Ballinafid Multyfarnham Bunbrosna Active Retirement Association
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Nora Ryan displays her acrylic painting in Multyfarnham Community Centre at Mary Weir’s Workshop for BMB ARA.Image 2 of 8
Tina Masterson and Bernie Fay enjoying the creative process in the acrylic workshop with Mary Weir in MCC.Image 3 of 8
Multyfarnham Community Centre is perfect for social distancing, as Mary Weir demonstrates at her workshop.Image 4 of 8
Anne Donoghue working on her rose in the watercolour workshop with BMB ARA in Multyfarnham.Image 5 of 8
Mary Francis Cox, Pauline Tormey and Elizabeth Holme in O’Reilly’s, Ballinalack as they organise the BMB ARA Book Club.Image 6 of 8
Treasa Bourke, Joe Scally, and Cyrian Connaughton, BMB ARA chairman, as they contemplate the new material for the website in O’Reilly’s, Ballinalack.Image 7 of 8
Mary Francis Cox, Padraig Flynn, and Elizabeth Holme chat about the functions of the new website at the recent meeting, masked and social distancing, in O’Reilly’s, Ballinalack.Image 8 of 8
Ray Clarke listening as Orla Duncan points out features of the new club website at the BMB ARA Committee meeting in O’Reilly’s, Ballinalack on Thursday.BMB ACTIVE is back
Ever mindful of the pandemic and the importance of health and safety, every effort is being made to pick up where we left off last March by strictly adhering to best practice in preventing the spread of Covid-19.
Stay safe, as BMB ARA encourages participation in the many and varied activities. Members are requested to take responsibility for their health by taking care to use provided hand sanitisers, take fresh air breaks, as well as other HSE recommendations on hygiene etiquette.
BMB ACTIVE Website
We are nearly there. Those discharged with the task of establishing a website for BMB ACTIVE have been beavering for, under the expert guidance of Orla Duncan.
On Thursday July 30, BMB ARA Committee members enjoyed the presentation of the work to date, in the meeting room of O’Reilly’s Mace in Ballinalack. Orla showed the committee the features, which include a page about the organisation, a page on typical activities, an events calender, membership application form, news, photographs, maps, and more.
Orla’s plan is to follow up with training in maintenance of the website, including a user guide and bespoke manual. Cyrian Connaughton, chairman-of BMB ARA, paid tribute to the dedication of Mary Daly, Padraig Flynn, Mary Francis Cox, and the diligence of treasurers, to mention a few, who brought this to fruition.
Pickleball
As luck would have it, Pickleball is a unique fun game where social distancing is relatively easy. Pickleball enthusiasts are enjoying playing in Multyfarnham Community Centre on Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm, and Monday Wednesday Friday and Saturday from 10.30am.
Newcomers are always welcome and players now have the option of joining Multyfarnham Area Pickleball Club or as BMB ARA members.
As the community centre Is not available on August 10, 12, and 14, there will be no Pickleball on those dates. It will go ahead on the evenings August 11 and 13.
Art workshops
BMB ARA is bringing back instructor Mary Weir for two more workshops in Multyfarnham Community Centre, Acrylics on Tuesday August 18, and Watercolours on Thursday August 20, 10am-3pm.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own materials, including a drinking vessel and snacks for break and lunch. To book your place please text Watercolours or Acrylics to 0871723256.
Book Club
It is envisaged that the Book Club will reconvene on Thursday September 24, at noon in the Multyfarnham Community Centre meeting room.
The books suggested for discussion include ‘A Thousand Moons’ by Sebastian Barry, ‘American Dirt’ by Jeanie Cummings, ‘The Botanist’s Daughter’ by Kayte Nunn, ‘This Much I Know is True’ by William Lamb and finally, ‘Girl’ by Edna O’Brien.
The six books on the suggested reading list but equate to the number of months since the group had met. These are all enthralling reads, but it is good to bear in mind that it is also a rare pleasure to listen to them on audiobooks. Westmeath County library have both formats available to members.
BMB ARA members are advised to bring refreshments and lunch to Book Club on the third Thursday of every month, starting September 24, 2020.
Italian cuisine
Enjoy Multyfarnham with a Taste of Italian cuisine in Murtagh’s. BMB ARA extends good wishes to the Murtagh’s, Conor and Susanne, as well as Eimear, Conor, and Lesle,y as they embark on a new journey for their popular pub.
It’s now possible to imagine that you are in the Italian Riviera, or sumptuous Sicily, as you sample their menu of pizza, salads and sandwiches.
Ballinafid Hall
Fr David Bradley, PP, informed us that the parish hall in Ballinafid will revert to its original purpose, as a school for children in the area. In order to comply with social distancing restrictions, junior and senior infants will avail of this venue when St Cremin’s NS opens at the beginning of 2020 school term.
This is a temporary arrangement, and restoration of the facility is under way. These improvements will be of benefit in the long run, when Fr Bradley stated, it will be for the use of groups from the parish.