We Serve

The Galway Lions Club is part of “The International Association of Lions Clubs”  This association is the largest service organisation in the world with over 1.3 million members spread throughout more than 160 countries.

The Lions Motto “We Serve” is reflected in the many local and international projects undertaken by Galway Lions Club to help the needy and underprivileged in our society, to this end we also operate closely with other voluntary organisations.

From the funds we receive through the generosity of the the local community we provide food to families who are in need throughout the year but especially during the Christmas period.    We  work with young people in programmes that seek  to draw attention to suicide and we also put the spotlight on alcohol and its misuse whilst also fostering leadership among young people.  For many senior citizens loneliness is a terrible burden and so with our visitation teams and our  annual trip to Trabolgan, we try and make a difference.    The club has 50 members who donate  their time and skills to the club on totally on a voluntary basis.  Meeting are held in the Ardilaun Hotel on the second Monday of every month.

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Latest News: 

AN POST ISSUE FIRST DAY COVER

1st June 2017: The founding of Lions Clubs International in Chicago Illinois, one hundred years ago, is celebrated on An Post’s new international postage stamp. The €1.35 stamp which covers standard letter postage anywhere in the world, was designed by Dublin company Red Dog and features a photograph by Paul McCarthy from 2016 Loins Holiday Week..

The Lions Club is the world’s largest voluntary service organisation with a presence in over 200 countries and more than 1.4 million volunteers worldwide.  There are 2,700 members in 116 clubs across the island of Ireland, north and south. With their motto ‘We Serve’, they organise projects to help vulnerable and elderly people within their own communities, organise diabetic screening, help in preventing suicide  and in addition they undertake humanitarian work worldwide in areas such as aiding street children, and preventing blindness.
Paul Allen, District Governor of Lions Clubs International in Ireland, expressed his appreciation that the Lions Clubs work in serving their communities has been recognised by An Post with this special international stamp, reflecting the global reach of Lions Clubs International: 
 ‘It is a great honour to have a Lions Clubs stamp issued to mark the centenary of our organisation. In the 60 years that Lions have operated in Ireland, our membership has grown, based on serving the needs of local communities. In a few weeks, the Lions Clubs in Ireland will again host more than 600 guests at our annual Holiday Project in Trabolgan, Co. Cork. Lions Clubs in Ireland are also well known for their commitment to the prevention of blindness through Diabetes Screening, for our Annual Food Appeal at Christmas and for hundreds of community service projects at national and local levels’.
The stamp and special First Day Cover envelope may be purchased at main post offices, at Dublin’s GPO stamp shop and online at www.irishstamps.ie

For further information contact:Frank Corr, Lions Clubs Ireland PRO: Tel: 086 8274710/ fcorr100@gmail.com.   Anna McHugh, An Post Communications at Tel: (01) 705 8832 / 086 2530697

 

AM AM Galway Golf Club Thursday 18th May in Aid of Syrian Refugees. 

A huge thanks to all who supported Galway Lions Club  AM AM  in Galway Golf Club, on Thursday 18th May 2017 to raise funds towards the construction of Safe Centres for Syrian refugee children.  Particular thanks to our Sponsors Peter Murphy Expert Electric whose generous sponsorship made the whole event possible.   Lebanon a country approx 1/7 the size of Ireland with a population of 4.5 million has around two million Syrian refugees over half of whom are children and  300,000 of whom do not have any schooling.  Norwegian Lions Clubs,  with financial help from

colleagues in Sweden and the U.K have taken the lead in building Safe Centres. Based on a UNICEF model and costing approx €100,000 each, Safe Centres consists of a number of classrooms, a nutrition & health centre and a play area providing basic health care and education for the refugee children.   Annual running costs for a centre are also about é100k as 10-12 personnel are required daily to cover two shifts,  with 200-300 children being accommodated per shift.   Lions Clubs in Ireland have set a target of funding the construction and running costs of one centre.   Winners were Etna Joyce, Ann O’Donoghue,

Anna Greta Gormally & Pat Lillis. Second: Padraig Bree, Pauline Bree, Lily Sheehan & Pat Sheehan

 

 

 

 

2016 LIONS CLUB PEACE POSTER.

For the past 30 years Lions Clubs around the world have proudly sponsored the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in local schools and youth groups.   This contest encourages , those under 13 years of age to express their vision of peace.

Three  Galway primary schools took part in the competition,  Scoil Íde, Salthill, St Michael’s BNS, Mervue and Scoil Niocláis Naofa, The Claddagh.

The entrants were aged Age 9 to 11. Over 70 pupils submitted Peace Posters.

The competition was expertly judged by Tom Kenny of Kenny’s Art Gallery a former member of Galway Lion’s Club, with the winner selected on the basis of originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme “A Celebration of Peace”.

The Winner of the Galway competition  Laura Martino Romero from Scoil Niocláis Naofa, The Claddagh was presented with a €50 Voucher for Powel’s 4 Corners Arts section, Laura’s  poster was also submitted to the Lions Clubs National Competition.  

Second place went to Masha Hickey, Scoil Íde, Salthill and third place to  Matthew Stasiak St. Michael’s BNS, Mervue.   Both runners up  also received €25 vouchers from Powels.

School Principals, teachers and parents of all three prize winners attended the prize giving by ceremonies, where prizes were presented by Matt Molloy Club President, who stated, “it is clear that these young students have a clear idea of what peace means to them  and I am delighted that we have been able to provide them with an opportunity to share their visions.”

Winner of the Lions International Peace Poster Contest, Laura Martino Romero, from Scoil Nicholas Náofa (Claddagh) with (L to R) School Principal Michael Gallagher, Art Teacher Michelle Smith, President of Galway Lions Club Matt Molloy, and Art Teacher Grainne O’Brien.

 

 

Runner Up was Nasha Hickey, from Scoil Íde NS (Salthill) with (L to R) her teacher Valerie O’Gorman, her parents Liam and Tatiana, and President of Galway Lions Club Matt Molloy.

 

 

 

In third place was Matthew Stasiak, from St. Michael’s BNS (Mervue) with (L to R) his parents Slawomir and Isabella, School Principal Brendan O’Dwyer and President of Galway Lions Club Matt Molloy.

 

 

Photos Iain McDonald

RADIO AUCTION SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED 

Galway Lions Club wish to thank the People of Galway and beyond for your fantastic support for our recent Radio Auction held in conjunction with Galway Bay FM. Thanks to our Sponsors, those who provided items. purchased items, made cash donations, and who those supplied support services essential to make the auction work.  The event was a resounding success and with your help we have managed to raise €44,689.   The help that you have given will make a real difference, as every Euro we have collected will be used to make life a little bit easier for hundreds of those in our community who find themselves in need of our assistance this Christmas and into the New Year.   Once again, thank you, we in  Galway Lions Club wish you and your’s a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Galway-LionsClub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      

                             RADIO AUCTION LAUNCH 

 

Pictured talking to Keith Finnegan at the launch of the Lions Club 2016 Auction in Association with GBFM were Lord Mayor and fellow Lion Cllr Noel Larkin, Diocesan Administrator Canon Michael McLoughlin and Lions Club President Matt Molloy. The 28th auction takes place live on the Keith Finnegan Show 9am to 12.00 on Friday Dec. 9th. So if you want a bargain, some early Christmas Shopping or you just want to support a worthy cause, stay tuned. More details to follow on Galway Bay FM, local media and this page.

Speaking of the auction Galway Lions President Matt Molloy said “This year we have set ourselves a target of raising €40,000 through the auction.  Yes it is an ambitious target, but the reality is that the need for our help is growing, particularly at this time of the year. Our role  as Lions is to help those in need in our community in any way we can. We see our task as trying to give that extra little  bit of help that might just make  the difference and maybe help someone through a bad patch or give them the  hand they need to help them back on their feet. Last Christmas, we distributed more than 400 supermarket vouchers.  All of this was made possible through the generosity of the people and businesses of Galway, for which we are most grateful. We work in close co-operation with the Saint Vincent De Paul.”Matt also thanked Keith Finnegan and Galway Bay FM for their support to the club over many years, “without Keith and Galway Bay FM, there simply would be no auction”