Lions Club bestows award on founder of Carrick-on-Suir hub for artists and crafts people

Caption for picture above: Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club members at their October meeting attended by Lions District Governor James O’Loughlin (front second from right) in the Carraig Hotel in Carrick-on-Suir. Linda Fahy of the Tudor Artisan Hub who was presented with the Melvin Jones Award is pictured in the front row (fourth from left) beside Carrick Lions Club President Maura Barrett.

Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club bestowed its highest honour on the founder and proprietor of Carrick’s Tudor Artisan Hub arts collective that has done so much to promote the work of artists and crafts people.

Linda Fahy was presented with the Melvin Jones Award at Carrick Lions Club’s October meeting in the Carraig Hotel in Carrick-on-Suir.

The meeting was attended by Lions District Governor James O’Loughlin of Ennis Lions Club and his wife Ann.

The award, named after the founder of the Lions Clubs movement, recognises the work of outstanding individuals in their communities.

Ms Fahy founded the Tudor Artisan Hub based at 42 Main Street, Carrick-on-Suir 10 years years ago and it now showcases and promotes the work of more than 100 visual artists, photographers, writers, crafts people and musicians.

Carrick Lions Club bestowed the award on Linda because she has “gone above and beyond” the call of duty to serve the the club and wider community in Carrick-on-Suir.

“Linda is a wonderful person and her work with the Lions Club is exceptional and we are delighted to recognise you tonight for all that you do in the Lions Club and in the town,” said Lions Club members Maria Madden.

Carrick Lions Club President Maura Barrett echoed these sentiments. She said Linda was an amazing inspiration and a go to person who collaborates with so many projects and creative people, a real tour de force.

Linda sincerely thanked Lions Club members for the honour and spoke of her late father Pat Fahy, who was a member of the Lions Club in Dungarvan for 40 years.

She said Carrick Lions Club was a phenomenal club due to the work its members do for the people of Carrick.

Also at the meeting, Lions District Governor James O’Loughlin presented a welcome pack, pins and certificates to new Carrick Lions Club members Sonya O’Connor, Sandra Keyes and Ray Daly.

A fourth new member Martina Wells Casey was unable to attend and will instead receive them at the November meeting.

Earlier that day, Mr O’Loughlin and his wife accompanied Carrick Lions Club member Brian White on a walk around Carrick-on-Suir where they were shown various club projects.

In his address, Mr O’Loughlin said it was a joy to meet Carrick Lions Club members and visit the town.

He emphasised the importance of environmental projects to protect the earth and how necessary it was to link in with young people who know what is happening and understand the urgent need to deal with it.

Mr O’Loughlin paid tribute to Carrick Lions Club’s involvement with the Lions Young Ambassador awards and annual Peace Poster competition for local schools.

He also spoke of the importance of the recent Lions Carers Weekend and the joy people get from that as respite is so important.

The District Governor congratulated Linda Fahy on receiving the Melvin Jones award and said he was delighted to see new members join the Lions Club, which he said brings new energy and people to take over roles in the future.

Check out more photos from the Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club meeting in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops