Men love to cook too! And in St Colmcille’s Community School in Dublin’s Knocklyon, the Cookery for Men class has proved extremely popular. This course gives men the chance to improve their cooking skills and add to their repertoire of favourite meals. The emphasis will be placed on cooking meals that men traditionally like to cook (and eat!). The man behind the skillet for the last two years is Frank Guinevan, a professional chef. “I have a family background in food and I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with new methods, menus and tastes. Food is about all these things but it is foremost about an experience, whether that is learning on a personal level about food or sharing that experience with family and friends.” Wholesome food For Frank, the best thing about teaching is in nurturing the enthusiasm and interest in food shown by the class participants each week. “Being able to cook healthy wholesome food is a basic skill that gives people of all ages independence. Learning how to take raw ingredients and by following a recipe, you can then turn them into a desirable dish, picking up handy tips along the way is what I am trying to achieve as a teacher.” One of the most important elements in any class is fun. “After the first evening, all the participants start talking and sharing and discovering a common interest and that gives me a great sense of achievement. It is satisfying to hear someone say that, as a result of the class, they only make homemade soup now. In the class, we cover some baking and also regional cooking such as Italian and Spanish dishes. Sharing experience
“Food is also about sharing. All the recipes we cover in the course can be recreated at home. Because the class is hands-on, the mystery has been removed and you can just go ahead and enjoy good company and hopefully receive the praise you deserve.” In his role as a chef, Frank gets a lot of satisfaction from preparing food and getting feedback that the customer has enjoyed what he has prepared using his skills. “Teaching this adult education class has the same effect: knowing that the skills I teach will be used to allow those class participants to add and enjoy another experience.”
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Chris Lawlor and Adrian Finlay turn wood into wonders in their night classes in St Colmcille’s Community School, in Dublin 16’s suburb of Knocklyon. The Woodturning class, delivered by Chris, offers the woodturning beginner the basic skills in tool control, turning methods and machine safety. Covering both spindle turning and faceplate work, beginners start with simple objects such as a 'Twig Vase', and progress onto more complex items by the end of the ten-week course. Those who already have some experience of woodturning are given projects of a suitable level and encouraged to advance their skill level and range of techniques. Class sizes are kept small and there is one student per lathe, ensuring that students have a fully hands-on experience. Learn skills Both Chris and Adrian deliver the Woodworking and Furniture Making class. In this, participants work through a variety of projects during which they learn basic woodworking and furniture making skills. Learning the correct use of power and hand tools, participants also learn how to prepare solid timber and panel board as well as finishing and polishing techniques. “Altogether, we run classes in woodturning, cabinet making, and wood carving every week,” says Chris, who worked as a cabinet maker and project manager in a furniture company himself. “As a project manager, I ran projects up to a value of €1 million.” Then, he moved to Dublin Institute of Technology as a lecturer in the wood section, working with apprentices and the degree programme. “I upskilled in DIT during the recession and have a degree in timber production management, so I also bring industry experience to the work,” says Chris. Stress relief
“We get a good mix of night class students, young and old, experienced and people with no experience. We also have mixed genders in the class with three to four women in woodturning and about five in the cabinet making class.” Classes like these are useful for people who want to make gifts for family or friends; some set up workshops at home; and others have moved into apprenticeships and then industry. “The benefits of our night classes are that they can provide stress relief for people who may work in offices all day. They can zone out for a while. With the woodturning, you can see the project, let’s say a bowl, coming together quite quickly and you can take a finished piece home at the end of the night. There’s a satisfaction in making and building something and seeing it through to the end.” It’s not everyday you meet a guy who’s worked with musical geniuses such as Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy, BB King, Chris Rea, or Jethro Tull. But, if you were in the Sound Engineering and Music Technology night class in the Donahies Community School in north Dublin, you’d bump into Don McKevitt. Don joined the class to learn about today’s sound engineering technology.
“I started as a sound engineer and toured with the likes of Thin Lizzy and Chris Rea and also worked as production manager in studios with Van Morrison, Chris Rea, and the Rolling Stones,” says Don. “I was very fortunate; I’ve been to most places in the world with the music.” A songwriter and musician for years, he came across the Donahies night class and tutor JJ Vernon when he wanted to update his own skills. “I know live music mixing, but I knew nothing about the modern way of mixing. And I wanted to learn that so I could use it for my own song writing and recording. “The class is excellent – JJ is very knowledgeable as an engineer and as a musician. He’s also a very good teacher – we’re a mixed bunch in the class but all our aspirations are serious.” The technical bit In the class, people learn how to record and edit musical performances by both solo artists/ensembles and speakers. They learn how to operate Pro Tools, mixing and editing software, as well as exploring MIDI, using virtual instruments and plug-ins. “I keep the course practical,” says tutor JJ Vernon, adding that the class attracts musicians keen to record their own work or that of bands. They might be nervous of the technical aspects of the recording technology – but that soon disappears as the group works together on each other’s work. “People interests vary – the younger participants are into electronic sound, synthesisers, and drum machines. The older participants are into singing along to their guitars and want to capture that.” Confidence The class is also a reflection of how the music industry has changed. “Musicians used to record in large studios with professional staff,” says JJ, who works as a sound engineer himself. “That’s gone now – anyone can produce a CD, and the money is in gigs and merchandise as streaming of music has changed everything. Now, it’s all about learning the software and I give them the confidence to get started on that.” Who knows, the next Van Morrison or Chris Rea could be learning how to mix music in the Donahies Community School? Stranger things have happened! Roslyn Hickey guides adult learners through the epic tome that is James Joyce’s Ulysses in a night class in Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip. Here, she recounts her own history with Ulysses and how she keeps her class interested and motivated to survive and enjoy Joyce’s journey around Dublin National and international critics affirm that Ulysses by James Joyce is one of the greatest novels ever written. Most Dubliners are proud of the book and speak about it with affection and good humour. Indeed, they are known to wax lyrical of its attributes both with other Irish people and in conversation with tourists and fellow holidaymakers while abroad. Amazingly, they engage in these exchanges despite the fact that they may never have read Ulysses! I understand this attitude because, like most ordinary people, I was intimidated by its ‘infamous’ reputation as a highly complex tome that can only be deciphered by the professional academic. My situation was compounded by the fact that I am an English and History teacher who studied English in Trinity College, in the mid-1970s, under two iconic academics, Brendan Kennelly and David Norris. And it was compounded because, I too was, in my 50s and had still not risen to the challenge of reading one of the greatest literary achievements to be created by a fellow Dubliner. Rise to the challenge In January 2013, in order to address this shortfall, I made a pact with the Senior Librarian of Palmerstown Library that we would rise to the challenge of concluding our reading of Ulysses in time to celebrate, as ‘authentic’ Joyceans, Bloomsday on 16 June. I love teaching and I love witnessing the flourishing of adult learners within the context of lifelong learning from the cradle to the grave. Therefore, we decided to offer a study group to 22 adult learners. The experience was intoxicating and utterly unforgettable. I explored with this initial group the reasons why so many Irish people are reluctant to read this great Irish novel despite having such respect, curiosity and affection for it. Their feedback holds true for subsequent groups that I have facilitated in Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip where even avid readers and literary aficionados frequently disclose how ill-equipped they have felt at the prospect of taking on such a tome. Some say that having started to read the book, they soon became overwhelmed by obscure references and a complex structure. Consequently, Ulysses is archived in their inner most stacks – under the bed!! And all this happens shortly after the first episode (chapter) which ends with the word, ‘Usurper’. There is an irony in this concluding sentence as it speaks of the absent eyes of the average reader whose presence, as Declan Kiberd, explains, has been supplanted by the ‘literary canon’ and ‘corporate university’. The legend of its forbidding difficulty has scared readers off (Kiberd, 2009). I always have a similar discussion with the groups who sign up for the Ulysses class In Coláiste Chiaráin, before commencing the study, as the exercise proves very useful in ameliorating their concerns and assuring them that their experience is a very common one. Commitment Reading Ulysses requires time and commitment. There is a certain mystique surrounding Ulysses which is tangible when the class first meets; a sort of conspiratorial ‘nod, nod, wink, wink’ undercurrent which permeates the class; not unlike the attitude excited teenagers have in anticipation of looking at something hereto forbidden. However, as the class settles down to study, this initial reaction soon develops into a far more measured attitude as readers discover that Ulysses is a complex work of art that demands rigorous attention. Ulysses consists of 18 episodes which are spread over more than 700 challenging pages. Reading Ulysses is not unlike training for a marathon: you need a time-framed programme which builds up stamina, speed and endurance by ring-fencing a minimum of one hour per day and by committing to this regime for six months. Walking in Joyce’s footsteps Another important dimension to the work of reading and studying the text are the trips which I arrange at various stages of our reading of the book. This includes visits to Glasnevin Cemetery to follow in the footsteps of Leopold Bloom as he partakes in the funeral cortege of Paddy Dignam (Hades, episode six). In the past, our guide, coincidentally also called Paddy, retraced the fictitious event and enriched the experience by showing us the graves of Joyce’s contemporaries including those of Daniel O’Connell, Charles Parnell, Arthur Griffith and Home Rule who are referenced in Ulysses. Other visits include the Martello Tower, Sandycove (Proteus) where one group gathered on a blustery, wintery day, shortly before Christmas to be brought on an exhilarating tour by the author and Joycean, Robert Nicholson. Robert explained how Joyce was a ‘literary magpie’ who incorporated events and real people from his life into his work. In this instant, he showed us where Joyce, as guest of Oliver St. Gogarty, slept and was subsequently terrified by the antics of another guest, forcing him to flee the tower in the middle of the night! This incident is immortalised in the opening episode of Ulysses. Memories Adult learners really enjoy and are stimulated by visiting places in Dublin which are referenced in Ulysses. Terry Fagan, local historian, Dublin north inner city, enthrals groups with his tour of Dublin’s infamous red-light district, which is commonly known as ‘Monto’; it features in Ulysses as Nightown in Circe, episode fifteen. For some suburban adult learners, visiting the old inner-city of Dublin is revelatory; for others it offers the opportunity to recall childhood memories of having lived there, or to share stories of relatives who survived tenement living and fought in the city streets against the British Empire. Earlier this year, the present group of adult learners, having read Lotus Eaters, (episode five) - which concerns the adventures of Leopold Bloom as he traversed the city from north to south - had a fantastic visit to Sweny’s chemist, Lincoln Place, Westland Row; this is where Leopold bought the famous slab of lemon scented soap. The curator, a magnificent and generous, gifted raconteur, served us up copious cups of steaming tea and delicious chocolate biscuits; led us in a reading from Ulysses, a sing-song from Edwardian times and a discussion with other Joyceans from various countries who were also there. In April 2019, the present group will have successfully completed a first reading of Ulysses. The occasion will be marked by our final outing which will be to the Jewish Museum, South Circular Road. This little gym archives an integral, but lesser known, part of Irish history and has been a highlight for past groups. We will go to learn about Judaism, especially in relation to the Jewish community in Ireland in order to gain a greater understanding of the main character in Ulysses, Leopold Bloom (who was technically not a Jew – another one of James Joyce’s conundrums!!). Groups invariably find this visit, revealing, fascinating and moving. Yvonne, the guide, gives an insightful talk beginning with the first reference to the Jews in Ireland in 1079, to 1170 when Strongbow’s expedition was backed financially by Jews, to the establishment of small settlements, mostly around Dublin and later Belfast, Cork and Limerick New knowledge Studying Ulysses opens up unexplored areas of culture, history, beliefs and philosophy etc. In the great tradition of adult learning, it inspires the reader not only to pursue further study of Ulysses but to enquire into other areas of interest which the book pre-empted such as gender and sexual orientation, minority rights, fascism, racism, identity etc. How right James Joyce was in claiming that his great work would keep critics and readers baffled and curious for generations! I love working in the evening programme in Coláiste Chiaráin and value the support of the staff members in their determination to make special interest subjects accessible to the suburban reader. For me, the spirit of the philosophy of adult education and lifelong learning which underpins the night classes is paramount, as it gives me the flexibility to design and deliver the programme in response to the needs of the class. Learning together
I have been working for a few years in Coláiste Chiaráin and every programme I facilitate is unique in keeping with the needs and interests of the group. We learn together in equal partnership – and have fun in the process. I put my hand up at the very start of the session by admitting that I am a non-academic Joycean enthusiast who will be delighted to see the back of them at the end of our reading of Ulysses. This revelation usually generates a tense class reaction which explodes into hoots of laughter as I explain that all of the past members of the classes which I have facilitated invariably outperform me in terms of their grasp and understanding of Ulysses! At the end of our classes, I wish them well as fully fledged Joyceans and look forward to seeing them ambling in the footsteps of Bloom and Stephen on Bloomsday to the ring of Molly’s affirmation, ‘and yes I said yes I will Yes’. Cayisha Graham is a dance tutor in St Tiernan’s Community School, Balally, in Dublin. Teaching dance for the past 10 years, she tells how her Jamaican background has influenced her Although I was born in England, I am half-Jamaican and half-Italian and growing up in Jamaica aged from four to seven had a massive influence on me musically. In Jamaica, you are reared on music, you live and breathe it, it’s a way of life. From a very young age, children have great rhythm, largely because they are exposed to dance and music all the time. When I moved from Jamaica to Ireland, it was a huge culture shock and took me a while to settle in. My taste in music was very different from anything that was going on in Ireland and I don’t think anybody had really even heard of Caribbean music back then. In my family, I think dance and music were a way for us to bond, so you would often find the whole family in the kitchen breaking out the moves in our own way of togetherness. And that has not changed to this day! In school, I connected with friends through various bands that we had in common. I can remember choreographing for local talent shows - I really took them and myself so seriously! I would get a crew together to learn dances from my favourite bands - Steps, Five, Spice Girls, you name it we had the dance for it (cringe). That’s really where it all began. In the now
I used to take classes in the Dance Theatre of Ireland and I remember being in awe of my dance teacher and thinking he was the coolest person ever. As a teenager, I was going through all the highs and lows of teen angst. Then, I realised that dancing gave me confidence - it was my escape from worries and stress. When you’re dancing, you’re in the now, there is no room for thinking about anything else. I found it was like a form of meditation. Later, I did a dance course and experienced the life of a dancer. It was very challenging but very rewarding and I learned a lot about myself. When I finished college, I got a job as a teacher in the Dance Theatre of Ireland. When I passed the audition, I was in shock because I found the place so daunting. This is where all my idols taught me and, now, little old me has the chance to follow in their footsteps. Inspiration Teaching in the Dance Theatre of Ireland is almost like coming full circle. And so many doors have opened up for me, I really have Loretta Yurrick and Robert Connor, the artistic directors of the Dance Theatre to thank for that. Their belief in me gave me the inspiration to push my boundaries and this is an inspiration I try to pass on to all my students, including those on my DancerSize night class in St Tiernan’s Community School. The job is so rewarding when you see the difference it can make to a person’s life. I often see students coming in very shy, timid and no confidence. After a few classes, they come out of their shells and are full of confidence. I try to create an environment that’s happy and safe. From my youngest student to my oldest student who is now 78, dance is timeless and it’s a beautiful thing to watch them flourish regardless of their age. Dream come true I also sing and dance in my own band - I feel I made my childhood dreams my reality. I couldn’t ask for a better job. It is true what they say - choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. As long as you believe in yourself, you can make your own dreams come true too. This is what dance means to me: Dance is freedom Dance is expression Dance is empowerment Dance is life Working in the area of addiction in north Dublin, Tom O’Brien saw what he terms the “overuse of medicine” and began to explore herbal medicine as an alternative. With an MA and a PhD in Adult and Community Education, specialising in addiction, mental health and community development, he added a qualification as a herbalist to the mix in 2012. Involved in adult and community education in his day job, he also delivers an Introduction to Herbal Medicine night class in The Donahies Community School. In the class, participants learn how to use herbal medicines to prevent illness and improve health, including natural approaches to better mental health. They learn the basics of herbal medicine, including plant identification, what herbs to use for what, how to use herbs safely, and how to make homemade remedies. Empowering medicine Empowering medicine is his motto and Tom is passionate about people becoming active participants in their own lives. “I find that adult education is a great way to empower people and to help them to overcome obstacles.” Herbal medicine is a gentle approach, he says, and is a way to prevent illness rather than just treat symptoms. “There is a growing interest in herbal medicine, along with complementary medicine such as acupuncture and Chinese medicine. That interest is part of the green movement, if you like, which includes an interest in organic produce and things like mindfulness and meditation.” Herbal medicine is a way of living and of supporting others, says Tom. This comes at a time “when people are concerned about health matters and may be disillusioned with medicines and the side effects of certain drugs”. Social cure This is Tom’s second year running this class in The Donahies Community School. “I’m interested in what is called the social cure – if you’re in one group, that helps to prevent depression. If you’re in two groups, that increases the benefit to you. Adult education is a social cure and I get the sense that the group in The Donahies like being in a group for each other. They learn from each other and share experiences.” Tom is committed to ensuring that herbal medicine reaches a wide audience and his YouTube channel, blog, and Facebook page help to do just that. In the meantime, keep an eye out for his next night class! Herbal Medicine course participants at The Donahies Community School, Dubin 13
In Trim, Co Meath, one tutor is bringing the concept of ‘hygge’ to adult education in Boyne Community School. Hygge is a Danish concept encompassing a feeling of cosy contentment and wellbeing generated through enjoying the simple things in life. Christina Donoghue, who lived in Denmark for a time and is married to a Dane, brings hygge to people’s lives through her patchwork and quilting class. Not only did she learn her patchwork skills in Denmark but also her sense of organisation and preparation about classes. “I lived in Denmark for 15 years and adult education was a big thing there, and was facilitated by the trade unions. This was around acknowledging that people were busy during the day and wanted to do something different in the evenings. People in Denmark would be proud to say they were going to evening college.” Learned skills Christina learned her patchwork in Denmark, so she had a clear template for adult education in her mind on her return to Dublin. “I felt that people wanted to do something creative at night, something different to their day jobs. Now, we have about 12 in the classes and regulars who keep coming back to us. “People get hooked on the patchwork – and they get on well together, seeing how each other is progressing with their project.” Investment That engagement is also carried through by Christina who helps Adult Education Director Máire Walsh to promote the class! “I send out reminders – texts and emails – about the class myself. I’ve created our own community and it helps to promote the class which is a help.” Heirlooms It also helps that Christina is passionate about patchwork. “I place a huge value on it – people are creating heirlooms. Patchwork and quilting – these are crafts that we have to look after. A craft is a living thing, you are always building on it.” The group produces small bed quilts, cushions, wall hangings, small baby quilts, table runners and more. “You have to get to know fabrics and how they go together. And you learn how colours match together, about big prints and small prints. And people also get a lot of ideas from Pinterest, so that keeps them interested as well.” Christina is learning as well – “though I teach mainly traditional patchwork – in blocks – we always try more creative things as well. I get a buzz from coming up with new ideas each term. So, I benefit hugely from it as is pushes me as well.” You'll also find Patchwork classes at Coolmine Community School (Dublin 15) and St Colmcille's Community School, Knocklyon (Dublin 16). We also recently published a feature on Deirdre Carroll, the Patchwork Quilting tutor at St Comlcille's.
Did you know that the ukulele dates back to the 1800s? According to legend, Portuguese immigrants brought ukuleles with them to Hawaii around 1879. The little four-stringed instrument has remained popular since then – and tutor Andrew Mahon is playing his part by giving ukulele night classes in Portmarnock Community School. “The ukulele is easy to play and can lead you on to learning how to play other stringed instruments, like the mandolin, banjo or guitar,” says Andrew, who also teaches beginner and advanced guitar night classes in the school. “With a small fret board, it’s ideal for all ages, and we have people from their 20s up to retirement ages in the class. We limit it to 10 places so that I can get around to each person a few times. Everyone has a different style and speed of learning, so this way I can show them the proper way to hold the instrument and help them with the chords.” Melodies From the sounds of Hawaii to old western music, the sweet sound of the ukulele has transfixed people for generations. Andrew keeps a contemporary twist to the tunes the group learns, with much competition to learn melodies suggested by the night class participants themselves! “We cover everything from Abba to Mary Black, David Bowie, and songs from The Greatest Showman – and anything and everything in between,” says Andrew. “Then, there’s the added sense of achievement – and investment - from learning a song that they have picked themselves.” It obviously works, with classes running from Christmas right through to the summer and through mid-term. “I also set out songs for the students to learn over the summer, so there’s no break in momentum. That then leads to a lot of repeat people coming to the classes, so we have a blend of new and old faces each term.” There is also a blend of skills, which serves to motivate new students when they see the level of skills that can be achieved. And they’re in good hands – Andrew has been an avid guitar player for over 20 years playing for enjoyment and also professionally. Having attained his teaching diploma for guitar from the Victoria College of Music, London, he’s sharing the joy that playing music can bring with a winning formula! A number of NACED schools now run Ukulele classes for beginners and improvers. There are courses available in Cork, Meath, Kildare, Dublin and Wexford.
Mary Coonan is a sewing tutor with a waiting list! An experienced designer, she tutors in The Donahies Community School on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. That’s not all! She also runs classes there on Wednesday afternoon. And on Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon. Whew! “When the recession hit, people began to look at knitting and sewing again – about making and repairing things,” says Mary, who trained at The Grafton Academy of Dress Designing in Dublin. “Then, the likes of Aldi and Lidl started to sell sewing machines and wool at cheaper prices and that made sewing and knitting more visible and manageable for people. “And, because sewing isn’t taught in schools now, a lot of people find they can’t do the basics, like sewing on a button.” Upcycling Now, people are into upcycling and recycling – and also love the social aspect of a night class. “We have people of all abilities in the class – you can go at your own pace and see how others have progressed as well. Not only that, but a lot of people say they forget everything when they come in, so it’s a lovely way to destress. No matter how bad the day, you’ll forget it when you start sewing!” Mary always insists that people take time to enjoy the tea break. “Again, that unites the group and I get a chance to chat to people individually, so I get to know them.” And there’s a great sense of achievement – “we do small projects that they complete in two nights, so you could have five things completed at the end of a ten-week class.” Some of the items produced in the sewing classes at Donahies Community School
Scoil Mhuire, Clane Community School, Co Kildare, has an exciting selection of new courses, along with some returning favourites, for those who want to get in touch with their creative side! These courses are delivered by tutors with extensive experience in their respective fields! Writing for Wellbeing: Release your inner scribe Whether you want to awaken your muse or just get journaling, this is the course for you! The tutor, Mari Gallagher, uses a variety of texts and artistic themes to inspire freewriting exercises including the work of Julia Cameron, James Pennebaker and Karen Hering. Freewriting has long been lauded as a wellbeing tool and can be used to overcome daily challenges as well as kickstarting the creative brain. The tutor is a psychotherapist and published author. Song Writing Students learn the fundamentals of writing songs starting with the very basics and finishing with them writing and recording a song of their own. The course covers lyrics, melodies, chord patterns, music theory and various genres of music. Tutor Megan O’Neill is an Irish singer/songwriter who has worked in Nashville and London over the past seven years as a touring musician. She was teaching song writing workshops and private classes The Song Academy in London and is now implementing a similar program back in Ireland. Introduction to Fashion Design Gain an insight into what a fashion designer does and learn how to draft a pattern from you own design sketch as a professional fashion designer would. You’ll be taken through the early design stages, the sketch, how to transform the finalised sketch into a technical flat and how to transform these flats into a final drafted pattern which can be professionally produced. Both the pattern and the produced garment can be used as portfolio pieces which can be assessed by any potential employer in the industry. Joanna Cribbin is the owner of the fashion label Joanna London. Her brand is sold in independent boutiques in London, Dublin and Galway. She has extensive experience in the industry, including working in Wardrobe for RTÉ, as assistant image editor on U Magazine, and as an assistant to John Rocha at China Town, and designing a raincoat which went on to become a best seller at A-Wear. Script Writing Ireland has a wealth of talented poets, playwrights and screenwriters. On the back of tremendous Irish successes such as Song of the Sea, Brooklyn and Black 47, there has never been a better time to try your hand at writing for film and television. At the end of the course, students will be able to take home their very own short film script which they may submit to film festivals, script competitions or perhaps even go on to produce themselves. After completing the course, the only limit to your potential as a screenwriter for film and television is your imagination. Creative Writing Release your inner creative talent! This course looks at various forms of writing including articles, essays, stories, and will cover topics such as dialogue, narrative, character development, research, etc. The techniques under discussion will be practised and writers will receive constructive comments from the class. Tutor Shauna Gilligan is a novelist and short story writer from Dublin, now living in Kildare. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of South Wales, is an active member of the Arts Council of Ireland Writers-in-Prisons Panel and a Professional Mentor with Irish Writers’ Centre. Her debut novel Happiness Comes from Nowhere was a critical success. 045 868255
As people become more aware of the effects of pesticides, herbicides and chemical preservation on our food and land, we are now returning to the much-prized skill of growing our own.
But it is difficult and often very confusing for someone starting out on this tantalising adventure. Set-backs in the initial stages can be very discouraging. Night class Gorey Community School, in Co Wexford, is running a night class in Organic Kitchen Gardening suitable for both the beginner and those who have gardened before and realise there are gaps in their gardening knowledge. This course is designed to bring the gardener through the initial stages of setting-up, sowing and growing their own edibles in the garden, plot and pot. Classes are held once a week and offer up-to-date information and advice on what gardening tasks should be done and how to do them at the most critical time of the growing year. Each class enables the learner to go home with some knowledge they can put into practice that very week. This is a do-as-you-learn course. Participants gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to enable them to advance on their gardening journey, with lots of encouragement along the way. Self-sufficient They learn how to be self-sufficient in baby salad leaves, using just three large pots. They gain an understanding of how to care for their soil, the very basis of good health. They get to appreciate how nature works and balances, so there is no need to run out and buy sprays every time there is a problem. This course brings the participant through the stages of sowing, growing, protecting and staking fruit, vegetables and herbs in a healthy organic soil. Classes are delivered by a fully qualified horticulturalist with over ten years’ experience in the industry, so the information provided is the very best! Tutor Ann Marie Mullen explains what her night class in Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght, Dublin 24, entails “I believe that, for every problem or need you have in life, God has an angel who can help and guide you. I believe angels live in the spiritual realm, that they are always close to us and, if we can relax our busy minds and tired bodies, we can make contact with them, receive their love, wisdom and blessings. In the classes which I have been running at Old Bawn for the last 18 years, I try to help the men and women who come to them make their own personal connection to the Angelic realm. I try to show them that angels are everywhere even if they are not aware of them, even if they don’t know what angel is in charge of what. That there is energy, rays of light coming from God to help us and each ray is an angel. An Angel with qualities and gifts we can have access to. Relaxation In order to do this, I teach them to slow down, how to relax their bodies and minds so that they can become more aware of all the other energies going on in and around them. In order to do this, we practice relaxation techniques, give one another head, hand and foot massages, hands-on healing in the fragrant atmosphere of Aura Soma Colour therapy oils, pomanders and quintessences, in candlelight with soothing music playing in the background. Meditation During the classes, we use all sorts of different kinds of Angel Cards that are on the market. Explore their artwork, the printed messages and what effect this information has on each one of us personally. To help us relax further, we use Bach and Bush flower remedies to help stabilise our emotions. At the end of the evening, I lead the group in a guided meditation. As they recline on the sofas and bean bags, I invite them to meet the Angel of the evening. They leave relaxed connected in a more meaningful way to an angel who supports them for the following week. What students can get from the classes
Angels courses also run at other schools in our network.
Graham Brislane brings his lifelong love of woodturning and demonstrating to the night classes he tutors in St Tiernan's Community School in Dublin. Graham Brislane has been the woodturning tutor in St. Tiernan’s Community School, Balally, Dublin 16, for about five years. His reaction? “I love it. I get great satisfaction in passing on knowledge.” Woodturners in general are known for passing on their ideas and knowledge. He tries to give students a project each week, which they can finish and bring home with them. If students do not finish a project, Graham encourages them to bring the piece back the next week to complete it. As the weeks advance, the projects get progressively harder. “It’s encouraging when a student returns for a second or third term. One student was with my predecessor, and still comes to classes each term. He doesn’t have a workshop or lathe of his own, but likes coming to classes. He makes a lot of items for use at home, such as plates, bowls and scoops. If not, he makes the project the rest of the class are making on the night.” Long-term interest Graham has had an interest in woodwork from a young age, starting out making a badly shaped goblet with an electric drill and a cheap set of tools! Some years later, and undeterred by his early experiments, he bought a Record CL1 36” Lathe. “I made enquiries and got some lessons from a member of the Irish Woodturners’ Guild (IWG) and, in no time, I was turning away.” A member of the Dublin Chapter of the IWG, Graham benefits from the IWG-organised demonstrations and competitions. There are about 20 IWG chapters around the country now, and an annual seminar with foreign demonstrators from as far away as Europe, the US and Australia. Graham’s first ventures into demonstrating were in a primary school, where his wife works. Each year, he talked to pupils about the different types of wood from around the world, showing them samples of what can be made, and demonstrating how to make a small item. They loved seeing things like spinning tops being made, and would queue up to make it spin! A number of our other schools also run Woodturning courses.
If stained glass is making a revival in Cork, it could be down to one man, James Nicholl, who facilitates stained glass night classes in Carrigaline Community School and Ashton Comprehensive School. “Rather than picking projects for the students, I let them create their own projects in their own way,” says James, who himself is a traditional stained glass lead worker and artist. “The classes have proven hugely popular, with people aged from their 20s to 80, including a former master craftsman from Waterford Crystal. And the projects they do are relevant to their own lives, whether those are light catchers to hang on windows, 3D tealights, Tiffany lamp shades, mirror surrounds, or sidelights for front doors.” Stained glass has a rich heritage in Ireland, which is not always appreciated in today’s throwaway culture, says James. “When churches were being built in Ireland from the 1820s to the 1850s, there was a great construction period in the Catholic Church and a Gothic revival period in the Anglican Church. That created demand, with craftsmen coming in from England working with local apprentices. However, that work died off, and stained glass now gets recycled from one church to another.” James started his education journey by first teaching Transition Year students in Carrigaline about stained glass and its history. When the students’ parents asked him about it, he suspected there might be a demand for adult education classes in stained glass. “There’s probably no other course around that starts from scratch.” Some items produced in the Stained Glass courses at Carrigaline Community School and Ashton School in Cork Some of our Dublin schools also run Stained Glass courses.
Megan Buckley tells how a floristry night class led to her current role as manager of a flower shop I first found my love for floristry when I started helping out for Valentine’s Day. My job was to wrap single red roses in the back room. I was still a student in Ballincollig Community School and later went on to do a night class in floristry there. When I was doing my apprenticeship in floristry, I had to perfect the skills that I learned in the night class by working and learning with some of Cork’s master florists. Since then, I have worked in the most beautiful flower shop, Cork Flower Studio, the very place where I started wrapping roses on Valentine’s Day. The flower shop that saw my potential from the beginning is also the flower shop that has made me an exceptional florist. I have worked my way up the ranks and I am now the Manager of Cork Flower Studio! And, today, I am back in Ballincollig Community School, tutoring the night class that got me started! This is my second year tutoring there - I love teaching my skills and demonstrating in front of groups. Floral arrangements from the Floristry class at Ballincollig Community School A number of our NACED schools also run Floral Art and Flower Arranging courses for adults.
5/11/2018 Explaining global conflict: unique world politics course at Kinsale Community SchoolRead NowWith conflict zones in many places across the globe, it can be difficult to make sense of world politics. One night class in Kinsale Community School, Co Cork, addresses geopolitics head on.
‘Disarming Global Conflict’ is an eight-week night class, focusing on the causes of conflict and human rights abuses. Each class incorporates a wide variety of audio and visual material to examine current political and social events such as the growth of terrorism in mainland Europe, nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula, and the use of social media as a propaganda tool. The course covers topics as diverse as:
25/10/2018 Ashbourne Community School photography tutor Michael Keane shares his story and provides top tips for aspiring photographersRead NowThe snapper! Exploring digital photography is a wonderful opportunity to be creative, particularly today when cameras on mobile phones mean that you need never miss a chance to capture that memory. And, yet, we can always take a better photo, which is where digital photography classes come in. Michael Keane took the scenic route to his digital photography night class, in part because of redundancy from his full-time job. “I worked in Waterford Crystal as a master glass blower for 25 years,” says Michael. When Waterford Crystal closed, he moved into garden furniture, opened a garden centre, and did landscape garden design. “I realised that in the garden-related work, I was relying on the weather. So, one night, I made a list of things I wanted to do – driving instructor was first on the list, followed by photography. So, I bought a camera, and enrolled on a digital photography night class in Ashbourne Community School – and that led on to more studies. I did QQI Level 5 and 6 in photography and then went on to Dublin Institute of Technology to do a degree in photography. “A lot of the projects I completed were around social issues, including one entitled ‘Fragments’, which examined the aftermath of road accidents. Other projects featured children with autism, nursing homes, the National Rehabilitation Unit in Dun Laoghaire. Later, I opened my own studio and training centre, teaching photography and working on wedding and landscape photography. “Now, I’m involved in efforts to open a new creative centre, an artists’ co-op, in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, and in the Ashbourne Community Initiative and with the Tidy Towns working on the Broadmeadow River Trust.” Tutor And the student has turned into a tutor – Michael tutors the Digital Photography night class in Ashbourne Community School. “I gear the class towards what people want and I email out weekly exercises and interesting sites and videos. It’s all about encouraging students to use the manual settings and to take a shot of the same object using the different settings, so that they can get an understanding of what their camera can do.” Tips So, what tips does the master photographer have for the snap happy among us? Slow down. When you buy a roll of 35mm film, you have a finite number of images. So, slow down and become aware of possible images. Look at colours, textures, lines and become more aware of your surroundings. That will help towards taking better images. Don’t shoot loads of images. Michael gets his students to produce six images, two each in different settings, so that they can appreciate the differences in the end photograph. Less is more! Look at the lighting available to you. Everything you shoot is affected by the light, so look at the lighting available to you as that will determine what settings you need to use. In the meantime, if you’d like to get better photographs from your mobile phone or DSLR camera, consider a digital photography night class. It could change your life! Spain remains one of Irish people’s favourite destinations for holidays abroad – in a 2017 survey, 38 percent of adults chose Spain as their holiday destination. In addition, many Irish people live in Spain during our winter months – or all year round. So, it should come as no surprise that Spanish is increasingly becoming a second language that Irish people need to master to some degree – or at least become familiar with for everyday contexts. Spanish tutor Mariana Jiménez Moreno moved to Ireland in 2010 and, shortly afterwards, she started teaching Corkonians how to speak Spanish! Today, she delivers beginners and more advanced Spanish classes in Bishopstown Community School, Ballincollig Community School, Ashton Comprehensive School, and Carrigaline Community School. “After I moved to Ireland, I did teacher training for ELE - a Certificate in Spanish Language Teaching to Foreign People – at the Instituto Cervantes, Dublin,” says Mariana, who hails from Madrid originally. Meeting needs “A lot of different people come to the classes: from people who are in college to people in their eighties. Some people want a few words of Spanish to use on their holidays, or some want to learn Spanish because a family member has married a person from Spain or Latin American and they want to communicate better with them. “In some classes, we have a very wide range of ages. I have students who want to train their mind and learn another language. Some people are retired and want to move to Spain (or already have a base in Spain) or want to learn to speak to Spanish-speaking grandchildren. “Lately, I have realised that there are a couple students in each class who enrol to learn Spanish because they are doing the Camino de Santiago, they have already done it, or they are planning to do it. Or, in the September class, people come to learn Spanish because they have booked a holiday in Spain over Christmas.” Social benefits As with any night class, the social benefits are enormous. “In some classes, a lot of the same people come back each year. People become friends and get to know about each other’s lives. Recently, one of the class was in hospital and we sent a best wishes card written in Spanish.” In terms of lifelong learning, Spanish is ideal in helping people to navigate social situations on holidays. “In the beginners class, we cover the basics, greetings, introductions, then different foods and directions. At the improvers classes, the participants know what they need – maybe going to a hairdresser when living or holidaying in Spain. “Every class has a cultural element – so, for instance, at Christmas time, we cover what Christmas is like in Spain, compared to what it is like in Ireland. “And, at the end of the classes, we go to a Spanish restaurant in Cork, so they can use their Spanish in a real setting. Or, in another class, we applied this in class where everybody prepared a tapas dish and explained in Spanish how they did it. Everyone is familiar with tapas!!” Find out which schools in our network run Spanish classes here.
Tena Sheil’s professional life was transformed when she attended night classes in Gorey Community School. Over the next few years, she attained top marks in Accounting and now runs her own training and accountancy business. This is her story … As the middle child of six, there was no expectation that I would attend third level education after my Leaving Certificate in 1986. I worked in sales, retail and retail management for many enjoyable years. However, it was my move into an administrative role, including finance in 2001, that rekindled my interest in getting a qualification. An ISME/FÁS scholarship allowed me to follow the Accounting Technician qualification through Gorey Community School’s Adult Education Department. It was the first and best step that I have ever taken. The course was challenging but attainable, the tutors were knowledgeable and encouraging, and the setting and facilities were perfect for a mature student finding their feet after many years’ absence from the academic scene. The sense of achievement and the boost to my confidence when I was ranked in the top ten ATI results for 2008 was incredible. Further qualifications My ATI qualification enabled me to join the third year of a four-year Honours Degree at the IPA. In 2010, I graduated with the highest mark in the Accounting stream and the CIMA Award for Excellence in Management Accounting. Then, I sat my professional exams with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in December 2010 and May 2011, achieving the equivalent of a Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. These qualifications have absolutely transformed the range of opportunities available to me. I now deliver accounting training from the absolute beginner up to the highest professional levels with ACCA and CPA. Coupled with this, I create bespoke training for businesses who wish to maintain their own accounting systems or better understand their financial situation. I coach business owners on attaining their own goals and maintaining an efficient and motivated workforce. With a growing range of private accounting and training clients, my intention is to grow my business and further develop the ways in which I assist businesses to grow and prosper. Today, I am as passionate and enthusiastic about my future as I have ever been in my life and I put that all down to getting back into education as a mature student, setting achievable goals and ticking them off one by one. 1/10/2018 Student turned tutor - how a 10-week Introduction to Psychology night class changed the life of one participantRead Now‘Adult education completely changed my life’ Deirdre Delaney is a big supporter of adult education – “it completely changed my life”, she says. At 40, as a single mother, she went back to college, having worked in telecoms in different roles for years. “Whilst my work latterly involved account management and managing a call centre, it was all about people, and I always harboured a desire to study psychology and to go back to college.” With redundancy on the horizon, she completed a 10-week Introduction to Psychology night class – “I knew then psychology was what I wanted to do”. Another night class in psychology followed and that took her to UCD as a mature student to study, yes, psychology! “Then I did a Certificate in Counselling before completing a post-graduate course in psychotherapy.” The Donahies Adult education helped Deirdre to change her career completely – from telecoms to psychotherapy and then tutoring. “I accidentally got into tutoring – I approached the adult education director in The Donahies Community School about delivering an Introduction to Psychology night class. In the meantime, I was also approached by NUI Maynooth to deliver the Certificate in Psychology and that runs in Scoil Mhuire, Clane Community School, Co Kildare. Deirdre is also involved in an education outreach initiative offered by NUI Maynooth, called Communiversity. It offers a first point of contact for people who would not normally think of university as a place for them. Run in libraries one morning a week, Communiversity has been successfully rolled out in Dublin areas which have been identified as having low participation rates in higher education. Own story That sense of opening up lifelong learning to everyone is vital to Deirdre. “When I run a class, I tell my own story, because it’s important for people to see that all things are possible. After school, life happens to us, we stop writing essays, and we think we’re past it. We become terrified that we’re not good enough. “But, as adults, we bring so much to education, we bring our life experience and ability to juggle things. We bring maturity and a focus to what we’re studying and a level of motivation – usually, we study something for our careers or to something we love. “For me, I was terrified that first semester in UCD. I was in a class with people not much older than my daughter at the time. But once I got through those first Christmas exams, I loved it. I had the best three years of my life!” 24/9/2018 Politics: Solving or Causing Society's Problems - a new course at Malahide Community SchoolRead NowPolitics has never been more interesting! And, in Malahide Community School, a new night class in politics is being delivered by Michael Keating, former TD, Lord Mayor of Dublin and Minister of State.
This course is of interest generally – but also hugely interesting and relevant to anybody studying or teaching the new Leaving Certificate course, Politics and Society. Entitled ‘Politics - Solving or Causing Society's Problems?’, the night class is a thought-provoking mind-opening examination of how politics works, who makes the real decisions in society, and how much say you have in the ways in which your life and wellbeing are shaped. This comprehensive new course - presented over 10 evening sessions - will excite and intrigue all those interested in politics and social issues, hugely relevant given local and global politics. The course comes with a weekly set of free notes and vital references. Amount the vital questions dealt with are:
People often associate self-defence classes with blocking and hitting and defending. But, not so with night classes in self-defence in The Donahies Community School, Dublin 13; Hartstown/Huntstown Community School, Dublin 15; and Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght, Dublin 24. These three schools are offering a night class called ‘Self-Defence for All – Without Getting Hurt!’ The courses are open to all fitness levels, males and females of all ages from age 16 upwards. The aim is for students to learn accuracy and timing as opposed to relying on speed and strength. Approach The classes are delivered by tutors from Conscious Martial Arts, whose tagline is ‘Martial Arts without the muscle’. We caught up with Karl, the administrator of Conscious Martial Arts, who explained that they believe that people stop going to martial arts and self-defence classes because they don’t want to get hit and hurt. “Our training has nothing to do with sparring,” he said. “We have broken down each of the moves so that people learn through gentle movements. This gets people to physically relax; the more relaxed you get, the better you get. “Our training is based on correct body alignment and movement as opposed to reliance on muscle strength. It is based on accurate timing as opposed to reliance on speed. We also teach our students to be aware of and use space and distance.” Action from self-defence courses delivered by tutors from Conscious Martial Arts. Courses are available this Autumn Term at The Donahies Community School, Hartstown/Huntstown Community School and Old Bawn Community School. Benefits
Best of all, says Karl, is that people don’t have to be big guys or super-fit to learn this method of self-defence. “In one of our night classes, we have guys from their mid-20s to their mid-60s, all in the same class, learning the same moves, and mixing together. They love it!” The physical relaxation is also beneficial mentally, grounding learners as they go through the moves. “Benefits include improved posture, breathing, walking, carrying – you become more efficient in how you move and that helps to reduce strains and backache.” Ultimately, the training develops fitness, body awareness, personal development as well as confidence. 13/9/2018 "Studying Healthcare Support changed my career" - the story of an adult learner at Scoil Mhuire in ClaneRead NowMany NACED schools offer the QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support Certificate – and it is a minimum requirement for healthcare assistants. For one night class participant, Natalia Tuminska-Dawid, studying Healthcare Support in Scoil Mhuire, Clane Community School, Co Kildare, has been a huge help to her in her role in a nursing home. “It totally changed my career, I used to work in retail in Poland and Ireland, so this is totally different, and I love it,” says Natalia, who has lived in Ireland for 12 years. Working with the elderly “I have always loved the elderly and helping the elderly, so I really enjoy my work. The course really helped me in my job, it has helped me to understand what an elderly person needs. Before that, I would have understood some of it, but now I have a deeper understanding. I have even seen it in how I help my granny in Poland and, now, when I visit her, I am able to help her in a better way. Now, she’s waiting for me to visit to get expert help! “All the modules were very helpful and I know that I want to stay working in the nursing home. I’m even thinking about nursing and maybe doing more study. Helping others is what I always wanted to do. “I also enjoyed the social side of the course – I was doing some of the same modules with friends and I made Irish friends as well. I have so many Irish friends!” QQI certification Successful completion of the QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support Certificate provides a recognised qualification necessary for working as a healthcare assistant in a variety of settings, including hospitals, maternity care, day and residential care, community and the home. It is suitable for those wishing to embark on a career in caring and those already working in the sector who wish to gain a recognised qualification. Successful graduates may progress to related health and social care courses in the Institutes of Technology through the Higher Education Links scheme by CAO application.68255 Patchwork is a traditional needlework craft, still enjoyed throughout the country. Essentially comprising sewing patches or pieces of fabric together, it can be as simple or innovative in design as you are able for. As such, it’s ideal for beginners or people with more experience who want to create something unique. Deirdre Carroll teaches one of the few Patchwork night classes in the country. Each term at St Colmcille’s Community School, in Knocklyon, Dublin 16, she teaches three classes – on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights – for 10 weeks. “People come in on the first Monday night and, when I show them what they will produce, their reaction is, ‘Oh, I’ll never be able to make that!’ So, there’s a great sense of satisfaction when they have produced a small quilt or cushion at the end,” says Deirdre, who claims she can help anyone to learn to do patchwork. “I remember one woman asking me, ‘How does the thread stick to the needle?’ I had to show her the hole in the needle, but she went on to make a quilt!” Deirdre Carroll, the Patchwork tutor at St Colmcille's Community School, providing guidance to two of her course participants (left) and an almost complete sampler quilt produced in the beginners' class by Linda Price (right). Keepsakes The quilts, large or small, or the cushions produced are wonderful keepsakes or gifts. “People can incorporate personal items in the quilt, part of a husband’s shirt or part of a daughter’s First Communion dress, or the line of a poem. In one case, on a hen night, each hen was asked to write a message for the bride on a piece of fabric. Then, my student made the messages into a quilt and gave it to the bride on the morning of her wedding – that’s probably the most unusual quilt we’ve produced. “You can really turn the quilts into an heirloom, even with a simple label that says, ‘Made with love by Nana’. So, for me, it’s nice to think that the quilts produced will be passed down, as a lot of work goes into them.” A keepsake quilt made from old baby clothes (left) and a wedding quilt (right) with special messages for the bride from each of her hens, made by Yvonne Coleman for Ruth. Common interest Tutoring this class for about 10 years, Deirdre has seen the age profile change, with many younger women attending the class in the last few years. “There are so many benefits, people come along for the chat and friendship, to share a common interest doing something creative, and enjoy a social outlet. And, outside the class, sewing is a great way to destress.” Indeed, this has been a lifelong interest for Deirdre herself. “I always liked sewing and used to make dolls’ clothes as a child and my own clothes later on. I moved away from that but always loved to sew so patchwork was my way of connecting to sewing.” Own education And as a former adult learner herself, she’s well attuned to the needs of her night class participants. “After doing a beginners’ course in patchwork with the Irish Patchwork Society, I went on to do a City & Guilds Certificate and Diploma in patchwork. When I completed these, I studied Fibre Art and Textile Design in Ballyfermot College of Further Education where I achieved a H. Diploma and, in 2016, I graduated from NCAD with an Honours Degree in Textile Art and Artefact (Embroidery).” Now, she teaches about 25-30 night class students per term to produce everything from bags and cushions to small wall-hanging quilts and larger quilts. “We keep it fresh and do new things all the time, we’ve just started contemporary embroidery – I’m led by the class and always looking for new ideas!” It's not all about the quilts! Patchwork class participants in Knocklyon also make cushions, bags, pictures and a variety of other items. Patchwork classes also run at Coolmine Community School in Dublin and Boyne Community School in Trim.
Many a game has been invented to occupy bored kids – but few have lasted as long as pickleball. If you haven’t heard of it before, pickleball combines many elements of badminton, tennis, and ping-pong. It’s played indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly lowered tennis net. And it’s played with lights bats (bigger than table-tennis bats) and a plastic ball with circular holes (a wiffle ball). And, yes, you can learn pickleball in a night class – in Portmarnock Community School! “Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US,” says Debbie Brown, the American charged with bringing pickleball to north county Dublin. “The sport is over 50 years old and was started by three dads in Washington state whose kids were bored. In terms of adult education, it’s a great way for people who are trying to stay active, or who used to play tennis or squash and want to keep up a sport. It’s ideal for schools and communities too because almost every sports hall has a badminton court.” Experienced tutor Portmarnock is lucky to have Debbie in its midst! She coaches tennis, padel, squash, and pickleball. A native of California, Debbie is a former college tennis player and a three-time national champion in the over 35 and 40 age groups, winning the silver medal in the World Masters in Portland, Oregon. She has played in World Masters events in Melbourne, Australia, and both Sheffield and Birmingham, England. More recently, she represented Ireland in the Home Internationals and played in the Spanish Open in Madrid in early September. “The sport is growing here in Ireland and, every week, someone new comes along. The classes run for 15 weeks, but we also have a drop-in option. In fact, we’ve hosted American players who are on vacation here in Ireland and want to get their pickleball fix! “I’d really love to get people here excited about pickleball! It’s perfect for every age – the racquets and ball are really light, so it’s an ideal starter sport. It involves exercise, flexibility, twisting, bending down to pick up the ball.” If you want to join a sport that’s increasingly played in countries such as England, Holland, Spain, France, and Belgium, as well as the US, get along to Portmarnock and check out pickleball! Debbie Brown pictured with her Irish Nationals competition mixed doubles partner (left). They won the Open mixed doubles division. Pickleball in action (right).
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