Town twinning visit to Locoal Mendon: Last Easter weekend eight of us travelled to Locoal Mendon and received a wonderful welcome. The community minibus picked us up at Nantes airport and transported us all weekend. There was a reception in the Mairie on the Saturday morning where we exchanged gifts. We presented them a framed photograph of the Burren and we received an artistic timber representation of an implement used for turning Galettes. When the formalities were over we were taken to visit the megalithic site of the Menhirs in Carnac. A picnic and a stroll on the beach in Carnac followed and later a barbecue, music and wine tasting in the home of John Paul and Ghislaine Mahevas.
Kinvara Community Council’s: monthly meetings take place the third Wednesday of each month. The next meeting is taking place on Wednesday 19th April at 8pm in Kinvara Community Centre. We encourage all members of the community to attend these meetings where discussion and debates on any items put forward on the agenda are always welcome. All sub groups who are affiliated to Kinvara Community Council must send a representative to every KCC meeting in order to maintain their benefits. Any items for inclusion on the agenda must be emailed in by Monday 17th April.
Kinvara Community Childrens Centre is seeking an Early Years Educator to join our growing team. Minimum QQI Level 5 in Childcare or recognised equivalent and 1 year experience. Valid First Aid and Manual Handling accepted but not necessary as training will be provided. Must have a love for working with children and developing young minds. To submit applications or for further information please contact Frankie at info@kinvaraccc.ie
KAVA In the Courthouse: Debbie Browne – Contemporary Art Exhibition runs from March 31st – 2nd April. Opening by Mary Harrison on Friday 31st @ 7pm. KAM presents Floating Barrio on Sat 1st April @ 8pm. Mother Maker Group Exhibition – A collaborative creative group for Mother Artists. The exhibition will run from Fri 14th April to Sun 23rd April.
safeTALK with KINVARA ALIVE is running again in 2023. The next workshop will take place on the 26th of April at 7pm in the Courthouse in Kinvara, only few spaces left. WHAT IS safeTALK (Suicide Alertness for Everyone) AIM: safeTALK is a 3½ hour ‘suicide alertness’ programme that prepares participants (over the age of 18 yrs.) to identify and engage with persons who may be having thoughts of suicide. Participants learn how to provide practical help by using the steps of TALK (Tell, Ask, Listen and Keep safe) and also gain information on the supports and resources available locally, regionally and nationally. These specific skills are called suicide alertness and are taught with the expectation that the persons learning them will use them to help reduce suicide risk in their community.
The four basic steps of TALK are called ‘suicide alertness skills’ and are taught with the expectation that the person learning them will use them to help save lives and reduce suicide risk in their community. To book a space please go to: https://bookwhen.com/srotraininggmr/e/ev-sjs2-20230426190000
Pickleball – Continues in local venues and New Members are always welcome so come and give it a try. Times and locations as follows; Kinvara Community Centre on Fridays at 6pm and Sunday at 4.30pm. Gort Community Centre on Thursdays at 8.30pm and Loughrea Badminton Club on Tuesdays at 6pm. It is suitable for all ages over 18 to 70+. All equipment is provided. For further info contact Caitriona on 086-2340632. Check out our Facebook page to keep up to date with all things Pickleball locally – Galway County Pickleball Club
An Chéirseach Singing Circle meets again in the meeting room in the Community Centre on 17th of April. All welcome, including listeners. Our guest this month is Billy Clarke. Billy is a singer/songwriter from Westport, Co. Mayo. His songs reach into the heart of the human condition and relay stories of nature, stories of spirit and stories of the soul. He has released two full length albums, Wreckage From The Sea and No More Bridges Left To Burn” Listeners welcome. Check our page on Facebook for more information.https://www.facebook.com/groups/570049245006747/?ref=share
Tree-minding meitheals with the KBTree Gang: Every few weeks, a group of us visit one of our mini-forests to tend to our young saplings in Ballycleary and Funshin More. The trees in Ballycleary, (just 5 minutes’ drive from Kinvara), require a lot of after-care, such as mulching or trampling of weeds, as we are trialling the Miyawaki method there. Volunteers are always welcome to come for an hour or two. If interested, please contact 0872279071 to hear of our next meitheal or to join the Volunteer Whatsapp. You can follow us on FB/Insta @KBtreegang, but we tend to only announce big planting days there. More info: www.kbtreegang.com
Kinvara Parent & Toddler Group meets every Wednesday morning, both in and out of school term time, from 10am-12noon in the meeting room of the Community Centre. We welcome all parents, grandparents and childminders and ask a donation of €2-3 to cover running costs. Thanks to funding from Galway Childcare Committee, we are excited to announce the fantastic line-up of 2023 events below:
Thurs Apr 20, 10am-1pm:
Teddy Bear’s Picnic in the walled garden behind Coole Park Tearooms with Gort Buggy Buddies. Join the newly-revived Buggy Buddies for their weekly stroll around Coole: meet at the Tearooms at 10am. From 11am, bring along your little ones and their favourite teddy to the walled garden behind the tearooms for a fun-filled family picnic with delicious snacks and refreshments from Coole Park Tearooms.
Wed May 17, 10:30-11:30am:
Toddler Art Workshop in the meeting room of Kinvara Community Centre with art teacher Kate Kelly of @art_room_109. Suitable for 1-4 year olds, no admission charge.
Wed Jun 14, 10am-12pm:
2-hour paediatric first aid training for parents in the main hall of Kinvara Community Centre. Spaces are limited, tickets only €6.50 available here: https://tinyurl.com/3za3czc6
Please note this event is not suitable for children unless in a buggy/carrier or similar.
Mondays from Jun 26 to Jul 24, 10:30-11:30am
5 week course in baby massage with IAIM-accredited instructor Áine Kelly. Cost: €120. Spaces are limited, please text Áine directly to book: 087 967 5730
Wed Jul 26, 10:30-11:30am
Sensory play and story time for language development with speech and language therapist Suzanne Reilly of Babbling Book Club. This event was a huge success last year: please register your interest in advance via our Facebook or WhatsApp (text 087-7662294). No admission charge.
Also coming later in the year: 4-week course in baby reflexology in August (dates TBD), a talk on cranio-sacral therapy on September 20 and our annual jumble sale in the main hall on Oct 14. Keep up to date with our news on www.facebook.com/kinvaraplaygroup, or text 087-7662294 to be added to the group’s WhatsApp thread.