EVENTS, MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES
Activities take place in various locations which are noted below. Our activities are constantly under review. If you do not find an activity group you would like to join perhaps you would consider starting up an activity. If so please contact our activity coordinator. We are happy to support new groups. Our regular place for Events and Meetings is: Connect Centre, 2-6 Model School Road, Ballymoney BT53 6BH – Click Here For Map.
Ballymoney u3a 2025-2026
Events and Meetings
| Date | Event/Meeting | Venue | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 2 September 2025 | RLNI | Connect | Mark Mitchel. The charity that saves lives at sea. RNLI Volunteer lifeboat crews have to be ready to answer the call to rescue 24 hours a day 365 days a year. When the pager goes off you know that someone is in desperate of rescue. |
| Tuesday, 7 October 2025 | Information Day | Connect | Lots of exhibitors who will demonstrate or show their examples of what they do eg Specsavers, Chemist in Rasharkin, Coast, Fire prevention, Security, etc |
| Tuesday, 4 November 2025 | Musical entertainment | Connect | A musical entertainment will be provided. Group TBC |
| Tuesday, 2 December 2025 | Anniversary Lunch | Royal Court Hotel | This is our 10th Anniversary , where members can enjoy Lunch at a discount. There will be musical entertainment provided. |
| Tuesday, 6 January 2026 | Pearl Hutchinson | Connect | Pearl will talk about her interest in History and especially Garvagh Museum and Heritage Centre which is home to almost three thousand artefacts. |
| Tuesday, 3 February 2026 | Ulster Wildlife Trust | Connect | Bringing Nature Back. The wildlife trust play a very important part in protecting our natural heritage. They focus on protecting habitats restoring ecosystems and supporting wildlife population. |
| Tuesday, 3 March 2026 | Alison Chestnutt | Connect | The Milk Hutt, is a family run dairy farm outside Portrush. They have been farming 1913. The Milk Hut is set up so the public can come and buy our delicious Farm Fresh Milk through a vending machine run by William and Alison Chestnutt. |
| Tuesday, 7 April 2026 | Siobhan Casey | Connect | Commissioner for Older People. The commissioner may examine a case of an older person in relation to a matter. Following her investigation she must produce a report and may make a recommendation. |
| Tuesday, 5 May 2026 | AGM | Connect | Final accounts and Minutes from last AGM. Followed by musical entertainment TBC |
| Tuesday, 2 June 2026 | Annual Outing | TBC | None at this moment. |
Activities
| Activity | Day | Time | Venue | Leader | Admins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art For Fun | 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Start Date 14 Jan | 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm | BCRC | Margaret | Ted and Mabel |
| Have you an artistic eye? Margaret a specialist Artist who can inspire you to use your skills to produce pictures, etc. | |||||
| Boccia | Tuesday or Thursday tbc Start in Feb | 12 NOON TO 1 PM | Connect | Noleen and Marie | None |
| Boccia is like bowls, but played indoors on a court similar in size to a badminton court. Players are positioned at one end in “throwing boxes” and can throw the jack anywhere on court over the ‘V’ line. The balls are made of leather and are filled with plastic granules so they do not bounce and are easy to grip. The aim is to get the ball closer to the white target ball, the 'jack', than your opponent. Once all balls have been played, points are awarded. | |||||
| Bridge | Monday weekly | 2.30 pm - 4.30 pm | BCRC | Kathleen/Paul | None |
| Bridge is a mindsport and a great game, a social pastime enjoyed by millions of people around the world. It is played with four people around a table, North and South are partners as is East and West. The cards are dealt to each person, the purpose is for each couple to outdo the others by gaining more points. | |||||
| Chair Yoga | Mondays weekly Start date: 12 January | 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm | British Legion | Shauna | Clare |
| Chair yoga is a modified form of yoga that involves practising poses and breathing exercises. It is a gentle and effective fitness option and can help to reduce stress, improve posture, whatever is your goal. Shauna is happy to adapt to suit the group. | |||||
| Coffee Catch-up Tbc | Last Friday/month Jan 30 Lodge Hotel | 10.00 am -12.00 pm | Various | Carmen | None |
| Going out for coffee to enjoy socialising and catching up with U3a friends over a cuppa. | |||||
| Crafts | 3rd Tuesday each month | 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm | Connect | Sally | Flo |
| Meet together to use your artistic skills to produce many things such as, decoupage, decorating lampshades, flower pots, Christmas paraphernalia and more. A good opportunity to enjoy socialising with like minded people. | |||||
| Creative Writing | 3rd Tuesday | 12.30 pm - 2.00 pm | Connect | Anne | None |
| Members meet to share stories be they fiction, memoirs or autobiography in a supportive and friendly environment. The most important aspects of the group are the enjoyment of writing different themes and topics. | |||||
| Dancercise | Thursday 2nd/4th Start date: 15 Jan | 12 noon to 1:00 pm | British Legion | Anne | Sandra |
| Dancing to music - done as an exercise to increase physical fitness. It is a fun way to improve fitness, coordination an even mental sharpness. | |||||
| Dander Football | Mondays weekly Start date 12 Jan | 10 am to 11 am | Joey Dunlop Centre | Sean | None |
| If you have played football, in the past, or followed your favourite team, why not have a go at Dander Football. A slower pace, but the competitive edge may still be there. | |||||
| Dander Walking | 3rd Thurs Riverview Park. Start 15 Jan | 10 am | Various | Karen and Tony | None |
| Improve your health and make new friends while taking part in short walks. Regular walking can reduce BP, give you more energy and help reduced stress. Dander Walking Group is a social group with a focus on mental health and well-being. The Dander is at a relaxed pace allowing participants to chat and connect with one another. Followed by a coffee stop! | |||||
| Family History | 3rd Tuesday each month | 10.30 am - 12.0 pm | Connect | John F | Alision |
| Researching family records of relationships among family members. Visiting PRONI and other places of historical interest. Studying the local history in the Ballymoney area. It incorporates cultural and social aspects of history. | |||||
| Gardening | 3rd Thursday each month | Starting at 2.00 pm | BC-HUB | Frances/Kathleen | None |
| Visits to various gardens - Downhill, Benvarden, Gaults,. The highlight was Mount Stewart and then recently Spring Hill. We also have demonstrations of taking cuttings, pruning roses, planting seeds and tasting edible weeds. | |||||
| Golf | Every Thursday | 10.00 am | Various | Donal | None |
| Golf is a game played on a large open air course in which a small ball is struck with a club into a series of small holes. A very popular sport meeting at different venues mainly Benone. The group go on a break twice a year to Donegal to practice their skills. | |||||
| Information Technology | Wednesday | 11:00 - 12:00 | BCRC | Michael | |
| The following courses are available: Staying safe online; Apple Ipad and Iphone; How to use e-mail effectively. Courses require a min of 8 people to run. If members have other requirements for technology training please let the activity coordinator know, | |||||
| Line Dancing | Wednesday Weekly. Start Date 14 Jan | 12:45 pm - 1.45 pm | St Patrick's Hall | Margaret | Sarah and Fern |
| A group of people perform a series of steps in lines, and in step with music. No partners required. This a great way of getting some exercise without realising it. The upbeat music lifts the spirits, and whether in step or not, it doesn't matter - we just carry on! | |||||
| Out To Lunch | 3rd Friday each month | 12.30 pm for 1.00 pm. | Various | Eileen | None |
| A very popular event when members are invited to go out for lunch to different venues each month. A great opportunity to spend lunch time socialising, chatting and experiencing the cuisine at different hotels. | |||||
| Playalong / Singalong | 1st and 3rd Monday | 2.30 pm - 3.30 pm | Various | Mervyn Dunlop | None |
| Mervyn and friends are offering sessions to anyone who plays a musical instrument, or sings. No qualifications or experience needed. JUST FOR FUN! | |||||
| Reading Group | 2nd Tuesday each month | 10.30 am - 12.00 pm | Connect | Margaret | Karen |
| Get together to read prescribed books followed by discussions at the next meeting. There are two kinds of people in this world - those who think it could never happen to them and those who know it will…….. a quotation from one of the books read. | |||||
| Storytelling | Monday (as advised) | 11 am | BC-HUB | Mary McCusker | None |
| Storytelling is the act of telling or writing stories, which are narratives that typically have a beginning, middle, and end. It is a universal human experience that transcends cultures and has been practiced since ancient times. The earliest forms of storytelling can be traced back to cave drawings and oral traditions, which served to convey experiences, morals, and cultural values. | |||||
| Tai Chi | Mondays weekly | 11.30 am to 12.30 pm | Holmes Memorial Hall | Chang Hai | Sarah and Don |
| Changhai is highly respected instructor in the world of Tai Chi - he is an 8th Dan. This Chinese marital art combines flowing movements, meditation and deep breathing. Health benefits include improved balance, mobility and coordination. | |||||
| Walking Rugby | 2nd and 4th Wednesday Start 14 Jan | 10.00 am - 11.00 am | St Patrick's Hall | Uel | Heaney |
| Walking rugby is a non-contact, slower-paced version of Rugby Union, designed to be inclusive and accessible to people of all ages. Players must walk while carrying the ball, and a two-handed touch to the upper torso, (replaces tackling) in other words having fun. | |||||
Locations
| Venue | Address |
|---|---|
| BC-HUB | Ballymoney Community Hub, Robinson Hospital Site |
| BCRC | Ballymoney Community Resource Centre, Acom Business Centre, 2 Riada Ave, Ballymoney BT53 7LH |
| British Legion | 11 Townhead Street, Ballymoney BT53 6BE |
| British Legion | 11 Townhead Street, Ballymoney BT53 6BE |
| Connect | 2 -10 Model School Road, Ballymoney BT53 6BH |
| Holmes Memorial Hall | 75 Charlotte Street Ballymoney BT53 6AZ |
| Joey Dunlop Centre | 33 Garryduff Rd, Ballymoney BT53 7DB |
| NICO | Unit 9A , Ballybrakes Business Park, Ballybrakes Road, Ballymoney BT53 6LW · |
| St Patrick's Hall | 4a Queen Street, Ballymoney. BT53 6JA |
| St Patricks Church H | Victoria Street, Ballymoney BT53 6DW |
| Various | As advised by Activity Leader |
Activity costs are calculated on the number of participants and venue costs. In some cases there is no cost for the activity for example gardening. When a specialist tutor is invited to provide an activity this may incur an additional cost.
To discuss any activity or for any queries please contact the Activities Coordinator who will be happy to help you to choose the right activity. Some events such as computer courses may be repeated during the year.
Link with Glens and Dalriada u3a and Causeway u3a
You can also join activities in Glens & Dalriada by contacting Mark Gavin by email at: marku3a@yahoo.com and activities at Causeway u3a- see their website at: causewayu3a.org