of ensuring that the station runs smoothly and is always ready for action.

The RNLI is totally run by donations and receives no government monies or grants. DL lifeboat station is the busiest station in Ireland and with the exception of the Thames River Stations, is the busiest RNLI station in the RNLI. With over 100 call outs last year, the volunteers went on exercise 124 times and went on 103 call outs assisting 126 people and some dogs. This involved a total of 468 hours at sea!

Frank Tracy, will give a talk entitled "After the Ball", about the fall of the Anglo Irish, after the Civil War ended in Ireland in 1923.

For over seven hundred years, life in Ireland was dominated and controlled by a privilegd elite of non-Irish people, i.e. Anglo Normans, Tudors, Cromwellians etc. who have now all but disappeared. This talk deals with who they were, where they came from, their dominance of Ireland and their ultimate demise. In short, Who were they? What happened to them? Where are they now?

Frank gives various historical talks to groups and had given the U3A committee several subjects from which to choose and "After the Ball" was selected. No doubt we shall have another interesting talk in the future from Frank.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is Dr. Bernadette Ward's area of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, specifically the training, practice and democratic processes of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Much of Dr. Ward's adult life is working with TCM organisations to lecture, write and represent TCM organisations nationally and internationally.

Dr. Bernadette Ward. Doctor of Education DCU. MSc (MIddlesex University ) UK, Visiting Professor to Nanjing China.

Carmel enjoys hill walking and is a member of Greystones U3A Group.

She will cover how she got into walking, its health benefits, the equipment necessary for hill walking and will show a selection of slides from her walks down through the years, some local, some abroad from the Tatras Mountains to the Dolomites and to Canada. She will touch on geology, history and ecology. Carmel has been walking for 20 years and hopes to continue, despite having had major surgery to her leg, and being plagued with exercise induced asthma.

I would encourage you all to come, as the talk is aimed at anybody who is interested in walking and in getting out into the countryside in general and not just hill-walking.

Dear Members,

As the speaker, selected to speak on the 23rd March 2023, Mr. Marc McMenamin, did not turn up for his talk on The Francis Spaight, Mary O'Brien has kindly agreed to step into the breach and speak on Life's Memoir instead.

Eamonn O'Raghaillaigh, our Committee Treasurer, has also stepped into the breach to take Mary's place on the 13th April and play us some of his favourite musical pieces, so hence the title Musical Miscellany. Eamonn is Chairperson of the Greystones Musical Circle, a group of music enthusiasts, who meet on the first Wednesday of each month, 1st Floor, Greystones Library, at 7pm, to listen to our favourite pieces. Somebody each session is selected to present musical pieces of their choice. Eamonn presented a talk recently on some selected pieces and will now present them to us on the 13th April.

For most of her working life, Mary O'Brien worked for the Irish Times in various positions. She has been the setter of the Simplex crossword since 1986. When she took early retirement, she brought the crossword with her and hopes to continue setting it, as long as puzzlers enjoy it, and her brain allows.

After leaving the newspaper, she received a Masters in Creative Writing and then designed and delivered writing workshops in a variety of locations, incuding libraries and health-care settings. The most popular workshop by far, has been Life Writing, i.e. Autobiography, Memoir, Journal etc. Mary will talk to us mainly about Life Writing, but is happy to talk about and answer any questions you may have on crosswords.

A Speaker's Presentation exists for this Event: click here

Patrick Cafferky has negotiated the difficult journey of port pilot in Dublin for 25 years. This work involves a lot of agility and a certain amount of danger, negotiating difficult seas in stormy conditions. Patrick went to sea in 1973 as a cadet with Irish Shipping, passed his exams, and spent 20 years sailing the world on cargo ships, rising to the rank of Captain. He was a Captain for 10 years when he was offered the job with Dublin Port as Port Pilot and seized this exciting opportunity, and stayed there for 25 years.

It will be exciting to hear from Grainne Fennell of Codling Wind Park. Codling Wind Park represents one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in Ireland this decade and is set to become one of Ireland's largest offshore wind farm, being developed in the Irish sea. With the potential to generate enough locally produced renewable electricity to power the equivalent of up to 12 million homes annually. CWP will support the delivery of Ireland's Climate Action Plan targets. It will also help to reduce Ireland's reliance on imported fossil fuel based energy and significantly improve energy security.

Grainne is the Community Liaison Officer for Codling Wind Park Project. She joined Codling Wind Park project as Community Liaison Officer in November 2022. She had previously worked for twenty years in the Financial Services industry, and also in a variety of community-based roles, with the Civil Liberties and Advocacy sector. She has extensive experience in building relationships and a keen focus on diversity and inclusion. Her work on this critical renewable energy project will help create a safer, healthier, environment for her children, and future generations in her community.

Paul is the author of 7 books. He has written "Lethal Cargo", "On a Wing and a Prayer".... Egypt in 18 days, and several other works. Paul was born in Dublin in 1950 and worked in the Department of Justice. He served in the Irish Army Reserve, including duty on the Northern Ireland border during the Troubles. He has travelled widely and draws on his experience in his writing. He is married with three boys and and divides his time between Dublin Marbella and Athens.

The book, Better Beginning, about which he will speak, is created around the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of Bonians by Serb soldiers. Gary Dunne, an Irish civil servant working for Europol, becomes a target, but his wife is murdered instead. Dunne tracks the killers through Marbella, Gibraltar and Casablanca. It was in Rick's cafe, in Casablanca, where Paul did a lot of his research for the book, hence the title of his talk.

Rosemarie Devereux will speak on the interesting subject of Women in Art. For many hundreds of years, women have been airbrushed from the world of painting and this talk by Rosemarie will give you a flavour of the wonderful oeuvres by women artists down through the ages. Rosemarie is a freelance art historian. She has a B.A. and Masters in Art History from UCD. She gives courses in Art History at the National Gallery of Ireland and the Whale Theatre in Greystones.

Louis O'Byrne will look at Irish bank notes through history and history through bank notes. He will then talk about the complex historical connections of the designs of the four series of Irish bank notes, issued since the foundation of the State.

Louis was born in Moneystown in Co. Wicklow, in 1943, so, as he says himself, he was fated to deal with bank notes! He graduated from UCD in English, History and Economics. He was Head of the Central Bank of Ireland's Banknote Printing works, Mint and Currency Centre for fifteen years, from 1993 to 2008. He played a key role in the development and issue of the Euro notes and coins. His other interests are history, hill-walking and theatre.

Carmen is the niece of the famous singer Delia Murphy, and will be speaking about Delia and her wonderful singing. Carmen is very accomplished and has had seven books published to date. She published her first book of poetry in 1983. She is also a poetess and singer, having toured Ireland UK and USA with her shows. Carmen was Head of English in Cholaiste Dhulaigh, Coolock, Dublin, for 20 years. She was Director of the Oscar Wilde autumn School in Bray from 2000 to 2005. She has an MA in creative writing from TCD and is currently preparing children's poetry videos for use in schools.

Isabel is a well known travel writer, writing for numerous papers, featuring on radio, and has travelled extensively all over the globe, writing about her various itineraries in far flung places. Isabel started out working as a newspaper reporter for the Irish Press and since its folding, in 1979, has been writing as a freelance journalist on various topics, but her preference was always as a travel writer. She writes extensively on travel for the Sunday Business Post and the Sunday Times, as well as appearing occasionally on World Report, on RTE Radio 1, on Sunday mornings, just before John Bowman.

Isabel has won many awards for her writing, which is vivid, humerous and very descriptive. She was inspired by the great travel writer Dervla Murphy whom she has met and admired. Isabel will talk on the merits of solo travel and would welcome audience participation and is looking forward to an interactive talk.

Patricia Anne Butler is a well known art historian having published on extensively Irish Botanical Art. "Drawn from Nature" was her most recent exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Ireland 2020 which celebrated 300 years of Irish Botanical Art when most of the drawings, watercolours, prints and illustrations were on display for the first time. Patricia is also a keen gardener, opening her garden at the Dower House (part of Dublin GardenTrail) each year in aid of the Wicklow Hospice

Miriam has had a life long passion for golf and has played in Delgany Golf Club since 1981. Throughout her long years she has entered and won many medal competitions although a proportion of these of these turned out to be glassware!! She has won a Silver Cup for the foursomes. The highlight of her career was being Captain of Delgany Golf Club in its Centenary Year in 2008. The twelve months were spent visiting numerous other clubs, culminating in a Centenary Ball in Killiney Castle. We look forward to an interesting talk on her views of the sport.

Angela Keogh is the authoress of a novel called The Winter Dress, about a winter's day in 1348.The novel was short-listed for the 2020 Irish Writer's Central Novel Fair. When writing her book, she did extensive research on the medieval society during that period. She will be giving us some insight into what life was like during that era.

Angela is a Kilkenny born novelist and playwright. She studied English literature and Cultural and Community Studies at the University of Sussex. She studied creative writing at Maynooth University. She is a winner of the Waterford Poetry Prize. She is the author of four stage plays and two radio plays and is a regular contributor to RTE's Sunday Miscellany. She teaches Creative Writing at the Hedge School and is co-founder of The Harvest Press, a micro publishing house, based in Co. Carlow. She also works as an actor and director with Mend and Makedo Theatre Company. She has just been awarded an Arts Council Bursary to work on a new play.

Alfie Byrne is the still a figure of legends in Dublin, where he was elected Lord Mayor ten times. He was also a TD and a Senator. Rising from inner city Dublin to become known as the Lord Mayor of Ireland, Byrne was indeed a truly remarkable figure, as Trevor White reveals in his talk. Trevor White is an Irish writer, publisher, food critic and founded the Little Museum in Dublin in 2011 where he created the civic initiative "City of a Thousand Welcomes". In 2017, he published "The Life and Times of Alfie Byrne". White has written several works for the stage.

Frank Kelly graduated in1981 from Trinity College Dublin with an Honours Degree in Music, the same year as he was awarded Student of the Year. He studied Piano and Organ at The Royal Academy of Music and then went on to the Musical Conservatoire, Paris. During this time he won many scholarships, participated in and won various competitions including the Feis Ceoil and obtained a number of further qualifications with distinction.. He then embarked on a thirty year illustrious musical teaching career until he retired in 2014. Throughout and to present day his musical activities include directing several choirs in Dublin and County Wicklow ; with his family he has founded a musical group called Classic Harmony who are well known for their concerts locally and abroad and he is a musical tutor in voice and piano.

Helen Harrison is from Birkenhead on Merseyside. She has lived for many years in Monaghan and now resides in Wicklow. She is a poet. As a lover of nature she is a keen observer of ordinary life with all its sights , sounds and emotions. She is able to translate what she has seen and experienced in to poetry which not only captivates the reader but makes them feel part of the pictures she is painting in her poetic words. We really look forward to sharing her life’s experiences.

Rita is to talk on the ways and means of researching family history

We all know how lucky we are to have the Powerscourt Estate on our doorstep.

Voted the 3rd best garden in the World (!!!) it provides 47 acres of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statues, ornamental lakes, fountains - and sublime herbaceous borders.

Early May is peak tulip time, and with 20,000 tulip bulbs in place, the gardens are alive with colour.

Alex Slazenger is just the right man to tell us more.

Alex Slazenger grew up at Powerscourt Estate, and the Powerscourt gardens fostered his love of plants and gardening from a young age. He studied at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin and is now Head Gardener of his beloved Powerscourt.

Rembrandt approached his subjects with an acute eye on versimilitude. Even the most minor character in his pictures has a definite personality and fulfills a definite role within the whole composition.

Olive Knox's background in both fine art and theatre places her in an ideal position to show us all how to look at Rembrandt's works in a totally new way.

A miscellany of music accompanied by an explanation and the background of the chosen pieces given by Beatrice

This year marks the centenary of the 1922 Constitution, which guaranteed Irish women the right to vote on the same terms as men.

The Suffrage Movement played a vital role in achieving this momentous change, and the Suffragettes of Co. Wicklow focused much of their activities in North Wicklow, and especially in Greystones. Perhaps you've noticed the plaque in Greystones harbour? Much to my shame, I must admit I hadn't!

This is our chance to learn much more about an often overlooked aspect of this tumultuous period in our national and local histories.

Rosemary Raughter is a historian, living in Greystones, who writes and lectures extensively on Irish women's history and on different aspects of the revolutionary period in Ireland. She is currently Chairperson of Greystones Archaeological & Historical Society.

Rembrandt approached his subjects with an acute eye on versimilitude. Even the most minor character in his pictures has a definite personality and fulfills a definite role within the whole composition.

Olive Knox's background in both fine art and theatre places her in an ideal position to show us all how to look at Rembrandt's works in a totally new way.

Beatrice is going to give us a flavour of a memorable trip she made to Africa in 2019. She travelled through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. What a trek! At the end of the trip she spent ten days working as a volunteer in a cheetah sanctuary, looking after 12 cheetahs, feeding them, playing with them and cleaning out their cages. In addition she looked after 3 mongoose (mongooses? mongeese?) 2 servals and 2 hyenas. And has survived to tell the tale.

Beatrice is our U3A secretary and acting Vice Chairperson. She is a retired Senior Clinical Research Associate and worked in clinical trials in many therapeutic fields: oncology; endocrinology; psychiatry and transplantation. She originally trained as a nurse and midwife but later returned to TCD to sit for a BA Mod. in French and Classical Studies.

This will -hopefully - be our first LIVE meeting in two years and we look forward to our new venue. Beatrice's talk promises to be an interesting start.

So who is it? Well, the mystery will have to continue until the actual speech. Not much point in giving the game away beforehand. I'm sure you'll be surprised by the importance of the person concerned.

Our speaker is Phillip Devonport. English by birth, a scientist by education and resident in Ireland since 1977. Phillip's career was in computing but anyone who knows him can testify to the breadth of his interests and erudition. Phillip is also a long-term member of Toastmasters and a winner at all types of speeches, especially comedic. He was looking forward to our first live talk but is happy to perform on Zoom.

Above, Phillip with his wife Orla.

Finola will look at the history of stained glass in Ireland beginning with what happened to our medieval stained glass, through the gothic revival of the nineteenth century where most glass was imported, to the emergence of a truly Irish tradition starting with Harry Clarke and the artists of An Túr Gloine and continuing to the present day.

Finola Finlay: Finola writes about stained glass for roaringwaterjournal.com, the blog she writes with her husband, Robert Harris. She is one of the contributors to the newly-published 'Gazetteer of Irish Stained Glass'

Hans Kung was a Catholic priest and theologian. Clever and charismatic, he influenced many scholars and lay people within the Church in trying to bring Catholicism into the modern world. He was named a PERITUS (expert adviser) at the Second Vatican Council, which sought to bring reforms into the Church, particularly in the area of ecumenicism. However, he ran into trouble with Pope Paul VI over the issue of contraception. He went on to question the Church teaching on infallibility and had his licence to teach theology withdrawn by Pope John Paul II. He found himself the voice of many Catholics who support the idea of a married clergy, female priests as well as changes to moral theology. He was also a prodigious writer, not just in theology but other areas as well. He remained a dissenting voice until his death in April of this year.

Delivering the talk on Hans Kung is the Reverend David Preston, whose description of himself is, 'The man who couldn't make his mind up!'

After leaving school David went to London to study medicine. A year later he changed his mind and went to Brasenose College, Oxford, to study theology and to join the Anglican ministry.

However, after a short period he went to Rome to study in the Gregorian University to become a Roman Catholic priest. In the end he did not become ordained as a priest but returned to England, joined the Church of England and became a parish rector. Some years later he became an Army Chaplain where he remained for the last ten years of his working life.

After retirement he moved to Scotland and reverted to Roman Catholicism. At present he helps with services in the RC church but plays the organ in churches of any denomination.

David has an exceptional singing voice, plays the organ and viola as well as the piano - musical and ecumenical!

This week's talk is one that had to be cancelled earlier. The information can be found under the 11th November.

Our talk today will be from Eric Dempsey of Birdwatch Ireland.

As you may know, Birdwatch is the largest conservation organisation in Ireland and was established in 1968. Eric will tell us about the the birds and their habitat - which is so much under threat in modern Ireland.

You may remember the unexpected arrival of a 'brown booby' to Greystones Harbour last year. The interest that was shown proves that our absorption with birds continues.

Eric will give us some insight into the work Birdwatch do on our behalf.

In May 2018, Raymond and Étain Murphy joined an 8-night Irish-run holiday in Armenia, joining 11 others. They had expected to see ancient monasteries, beautiful scenery and a very different culture - and they did.

But this holiday proved to be very different to any other holiday they had ever taken - and - in her talk - Étain will explain why.

Etain and Raymond are members of Greystones U3A and we are always delighted when a member gives the talk. This topic is one which is very close to their hearts.

Étain moved to Kilmacanoge several years ago, from Monkstown. She has always been interested in history and, while living in Monkstown, found herself researching the church there, which opened up a fascinating history of the south Dublin area, and led to her book: ‘A Glorious Extravaganza’. She is a mother of six and a retired doctor and now enjoys, among other things, working in her garden, where she tries to encourage her grandchildren to share her passion for biodiversity.

Our speaker this week is retired Bishop, Gordon Mursell, who at present works as Honorary Assistant Bishop in Glasgow and Galloway. Gordon is also a prolific author on history, spirituality and theology among other subjects, and a keen hill walker and a lover of opera. Covid prevented him from travelling to Wexford this year but since none of us can be here in person, he is happy to present his talk on Zoom.

Gordon lives in the village of Borgue in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. He had recently read about a young boy from the village, who lived in the early 18th century. Nowadays we would recognise this boy's odd behaviour as autistic but back then he was simply described as 'daft.' Gordon found how the boy coped and what happened to him a fascinating story which he will describe to us.

We all know families where autism has been diagnosed nowadays and we can see how our understanding of it has increased enormously. Gordon's talk will remind us of how far we have come.

Hans Kung was a Catholic priest and theologian. Clever and charismatic, he influenced many scholars and lay people within the Church in trying to bring Catholicism into the modern world. He was named a PERITUS (expert adviser) at the Second Vatican Council, which sought to bring reforms into the Church, particularly in the area of ecumenicism. However, he ran into trouble with Pope Paul VI over the issue of contraception. He went on to question the Church teaching on infallibility and had his licence to teach theology withdrawn by Pope John Paul II. He found himself the voice of many Catholics who support the idea of a married clergy, female priests as well as changes to moral theology. He was also a prodigious writer, not just in theology but other areas as well. He remained a dissenting voice until his death in April of this year.

Delivering the talk on Hans Kung is the Reverend David Preston, whose description of himself is, 'The man who couldn't make his mind up!'

After leaving school David went to London to study medicine. A year later he changed his mind and went to Brasenose College, Oxford, to study theology and to join the Anglican ministry.

However, after a short period he went to Rome to study in the Gregorian University to become a Roman Catholic priest. In the end he did not become ordained as a priest but returned to England, joined the Church of England and became a parish rector. Some years later he became an Army Chaplain where he remained for the last ten years of his working life.

After retirement he moved to Scotland and reverted to Roman Catholicism. At present he helps with services in the RC church but plays the organ in churches of any denomination.

David has an exceptional singing voice, plays the organ and viola as well as the piano - musical and ecumenical!

White suits and veils, smoke and (sometimes) swarms - the mysterious world of a Wicklow Beekeeper.

Billy's talk was postponed from June and we are delighted he is available to give us a picture of the life of a beekeeper. Billy lives locally so who knows? we may be able to be part of supporting our bee colonies. It is certainly an important topic in our present world.

Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin is our opening speaker for the new season.

Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin aka Sam Blake

No 1 Bestselling Author, Founder & Managing Director Writing.ie, The Inkwell Group & MURDER ONE, Ireland's International Crime Writing Festival.

Board member of the Society of Authors.

Board member of the Crime Writers Association

Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce

Vanessa is Ireland's foremost literary scout and the chairperson of writing groups and literary festivals. She is also a published author, writing under the nom-de-plume of Sam Blake. As Sam Blake she has written a trilogy of novels based on Garda Cat Connolly. The novels following the trilogy were both thrillers, the latest one 'The Dark Room,' about to be released later in September.

Vanessa will give us an insight into the life of a literary scout as well as some details about her own life as a writer. No doubt we'll find something of interest in her talk. I can recommend the novels, having enjoyed the Irish aspect in each one.

Following the talk from Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin we will hold the first AGM of the branch.

If you have any concerns, suggestions or questions this is the opportunity to air them.

Zoom meetings recommence on 16th September.

details to follow

White suits and veils, smoke and (sometimes) swarms - the mysterious world of a Wicklow Beekeeper

The AGM will be held immediately after the talk by Dairine Nuttall on 3rd June. The agenda will be sent in May to all members.

Dairine Nuttall has been leading walking tours for both walkers and tourists, for the past decade. She has very kindly agreed to give us a tour of local walks ranging from easy to more challenging, suitable for all fitness levels. Dairine has taken people up hill and down dale into the beautiful surroundings of the Garden of Ireland. With descriptions and photographs, even non-walkers will enjoy the virtual tour around the county and it may inspire us to move our Covid walks up a notch.

Courtesy of Andy O'Hara of Edward Dillon & Co we have something a little different to celebrate, having survived a difficult year.

Paul Tuohy, the Hennessy Brand Ambassador, will be sending out invitations to all of you who have signed up for the talk and cocktails. We will have Two mixologists - one giving us the fascinating history of Hennessy cognac and one telling us about a relatively young brand, Slane Whiskey. Your mixer packs will arrive at the beginning of the week. I hope we have a bit of light-hearted fun.

Don't forget the later start. High Noon!

Chris began her PhD in UCD School of Education post retirement and she is going to talk to us as a break from the task of writing up! She has a particular interest in social history and in education (she was hugely involved in the Educate Together schools, initially as a parent and subsequenty as principal in Bray and Dalkey School Projects).

Her research looks at the schools in three of the Poor Law Unions, including the Rathdown Poor Law Union which covered an area of 75 square miles and included parts of both Dublin and Wicklow. One of the aims of her research is to investigate the lives and experiences of children both inside and outside the workhouse, particularly from 1840 – 1850, ten years which include most of the years of the Great Irish Famine.

This promises to be a fascinating talk about social history and some of the surprising discoveries that Chris has made in the course of her research

Eileen is one of our own U3A members who has grown up with travel in her blood. She will tell us how a chance encounter in Greystones led her to the mountains and volcanoes of Guatemala, which she has visited many times since 2015. Eileen's beautiful photographs will take us on an armchair adventure as she relates the stories behind them, Topic: Frances Duncan's Zoom Meeting

Start Time : Apr 22, 2021 10:05 AM

The link for the recording of this talk is below:

Meeting Recording:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/tEhOn85d3jcRZf9mRfce2GvCkyDWmrN9CvuUfLoenQjYdOUesQ9CQWbZ3_fIAesS.Ww5ehCHx9aaVe2ot

Access Passcode: =1LR747m

Journeys are a subject dear to our hearts as we are slowly increasing the distance we can travel from home. Sinead Tarmey talks us through the journey from an empty field to our beautiful Wicklow Hospice in Magheramore, Janet Tyner tells of the jourmey from another bare field to one filled with thousands of sunflowers, and David Lawson talks to us about ancient journeys and the Irish Camino . Sounds intriguing!

Konrad Jay and his wife Katherine are the current custodians of Mount Usher Gardens.

Created by four generations of the Walpole family beginning in 1868, Mount Usher is recognised at home and abroad as one of the earliest and finest examples of a ‘Robinsonian’ garden. Extending to 22 acres, it combines a champion collection of trees and shrubs with inspirational floral planting schemes along both sides of the River Vartry. There is an ever changing panoply of colours and textures enhanced by wafting scents accompanying every season.

Madeleine Jay, Konrad's mother, had a life which was at times as colourful and wild as the world-famous garden which she bought in 1979 and saved for posterity. We are delighted to welcome Konrad to give us some insights into her life, how she came to own Mount Usher and the restoration of the gardens. .

Emma Jane is a professional sculptor who works with wire to create magical sculptures for private gardens and public spaces. We had hoped to visit Emma's workshop last summer, but instead she has very kindly prepared a short film about her workspace and some of her beautiful creations. Emma will also talk to us over Zoom about her work, tell us more about her inspiration and how she creates these wonderful sculptures.

The mysterious world of white suits and veils, smoke and (sometimes) swarms - the world of a Wicklow Beekeeper

Learn to love your dandelions!

Did you know that leaving areas unmown until mid-April provides a really important food source for bumblebee queens emerging from hibernation?

In what promises to be a motivating and informative talk, Deirdre will outline how we can all make space for wildlife in our garden.

Roger Stalley is fellow emeritus of Trinity College Dublin where he was Professor of the History of Art until his retirement in 2010. He has published numerous books on various aspects of medieval art and architecture, and over one hundred peer reviewed papers, his most recent work being Early Irish Sculpture and the Art of the high crosses (Mellon / Yale 2020). The French Gothic Cathedrals formed one of his most popular undergraduate courses and former students have fond memories of the accompanying study visits he led to France.

On April 15th 2019 the whole world was able to watch aghast as flames spread irresistibly from one end of Notre Dame to the other. The airwaves were filled with outbursts of despair and calamity, but in fact the the cathedral itself remained largely intact. What looked like a complete disaster on our TV screens was in fact a triumph for Gothic – in particular a triumph for the Gothic system of design.

In his talk to us, Professor Stalley will discuss the impact of fires in the middle ages and explain the unique place that Notre Dame enjoys in the history of Gothic architecture. He will also consider the nature of the damage caused by the fire and the many problems that confront the restorers.

Charlie Bird needs no introduction.

He was a familiar face on our televisions for many years during his time with RTÉ and was at the forefront of stories which are now part of the modern history of this country. His work also took him all over the world, as he reported from war zones, scenes of natural disasters and about political unrest.

Charlie began as a researcher in Current Affairs before becoming a news reporter. In a 38 year career he became Chief News Correspondent at RTÉ, as well as Washington Correspondent in 2010. Charlie was also a presenter on RTÉ until his retirement in 2012.

He was born in Sandymount but is now a local Wicklow resident and has very kindly agreed to give a talk about his long, distinguished and sometimes controversial career

Never let it be said that we don't take you to new and exciting places, especially from the comfort of your own locked-down house!

This week's speakers are Joan and Liam McCaughey whose hobby is botany, especially Alpine flowers.. They have been hooked since taking an extramural course in Queen's University, Belfast thirty years ago. Now, after retirement from the more frantic world of medicine, they are living in Ballinderry Upper, near Lisburn and are busy trying to build a garden from scratch in a barley field! They have travelled to six continents to experience the beauty of native flowers in their natural environment.

Liam gave me the description below of the area which will be the subject of their talk.

"The Tien Shan – the Mountains of Heaven - lie north of the Himalayas and south of the steppes of central Asia. We had a longstanding urge to go there since reading an account by Charles Howard-Bury where he wrote "Never anywhere in the world have I seen such an abundance and variety of wild flowers as I saw today …….. every flower in an English and Irish garden seemed to be represented, " and eventually we achieved our ambition on a botanical trip with ‘Greentours’, and found that this description was no exaggeration.

However this talk is not just a botanical trip to the Tien Shan but also encompasses the Irish background of Lt. Colonel Charles Howard – Bury whose diaries, written in 1913, were the inspiration for our travel to Kazakhstan. He travelled there when that part of the world was in turmoil just before the first World War. Later, in 1921, he, along with Mallory, led the first reconnaissance of Mt. Everest although, unlike Mallory, his interests lay more in the Natural History than getting to the top of the mountains.

The talk will take us from the history and soft green scenery around Mullingar to follow Howard- ­Bury to Central Asia, somewhere which even today with its border with China is still a relatively unexplored region.

There was a new experience every day on this trip – the flora of course, but also horse-trekking, brown bears, an abandoned soviet atomic site, sleeping in a yurt, railway travel on the Silk Road – never a dull moment !"

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Agnes Mary Clerke grew up in Skibbereen during the Great Famine. Almost entirely self taught, she went on to write the best-selling book on astronomy in the 19th century, still in print, and to become a revered member of the scientific community of her day.

More recently, NASA named a crater on the moon in her honour. This talk will illustrate her life and accomplishments, within the context of her times.

Finola Finlay grew up in Bray but spent most of her adult life in Canada. Initially trained as an archaeologist, she worked mainly in the field of higher education. Now back in Ireland, she writes, with her husband, Robert Harris, the popular arts and culture blog Roaringwater Journal.

We can live in hope - and act accordingly - that there will be the opportunity for a Christmas Get-together. If so, let's plan it for this week and if not, we'll simply offer each other the very best wishes of the season and pray for a better year in 2021.

"A single extant folio from a much larger manuscript provides a glimpse of learning, love and loss in the monastery of Glendalough and the tolling bell, once lost, is found."

We are delighted to invite Mary Kelly to address us, via Zoom, if necessary.

Mary, from the Glendalough Visitor's Centre brings an insight into the spectacular beauty of the area which has attracted visitors for centuries - some more welcome than others. In particular, she gives us a close look into Glendalough as a monastic city of great wealth in times past. She has expanded her talk to include a little on the second surviving folio connected to the school at Glendalough. She will also tell us about the 12th century Glendalough Bell which is on view in the recently opened (and just as recently closed!) exhibition, GLENDALOUGH: POWER, PRAYER AND PILGRIMAGE in the National Museum on Kildare Street.

Her book, 'City of God', written in collaboration with Charles Doherty and Linda Doran, is based on lectures given to the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland and shows the magnificence and the importance of this site, archaeologically and liturgically.

Bryan returns to bring us the fascinating story of Captain Flora Sandes. She was the daughter of Irish émigrés to England and through a series of far from unfortunate events became a captain in the Serbian Army during WW1. Bryan always chooses unusual and intriguing characters and his beguiling talk brings them vividly to life.

Bryan Mac Mahon is a retired teacher and an author of a number of books and articles on a range of historical topics. His most recent book deals with the Protestant Conversion in the Dingle area in the 1840s.

Bryan is originally from Ballyheigue in Co Kerry and his books on the famine in his local area shows a sensitivity towards the long-term effects on the Irish psyche.

He has contributed to Sunday Miscellany; The Business (RTE Radio 1), Nationwide and Talking History.

https://zoom.us/rec/share/PB7PDMsd8o3hKhP7kXQBHdJomMQ2P4wX2CMAuAGKuGOO9PbbQSoyn8eoVduVKThu.mNywXMOvIWciaety?startTime=1606386745000

The link above should allow you to access Bryan's excellent talk on Flora Sandes, a formidable woman if ever there was one!

I'm not totally sure that this will work so if you try to play it without success, please let me know.

Evelyn Cusack is a weather presenter on RTÉ and is now Head of Forecasting at Met. Eireann. Put like that there's no indication of the fact that Evelyn has appeared almost daily in our homes since 1988 and can only be described as a National Treasure. She is known to all of us, and our fondness for her was demonstrated when, in 1999, she and her professional colleagues were replaced by RTÉ with younger, less qualified presenters. The uproar from the public meant that they were swiftly reinstated! Proper order!

We are delighted to welcome Evelyn to Greystones, even virtually.

Evelyn has requested that we have a look at the Met. Eireann website at www.met.ie so that we can ask her about anything that catches our attention. The weather is always a hot - and safe- topic to start any conversation and I'm sure we won't be short of questions. Evelyn also suggested that we might consider downloading the Met. Eireann App to our phones and to sign up for warnings notifications. I'm sure the sailors amongst us have already done so, but the rest of us might consider it, to avoid being blown off the Cliff Walk. This should be a compelling talk on a subject we can all enjoy.

We'd like to thank Mark for agreeing to come and give us a talk on an aspect of GAA and Irish history. Mark's previous talk had to be cancelled because of Lockdown but he has agreed to bring us back to a turbulent day - 21st November 1920 - during the War of Independence. As the Centenary of this momentous incident takes place, Mark will give us an insight into the events of that day and its legacy in the Irish psyche and culture.

Historian Mark Duncan is a founder and Director of the InQuest Research Group and a Director of Century Ireland, an award-winning digital project for the decade of centenaries involving a collaboration between Boston College-Ireland, RTÉ, Ireland’s national cultural institutions and university partners. A former co-Director of the GAA Oral History Project, he has extensive experience in areas of public history and media and has worked extensively in RTÉ News & Current Affairs, most recently as Results Editor of its general election coverage.

The author of several books, including The GAA: A People’s History (2009) and The GAA: County by County [both with Mike Cronin and Paul Rouse}, he is a regular media contributor on issues of sport and history.

David was due to talk to us in March but Covid put paid to that! He has very kindly agreed to address us via Zoom with an intriguing talk about some fascinating Scotsmen.

David Bayne was born in Airthrey Castle, Stirling, in the heart of Scotland's history - at the foot of the Wallace Monument and within sight of Stirling Castle. He attended the High School of Stirling and then St. Andrews University, where his degree was in Economics and Modern History.

He worked in industry for about 15 years before returning to college, to Edinburgh Theological College, to study for the ministry of the Scottish Episcopal Church. After ordination he spent almost 30 years in Dumfries and Galloway, as Rector, first of Dumfries, then of Castle Douglas, becoming Rural Dean of Galloway and a Canon of St. Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow, along the way.

David and his wife Alison first began to consider retiring to Ireland in 2013. They now live in Askamore, on the slopes of Sliabh Bhui, Co Wexford. He spends his time doing locums for the Church of Ireland, broadcasting for South East Radio, tinkering with his classic NSU - and mowing a half-acre of lawn.

Miguel Delaney is a local Greystones lad who is Chief Football writer for the London Independent. He is also a pundit on the sport on radio and television and is a published author. His book 'Stuttgart to Saipan' was long-listed for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, and tells the story of Ireland's qualification for international tournaments in 1988, 1990,1994 and 2002. The short-lived 'Glory Days', sigh.

Miguel did a journalism degree in DIT and says he was lucky enough to get sub-editing work in the Sunday Tribune sports department while he did a Masters in politics. He managed to work himself - as he puts it- into a position where he was writing about football full-time. He worked at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup for the Tribune before it went bust in 2011, and then made the move to England.

He worked for ESPN and the Independent, before becoming chief football writer for the Independent in 2017. That means he covers all aspects of the game, but majors on the Premier League, Champions League and international tournaments. He has now been to 12 Champions League finals, three World Cups and three European Championships.

Miguel's experience will give him plenty of areas for discussion - including one that he himself finds equally fascinating, the future of journalism itself..

Miquel lives in London but the magic of Zoom has allowed us to have a speaker from further afield. I'm delighted to welcome him back to his hometown and to Greystones U3A, via the power of the internet.

Jennifer Duffy from the Seamus Heaney Centre in Dublin will host a workshop to give us some insight into the poems, Two Lorries; Lightenings viii and Glanmore vii. This is our first Zoom meeting and while it is wonderful to have the technology, it represents the sad fact that we are still affected by Covid. Nonetheless, in the spirit of it being better to light a candle than to curse the dark, we'll give it a go!

Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin is the founder and managing director of Writing.ie, The Inkwell Group and MURDER ONE, Ireland's international crime writing festival. She is also Ireland's leading literary scout and now, as Sam Blake, has written a series of crime novels based in Ireland, with a really feisty main character, a Garda detective called Cat Connolly. Her latest novel, 'Keep your Eyes on Me' is a stand-alone novel and came out in January this year.

Originally from St. Albans in Hertfordshire Vanessa has lived in Ireland for many years since she came here with her fiancé, now her husband, a member of the Gardai, and lives locally in Kilmacanogue. Vanessa has such wide experience of the whole writing and publishing world that we are bound to find some gems from her talk. If you ever thought you had 'a book in you' this is the opportunity to hear at first hand the whole process from pen to print.

Dr Helen Sheridan will set out the background to the use of natural medicines by humans from earliest Neanderthal man to modern times, travelling from archaeological remains in the Shanidar caves in Iraq, through the poisoning of Socrates by hemlock in ancient Greece, the opium wars of the 19th century which led onto the discovery of morphine and the creation of heroin, and on to the present day.

Dr Sheridan is a lecturer and Director of Research in Natural Product Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Trinity College Dublin. Helen carries out original research in the use and development of new medicines from natural sources. She has brought the new natural medicine to treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease which she has helped to develop to Phase 1 human clinical trials and is continuing her work on this. Helen serves on the Traditional medicine sub-committee of the Irish Health products Regulatory Authority (HPRA; 2000 To date), is a founder member of the Sino-European GP-TCM Research Association, is on the Board of the International Natural Product Foundation, a pan global organization working toward the development of new medicines. Helen's research has been funded Nationally by Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, EU-FP7, The Wellcome Trust and Venture Capital Investment.

We are delighted to invite members to a morning with Emma Jane Rushworth in her workshop. Emma Jane is a professional sculptor who works with wire to create magical figures which are displayed in private gardens and public places. Specialising in copper-wire creations, her work has been featured many times at Bloom, as well as on RTE and national media.

Emma's workshop is situated at the junction of Bellevue Road and Kindlestown Lower - what a lovely opportunity to spend a morning "away with the fairies" in Greystones.

Frances will be taking the names of those interested at our regular meetings on 12th March and 26th March and will give more details then

This talk will cover the broad sweep of the GAA’s history and examine the various ways in which its development served to both reflect and shape the wider Irish experience. It will look, too, upon the contemporary challenges that face Ireland’s largest sporting organisation and consider ways in which they might be addressed.

Historian Mark Duncan is a founder and Director of the InQuest Research Group and a Director of Century Ireland, an award-winning digital project for the decade of centenaries involving a collaboration between Boston College-Ireland, RTÉ, Ireland’s national cultural institutions and university partners. A former co-Director of the GAA Oral History Project, he has extensive experience in areas of public history and media and has worked extensively in RTÉ News & Current Affairs , most recently as Results Editor of its general election coverage.

The author of several books, including The GAA: A People’s History (2009) and The GAA: County by County [both with Mike Cronin and Paul Rouse}, he is a regular media contributor on issues of sport and history.

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David was born in Airthrey Castle, Stirling, in the heart of Scotland's history - at the foot of the Wallace Monument and within sight of Stirling Castle. He attended the High School of Stirling and then St. Andrews University, where his degree was in Economics and Modern History. He worked in industry for about 15 years before returning to college, to Edinburgh Theological College, to study for the ministry of the Scottish Episcopal Church. After ordination he spent almost 30 years in Dumfries and Galloway, as Rector, first of Dumfries, then of Castle Douglas, becoming Rural Dean of Galloway and a Canon of St. Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow, along the way.

David and his wife Alison first began to consider retiring to Ireland in 2013. They now live in Askamore, on the slopes of Sliabh Bhui, Co Wexford. He spends his time doing locums for the Church of Ireland, broadcasts for South East Radio, tinkering wirh his classic NSU - and mowing a half-acre of lawn.

We are delighted to welcome Niall Mac Monagle to Greystones.

Niall is a critic and broadcaster and a columnist with The Sunday Independent. For many years he taught English in Wesley College, where his students developed the very successful poetry anthology, Lifelines gave us an insight into the hearts and minds of well-known personalities as they chose their favourite poem and described why it was important to them. The royalties from Lifelines went to Third World charities nominated by the pupils.

Niall also produced English textbooks for Transition year and Leaving Certificate including Poetry Now. His most recent anthology, Windharp, displayed Irish history and culture since 1916 through the works of our many visionary poets.

He was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature by UCD in 2017 for his services to literature. Since retiring - Niall has described himself as 'rewired' rather than retired, a lovely suggestion for all of us - he gives readings, writes and contributes to many literary festivals.

His talk will focus on how and why we respond to art and literature. Niall will use paintings and many forms of literature; poems, short stories,novels and personal writings to explore how language affects our imagination and how imagination creates our art.

John Lonergan’s 42 years in the Irish prison service have taught him much about the worst and best sides of humanity, the importance of community, leadership, and making a difference. His talks are energetic and to the point, and he never fails to captivate an audience. We are delighted to welcome him to Greystones U3A.

John MacKenna is a long time friend of Leonard Cohen and collaborated with him on a Requiem for stage, entitled "Between Your Love and Mine" which toured nationally and was a sold out performance in the Concert Hall on September 21st 2019, which would have been Leonard Cohen's 85th birthday. It had already been performed at Arás an Uachtarain by request from the President, Michael D Higgins. John MacKenna finished the collaboration only weeks before the death of Leonard Cohen in 2016.

John MacKenna is a novelist, poet, biographer, actor and theatre director. His works have won the Hennessy Literary Award, the Irish Times Fiction Award and the Cecil Day-Lewis Award. He is the brother of our committee member Dolores MacKenna and this talk promises to be a wonderful insight into the life and work of one of the most enigmatic singer-songwriters of our time.

CHARLES EGAN was born in Nottingham, England of Irish parents.

When he was five, the family returned to Ireland, as his father had been appointed Resident Medical Superintendent of St. Luke’s, a psychiatric hospital in Clonmel, in County Tipperary.

Every summer they visited his father’s family’s farm, outside Kiltimagh in County Mayo for a month. Charles’ grandmother and uncles spent many evenings, talking about family and local history. It was probably from this, that he became so interested in history.

The family subsequently moved to County Wicklow, where he initially attended the De La Salle Brothers school in Wicklow town. He then went to Clongowes Wood College (James Joyce’s alma mater) where he sat his Intermediate and Leaving Certificate examinations.

He studied Commerce in University College Dublin, graduating in 1973.

After an initial career in the private sector, including Marubeni Dublin, (where he met his future wife, Carmel), he joined the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) in Dublin. After a few years, the desire to be his own boss, led him to resign and set up his own business in London, which he ran for 40 years, before returning to Ireland in 2015.

Apart from business, his main interests are history and international travel, both of which he has covered extensively.

THE KILLING SNOWS TRILOGY

These book books are fiction.

The story that inspired them was not.

In 1990, a box of very old documents was found on a small farm in the west of Ireland. They had been stored for over a hundred years, and told an incredible story of suffering, of love and of courage.

In 1846, a young couple met during the worst years of the Great Irish Famine. These books are a way of imagining what led to their meeting and what followed from it.

“Famine Novel likened to Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath.” Connaught Telegraph.

“A vital reminder of the fragility of life, love and survival.” Irish Post.

William Trevor is one of our most respected writers. In particular, he is a master of the short story, including ‘The Ballroom of Romance’. We are delighted that Dr Dolores MacKenna – who knew William Trevor for over 30 years and who convinced this famously limelight-averse author to co-operate with her on her book – will present a talk about the man, his writings and his less well-known, but prize-winning works of sculpture.

Beginning with a brief look at one of Trevor’s last stories entitled 'The Piano Teacher’s Pupil,' she will then move to the writer’s family background, not Anglo-Irish ascendency as often presumed, but middle-class Protestant, illustrating this with rare photographs . This will be followed by a brief evaluation of the literary influences and creative evolution of his work - with particular reference to some of his best known writing.

Dolores MacKenna lives in Greystones and is a committee member of our own branch of U3A. Her career was spent in education. In 2007 she retired as Principal of Loreto Abbey Dalkey, but continued to work for some years at third level. She has written and broadcast on a variety of literary and educational topics.

Dolores was born in Castledermot, Co Kildare. She studied at UCD, obtaining a Masters degree in Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama and was awarded a Ph.D. for her study of the author William Trevor. Subsequently a critical biography entitled “William Trevor – the Writer and his Work” was published by New Island Books. In 2001 she scripted and narrated a T.V. programme in the series Undercover Portraits, which was broadcast on RTE. In 2007 she was invited to be the keynote speaker at the annual conference of the American Committee of Irish Studies in Washington State.

Festive Wildlife Walk & Wreath Making Workshop. Join a festive walk around the reserve, and celebrate the return of the winter migrants. After a short jaunt you will have the chance to make a winter wreath. All materials are sustainably sourced from the site and the wreaths will be ready for the compost heap in the New Year.

As the East Coast Nature Reserve Warden, Andrew is responsible for the day to day running of the flagship reserve for Birdwatch Ireland. This includes practical conservation such as reed bed, fen and woodland management. He also runs volunteer workdays, public events and walks on the reserve. Andrew previously worked for the London Wildlife Trust and holds an MSc in Environmental Management (Countryside Management / Protected Area Management) from Birkbeck, University of London.

A seasonal morning to be followed by a Christmas social event (details to follow closer to the date)

Bryan Mac Mahon is a retired teacher and an author of a number of books and articles on a range of historical topics. His most recent book is The Great Famine in Tralee and North Kerry (Mercier).

Bryan is originally from Ballyheigue in Co Kerry and his book on the famine in his local area shows a sensitivity towards the long-term effects on the Irish psyche.

He has contributed to Sunday Miscellany; The Business (RTE Radio 1); Nationwide and Talking History.

His talk on Richard Crosbie describes the exploits of a man of curiosity and determination who had links with Wicklow and who was fascinated and involved with the pioneering aeronautical advances in the 18th century.

Eva O'Hara is a Greystones student in her 3rd year of Law and History in UCD. Later this year, Eva moves to the University of Miami School of Law to complete her 3rd year.

During her school years in Loreto Bray , Eva took part in a project competition called “Adopt a Soldier “ which she won having researched a local WW1 soldier called James Lawless. Eva went on to represent Wicklow and took part in an RTE television documentary which visited Flanders and other key WW1 sites during the commemoration of the battle of the Somme.

Eva has previously presented her research and story of James Lawless at the La Touche Festival of History, sharing a platform with the renowned historian and author Turtle Bunbury and former Taoiseach John Bruton .

Bruce Misstear teaches hydrogeology and environmental engineering at Trinity College Dublin, where he is a Fellow Emeritus of the College. Bruce has also worked widely in consultancy, including groundwater projects in Africa, Middle East and Asia. In 2016, he was elected Secretary General of the International Association of Hydrogeologists

In this lecture, Bruce will address the construction, water sharing and protection of structures called aflaj in Oman. A falaj is a horizontal well that drains by gravity from a source area (mother well) to an oasis. This technology dates back more than 2,000 years and five of these wells are now on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

In Ireland, by contrast, traditional water supplies in rural areas were often obtained from hand-dug wells or springs. Many of the old wells and springs have reputations as holy wells. Bruce is currently carrying out research into the geological settings of these holy wells, and is investigating their chemical water quality. He will talk about the rituals surrounding these holy wells, as well as their geological characteristics.

Seamus Cannon is an educator who in retirement indulges his interest in James Joyce, local history and furniture making. He encourages people to read "Ulysses" (Ireland's most popular unread book) for enjoyment and for the extraordinary way in which Joyce captures the human experience in a wonderful celebration of Dublin. He is a committee member of the Society of Friends of Joyce Tower. He recently published "You'd Be Filled with Wonder, the Story of Dun Laoghaire Harbour", for children (well, for people with a reading age of 12!)

We look forward to a most enjoyable morning at the Seamus Heaney Exhibition in the Bank of Ireland Culture Centre in College Green (opposite the front gate of Trinity on Westmoreland Street).

We still have a small number of places available - so if you wish to join the visit, please let us know on Thursday 3rd October or via email

Sophie Doyle of the National Library has kindly arranged for us to have two group tours (to accomodate the interest shown after Frances' recent presentation on some of Seamus Heaney's poems) starting at approximately 5-10 minute intervals. The tour will take between 45 and 60 min, and Frances will be with us also.

The groups will meet at 10.50am in the lobby.

It's a pleasant walk through Trinity from Westland Row (Pearse) Dart Station or a slightly shorter one from Tara Street. If you walk from Westland Row turn left out of the station, cross at the lights, walk to the left up Westland Row and at the top go around to the right to the Lincoln Place Gate into Trinity, walk in and shortly after go right and then left along College Park, up the ramp and across the entrance to the Berkeley Library and then down the steps, walk along by the Old Library, across Front Square and out the main gate.

The Dart leaving Greystones at 9.24 should get us to the venue on time and some of us will be taking that. There is also an earlier train which leaves at 9.19 and this may suit some people better.

Dr. Mary Henry is a former politician and medical doctor. She was an independent member of Seanad Eireann between 1993 and 2007. For over forty years, Dr Henry worked as a consultant vascular physician at the Rotunda, Adelaide and Sir Patrick Dun's Hospitals in Dublin, as well as in private practice, and published many papers in scientific journals. In Seanad Eireann her many achievements include the campaign to introduce dental and optical benefits for the wives of insured workers and the development of new medical legislation, including the Medical Practitioners Act (2007) and the Mental Health Act (2001). From 1997 she served a two-year term as president of The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations. Dr Henry was elected Pro-Chancellor of the University of Dublin in 2012.

"The way we are living, timorous or bold, will have been our life" - Frances will read and expand on some of Seamus Heaney's beautiful poetry. This will give an insight into the great man's poetry in advance of our trip to the "Listen Now" - Seamus Heaney Exhiibition in the Bank of Ireland Cultural Centre in College Green in a few weeks' time...

Frances taught English for many years, with a particular love for poetry (and spelling!)

Eamonn will talk about this fascinating Irish politician, nationalist and suffragist who became the first Labour Minister in the first Ministry of Dail Eireann in 1919. At the same time she was the first female Cabinet Minister in Ireland and only the second female Government Minister in Europe. She was in Holloway Prison when her colleagues assembled in Dublin at the first meeting of the first Dail and when her name was called, she was described, like so many others, as "being imprisoned by the foreign enemy"....

Come along and hear about the new branch of the U3A which will be setting up in Greystones.

Meet other ‘Third Agers’ and enjoy a chat over a cuppa.

Have an input into what you’d like to see happening.

All welcome.

In this talk of today, Ed Totterdill will talk about the history of the RNLI and the great work that they do.