Strabane-Lifford Rotary Club celebrates the end of its Rotary Year

The year-end for all Rotary clubs around the world comes in June and they all commence their new Rotary year on July 1.

Such has been the case with the Strabane-Lifford Rotary club with the outgoing president, Desmond Lynch from Lifford handing over the reins to the new president, Dr Morris Brown at their recently held Changeover evening held in the Fir Trees Hotel, which is the home of the club.

Mr Lynch reminded members how the Covid pandemic affected the club’s activity and even its ability to function over the last couple of years.

"Our club has been able to stay on its feet and bounce back and over the last while we managed to engage again on a number of functions and activities which has raised funds that were able to support some local, national and international charities."

Outgoing president, Desmond Lynch, welcoming new member Alice Lynch, proprietor Maggie's Tavern, St Johnston

These activities included the two very successful barbeques at Maggie's Tavern, St Johnston and the Lend With Care initiative where members personally provided funds enabling 87 loans totalling £1,920 which were made to 1,325 entrepreneurs spread across several developing countries. 

This is a microfinance fund a bit like a Credit Union for people with little or no financial means or the ability to secure loans from banks. 

This gives them an opportunity to run small businesses where they can support themselves and their families.

Outgoing president, Desmond Lynch, presenting cheque for €350 to Ms Renee Goudie representative for the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Raphoe. Also pictured are Lay Minister, Rev Peter Clampett and Secretary Rotarian John McCosker

Another initiative was their Remembrance Tree project over the Christmas period followed by an Interdenominational Prayer Service in Christ Church, Bowling Green, Strabane. 

This initiative helped raise funds for Marie Curie and the Rotary Foundation charity that supports the worldwide eradication of Polio and enables a humanitarian first response to disasters.

"We funded our Treekly project which supported the planting of 5,078 mangrove trees across six developing countries.  This was responsible for capturing large amounts of Co2 and also acted as a barrier to coastal erosion in the process was a source of local employment in economic blackspots.

"In the past year, we were able to run our Youth Leadership Development Competition again which saw Student Mia McGettigan from Deele College, Raphoe, winning our club competition final.  Mia went on to compete in the Rotary Regional final in Enniskillen.

"We also managed to run our Young Writer competition which attracted 36 entries from St. Patrick’s National School, Murlog, Lifford.  Adam Harkin emerged as the winner of the junior section while Ciara Lynch was the winner of the intermediate section."

Mr Lynch added that as a result of the year’s activities they were able to make donations such as €180 donated to preserve ¼ acre of Irish Peatland heritage; £500 to Marie Curie; €400 to the Refurbishment Fund for St  Lugadius Church in Lifford; €400 to St Vincent De Paul Society; £350 to the Koram Centre and €350 towards the refurbishment of the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Raphoe and £1,420 towards the relief of the Turkey/Syria earthquake.

Outgoing president, Desmond Lynch, presenting a cheque for €350 to Ms Renee Goudie representative for the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Raphoe. Also pictured are Lay Minister, Rev Peter Clampett and Secretary Rotarian John McCosker

The new president, Dr Morris Brown, intends that the club continue with the same projects and activities as last year but would like to see the reinstatement of their Primary/National School Choir competition.   

This, of course, requires the participation of the local schools and their pupils and he asks principals to let any member of our club know if this would have their support

The club would like to thank all the members of the local community for supporting any of their activities during the last year as, without this, they could not have continued with their humanitarian and charitable work.

Finally, they would like to acknowledge the death during the year of one of their long-standing members, Ricky Craig, and they offer their condolences to his surviving wife and family.