Dear members

As we prepare to say farewell to 2024, this month of December gives me the same mixed feelings as when I read the end of a chapter. Indulging by reflecting on what I learnt and the emotions evoked, contrasted with the excitement of anticipating where the story will lead with doubtless unpredictable twists. Life can be like a good book, rarely predictable, but often exciting and gifting us with special memories.

Our membership grew to 208 in 2024 as we welcomed 19 new members: Brenda King, Edel Harte, Mary Egan, Bernard Phelan, Michael Burns, Ollie Sullivan, Breda O’Halloran, Helen Fleming, Pat Lyons, Tony Dempsey, Eilish Tierney, Jacqueline McGovern, Maria Brennan, Barbara Cumming, Jackie Murphy, Bernadette McCusker, Mairead Power, Tony Dawson and Marlene O’Keeffe.

During the year, we also said farewell to six dear members Joe Lally, Marie McCabe, Michael Gowran, Denis Tucker, Tim Magennis and Paddy Tutty, may they rest in peace and live on in our memories. Many of us experienced the loss of family members, friends or loved ones too. If grief is the price we pay for love, it also comes with some consolation that we are the person we are today because of the impact and influence they bestowed upon us. Living our best life by tapping into what we learnt from them is one way we can honour their essence and legacy.

Crucial vacancy to be filled:

My Spring Newsletter to you on 29th March highlighted an impending vacancy on the Committee of the crucial role of Hon. Treasurer. The indomitable Carmel Hanley stepped into the role following the untimely passing of our dear colleague, Leo McMorrow. As flagged then, for personal reasons, after three years of ensuring the smooth operation of our finances, Carmel must vacate the role immediately due to very serious illness.

No melodrama intended, but the role of Treasurer is vital to the continuation and survival of the Association. In general, the roles we performed when working for Ireland’s Tourism have equipped us well with the skills to assume a position on the Committee.

However, the special financial skills for the role of Treasurer are another matter. We will be dividing the Treasurer’s role into two to help. I am delighted and grateful to Mary Egan who has offered to join the Committee in January as Assistant Treasurer. Now, I invite anyone who would be happy to share their financial skills to contact us on our new email address: FailteTourismRetired@gmail.com It is imperative for the continuation of FTRA that we fill the role of Treasurer immediately.

Meanwhile, some happy highlights your Committee had the joy of planning and organising for your monthly outings in 2024 were:

• Feb. 13th: At Dublin Castle – the Revenue Museum in the Chapel Royal and Imogen Stuart’s artwork in the Coach House where Imogen met us in person. Lunch in the Silk Road Café. [Letitia Pollard & Joyce McLeer]
• March 1st: National Concert Hall lunchtime concert & Lunch, despite very heavy snow [Sheelah Kehoe]
• April 18th: EPIC, Irish Emigration Museum & Lunch at Harbourmaster. [Liam Campbell]
• May 23rd: Boyne Valley’s Oldbridge House and Old Mellifont Abbey with Lunch at Donnegan’s Monasterboyce Inn. [Joyce McLeer & husband, Johnny]
• June 11th: Howth visit via boat across Dublin Bay from Dun Laoghaire with Lunch in the train station’s Bloody Stream restaurant. [Irene Furlong]
• July 17th: Stoneybridge, Kilkenny – Jerpoint Abbey and Goatsbridge Trout Farm. Lunch at Newpark Hotel. [Pat Nolan]
• August: None planned, avoiding the highest prices and lowest availability of members.
• Sept. offered a 3-day or 1-day trip to Waterford, but didn’t achieve a minimum quota to progress and attract group rates. (Carmel Hanley & Letitia Pollard]
• Oct. 14th: Kilmainham Gaol & Lunch at The Patriots Inn afterwards. [Moiré Hanley]
• Nov. 14th: Lunchtime Wine Pairings with Cheeses & Charcuterie at La Cave Wine Bar followed by a Quiz [Liam Campbell & Pat Nolan, bookings managed by Carmel Hanley]
• Dec. 6th: AGM (92) & Attendees’ Lunch (89), Herbert Park Hotel, Dublin 4. [Carmel Hanley}. The legendary generosity of members at the collection was €3,606 for the Capuchin Day Centre and UNICEF Ireland.

Currently, we are we are working hard on plans for outings in 2025 and I remarked on some of them at the recent AGM. Here are some provisional dates for your 2025 Diary:

• Jan.: Outings are avoided in January because of potential adverse weather. NOTE: as a DIY, a special Turner Exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland will take place all of January, should members wish to arrange for themselves on an individual basis. Admission is free. https://www.nationalgallery.ie/
• February 7th Friday: a guided tour of the TREASURES on the ground floor of the National Museum on Kildare Street at 2pm, following a Lunch nearby. Details to follow in January.
• March 11th Tuesday: marking our 25th Anniversary, a celebratory lunch at the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire with more details to follow.
• April 23rd Wednesday: Wine Pairing with Cheese & Charcuterie at La Cave Wine Bar.
• May: potential two-nights outing in Limerick/Clare region, subject to demand.
• June: Outing to the North-East
• July: Outing to Shankill Castle, Kilkenny, with St. Laserian’s Cathedral
• Sept.: potential two/three-nights outing to Co. Armagh, subject to demand.
• Oct.: National Concert Hall lunchtime concert & Lunch
• Nov.: Harry Clarke Exhibition in Collins Barracks Stables & Lunch
• Dec. 4th Thursday: AGM & Attendees’ Lunch

With Christmas and New Year festivities in mind, I feel compelled to share with you the 34 drinks (both with and without alcohol) I was commissioned to research and write about for Mistletoe, the Irish Independent’s annual Christmas magazine. I can share with you the three-page spread in the attached JPEG without fear of reducing future sales of the Irish Independent newspaper, because Mistletoe was included in the 22nd November edition.

Meanwhile, I was reminded by the power of positive thinking when I passed my old gym on Pearse Street yesterday. Two posters on the walls intended to motivate members were from famous sources of wisdom and common sense. From memory:
“The mind is everything, what we think we become.” Buddha
“If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford

I wish you a Happy Christmas and the best of luck in 2025, with good health to enjoy it all – on behalf of your Committee:

Carmel Hanley, outgoing Treasurer; Frances O’Malley, Honorary Secretary; Gráinne McGuinness, membership & website; Letitia Pollard, Sheelah Kehoe, Pat Nolan, Moiré Hanley and Irene Furlong. This year we welcomed two new Committee members Tom Burke and Brenda King and send our gratitude to Joyce McLeer who served on the Committee until last June.

Liam Campbell
Chairman – FTRA
19th December 2024