Watch: our retired members association conference video.

Nerney’s Court was heaving last week as retired members, long-time activists, and union stalwarts gathered for the milestone occasion of the first-ever conference of the Retired Members Association (RMA). From the moment people arrived, the buzz of conversation and shared memories filled the air. 

RMA Chair Martin Bridgeman welcomed all those in attendance by underlining all of the work put in over the past year to grow the retired membership of the union.  He said: “This day-long event marks a widespread recognition in the union that retirement doesn’t mean stepping away from solidarity. Instead, it’s an opportunity to keep contributing to the movement, to stay informed, and to build new connections rooted in decades of shared experience.” 

RMA Chair, Martin Bridgeman addressing conference.

The day reflected that mix of information and inspiration. Between formal sessions and coffee breaks, stories flowed easily among people who had spent years - even decades - in the public service and in their union branches.

“Just because you’re retiring doesn’t mean your brain is dead!  You are used to an active life” was how Catherine Quirke, chair of the Munster SNA Branch bluntly put it. She had come along because many of her members are reaching a point in their careers where the big question - “what’s next?” loomed large. 

“A lot of members in our branch are enquiring about retirement, so I want to have the right answers for them. The atmosphere here is absolutely fantastic. It's friendly, it's warm, it's open, and it's so informative. It's absolutely a huge success.” 

Members enjoying the atmosphere.

“You've been getting up every morning, going out to work - suddenly for all this to stop isn’t good for anybody, and a lot of people don't want it. I think there are a lot of valuable members that could go on to be great activists in the retirement group.” 

“Today is our first Retired Members Association conference and the first of many, we hope,” beamed Fórsa’s retired members officer Claudia Jennings, as she scanned the full room. 

“There's a lot of interaction with exhibitors outside and a great response from the audience to the speakers that we had on site today. They've been covering everything from life coaching, talks about pensions, and the implications of the recent Budget on retired members. And we've had people from the union itself speaking about the retired members project and how it has gotten from its inception to where we are today.” 

Retired members officer Claudia Jennings addressing a packed room.

“We've had members who've been working in the same place for years and years, and they become a type of family and a support to one another,” Claudia continued. “There are financial incentives as well as the social aspect, the networking, and the continued feeling of belonging to an organisation.” 

That sense of belonging is at the heart of the new Retired Members Association, which aims not only to offer practical supports - like guidance on pensions, rights, and welfare entitlements -  but also to build a thriving, active network of retired Fórsa members across Ireland. 

Members sharing a drink.

For many, the event was as much about rekindling old friendships as it was about looking to the future. Rosemary Bracken, a former chair of the Dublin North Health & Welfare Branch, was among those delighted to reconnect. 

“It's a great networking platform to meet up with people that you worked with through the years. It's always good to be a member of organisations when you retire. It keeps your focus, and you're learning all the time - learning about your rights and your benefits. It's just a fantastic community.” 

A fun time had by all.

Sessions ranged from talks on wellbeing to updates on pension reform, and one highlight for many was a presentation from a GP on health in later life.  

Fórsa’s director of membership, Seán McElhinney, paid tribute to the growing enthusiasm among retired members and the hard work of the union’s membership team. 

“In the last 12 months, we've processed almost 1,000 transitions to retired membership - more than ever retired Fórsa members are opting to remain in membership after retirement.” 

He urged members to see the union not just as a vehicle chasing the bread-and-butter issues, but as a force for real change in society. “We're having a positive impact on communities across the whole of the state. We want to make Ireland a better place for ourselves, for our families, for our neighbours, and our communities. Fórsa is a vehicle for progressive change in our society.” 

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