Tipperary club reflects on year of sterling service to the community

Above: At the presentation of a cheque from Clonmel Lions Club to Bridgewater House, Clonmel were, from left, Ailish Moran, Lions Club President Catherine Murphy, Bet O’Grady, Laura Kenneally, Mai O’Connor and Osman Awadalla

The past year has been very busy and productive for Clonmel Lions Club, culminating with a very successful Annual Christmas Community Fund Appeal.

Formerly known as the Annual Food Appeal, this fundraising event has allowed the club to offer food vouchers to many worthy families in the run-up the Christmas.

The club are very grateful to the public for their very generous financial support and are also very appreciative of the facilities offered by Dunnes Stores, Davis Road and Tesco, Clonmel. The management and staff of these stores could not have been more welcoming and helpful over both weekends.

Part of the club’s mission statement has always been “To Serve” and last year has seen this put into practice in many different ways.

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The club has a long association with Bridgewater House, Clonmel, where RehabCare provides a mix of educational, life skills, recreational and social programmes for adults with special needs, aged 18 years and upwards. The club were delighted to be able to provide some financial assistance following a fun and enjoyable table quiz, which raised €600. Thanks are again extended to Eldons Bar for their hospitality.

Another objective of Lionism, both locally and nationally, is to promote projects that benefit the health and wellbeing of our community. One such project is a scheme entitled Message in a Bottle (MIAB). The basic idea behind the scheme is that households of people who may be in a vulnerable position due to ongoing health issues can have all of their vital medical information available to first responders in a safe, predetermined and accessible area in the house.

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The information is contained on a leaflet and will include vital information such as medication, allergies and medical history. This leaflet is then placed within a special bottle and stored in the one place in a house that is common to most households, the fridge. The scheme will also promote the use of Eircodes, which will be of enormous benefit to all of the emergency services when responding to calls and especially in rural areas.

The club have enlisted the help of the TY Students from Raheen College and Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn, who have been of great assistance with ideas of promoting the scheme through social media. Special thanks are extended to Eamon Browne and Ian Dunford from the National Ambulance Service and to Michael O’Dwyer and Michael McKeogh from the Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service for their invaluable advice and guidance.

The scheme will be rolled out through local pharmacies in Clonmel including Quirkes, Boots, O’Reillys, O’Gormans, Mulligans and Mahers.

Club President, Catherine Murphy, is very much looking forward to the New Year when Clonmel Lions Club will continue to serve the people of Clonmel and environs wherever and whenever there is a need for their services. She has thanked her fellow Lions and everyone who helped in any way to make 2025 such a wonderful success.