Ian in younger years love Deirdre Power (nee McGann)
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- SHARON COYNE
The Galway Tribe
Ian lovely memories of your summer holidays spent with us in Attymon – also remember when I stayed with you and Aunty Maureen and taking you to the park across the road lots of love your cousin Deirdre Power (nee McGann) XX
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- Sharon Coyne
Dream Team – Chatel summers
Hi Ian,
It’s Steph Bream here š . I am not great with words. But one of the best memories I have is spending the summer in Chatel and Saas Fee as part of your family. Kirsty, Tam and I where like sisters that summer. I loved being away with you guys. Remember I bought a catsuit that was far too big!! It took me years to grow into it. Willie TB teased me that it was more appropriate for ski jumping!
I have such happy memories of walk up the mountains to see dinosaur foot prints. To this day I believe that experience was the first step towards my geology career!!
You where always lovely to me. Yourself and Jane always made me feel part of the family. I also remember that no one was faster than you in deep fresh powder. You’re tight wiggle S turns always tore up the mountain!
Sending my love and hugs!
Steph Bream
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- Stephanie Bream
BASI & SCGB
Ian, do you remember my BASI 3 (as it was then) training up on Cairngorm, early May 1988 (I think). I was the oldest even then in the group and definitely not up to standard. Stuart Adamson had encouraged me to do it though. Tons of snow, we even skied powder. Best. Instructor. Ever.
What I loved about your teaching style was the quiet manner and lovely soft Irish accent. It suited me as an introvert. I disliked being yelled at! Back then people may not have pegged me as introverted because I drank so much wine. After 24 years sober I am risking a glass or two of wine with dinner and the occasional beer in my old ageā¦
When you and Jane started McGarry THE Ski System in Chatel I came with John Stephens (aka āThe Profā) in order to write a story about your chalet-based instruction ski hols for Ski Survey at The Ski Club of Great Britain. What a delightful place Chalet Chataigne was with your two little girls (so cute) and an assistant instructorā¦I think it was that lovely boy who had cystic fibrosis. Then there was Derek Tate of course ā¦ Tamsen looked like Jane and Kirsty the image of you.
I remember too many dinners out on chalet girlsā night off as well as weekly trips to the hot springs (somewhere near Morgins) and skiing with the inventor of Piste Poles.
I still have a copy of my Skilegs pre-ski conditioning book that Jane illustrated so nicely.
Not sure of the order of events but probably 1990 back in Cairngorm I was there failing BASI 3 with Richard Harrison (second time was luckier) and I roomed with Jane who was doing BASI 1. I think we were a great support for each other. She had this thing to buoy her up in the mornings. She absolutely HAD to play The Bangles Eternal Flame (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSoOFn3wQV4) every day. Bless her!!
After that first āpress tripā to Chatel you guys were kind enough to invite me and John on an annual basis. I would suggest inviting other folks I could write about and you promote as a special extra to the guests: Extreme Skiing with Pierre Tardivel was one and applied kinesiology and boot fitting with Matthew Bennett, my chiropractor from Brighton.
Did you know that I used to call you Ian McGuruā¦for obvious reasons?
All my old photo albums are buried (lost?) deep in one of our storage garages but I have asked my current husband, Rolf, to look for them and I will add them to your website.
In the meantime here are some old ones I found and scanned ā¦
I really hope to get over and see you in Dalkey sometime soon. Jane is always reiterating her invitation!
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- Tessa Coker
Iāve skied in Aviemore
Anyone who is anyone in ski teaching in the old days knew that ISIA was short for āIāve Skied In Aviemoreā not the ā International Ski instructors Association.ā At the end of every winter BASI Instructors from around the world would congregate on Coire Cas for the final two weeks of skiing of the season for the Spring BASI course. In those days Scotland enjoyed long ski seasons and this training took place during the last week of April and first week in May . In the 1970ās and 80ās there was always good snow, amazing moguls and lots of good craic in the Aviemore pubs.
It was here where I met you Ian. I look back with fond memories of those wonderful Spring courses. I hope Ian you may remember some of the old characters . Happy times , thank you
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- Bob Kinnaird
Scouts in Donnybrook
Hi Ian, hope you remember me from the scouts in Donnybrook, we were in the pipe band together, you played the side drum and I played the tenor and base drum and took over as staff major from John OāConnor, we did church parade and marched around to Donnybrook church holding up traffic, which wouldnāt have been too bad in those days, and of course there were hikes and camps at Larch Hill ( my nephew is estate manager up there nowadays), we also did scouts shows together and I got to sing solo because I used to sing in the Church choir at Haddington Rd, which is gone now, bob-a-job and carol singing for fundraising. There were lots of our members went on to greater things yourself included, i went into athletics via the scouts sports and became multiple champion and international and of course Muiris McGonigle who you would go on to work with in RTE. hope you get well soon. All my brothers were in the cubs or scouts as well and my mother used to help out.
Tony Murphy
- Tony Murphy
RoRo
It was always good news to hear that Ian would be directing Fair City on our Thursday schedule, not only because he was such a gent to work with , but it usually meant we would get our work finished in time to get out to Dunlaoire for DBSC racing !
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- Ronan Lee
