At the first meeting of the Downe U3A held in St Patrick’s Golf Club in Downpatrick, a special tribute was paid to William Devlin who passed away last winter. William was the motive force responsible for starting up U3A in the area and spent his final years establishing the group.
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Leila Jackson, Chair N.I. U3A, Noreen Boyd, Chair Downe U3A, Paddy Killen, Monica Devlin and Nuala McAleenan, Past Chair Downe U3A and member since its inception.[/caption]
Noreen Boyd, Chair of Downe U3A said: “From a first meeting with only about a dozen people held in the golf club it has developed into a strong, lively community of more than two hundred with almost thirty various activities for small groups of people who are no longer in full-time employment but still wishing to be involved and who are outgoing and sociable. It has been very successful.
“We presented a scroll in Monday morning this week marking William’s entry into the National U3A Roll of Honour to his widow Monica, and tributes were delivered by Leila Jackson, Chair of NIU3A) and Paddy Killen, Past Chair Downe U3A and member since its inception.
“U3A stands for University of the Third Age. The word University is used in the Classical sense of everything for everyone. It is a collective of older people which enables members to share many educational, creative and leisure activities and interests sharing their knowledge and experience. Anyone in the Third Age can join a U3A when they are no longer in full-time employment. There are currently over 900 U3A’s in the UK with almost 320,000 members, and there are 23 in Northern Ireland with around 6,000 members.
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U3A members at the recent AGM for the County Down RCN: Paddy Killen, past Downe Chair, Noreen Boyd, Chair of Downe U3A, and Pat Mulhall. [/caption]
“The U3A works through small interest groups, so check the list of groups below and in Groups on the DowneU3A web-site to see what you might enjoy. Click on the Group name to see what they do and who are involved.
“If your special interest is not there come along and find others with similar ideas. You can join as many groups as you like or just come to the monthly talk which features a member or invited guest speaking to the general membership on one meeting every month except during the summer.
“There are many groups which have smaller, sociable, special interests and these meet at various times throughout the month – some of them once, some more often. Current groups in Downe U3A are:
ARTS & MUSIC GROUPS: Art appreciation, Books (3), Concert, Film, History, Opera, Painting, Poetry appreciation, Singing, Theatre, Writing Life Stories.
ACTIVITY GROUPS: Badminton, Circle dancing, Hill walking*, Strollers, Tai chi*, Table Tennis, Walking.
OTHER GROUPS: Bridge, Crafts, French conversation, Gadgets & Cameras, Games (Chess, Backgammon, etc), How, Scrabble, Travel, Wine tasting.”
You can find out more on the website:
or
For more information e-mail:
 downeu3a@gmail.com  (leave a phone number and they will contact you.)
New members are very welcome, so just come along to one of the monthly meetings of all members or to whatever group activity interests you. Note that the monthly meeting continue for now in St Patrick’s Golf Club in Downpatrick in the Function Room at 10.30am. (It is on the ground floor and does not involve any stairs.)
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