Dear Miriam,

Oh, low and behold Miriam, I read your letters regularly and some of them are outstanding. It will just tell you what people are going through around the country.

I go to mass and pray, as it gives a great sense of hope and I have something to turn to.

Like the lady who wrote a brilliant letter a few weeks ago about her will, I am no different. My will is going to be in the solicitor’s office and will not be touched until I am 10 ft down in the cemetery. What a brilliant letter that lady wrote.

Could you enquire if there are any groups I could join around Macroom, Co Cork, as I am a regular visitor there? Just to meet people and have breakfast in the nice hotel there, go for a short walk, go to a few concerts, that kind of thing: the company and the friendship.

That said, though, I would like to meet a single lady in her 50s from the mid-Cork region for the things mentioned above. Life is too short Miriam, so let’s try and find some bit of happiness.

So that’s me. I love my own company, but not all day and all night, all year long. It would be nice to be meeting these groups at the weekend.

Tipperary Reader

Dear Tipperary Reader,

Thank you very much for your letter. To be honest, I am not an expert on Macroom, despite having passed through the town on many occasions, but a quick search on Google turned up plenty of opportunities for getting out and about in the Lee Valley area, with everything from music and local history societies to a men’s shed, hill-walking clubs, etc.

If you are looking for a very general group to get you started, there is an active retirement club in Macroom that offers a range of activities. To find out more, contact Active Retirement Ireland on their central number on (01) 873 3836 and they should be able to fill you in.

You also mention an interest in walking. Every Saturday at 9.30am, there is a 5km community run/walk in the Castle Demesne in Macroom as part of the “ParkRun” movement that has taken over Ireland and the UK. Of course, while many people do race the course, others walk or jog at entirely their own pace, so it is inclusive.

It is volunteer-run, which creates a great sense of community, and often the ParkRun members will go for a cup of tea or coffee afterwards, so it is very sociable too. With all the buzz surrounding Operation Transformation at the moment, I would say that it is a great time to check it out. Why not go along one morning just to watch and maybe chat to one of the volunteers about what is involved, or if you (or somebody you know) is handy with the computer, you can check out www.parkrun.ie/castledemense for details of how to join, etc.

Alternatively, the Lee Valley Walking Group caters for all levels from beginner to advanced, with walks ranging from 5km to 20km and taking place mid-week and weekends. Annual membership is €50 and then €10 thereafter per walk. To find out more, you can visit www.leevalleywalking.com or call 087 223 1225.

Of course, you can’t beat local information either, so why not call in to the hotel you mention and ask if they can recommend any groups that might use their facilities for meet-ups etc. The local library or the parish centre would also be good places to get similar information. And if any reader from the region would like to write in to me with some suggestions, that would be great too.

You do mention towards the end of your letter that you would like to meet somebody special. To be honest, the recommendations above are aimed at just getting out and about meeting new people, rather than actively seeking a partner. However, I do believe that the wider your world, the more likely you are to meet like-minded souls; and who knows where that could lead?

I hope I have given you some food for thought. I wish you a happy and healthy 2017 full of friendship and fun.