Lions pour a third of a million into community projects

SINCE the launch of their community help projects in 2002, the Kilkenny Lions Club have boosted the funds of local groups by a massive third of a million euros.

The latest beneficiaries are SOS Kilkenny, the Father McGrath Centre, Kilkenny Carers' Association, the Susie Long Fund and the Kilkenny Drugs Initiative.

And at a function in Bollard's Lounge, St Kieran's Street, last evening (Friday), representatives of the groups were presented with cheques by Kilkenny Lions President Lt Col Liam O'Carroll, OC of James Stephens Barracks.

The President stressed that all their money was raised locally and was distributed to local voluntary organisations, the members of which gave freely of their time to helping others.

Their main fundraiser was the annual Christmas Hamper Appeal but there were apprehensions this year that because of the recession their income would be down.

But the people of Kilkenny dug deeply into their pockets and they were able to meet their targets.

Accepting the cheque on behalf of the McGrath Centre, Steve Murphy said they were great admirers of the Lions Club and the Centre would never have got off the ground were it not for organisations such as the Lions.

He added that the McGrath Centre was now being accessed by almost 200 children every day, but they were also running programmes for men and women. The Lions donation would make a valuable contribution to the improvement of facilities for a Community Savings Club.

Willie Meighan, on behalf of the Susie Long Fund, said that the campaign to provide a hospice for Carlow/Kilkenny was being pursued vigorously and to date, half a million euro had been raised. The Fund was currently working with the HSE regarding the acquisition of a site.

Patsy Murphy of SOS Kilkenny, told the gathering that the organisation was currently catering for 147 people from Kilkenny and the Diocese. The Lions' gift would help the setting up of a community radio station.

The Carers' Association, which had an outreach centre in Carlow, now had 27 workers who helped people in their homes, Pat Grogan said. They operated 16 centres and they tried to run three to five training courses in patient handling every year.

Accepting a cheque on behalf of Drugs Initiative, David Grey said that he and two colleagues were running drugs awareness projects for schools in particular, and he warned that there were a lot of people at risk from drugs. He praised the Lions and the people of Kilkenny for their ongoing generosity.

Master of ceremonies for the presentation was the inimitable and highly entertaining George Candler.

Pat Grogan of the Carers Association with Philip O'Neill and Lt Col Carroll of the Lions

Patsy Phelan, SOS Kilkenny, with Lt Carroll and Paddy Murray, PRO of the Lions

Brian O'Callaghan and David Gray of Kilkenny Drug Awareness with Lt Col Carroll

Maeve Butler, Willie Meighan and Suzi Travers of The Susie Long Hospice Fund with Lt Col Carroll