December 2025 Alerts

UNITED NATIONS - DECADE OF HEALTHY AGEING.   2021 – 2030

https://www.decadeofhealthyageing.org/

Adding Life to Year

As we come to the end of a busy U3A Sutton Baldoyle 20th Year we want to take a moment to thank everyone who joined events, shared ideas, stayed connected and those who volunteered their expertise and personal time to ensure Lifelong Learning Happens.

1.   How does our U3A Life Long Learning Happen?

Our U3A group is ‘non-hierarchical’ and each person drives, supports, and contributes to our U3A self-learning, self-directed group.   This is a great opportunity for everyone to enhance their skills and try out something new/different - adding to their own Lifelong Learning Continuous Personal Development [CPD] credits. 

Looking ahead to 2026 more volunteers are needed to be involved in the co-ordination of the U3A Group. 

·         sharing of personal interests and expertise, including presenting, at monthly meetings

•         identifying topics/guest speakers, liaising and organising guest speakers/presenters

•         facilitating monthly meetings to include room preparation for the meeting

•         the management and maintenance of sign-in sheets; contact lists;  finance; etc     

•         maintaining website and email lists,

•         organising events, walks, tours, visits to theatres

•         printing and advertising meetings in parishes and other local newspapers

•         planning, researching future activities

•         hosting/organizing meetings of Steering Group

It is proposed that a Steering Group meeting be held one week before our first 2026 meeting and all who are interested in being involved just send us an email to u3asutbal@gmail.com and come along to the Library .

2.    Diary Dates for 2026

January 14th 2026

February 11th 2026

February 17th 2026 – visit to Dail Eireann

March 11th 2026

April 8th, 2026

May 13th, 2026 

3.   Post December 2025 Meeting/Event update

3.1  Visit to National Concert Hall. The group had a very enjoyable visit to the Lunchtime Christmas Concert held at the NCH.   This was followed by a lunch at the venue.

3.2 Brian Roche Ornithologist – guest speaker

EileenS welcomed Brian Roche to our monthly meeting. Brian spoke to us for nearly hour on the topic of ‘The Beauty of Birds.   His interest in birds and bird-watching started when he was around 13/14 years of age while in holidays in the South East when he became curious about the birds he saw.   Afterwards he visited Eason Bookstore and that day was a very important day and shaped his lifetime interest and love of birds. It started him on a journey which brings him all over the world.   His travels can last for months with weeks of advance preparation and researching.

Eileen thanked him on behalf of the group for this extremely fascinating talk reflecting his passion and enthusiasm.  

After this December 2025 meeting Brian joined us for an enjoyable Christmas social lunch in O’Dwyer, Portmarnock.

OTHER INFORMATION

4.   Assisted Decision Making Law 2023

Following our November 2025 meeting Nora Owen arranged for a large number of leaflets on ‘Assisted Decision-Making law – My Voice is my Right to be sent to us for further distribution to those in attendance at our December 2025 meeting.   Go to https://safeguardingireland.org/ for further information.

5.   DCU Spring 2026 Semester – Love of Learning & Audit

Go to https://www.dcu.ie/agefriendly/learning-opportunities-dcu-2026

As you know our links with DCU Age Friendly University go back to 2010 and has strengthened since.

We were recently advised of some of the details of the DCU’s Love of Love of Lifelong Learning (February - April) 2026 as follows:

The Love of Lifelong Learning Programme begins the week of 9th February (start dates vary by course) – offering a vibrant mix of customised 8-week modules designed to inspire, challenge, and delight.

With prices ranging from €90 to €160, you can explore topics that spark your curiosity and feed your passion for learning.

Please note that registrations and further information for the Love of Lifelong Learning Programme will open in mid-January. The programme is scheduled to begin in mid-February and is currently in the final stages of planning.  

6.   An Taisce – The National Trust of Ireland – Annual Climate Ambassadors Award - WELL DONE TO SHEILA CULLEN

An Taisce’s Cathy Baxter, Director of Education and Community Action presenting Sheila with Outstanding Achievement winner award, at An Taisce’s Annual Climate Ambassador Awards, which took place on the November 22 2025 in Dublin

‘Each year An Taisce commends Climate Ambassadors for uniting communities, boosting neighbourhood bonds, building trust, bridging generational gaps, and playing an important role in shaping Ireland’s future. The honoured Climate Ambassadors represent organic farmers and horticulturists, Lions Clubbers, educators, sustainable travellers, active retirees, Tidy Towners, TY and college students’  

You can read more about Taisce and these awards on their website including how you too can become a Climate Ambassador – go to their website

https://www.antaisce.org/news/outstanding-achievements-celebrated-at-climate-ambassadors-2025-awards

7.    Friends of the Earth – BOLD Older People for Climate Justice – Webinar January 27th – 11 am to 12 noon

https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/news/a-snapshot-of-bold-climate-action-groups-recent-activities/

Bold have written to us about their upcoming series of webinars and workshops - “Healthy Ageing, Healthy Planet”- that maybe of interest.  Their first webinar will be a Zoom meeting “Active Travel – the Magic Pill – Dr Caoimhe Clarke who is a consultant geriatrician as well as lead in Irish Doctors for the Environment and a member of the Climate and Health Alliance

8.   Notification of HSE  ‘Health & Wellbeing’ commencing January 2026 - Six-week Balancing Stress activation

https://hsehealthandwellbeingnews.com/six-week-balancing-stress-activation/

This January 2026, HSE Health and Wellbeing launches a six-week campaign promoting Balancing Stress, a free, evidence-based online programme to help people manage everyday stress.

The programme is free and available at hse.ie/balancingstress,   Resources can be found on www.healthpromotion.ie,

You can do the programme any time and at your own pace.

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NEXT MEETING – JANUARY 14 2026

December 22 2025