Calry Parish Sligo
Home Church Building Catacombs Project Cosy Cats Catalysts Parish Details Reflections

The Catalysts

The Catalysts aim to promote activity in Body, Mind and Spirit of members of the community who are over 50 years of age.

The Catalysts caters for members in the Sligo community who are over 50. The programme on offer (depending on demand, resources and availability) can include short courses, friendship club (Casual Cats) with activity and talks of a varied nature, occasional short trips and social events. Hopefully the Catalysts will increasingly also contribute to the wider community.

The group meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.30 a.m. with a coffee / tea break 11.30 -12 noon. On Tuesdays a variety of short and medium length course are on offer at affordable rates. Examples from activities already experienced include Painting, Crafts, Dance, Choir, Flower-arranging, Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Digital Camera and Media. During Lent members of the group were led in reflections on some of the Great Prayers in the Bible.

On Thursdays a variety of activities takes place including a "Casual Cats" Programme where members come if the subject matter appeals - or often even if it doesn't they still come for the social interaction!! Previous Thursday sessions included "Grill the Bishop"; First Aid; Yeats and Sligo; Pilates; Mechanics of Brass; Discussion "why do bad things happen to good people" (Bishop Ken Clarke and Bishop Christy Jones), Curators tour of the Model Niland, Card-making and a Questions and answers Session with local politicians.

There is also a Book Club which meets monthly. The Club has for each of the last three years been a centre for the Bealtaine Festival.

Recent deveolpments include a cross community and cross-border link with The Cedars group from Lurgan. There are regular (funded) meetings between the clubs in both Lurgan and Sligo.

A very popular walking group meets each Monday. Some members avail on Friday mornings of a concession to use a local leisure Centre. We encourage other forms of physical activity - a croque set has been bought and we have introduced Curling and Boules as an activity for the summer months.

Membership is essential for participation in activities and runs from September costing €20. The photos below give a flavour of the "craic" which members enjoy! New members are welcome. Contact 071 9146506 for details.

"Painting for Pleasure" - 10 week course	"I can do this" - Vivienne on the trip to Turlough House	Dougie, our chairman on wood-turning
Party time for Catalysts at Christmas	More party time frolics.	Go 4 Life programme - at 92