Shimna

Welcome

U3A (the University of the Third Age) is an organisation for people no longer in full time employment, providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendly environment.

Shimna U3A is based in Newcastle, County Down, at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. The group was formed on 23rd February 2011 with 24 members. We now have over 150 members with new members joining each month.

Shimna U3A meets at 2.30pm on the third Tuesday of each month in YMCA Glenada Conference Centre. We have a different guest speaker each month presenting a wide range of topics. Recent talks have included advice on making a will, Mourne Fisheries, the local railway network, RNLI Newcastle and authors Jan Fox and Shauna Lawless. Summaries of recent talks are on the Events page.
The monthly meeting also gives you a chance to meet new members and find out about our other activities. For details of forthcoming speakers see the events page.

As well the monthly meetings we also have interest groups which meet on a weekly or occasional basis. These include walking, travel and bridge groups. For details of all group activities see the groups page.

We have an active theatre group and regularly attend performances in Belfast. Recently we have been to see A Streetcar named Desire, Girl on a Train, Shirley Valentine, Kiss Me Kate, Romeo and Juliet, Agreement and Little Women.

Day trips have included visits to Armagh, Clifton House, the Seamus Heaney Centre, Lough Crew Megalithic Centre and Whitehead Railway Museum. We have also visited local gardens and had several boat trips from the harbour. Outings have included St Anne's Cathedral, Mourne Grange and Stormont. Our recent visits have included Crumlin Road Gaol and Birr Castle, Co Offaly. Forthcoming trips are listed on the outings page

We also have occasional workshops. In the past we have run workshops on Italian, Spanish, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage and Dance. More recently we have had workshops on Philippines cookery and how to create a Photo Book.

Information on all our activities is available on the events page.

If you wish to join Shimna U3A, details are available on the membership page or you can use the contact page to request further information.

You are very welcome to attend our next monthly meeting on the third Tuesday of the month.
We look forward to meeting you.