Age no barrier to fun as Sonas keeps people in social loop

It is well known that people are living longer, so healthy ageing is crucial if they are to enjoy a good quality of life, with social interaction and community based activities to stave off loneliness. Isolation and loneliness are not exclusive to rural areas but distances and accessibility to amenities make them a bigger problem than in urban areas.

Twenty-one years ago a few women in Moycullen came up with the idea of utilising a room in the renovated old school building to put on a cuppa for pensioners on Fridays when they came from various parts of the parish to collect their pension.

The beautiful school building, now called Áras Uilinn, just down the hill from the village had previously been threatened with demolition as a new national school had been built next door. Thankfully, a few locals, including Frank Kelly, persuaded the authorities to renovate it instead so it could be used as a community facility. The work was carried out by one of the first community development schemes in the country in 1987 and it became a focal point for the village and beyond.

It’s still the home of the local Naoínra and for Sonas of course, where on average about 25 people, mostly women congregate every Friday.

In the early days according to one of the founding members, Maureen Lydon, men and women came and enjoyed a cup of tea and a scone after they collected their pension in the village. Sometimes transport would be laid on for those living a few miles away. But gradually, the membership became predominantly female, although this is not a cause for complaint as the group enjoy their weekly get-togethers and trips immensely.

The Moycullen Sonas recently celebrated its 21st anniversary with a Mass followed by a buffet in The Forge.

The Mass was concelebrated by Fr Michael McLoughlin PP along with Canon Michael Mulkerrins, who was a curate in Moycullen during the early days of Sonas and is now PP of Renmore, and by seminarian John O’Halloran from Killanin who spends four days a week in the Moycullen parish.

About 110 people enjoyed the buffet luncheon afterwards. The group was made up of Sonas members, family members and volunteers who help week in, week out and who pull out all the stops for trips and special activities.

“Sonas has been brilliantly supported by the people of Moycullen from the start. We still have money jars left at cashiers in the local shops but although it is still supported, we notice that these donations are down because there is so much competition out there for voluntary donations,” says one committee member.

That said, there is huge goodwill for Sonas as it has always been seen as a home-grown group that provides a great service.

Over the years members have enjoyed regular talks, demonstrations, art classes, gentle yoga (still given for free by Gay Christ), day and overnight trips to destinations countrywide, Bingo, card games and recently pottery classes, given by Cormac O’Neill.

For more, read this week' Galway City Tribune.