Too busy working to plan your retirement? Here’s an option that might suit. Head away for a weekend to Hotel Westport in Co. Mayo. Treat yourself to a two-night stay and the chance to learn about and plan for your retirement. Hotel Westport is a family owned 4 Star Hotel perfectly positioned within the extensive grounds of Westport House in the heart of Westport Town.
Retirement Planning weekends are open to couples and individuals looking to consider the changes that retirement can bring along with a clear plan for the next stage of living. Derek Bell, COO with the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPCI) explains, ‘the idea behind this was because I was thinking about self-employed people and professionals. If I was in that category would I give up work for two days to come and do a retirement course? Probably not. Would I go away with my partner for a weekend to Westport? Probably’.
The RPCI have booked three weekends in January, April and November 2019 at Hotel Westport. ‘Big plus for the January weekend is that there is no single supplement’, adds Derek.
The weekend course is somewhat shorter than the normal planning for retirement course – but it will still cover the essentials. Programme leader Joe McDermott outlines what is planned for the weekend, ‘There will be a meet and greet on Friday night from 8.30 to 9.30pm when I outline the topics we are going to deal with. We will meet again on Saturday morning from 11.00am to 2.30pm and at dinner on Saturday evening at 7.30pm. On Sunday morning from 10.30am to 1.00pm’. Joe plans for about 24 participants in total.
Sessions will include changes in retirement (identity, routine, relationships); healthy living (diet, exercise, mental health); legal (wills and power of attorney); social welfare entitlements including pension rights and contributory pensions. Dietitian Aisling Snedker will come in and talk about health specifically diet and exercise.
Both Joe and Aisling have worked with the RPCI since 2008. Joe, a former teacher for 30 years, is now involved in mental and physical health and fitness for the over sixties. Aisling holds a BSc Hons in Home Economics, PGDip Nutrition and Dietetics, PGCert in Sport and Exercise nutrition and FAETC. She has been qualified as a clinical dietitian for 20 years.
On Saturday afternoon, everyone is free to avail of the leisure facilities in the hotel including the Ocean Spirit Leisure and Senses Spa. Alternatively, you can head into picturesque Westport. The recent purchase of Westport House by Hotel Westport means there are plenty of options for walks and strolls on the 400-acre estate. A 25% discount on entrance to the House is also included in the package.
On Saturday evening, after dinner in the hotel there will follow a short talk and film about retirement – this will be very light in tone. The practical session begins again the next morning, Sunday, before lunch and then home. Joe sees the Sunday morning session as about planning. ‘We will sit down individually & collectively and start putting some ideas on paper. We will set small tasks within the next period that will help with retirement plans. We want people to go home with some answers and some things to work on’.
Afterwards, those who attended the weekend course can still access the services of the RPCI who are happy to follow up with a phone call or a chat.
Eithne Cosgrove from Hotel Westport explains why they have become involved, ‘Those attending our retirement planning weekends will receive practical advice, address lifestyle changes, discuss financial implications of retirement and much more whilst also enjoying quality food, relaxation and good company from like-minded individuals planning for retirement. We are delighted to be the first Hotel in Ireland to offer Retirement Planning Weekends’.
Derek advises that this complete package can be booked directly with Hotel Westport. ‘The other thing that we were offering at the RPCI this year is gift tokens. People might want to buy a gift token for the weekend or for a course which is an ideal Christmas gift for a family member’.
Dates:
January 25 and 26 / €279pp * No single supplement
April 5 and 6 / €299pps / €399 single occupancy
November 15 and 16 / €279pps * No single supplement
Bookings are now open at Hotel Westport / 098 25122 / hotelwestport.ie
Established in 1974, the RPCI is a Registered Charity, a not for profit organisation, wholly independent of all financial institutions and with a voluntary board of directors. RPCI is based at 14/15 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2 Ph: 01 478 9471 / www.rpc.ie Courses are held in Dublin and around the country on a very regular basis. Please check the website for more details.
Maretta Dillon
