About Us
East Antrim U3A has its own premises at 12 Nelson Street, Carrickfergus, which consist of a substantial hall and another smaller hall for meetings, office, kitchen and toilet facilities. There is wheelchair access as required. Group meetings are now being held there unless otherwise stated on the monthly activity programme. Our new telephone number is 028 9336 1110, so if you are interested in joining or have any query you can give us a ring. Generally there will be someone present in the office to answer your call. Alternately you will be welcome as a visitor at our next general meeting (see above), and you can join then if you wish. Our new address for all correspondence is 12 Nelson St, Carrickfergus BT38 8AR.
Our monthly general meetings are held externally at Joymount Hall, by Carrickfergus Library on the 3rd Monday monthly, 2.00-4.00pm
Our opening day in September 2017 was a great success. Here are some of the photos taken on the day by Anita Yeung, Harry Bates & Jim Bodles.
Our Ethos
U3A is short for University of the Third Age, in which the term University is used in the broadest sense meaning the University of Life. The U3A approach to learning is for fun, not qualifications. There is no formal approach to learning. We have been told it gives people a reason to get up and out on a daily basis and those who were lonely, no longer are because they have found friendship and interest in our groups.
Our History
The first public meeting exploring the possibility of a group in East Antrim, was sponsored by Carrick Rotary and held in the Coast Road hotel in Feb 2010. Several officials from U3A were in attendance to help. The meeting elected the nucleus of a steering committee Many of those attending expressed an interest, providing personal details for follow-up. The next meeting, held in March, with officials from Belfast and North Down U3A in attendance. The steering committee was augmented and decided to arrange an inaugural meeting when an interim U3A branch would be formed.This meeting took place on the 24th May in Carrick Town Hall. Five interest groups were offered:- bridge, gardening, walking, music and theatre and a book club. Some 40 members were enrolled. At the next meeting on June 21st, in Joymount Presbyterian Church hall, another 20 joined which, together with ki applications, brought our total membership to 68. We were officially accepted in September 2010 to become a full Member Group of U3A UK. Here are some of the official opening photos.
How we work:
Local U3As use the knowledge, experience and skills of their own members to organise and provide interest groups in accordance with the wishes of the membership. A general committee exercises a loose overall control, though activity groups are semi-autonomous under their own direction with a convenor leading the way. It is our aim to offer regular socially based activities run largely in daylight hours which works well to fill our days.