Notices to Members, Youth Events

Junior Yearly Meeting 9th-13th of April 2012 in Ovoca Manor, County Wicklow.

Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) of The Religious Society of Friends in Ireland will be heald this year from Monday 9th to Friday 13th April 2012 in Ovoca Manor, County Wicklow.

Junior Yearly Meeting is a gathering for young friends and other young people from throughout the island of Ireland who are interested in Quakerism.  Please login to the members section for more details on cost, programme and application form.

We meet at Easter every year for 5 days and 4 nights, and spend time talking about issues important to young people, about Quakerism and about Christianity.  We aim to provide a caring community for young people to allow them build friendships which they will carry with them throughout the year.  Other main activities may include:  a sportsnight, X Factor and talent contest!

What should I bring?

  •  Sleeping bag and pillow case
  • Small amount of spending money (tuck shop on site)
  • Bible
  • Pens
  • Notebook
  • Book for quiet time
  • Enough clothes! Including some old clothes
  • Trainers
  • Small presents for your secret friend
  • Musical instruments

What will I do at JYM?

We start every day with a meeting for worship lasting ½ an hour.  Each full day we will have 2 sessions, lasting about 1 ½ hours, about our theme for the day The sessions are run by young people, for young people, so you’ll be discussing, acting, playing games, and listening to our speakers.  Every day there is a fun evening activity – a ceilidh, a decathlon, a games session.  There’s also plenty of time to spend time with friends and meet new ones.

What will it cost?

We try to keep costs to a minimum, and aim to break even.  The costs will be £110 or €125, payable on arrival.

Any other questions?  If you have any other questions, please feel free to email the organisers at: Siobhan.haire@teachfirst.org.uk

What is a secret friend?  On your arrival at JYM you will be assigned the name of another JYMer as your “secret friend”. We encourage you to be extra nice and friendly towards this person by anonymously sending little presents or through little acts of kindness.

What is a base group?  Everyone will be assigned to a Base Group, which will be your family for the week.  Throughout the week you will meet with your base group to discuss the sessions, play games, prepare for the final evening concert and just have fun.

Basic Rules of JYM

  • No alcohol
  • No drugs
  • No members of the opposite sex in dorms.

When you sign the application forms, you are agreeing to obey these rules.  Any infringements of the rules may lead to participants being sent home.

Looking forward to seeing you at JYM!

Siobhan Haire, Gavin Poole and Jonathan Hainsworth – JYM organisers 2012.

Arriving by Car

Directions from the North – via Redcross – From Dublin, take the N11 or M50 South – both roads merge. This road will eventually become single carriageway. You will then pass the Beehive pub on your left.  About 3km past the end of the dual carriageway there is a pub on your right called The Tap.   About 300m after this there is a right turn clearly signposted (R754) for Redcross – beside Lil Doyle’s pub which is also on the right. Turn right and follow this road to the village of Redcross.  At the centre of the village take a right turn clearly signposted for Ovoca.   This is a narrow twisty road; keep on this road ignoring all junctions until you arrive into Avoca village.  Fitzgerald’s pub is in the centre of the village on your left.  Take a right turn directly opposite this pub.

This turn will take you over a bridge to a T-Junction. At this T-Junction take a left turn (marked Arklow/Woodenbridge R752).  You will find Ovoca Manor approximately 2/3 of the way along this road on your right.  The entrance is noticable by 2 large stone-capped pillars displaying the name of the Manor.   The centre itself is not visible from the road. Densmore is located on the right near the top of the drive.  The Manor itself is at the top of the drive.

Directions from the South – Come on the dual carriageway Arklow by-pass. DO NOT take the first exit sign for Vale of Ovoca etc.  Cross the river Avon and take the next exit (signposted Arklow R772).  Follow the Arklow signs which takes you over the dual carriageway you have just left to another roundabout.  At this roundabout take the exit for Arklow (R772)

Travel approximately 1km, as you begin to head downhill, look out for a garage named “Sean Behans”. At this garage there is a sharp right turn which you must take. It is signposted on the right hand side of the road for Avoca.  When you arrive in Avoca, Fitzgerald’s pub is in the centre of the village on the right; take a left turn directly opposite this pub.  This turn will take you over a bridge to a T-Junction. At this T-Junction take a left turn (marked Arklow/Woodenbridge R752). You will find Ovoca Manor approximately 2/3 of the way along this road on your right. The entrance is noticable by 2 large stone-capped pillars displaying the name of the Manor.  The centre itself is not visible from the road. Densmore is located on the right near the top of the drive.

 

 Arriving by train?

We will meet late afternoon trains at both Connolly and Heuston on Monday 9th, and drop JYMers to the same stations on Friday 13th. To find out exactly when we will be making pick-ups, please give us an email address, as train timetables for Easter are not yet available.  Alternatively, for JYMers whose parents are attending Yearly Meeting, we will also do a drop-off at Yearly Meeting on Friday morning(13th).  Please indicate on your registration form how you are planning to travel.