The AGM and Christmas Lunch of Kilkenny RTAI took place on Tuesday, 3rd December in the Newpark Hotel at 11.30 a.m. There was a huge turnout of members. There were 55 members present at the AGM and 94 at the Christmas Lunch.

The President of RTAI, Charlotte Maye was the invited guest. Denis, our Chairperson, welcomed the members to the meeting with a special welcome for new members. He welcomed Charlotte to Kilkenny in her role as President of RTAI.

The minutes of the Summer Meeting were read and correspondence from Amber Women’s Refuge was received, thanking the members for their very generous donation of €607.85, the proceeds of our coffee morning in September. Marian, our secretary, gave a very comprehensive report on our activities since the summer meeting. Sheila Cahill presented the accounts, detailing the income and expenditure for the year. It was obvious that our allocation of funds was very prudently spent on members’ activities. Marian has decided to retire as secretary after 16 years service to the group. Denis thanked her for her dedication and commitment to the role for such a long period of time. He thanked her for her positivity in driving forward the aims of RTAI and making the Kilkenny branch one of the most active and progressive in the country. He remarked on her kindness and caring attitude to members who were bereaved, sick or unable to attend activities due to advanced years. Rosemary Mc Phillips was elected as secretary to succeed Marian. The majority of the current committee agreed to continue for another year. Marian and Colette Hickey will also join the committee.

At the end of the meeting Charlotte addressed the members giving them a glimpse of her journey from Ardnagassan, Co. Donegal to the Church of Ireland College of Education in Rathmines and onwards to Taney NS in Dundrum and then back to Donegal’s Central NS in Raphoe for 31 years where she was Principal for 10 years before she retired. As President of RTAI she has travelled the country meeting the members and encouraging them in their activities. She paid tribute to Marian’s great work and praised the level of activity and participation in the Kilkenny Branch.

The formal part of the day was followed by a beautiful Christmas lunch in the ballroom. This year we were all together in the same room . The choir, under the direction of Maria Comerford and Monica Lowe, treated us to a feast of Christmas Carols. There was a definite festive atmosphere and a great buzz of conversation from all of the tables as members enjoyed the music, the food and the glass of wine. Many thanks to Maria and Monica for all their great work with the choir.

At the end of the meal Denis made presentations to Marian to thank her for her years of generous service and to Charlotte Maye to mark her visit to Kilkenny as President of RTAI. The raffle, organised by Sheila Cahill, ended a very pleasant day of business and seasonal festivities. Many thanks to the staff of the Newpark Hotel for a lovely lunch.