Two Clare officers were returned to their positions on the Mid-West Active Retirement committee.

Quin’s Eugene Phillips was returned to the position of Regional Development Officer while Roland Hall of Shannon continues in the role of Regional Treasurer. They remain in their posts alongside Rosemary Shire (Chairperson), Mary Dundon (Vice Chairperson), Mary Cronin (Secretary), Peg Grimes (Committee) and Liz Hanrahan (Committee).

Also at the virtual AGM, Kathleen Leahy of Abbeyfeale Active Retirement Association was announced as the winner of the Molly Hyland competition. Entrants are asked to write a poem or piece of prose with ‘Swallows’ by Kathleen deemed the best this year.

Viewed as an important competition to the association, it is named after a former chairperson of the Mid-West branch. Molly was a member of the Nenagh Active Retirement Association, she was married to Kevin, and had two wonderful daughters – Rita and Síle before passing away suddenly in 2012 while in office. The competition has been run in her memory ever since.

The Regional Committee decided to run this competition in her memory. The Perpetual Cup and prize was presented to the winning contestant by Molly’s husband, Kevin, at the Mid-West Active Retirement Christmas Luncheon each year.

Sadly, Kevin died earlier this year, but the committee are hopeful that Rita will continue to do the honours each year, and so have a Hyland involved in presenting the cup.