11-12pm workshop with Brenda Flannery; Beo & Be – Mindfulness and Nature Movements –  Qi Gong

Class aims to nourish mental health & wellbeing in the individual and community. It is a calming space of mindfulness & movement, helping to strengthen & nurture our connection to nature’s rhythms.

3pm – 4pm Tai Chi with Niall O’ Floinn

Niall will be describing in depth the way Tai Chi works and the many health benefits that can be achieved through the practice of Tai Chi. He will also give a brief demonstration at the end of his talk.

Niall O Floinn began his study of Tai Chi over 20 years ago and over 17 years ago he opened the Galway Tai Chi Academy .In 2013 Niall lead the first ever Irish team to compete in the Tai Chi World Championships in China. Under the guidance and coaching of Niall, the Irish team returned with 6 medals.

Niall himself is one of the most senior students of the coach of the most national champions of China, Grandmaster Wang Hai Jun. However, there is a lot more to Tai Chi than competition or the martial art aspect. In fact, the majority of people practice Tai Chi for its health benefits alone.

3pm – 4pm Design you own Takeaway Ceramic Mug with Phillipa Maguire

Have you ever considered the impact our disposable society has on the planet? Join artists Maria Hutton, Philippa Maguire and Rachel Maguire and you will decorate your own sustainable mug with special ceramic pencils on a bisque fired mug. These will then be taken away, glazed and fired for you…and you get your mug back!

The workshop is open to all but under 16’s must be accompanied. Be prepared to doodle, write or draw ! We hope that when you get your mug back, you will use it and start the changes that we need to make.

facebook https://www.facebook.com/maguiresmugs/?fref=ts

6.30pm Croi Na Gaillimhe: Deep Ecology – The Spiritual Roots of our Ecological Crisis, An evening talk with Dara Molloy
What the talk will be about: Human behaviour is ultimately caused by the way human beings think. At the outer layers of our thought patterns is our mythological framework. This mythological framework is our belief system. Over 50% of the world’s population is now monotheist. Virtually all monotheistic religions are rooted in the Judaic god of Moses. This globalisation of the God of Moses has destroyed spiritual diversity and created one single monocle through which all life is seen.
Dara Molloy is also known as Dara Ó Maoildhia.
He lives on Inis Mór, Aran Islands. In his earlier years, he was a Roman Catholic priest in the Society of Mary (Marists). In 1985, he settled on Inis Mór as a hermit Celtic monk. In 1995, he left the Catholic church and began practicing as a Celtic priest, monk and druid.  His work today includes performing Celtic ceremonies, acting as a pilgrim guide on Inis Mor, and writing. His books include: The Globalisation of God – Celtic Christianity’s Nemesis and soon to be published: The Problem With God.

9pm to 11pm ‘The Loft’ (upstairs from ‘Seven’ on Bridge Street, Galway City) Sustainability Stories

As part of Convergence Sustainable Living Festival 2016 Transition Galway is running what is called a PechaKucha which will be followed by an interview with writer and activist Mark Boyle.

PechaKucha is an exciting presentation format where guest speakers show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically and the speakers talk along to the images – this keeps presentations concise, fast-paced and fun.

The title for this PechaKucha is ‘Sustainability Stories’ and will feature a wide range of local environmental activists, NGOs and groups who are all working to make Galway a more resilient and sustainable place.

The PechaKucha presentations will be followed by an on-stage interview with writer and activist Mark Boyle. Mark is the author of ‘Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living’, ‘The Moneyless Manifesto’ and ‘Drinking Molotov Cocktails with Gandhi’. He also writes intermittently for various international newspapers and magazines, such as ‘The Guardian’ and ‘Permaculture Magazine’.

This free event takes place on Wednesday 26th October starting at 9pm and finishing about 11pm in ‘The Loft’ (upstairs from ‘Seven’ on Bridge Street, Galway City). All welcome!