Ballinasloe and District Soroptimist Club Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Ballinasloe and District Soroptimist Club celebrated our 30th anniversary last evening in glorious sunshine at Moycarn Lodge. Minister for Education and Youth, Helen Mcentee was in attendance

Ballinasloe and District Soroptimist Club Celebrates 30th AnniversaryBallinasloe and District Soroptimist Club celebrated their 30th Anniversary recently in glorious sunshine at the Moycarn Lodge.

In 1995, 30 local women got together under their inaugural President Cepta Connolly (RIP), Ahascragh, and formed the club here in town. Over the years they have supported women and girls to enable, educate, and empower them to reach their full potential in life.

Funds have been raised for so many local, national, and international charities and projects by the Club, well in excess of €200,000.

It has not all been about fundraising. The Club has done a lot of lobbying with Government to make them aware of issues in relation to women and the environment, and to try and change outcomes for the better.

They are members of the National Women’s Council of Ireland and are involved in the White Ribbon campaign, Turn Off the Red Light, and Orange the World campaign to end domestic violence.

They have run seminars on Mental Health, Domestic Violence, and Drug Abuse locally. They also run a successful National Public Speaking Competition for girls to help them with communications and give them confidence to speak out in public.

This competition is open to all girls in the Senior Cycle of 2nd Level Education. It is a wonderful platform for helping girls to develop the skills to speak effectively and to articulate with clarity.

In attendance at their 30th Anniversary celebration was Minister for Education, Helen McEntee. She spoke highly of the work the Soroptimist movement is engaged with. She praised the Club for their work in trying to eliminate domestic violence through education programmes and project work in the month of December, highlighting the issues involved and showing that help is available for those in need.

She also spoke about the Public Speaking Competition which is run nationally.

The National President of Soroptimists, Anne O’Sullivan, was also in attendance.
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Club President Kathleen Croffy presided over the evening and welcomed many members past and present, as well as members from other clubs who joined in the celebration. Also in attendance were Cllr Evelyn Parsons and Cllr Alan Harney.