{"id":5316,"date":"2024-08-19T21:42:46","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T20:42:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/northern-ireland\/?page_id=5316"},"modified":"2025-10-28T17:43:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T16:43:13","slug":"enniskillen-and-district-club-update","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/northern-ireland\/chains-of-office\/si-enniskillen\/enniskillen-and-district-club-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Enniskillen and District Club Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5318″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5409″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” title=”Public Speaking Final”][vc_column_text]Luchia Mc Cusker ( Enniskillen Royal Grammar School ) was awarded first place for speaking on the topic\u00a0 ‘People – Poverty is the Root Cause of Slavery’.\u00a0 Luchia \u00a0spoke with eloquence and conviction.<\/p>\n

Second place went to \u00a0Evie Mulholland (Portadown) speaking on\u00a0 ‘Peace – Eighty Years on, has the World Forgotten the Lessons of WW2?’<\/p>\n

Third place was given to Lila Hamadi\u00a0 (Lisburn & District) for speaking on the topic Peace .[\/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”5410,5411,5412,5413″][vc_single_image image=”5346″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” title=”October 2024″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mary Cunningham, the CEO of the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), recently visited our group to share insights into her role and the organization\u2019s mission. The NYCI serves as the representative body for youth organizations across Ireland, focusing on supporting and advocating for young people\u2019s interests and rights. During her talk, Mary highlighted the work of NYCI and she shared inspiring examples of how the council works to provide resources to youth groups, ensuring young people\u2019s voices are heard in national discussions.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5329″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” title=”September 2024″][vc_column_text]For our first meeting of 24\/25 we were delighted to welcome Commandant Michael Walsh (Retired) who served with the Artillery Corps and with the Military Police Corps of the Irish Army.<\/p>\n

We met in the Killyhevlin Hotel where we enjoyed a lovely meal and excellent company.<\/p>\n

After our meal Mr Walsh spoke to us about his very varied and interesting military career.\u00a0 When he retired from the Defence Force in 2012 he served as Aide de Camp (ADC) to President of Ireland, including serving President Michael D. Higgins.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Community run event at Enniskillen Castle<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5026″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]We were invited to participate in the Volunteer Village to promote our club and attract members.<\/p>\n

A stand was procured and an exhibition of the work we have done displayed.<\/p>\n

President Lorna had an opportunity to speak with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland\u00a0Chris Heaton-Harris,\u00a0when he visited our stand.<\/p>\n

To complement the event, we all enjoyed a lovely Picnic.<\/p>\n

Good Food, Good company \u2013 a pleasant day out for all.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

The Big Big Litterpick\u00a0in Co Fermanagh<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5024″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Enniskillen Soroptimists joined with a network of volunteers whose ambition was to make the countryside look better in Fermanagh.The aim was to clean up the country’s land and water by removing rubbish, discarded items and general litter.<\/p>\n

The Lough Erne Landscape Partnership co-ordinated the event, supplying litter picking kit. Our club members\u00a0 litter picked ” the wide awake way “walk Enniskillen.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Let’s Dance Classes<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1761669676980-5d83f91a-0d10-5″ include=”5022,5021,5020,5019″][vc_column_text]SI Enniskillen ran a programme for older people aged 50+ to improve physical activity and reduce social isolation. This was accomplished through a series of dance movement classes and a nutrition\u00a0workshop The 5 x 45 minute movement session was led by an experienced dance teacher, and the nutrition workshop by a qualified nutritional therapist. An informal class format was used to encourage positive participation interaction. The women participants\u00a0learned a variety of exercises\u00a0that can be undertaken once the programme was completed on the 5th Feb 2023[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

60th Anniversary<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5009″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][vc_column_text]A special event took place at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the awarding of Soroptimist International\u2019s charter, in 1963, to the newly-formed Enniskillen and District club.<\/p>\n

The lunch had been preceded by a regional meeting which was chaired by NI Regional President, Barbara Carlisle.<\/p>\n

Members of these other clubs were then able to join Enniskillen club members, and some also from Republic of Ireland clubs, at a drinks reception followed by lunch in the Kove Restaurant.<\/p>\n

More than 60 SI members sat down at tables bedecked with posies of flowers in the yellow and blue Soroptimist colours and received a warm greeting from Enniskillen Co-President, Evelyn Hassard.<\/p>\n

President Elect Lorna Dane acted as MC and kept proceedings flowing smoothly.<\/p>\n

NI President Barbara paid tribute to the club and its achievements and reminded everybody of some of the more noteworthy happenings of 1963, the year of the then newly-formed Enniskillen and District club, including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Profumo Affair, the harshest winter since 1947, and The Great Train Robbery.<\/p>\n

After lunch, a magnificent cake was cut by two of the club\u2019s founding members, Freda Carson and Lena Corrigan, both of whom thoroughly enjoyed all the conviviality.<\/p>\n

Catherine Scott, Learning and Development Officer with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, gave a fascinating presentation on workhouses in Ireland, with a particular focus on the recently restored and reopened Enniskillen Workhouse.<\/p>\n

Long Service Awards were then presented by Regional President Barbara, after which Co-President Joanna McVey rounded off the celebrations with thanks to all who attended, and to the hard-working organising committee.<\/p>\n

(Report by the Impartial Reporter)[\/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1761669676981-ce80b867-9c31-6″ include=”5012,5011,5010″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Fundraising dinner <\/strong><\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5005″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_single_image image=”5006″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]An excellent night was had at our recent fundraising dinner as Game of Thrones and Derry Girls actor Ian McElhinney, along with his special guest acclaimed poet Trish Bennett, entertained all in attendance.<\/p>\n

Over 120 guests attended The Westville Hotel in Enniskillen for the special charity event which began with a drinks reception, followed by a delicious meal served by the hotel.<\/p>\n

Welcomed by Enniskillen and District Soroptimist Club joint president Joanna McVey, Trish took to the stage and performed a range of her humorous poems which were very well-received.<\/p>\n

The evening concluded with a question and answer session with Ian led by Evelyn Hassard, Enniskillen and District Soroptimist Club joint president.<\/p>\n

Taking the form of a relaxed conversation, Ian answered questions about his early life and how he came to be an actor. Ian then took some questions from the floor before reading some poems by Seamus Heaney. Ian was accompanied at the event by his wife, established Northern Irish playwrite Marie Jones.<\/p>\n

(Report by the Impartial Reporter)[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Enniskillen Club support local homeless<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

Enniskillen and District Club members presenting the NI Housing Executive (NIHE) with support packs of essential items for the incoming tenants, who have been assessed as homeless, for temporary accommodation.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1761669676982-71257dfa-16d1-4″ include=”1727,1728,1729″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Enniskillen marks the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.<\/h2>\n

Members of S I Enniskillen with President Michele Kennedy and speaker former Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie at their recent Funds and Awareness raising charity breakfast in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen to mark the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.<\/p>\n

The breakfast event, which was well attended, set out to raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence and to raise funds for local and Soroptimist charities.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1681″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Some of the large crowd who attended the recent charity breakfast hosted by SI Enniskillen to mark UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1682″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_single_image image=”1575″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5318″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5409″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” title=”Public Speaking Final”][vc_column_text]Luchia Mc Cusker ( Enniskillen Royal…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":859,"featured_media":0,"parent":430,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5316","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nEnniskillen and District Club Update | SI Northern Ireland | SIGBI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SIGBI : SI Northern Ireland : Enniskillen and District Club Update : SI Northern Ireland is part of a worldwide organisation of women, find more information regarding the Enniskillen and District Club Update here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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