'It's good for your body and soul' party time for Portlaoise Active Retired

Portlaoise Active Retired group have marked their 20th year with a party, and a callout for new younger members.

The busy group members enjoyed a day of divilment, dancing and good food to celebrate their milestone, with a surprise hilarious Sister Act musical performance by members dressed as nuns and priests, at their day out in the Killeshin Hotel.

Over 100 members and guests celebrated with a three course lunch and filled the dancefloor for live music by Brian McDermott.

Founding member and now honorary President Andy McQuillan had the honour of cutting the birthday cake. MC on the day was Liam 'Bush' Dollard.

Portlaoise Active Retired members dressed up for their Sister Act impromptu number. Photos: Brian Bastick 

A slide show played photos of their many trips and activities over the two decades, with the group having visited all 32 Irish counties as well as trips to Austria, Spain, France and the UK.

Another founding member, Trudy Nealon recalled their beginnings to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"Back then the Government had realised there was a big gap between people retiring and needing end of life care but they hadn't the facilities or finance to set anything up. The HSE put pressure on councils to set up Active Retired groups. 

"Jimmy Todd approached Laois County Council and got some funding and then Andy, myself, Sheila Duff and Nancy Bracken had our first meeting," she said.

Andy McQuillan cutting the 20th anniversary cake. 

It was held on April 7, 2004, in the famed Jim's Country Kitchen restaurant in Hind's Square. They began meeting in the Methodist Hall and when the new Portlaoise Parish Centre was being built, they were first to sign up as tenants and still meet there every Wednesday.

Twenty years on and Sheila is still PRO, Andy is honorary president and Trudy is treasurer. 

"We really do need more younger people, it's time we dropped off our perch," she said.

Covid knocked the group for six.

"It's taken nearly up to now for people to have the confidence to come back. People stayed on their own and it became a routine. Some have never come back, it had a fierce impact.

"Laois Sports Partnership were absolutely brilliant to us in that time. They set up the Zoom and did exercises online. I had a contact list of members and every week would send them messages. When we could eventually get together but had had to keep social distance, they organised exercises outside the leisure centre and brought us to Emo Court for a socially distanced picnic," Trudy recalled.

She describes the benefits of joining the club.

"When somebody who doesn't know anybody comes in the door, they are made welcome. It fights isolation, it keeps your mind active, you make friends. Honestly it's good for your body and your soul. It boosts your confidence.

"We had a show in the Dunamase theatre and a lot of people played to a packed theatre that had maybe never been on a stage before. When my husband died, the love and support I got was immense, like being wrapped in a warm blanket. People still ring and contact me. Friendships have been formed."

Surprisingly, members can be as young as 50, as long as they are retired. 

Whoever joins has lots of choice and will need lots of energy.

"Twenty new members have joined this year. We do everything but bingo, because there is already bingo in town. We holiday twice a year, in the spring and autumn. I find the best way of bonding a group is to take them away. We do variety shows every year, games, bowls in St Mary's Hall, singsongs, quizzes, we do a big Mastermind quiz every year," she said.

"It really is invaluable. It's the only voluntary community group that is for older people in Portlaoise. It is non denominational, non political. You can walk in that door and feel welcome," Trudy said.

To enquire about joining Portlaoise Active Retired, contact the PRO Sheila Duff on 087 6204617 or any committee member.