3 minute read
University of the Third Age (U3A
U3A [University of the Third Age]
SUTTON BALDOYLE, DUBLIN NORTH EAST
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By Eileen Sweeny
U3A Sutton Baldoyle started over 15 years ago, in 2005, and soon afterwards joined the Fingal Older Persons Council [formally Fingal Senior Citizens Network]. Ten years earlier in 1995 Age Action, who provide numerous services for the over 55 age group, piloted the first U3A Group in Ireland that promotes lifelong learning and it is one of Age Action’s very active programmes for older persons. There is now a significant network of U3A groups around Ireland.
Since 1973 U3A groups exist all around the world and in 2003 Virtual U3A [or vU3A] was set up mainly to cater for the lifelong learning needs of older people who are isolated for a number different reasons, amongst others, such as location, transport, mobility, health0. We at U3A Sutton Baldoyle link in and collaborate with other U3A groups in Ireland and worldwide and other local and national community organisations.
So what is U3A?
U3A stands for University of the Third Age. The term ‘Third Age’ signifies a period of our life that allows us to pursue new interests and activities which support and promote the concept of Life Long Learning [triple ‘LLL’} continuous personal development. No two U3A groups are the same. Each U3A group is independent.
Members of U3A Sutton Baldoyle all work on a voluntary basis, with no hierarchies and minimum bureaucracy. We meet at Baldoyle Library once a month from September to May and during the summer month’s events teams facilitate and coordinate cultural visits around the city and country. We have a very wide and diverse range of interests and a high level of curiosity. All these events and activities provide great opportunities to meet new people, share interests and make new friends.
However with the arrival of Sars Cov2 infectious disease virus all activities to meet up in person at Baldoyle Library, Cultural Events, and theatre visits were suspended. However new learning opportunities presented themselves, particularly via online platforms. Like the rest of the population we all suddenly had to rethink, transform and adapt as to how to stay safe and stay connected.
We were thrown in at the deep end and started to both acquire and/or hone new digital skills with lots of help and tutorials from various sources in our network of contacts at a local, national and international level. Planned topics for events suspended due to to Sars CoV2 virus and public health restrictions were now being delivered virtually.
Cultural tours of museums, theatre performances, art and cultural events, physical exercises, book clubs, walks and talks on areas of interested were delivered online. Age Action U3A facilitated our U3A meetings via Zoom events. These were recorded and members were able to play back if they missed these events or had technical issues joining the event on the day.
We found significant number of doors was being opened to us that may not have been opened. Age Action Positive Aging week events went on line and Age Friendly Ireland commenced their daily Covid19 updates with lots of information and resources. We all came together at a local, national and international level. U3A Sutton Baldoyle members attended 38 International Federation Town Hall Older Adults Weekly meetings where we heard lots of personal stories, professional inputs from different worldwide organisations dealing with areas of interest to older adults; to joining new HSE Human Rights and Equality webinars on very relevant topics that would have been scheduled during the year by ourselves. At year end we joined in the Healthy Ireland Christmas Concert 2020.
Bridget Murphy & Eileen Sweeny
We enjoyed and learnt from all of them for different reasons. Going forward this will now be part of our community of lifelong learners as we move into the Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021 -2030 with a blend of face to face and virtual events with national and international priority now being given to older adults. If you would like to get further information you can go to U3A Sutton Baldoyle website and/or email
