Post January 2024 Meeting Update
UNITED NATIONS - DECADE OF HEALTHY AGEING. 2021 – 2030
https://www.decadeofhealthyageing.org/
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION BASELINE REPORT [Dec 2020]
Post January 2024 Meeting Update & Reminder next meeting February 14th.
Eileen opened the first meeting of 2024 by welcoming everyone, especially those who came along for the first time.
Topic: Retirement Project in 2003 to Sail to the Antarctica, Joe Phelan Joephelan200@gmail.com
For the first meeting of 2024 we had a very engaging and fantastic presentation from member Joe Phelan, Navigator and Sailing Enthusiasts and author of Sailing to Antarctica 2023 on the yatch ‘New Magic’ from Howth to the Antarctica.
Joe grew up in Drumcondra and his first job was with the National Blood Transfusion Association [NBTA] and little did he know that this would lead to a more than 43 years career in the Health System as a medical laboratory scientist and Manager. Neither did he know that he would meet Trish [also one of our U3A Group] while working at the NBTA and that both would develop a ‘new hobby’ of sailing. This became a lifetime hobby and great lifelong learning experience for each of them and their family. Both Trish and himself are great sailors and started by buying a dinghy and joined Sutton Dinghy Club.
Kidney Transplant Programme in Ireland. Joe also studied tissue typing technology in Denmark and this commenced another journey that afterwards led to acquiring founder member status of the British Transplantation Society and on the path towards being asked to set up and be responsible for a Kidney Transplant Programme in Ireland.
The Voyage.
On leaving his very successful career as a medical laboratory scientist Joe had a project in mind – he and his sailing friends were going to sail to the Antarctica. They had discussed this for years and one evening in 2003 his friend Pete Killen called to his house on the Strand Road, Baldoyle and within 30 minutes they had sketched out a planned route for the Journey from Howth to the Antarctica Peninsula.
For over an hour Joe brought us on an amazing journey on this voyage from Howth to Antarctica as a permanent crew member and primary navigator which involved him sourcing and buying lots of paper charts for the voyage. Along with his friends the voyage started in 2004 on the 54ft Yacht ‘Pure Magic’ owned and skippered by Pete Killen. Trish went on the voyage as far as Lanzarote.
Joe’s presentation outlined the voyage supported by maps/charts beautiful photograph/videos, the stops along the way – as they were in no hurry- they were like tourists. We viewed photographs of local towns, other boats, all nationalities including Irish, local restaurants, the entertainment/chats along the way with others. Joe explained he developed a great interest in evolutionary science and Darwin. He brought Darwin’s Beagle Diary in which he described the daily happenings of his journey. So Beagel Channel was on the map. They did not shy away from crossing the notorious Drake Passage on way to Deception Island in the Bransfield Strait which is named after a Cork man who discovered Antarctica in 1820. They navigated through stormy weather and iceberg laden seas.
Just before Christmas they arrived in Deception Island, Antarctica. The island is a caldera of an active volcano and the island previously held a whaling station and is now a tourist destination. There are research stations operated by Argentina and Spain during. While there, Joe explained they encountered a snowstorm and ran into some difficulty. They got trapped inside a 5 mile long by 2.5 wide volcanic caldera whose walls rose sheer above the water with 50 knot winds howling. There was also a cruise ship inside and they could not anchor. Eventually they called up a small Argentinean Naval resupply vessel anchored and they agreed to throw them a rope to hang. Joe showed us a photograph of them handing over a bottle of Jameson Whiskey as a thank you – that was Christmas Eve. For Christmas day they met up with other sailors and a couple with two young children and friend.
Along the way they stopped at South Georgia to visit the grave of Shackleton and to find the grave of a crew member’s friend grandfather who had been injured on a ship there in 1930 and buried locally. They stayed in the region for some time before heading back from Cape Horn to the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town and to Europe.
There is an abundance and variety of wild life, bird life including Adelie & Emperor penguins, leopard/elephant seals, albatrosses, flying fish, wild walrus, and Joe had great breathtaking high-quality photographs taken during this voyage. Joe shared also with us briefly his adventures from voyages to Norway/Arctic.
At the end of this fantastic presentation of his achievements and voyages we thanked him and Trish for sharing this experience/adventure with us. We look forward to hearing more of his adventures.
Joe brought along a number of his recently published book to the meeting – this hardback publication is a ‘must read’ book and great to have on your ‘coffee table’ You can contact Joe at email Joephelan200@gmail.com for further information.
External Cultural trips/Visits - Spring/Summer
As you all are aware members make suggestions for places and venues to visit over the summer months. These are presented at the January/February meetings for discussion and an indication of interest by way of a ‘show of hands’ of those present.
Following a discussion several places/venues were ‘short listed’ for further research in respect to logistics. Individuals volunteered to do some research on these venues to share at the February meeting. These include, amongst others, the following.
· Walking tour Howth – second part – Corry
· Nano Nagle Place Heritage Museum, Cork – Aidan [suggested date July 31]
· National Famine Museum, Strokestown Roscommon – Catriona/Monica
· Tree Topwalk/Beyond the Trees, Avondale – Vera
· New TCD – Book of Kells Experience – Pauline – https://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells-experience/
· Dunsink Observatory – night time - Hannah/Catriona
· Boyne Valley & Surrounding area – Sheila.
· Croke Park Stadium Tour & Museum or Skyline Tour
· Drimnagh Castle
· Carrickmacross Workhouse Museum
There will be an opportunity for individuals to register their ‘expression of interest’ in these at the February 14th meeting.
In addition, the meeting discussed briefly visits to theatres.
Other Information
1. DCU - Life Long Learning Modules Programme 2024 – commencing February 2024
Love of Lifelong Learning Programme - As you are aware DCU offers a range of customised modules under their Love of Lifelong learning modules. These modules will commence in February 2024 and cost FROM €80 and range from 6-8 weeks. There is still time to register for the Love of Lifelong Learning Programme. You can register via their website https://www.dcu.ie/agefriendly/learning-opportunities-dcu or click here on the link to the registration and booking page.
Enquiries also to grainne.reddy@dcu.ie | Phone: 017005454
2. Brigit – Dublin City Celebrating Women – February 1-5th
The Brigit 2024 festival is taking place at several locations around the city from Thursday 1 Feb2024 to Monday February 5th. Many walking tours, fairs, performances, etc. A full list of these events available on www.dublin.ie/brigit
3. Year of the Dragon – February 3-11 2024
The Dublin Lunar New Year festival takes place from Saturday Feb 3th to Sunday February 11 around various locations. For full details go to https://www.dublinlunarnewyear.ie/category/events/
DIARY ENTRY – NEXT MEETING FEBRUARY 14 2024.
Please note that our next meeting takes place on Wednesday February 14 from 10.45-12.45.
Rhona O’Neill, Chief Pharmacist, Acute Hospital Drug Management Programme, HSE and the topic is:
Biologic, Biosimilar & Generic Medicines
‘You and Your Medicines: Definitions, Developments & Patient Impact ‘.
Looking forward to seeing you for another interesting and informative session.