2009/10

Next up for the President's chain was Pat Galvin. Siobhan Fahey stayed in the Secretary's role.

The Club had arranged diabetes screening at Dungarvan Show in July, but the show became a victim of the poor Summer weather and was cancelled.

The first hospital visit of the year to St. Carthage's, Lismore celebrated the 100th birthday of one of the residents - very hale and hearty! Tom Byrne was, by now the organiser of all hospital visits.

During the year several members, Paul Clerkin, John Dwane, John Coade and John O'Brien celebrated 25 years of membership of the Club, and were presented with chevrons of recognition by the President.

A new novel event was held in October by way of a Casino Night (non cash!), which raised €1,700 on a good turnout of support.

An Alcohol and Substance seminar was held in the Park Hotel in November, promoted by Dungarvan Lions Club and chaired by Ray McAndrew. This was very well attended and was very informative and helpful to the audience.

The Christmas Appeal, again the biggest fundraiser of the Club's year was an outstanding success, with all members being involved in some way.

Apart from the Appeal, the biggie of the year was a new venture for the Club - the Celebrity Jigs and Reels which was held in March. A lot of preparatory work went into this, whereby recognised dancers coached definite(!) non dancers (none more so than our President!). The event was very professionally run, extremely slick, and hugely enjoyed by an appreciative audience. John Coade and Donal Connolly were the drivers of this event, which raised €11,000.

The Club was again represented at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, with Siobhan Fahey featuring for the second year in a row and Derry Twomey making a come back after many years. We won the best Vintage entry.

Organisation of a garden party in Lismore Castle was a huge logistical operation with so many people expected (and attending), and with several different sittings of afternoon tea and different groups to the garden at separate times. Thanks were expressed to Lord and Lady Burlington for allowing us to hold the event in their Irish home.

It was nice to see Cyril Power, a past President, return as a member mid term, after some years absent.

The Club presented a trophy in honour of our friend, the late John Moloney to the Trabolgan Holiday Project for the Ladies Day at Ascot. John's wife, Peggy, while not a member, was an ever present in Trabolgan. She created a hat called The Recession Buster, which won the Hat Competition.

At the end of the year, the members were pleased to be in a position to present a cheque to the South East Mountain Rescue towards purchase of a new jeep.

Nearly ten years after first appearing on the agenda, Ion Walsh finally pulled it off on behalf of the Club - he got the roadside signs - all three of them - erected.