Thu, 16/05/2024 from 10:30 - 13:00 in
A date for your diary: Thursday, 16th May, 2024 Visit to the gardens of Castle Howard Estate, Avoca, Co. Wicklow. A beautiful formal garden with Clock Tower folly, terraces, rose garden, box hedging and woodland walks. This will be a morning visit from 10.30 to 13.00 in the afternoon. Bookings will open in early April.Thu, 23/05/2024 from 10:30 - 12:30 in Bray Golf Club
Between February 1692 and May 1693 the town of Salem, Massachusetts was engulfed by witch-craze. During that time more than 200 people were accused , more than 100 arraigned, 30 found guilty, 20 executed (one being tortured to death) and at least five of those charged died while awaiting trial. Salem was by no means the first of such witch hunts either in Europe or in Colonial America. And it was not even the last. Its salient characteristics were in many ways highly representative of the features which had defined such tumults in the past. But it also displayed several other features which were a portent not only for the demise of the witchcraft mania , but also of the future of Colonial America itself. Suggested Reading: John Demos , Entertaining Satan: witchcraft and the culture of early New England Carol F. Karlsen, The Devil in the shape of a woman: witchcraft in Colonial New England Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum Salem possessed: the social origins of witchcraftFri, 24/05/2024 from 11:00 - 15:00 in
Some of you may remember that in June 2022 we had a most enjoyable trip to the Great Saltee Island. We intend to return to the island this year on Friday, 24th May. Margaret Merne, who leads our walking group, knows the Great Saltee Island and has generously agreed to walk with us to places where nesting seabirds, such as puffins and gannets amongst others, may be found. This is an opportunity to see one of our wildest and most beautiful nature reserves and to experience an environment dominated by wildlife. Visitors have 4 hours to explore the island. There are NO facilities. Bring suitable clothing, packed lunch, a drink, a camera and binoculars (if you have them). The boat sails regardless of whether the sun is shining or not and you will not get a refund because it is wet and cold. You must be reasonably agile as you have to get from the ferry on to a dinghy and then on to shore and back again. YOU MUST BOOK YOUR FERRY TICKET YOURSELF If you are interested in joining Margaret and other members of The Bray Heads U3A please make your own booking on https://salteeferry.com/saltee-ferry-saltee-islands-kilmore-quay/ It is imperative that you read the information on this website. All visits are entirely at your own risk. When: Friday, 24th May 2024, ferry sailings at 11.00am and 12 noon Where to go: Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford We will meet at the landing place on the island. Ferry Fare: €30 return pp If you intend to join us please let us know which sailing you will be on by sending an email to info@thebrayheadsu3a.ie with Saltee Island in the subject heading.Thu, 06/06/2024 from 10:00 - 12:00 in
1970s Ireland had a message for Clare Sheridan; "Girls don't climb" But in an era when there was no shortage of voices telliing women how they should behave, Clare wasn't listening. Fresh out of convent boarding school, she was determined to venture onto steep rock and see the world from a different perspective. Climbing quickly became her passion and Clare's thirst for adventure was matched only by her courage. She was soon recognised as a pioneering leader by the top climbers of the day, not least Belfast mountaineer Calvin Torrans, the love of her life, whom she met on her first trip to the Alps. They have been climbing together ever since, tackling some of the most difficult routes on mountains all over the world and achieving a phenomenal succession of first ascents on Irish Cliffs, even as they raised a family of three. In this talk, Clare will recreate in vivid detail the fears, the triumphs and the losses of a lifetime of heart-stopping adventures along with reflections on risk and courage, motherhood, self-belief and the joy of living fearlessly. In 2014, Clare was the first woman to be awarded the Lynam medal by Mountaineering Ireland, and The Irish Times said, "She is to mountaineering what Sonia O'Sullivan is to athletics and Katie Taylor to boxing." Clare has written many articles for The Irish Mountain Log and co-edited numerous rock climbing guidebooks along with her husband, climbing legend Calvin Torrans.Link - Publisher - Mweelrea Press - Clare Sheridan "Uncoiling the Ropes . The memoir of a trailblazing Irish climber";
Wed, 12/06/2024 from 11:00 - 12:30 in
NOTE: CHANGE OF DATE The tour will visit lesser known parts of Trinity College and will be led by Jane Grimson and Bruce Misstear Details to follow.Fri, 14/06/2024 from 10:30 - 12:30 in
Print Date: 10 May 2024