Ordinary people doing extraordinary things
‘ Ordinary People doing extraordinary things’ is the motto used by the members of the Sligo Lions Club.
Set up in Chicago in 1917, the Lion Club organisation celebrates its centenary year this June.
The Sligo club is part of the international network of 1.3 million men and women in over two hundred countries who work together to help answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.
Over the years the Sligo Lions club have participated in a variety of projects important to communities in Ballymote, Tubbercurry and Sligo Town as well as international relief efforts.
Mary Henry, PRO of the Sligo Lions club has been volunteering with the club for more than 30 years.
She was one of the first female presidents of the Club in Connacht and believes that the Sligo Lions Club is a ‘ second family’.
“It is a wonderful organisation and I can’t praise it enough for what I have got from it. As an individual you are never going to get the sense of achievement that you feel from it. That feeling: money couldn’t buy.”
Michael Leydon, President of the Sligo Lions Club has also been with the club for more than 30 years and is determined to get more ‘ young blood’ volunteering for the organisation: “You get more satisfaction from doing projects and raising funds to give to people than anything else. I would encourage more people if they can to get involved.”
The work that the Sligo Lions club do is widespread: from Christmas food appeals with help from the Innisfree Wheelers Cycling Club and St Vincent De Paul, sponsoring alcohol awareness seminars in schools and charity functions such as Jigs and Reels.
The club has raised more than € 150,000 in recent years that benefited various local charities and organisations in Sligo.
It has also created a new initiative in 2010 called, ‘ Carers Weekend’ the first of its kind in Ireland.
This allows carers to have their own form of ‘ respite care’. The carers are treated to a pamper weekend while also availing of counselling advise and learning about the benefits/ entitlements available for carers through Family Carers Ireland
For the centenary year Lion Clubs throughout Ireland have pledged to fund a new breeding programme for Guide dogs for people who are visually impaired as well as children with autism. At present there is a three year wait for a guide dog.
A local donation was also made to the local guide dogs thanks to the fire- fighters in Tubbercurry and Enniscrone who helped raise money for the project. There are currently more than 20 members in the Sligo Lions Club and they are always looking for new members.
If you would like to know more about the Sligo Lions Club they meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the Glasshouse Hotel Sligo at 8.00pm and new members are always welcome.