BY AMYROSE HARTE
BEING one of the 'young elderly' in Donegal isn't easy.
That's according to Patricia Carr, Secretary of the Fifty Plus Activity Club based in Rossnakill. Along with her fellow committee members, she recently established the club to encourage participation in sport and physical activity for older people.
"Being neither youth nor senior citizens we are in limbo in terms of organised events for our age group," says Patricia.
"Living in a remote area of Donegal we are also at a disadvantage in terms of having to travel long distances to avail of, for example, a swimming pool. We wanted to draw out a club to distinguish ourselves from the senior citizens."
Forming their own club last March meant they could use the facilities of the Rossnakill Activity Centre. With the assistance of Patricia McBride and Una Sweeney from the centre, Patricia and husband and wife Michael and Nancy Dorrian formed a committee.
In the three months since the formation of the club, Patricia and her fellow committee members have organised everything from golfing afternoons to social mingling at the Bealtaine Festival. They now look forward to a cruise on the Toucan One, a trip on the Waterbus in Donegal Bay and a trip to Derry this summer. They are also hoping to anchor funding for equipment for digital photography, table tennis and light exercise.
Patricia, a former school secretary, says she has a new sense of purpose since the club began.
"I love writing to people applying for funding and people phoning me about things, that's right up my street. We have nothing to lose, nobodies going to come into the house and drag you out, you need to go out and make a wee effort for yourself," she says.
This month, they are arranging a morning with professional golfer Seamus Clinton in Portsalon Golf Course and a day trip to Tory.
"Living up at the top of the Fanad Peninsula like I do means you have a journey before you go anywhere. I love alone, so the company of other people is brilliant. I'm hardly going to drive myself out to Magheroarty, so I need a wee bit of encouragement to keep me going," she said.
If you would like to join the Fifty Plus Activity Club based in Rossnakill, please call Patricia Carr on 0860854531.
