GALWAY LIONS CLUB

District 105 I (British Isles and Ireland)

e mail galwaylionsclub@eircom.net

Meetings in Ardilaun House Hotel, Taylor's Hill, Galway, Republic of Ireland,

on 2nd Monday @ 20.30 hrs

Formed in 1972 Galway Lions Club located on the West Coast of Ireland is part of the largest service organisation in the world. Lions Clubs International began in 1917 and is now represented in 185 countries. There are forty four thousand Lions Clubs throughout the world. Helen Keller charged Lions in 1925 to become her ``Knights for the Blind''. Lions Clubs have built Eye Hospitals in the Third World and millions of people have had their eyesight restored by cataract surgical procedures. Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) helps Lions clubs to fit out hospitals, clinics, libraries and schools and rebuild communities after natural disasters, floods, tidal waves, earthquakes etc.

Galway Lions Club with 60 members is closely involved with and dependent on the generosity of the people of Galway. Our Motto "We Serve'' is reflected in the many local and international projects undertaken each year by the club. These are some examples:

• Radio Auction: Run in association with our local radio station, club members obtain sponsored items which are subsequently auctioned on air in December, on Lions Day at Galway Bay FM. The proceeds are used to help needy families in our community celebrate Christmas with dignity.
• Christmas Appeal: The club through the generosity of Galway people is able to provide vouchers to needy families.
• Youth Projects: Peace Poster (11-13 yr. olds) Youth Award and Youth Football (15-19 yr. olds)
• Senior Citizens Holidays: Each May the Lions of Ireland (North & South) take over Trabolgan Holiday Centre in County Cork and provide much needed holidays for 900 people. Every year Galway Lions Club brings 50 deserving citizens to join in the fun.

CLUB OFFICERS 2007/2008

President: Lion Tom Joyce

Immediate Past President: Lion Brendan McDermott

Vice President 1: Lion Jim Cahill

Vice President 2: Lion Yvonne Thornton

Secretary: Lion Geraldine Mannion

Treasurer: Lion Ger Hosty

Tail Twister: Lion Noel De Courcey

Lion Tamer: Lion Tom Burke

Directors: Lion Colm Feeney, Lion Deirdre O'Toole, Lion Noel Meehan, Lion Tony Kavanagh

Melvin Jones Fellows

Lion Denis P Griffin

Lion Brendan Guerin

Lion John Hanlon

Lion Tom Hogan

Lion Michael O'Regan

Bert Mason Humanitarian Award Recipient

Lion Seamus Dunne

Past Presidents:

We are proud to announce that at our District 105 I Convention 2007, Galway Lions Club Member Lion Pat Connolly was elected District Governor for 2007/2008. We wish Lion Pat all the best as District Governor. Our sincerest thanks to Celia Connolly for taking this special journey with Pat throughout District 105 I and beyond. DIstrict Governor's Handover celebrations took place at the Ardilaun Hotel in Galway on July 21st, hosted by Galway Lions Club and organised successfully by Lion Frank Kinneen and his committee.

PROJECTS

Lion Des Conway was responsible for running our annual members golf competitions for the Connolly Cup and the Conway Cup on April 18th 2008.

Lion Stephen Daly and his team will be running our successful fundraising Golf Classic on May 15th 2008.

Our major Christmas Cash Collection Project was organised by chairman Lion Tom Burke and his team. We took to the streets, collecting cash for our Christmas Projects on the last two weekends in November.

Lion Dermot Lyons arranged our annual Remembrance Service in November at St Enda's College, when we take time out to remember those Lions and friends who have gone before us.

As part of our ongoing review of the club and it's place in our community, a committee investigated the viability of a Second Lions Club in Galway City. Under the guidance of Lion Michael Murray and his committee, Corrib Lions Club was chartered a few years ago. We wish Lion President and all our colleagues in the Corrib Lions Club every success for the future. Lion Michael Murray is our liason Lion with the new club.

Lion John Hanlon and his formidable committee organised our annual Radio Auction run in association with Keith Finnegan and his team at our local radio station Galway Bay FM on December 7th. Club members obtained sponsored items which were auctioned on air on Lions Day at Galway Bay FM . The auction took place at the Ardialun House Hotel, Taylor's Hill, Galway.The proceeds will be used to help needy families in our community celebrate Christmas with dignity.

Our annual Stuffed Toys Sale fundraiser was organised by Lion Colm Feeney and his team.

Lion Dermot O'Connell and his team arranged for the provision of Christmas Vouchers to many deserving families in our community.

Lion Theresa Morgan co-ordinated the support of some of the students in GMIT, one of our city's third level colleges. The students ran fundraisers and helped with our Christmas Projects.

Lion Yvonne Thornton and her committee undertook our Christmas Toys for the special children of St Joseph's School and the residents of the John Paul Centre, with a special visit from Santa Clause helper Lion Noel DeCourcey.

Our Peace Poster Competition was undertaken by local school children organised by Lion Kieran Burke.

The annual holiday for the needy in Trabolgan Holiday Centre in County Cork is being organised by Lion Dierdre O'Toole and her team. The holiday for 50 plus deserving people takes place June 13th to 20th 2008.

Youth Liaison is managed by Lion Padraic Bree and his committee.

Our Breakfast Morning, a fully sponsored "Full Irish" for our supporters and the people of Galway, was put together by Lion Padraic Bree and his committee in The Ardilaun House Hotel, Taylor's Hill, Galway in October.

Lion Pat Dennigan determines ways to tap into the business resources in our community for potential members and project support through our Industrial Linkages Programme.

Lion Pat Dempsey is our liason lion with National University of Ireland Galway.

Lion Noel Meehan will make us all healthy by arranging a sponsored 10 kilometer Salthill Promenade Walk on May 18th 2008.

Lion Brendan McDermott and team will scheme up a special event for 300 + Active Retirement members at our local Town Hall Theatre on May 26th 2008.

Lion President Tom Joyce chairs the critical Membership Committee.

MJF Lion John Hanlon continues to produce our club newsletter and bulletin with images supplied by our in house photographer MJF Lion Dan Griffin. Congratulations to John and Dan on winning the district bulletin (Comps Stick) competition at our 2008 District 105I convention.

Lion Sean Mannion and his team organise regularly visits to the elderley in need of companionship.

Lion Tony Roylston and committee look after the club's suicide awareness programme. The club members like everybody else, are appaled at the number of suicides occuring in our communities, particularly amongst the young. We feel it incumbant as an organisation whose motto is "We Serve" to do something about the suffering felt by the victims and their families and friends.

Lion John Ryan continues to undertake a number of successful Club Social Events.

Lion Tom O'Connor and team are seeking out some enviornmental initiatives, and have placed club sponsored public seating in loactions around the city.

Lion Pat Dempsey and committe are looking at ways we can promote alcohol awareness.

Lion Frank Kinneen and committee are charged with arranging a movie premier fundraiser.

Lion Jim Kent organised a CPR awareness event.

MJF Michael O'Regan is our Safety and Insurance Officer.

Lion Tony Kavanagh is our Public Relations Officer.

Lion Conor O'Dwyer maintains the club web site.

We acknowledge the generosity of the people of Galway, and we can only continue to serve with this ongoing support.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR VARIOUS FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES.

If you are interested in visiting other Lions Clubs Sites try: -

LIONNET

LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL

Lions District 105-I - Lions Clubs of Ireland

U.K. & IRISH CLUBS

Site last updated on 10th May 2008