Lions thrilled to extend spectacle recycling scheme with Spirit AeroSystems.

Newcastle Lions' glasses coordinator, Dan O'Reilly (left) receives a donation of spectacles from Spirit's Environment & Risk Coordinator, Matt Hall (centre) and Environmental Advisor, Andrew Wood (right).

In promoting  recycling in their  community, Newcastle Lions Club are joining with the  Northern Ireland  Resource Network to promote sustainable reuse and repair as a practical and effective way of tackling Northern Ireland’s waste generation and develop opportunities in the Circular Economy. As a small club, the Lions are achieving reuse and repair by promoting the recycling of unwanted  spectacles in a big way. Four times each year the club collect  glasses from  Belfast  City  Council, local opticians , the Newcastle Library and the  GPS surgery and despatch these in ten large boxes to Lions Medico France . There the glasses are cleaned and measured before being sent to needy countries to help improve the sight of people in need. This month, Newcastle Lions Club are thrilled that their recycling scheme has been adopted by the global aerospace company,  Spirit AeroSystems.  Spirit is one of the world's largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial aircraft, defence platforms and business / regional jets. Newcastle Lions, in working with Spirit, are returning to old ground. In 2010, the club, together with the company's Belfast facility, supported Centenary celebrations for Harry Ferguson, when Newcastle Lions helped our local council organise a very successful community event.  It was with great pleasure that Lions recycling officer, Dan O'Reilly visited Spirit to receive a large box of 205 pairs of recycled glasses. 

Cork Appeal

Following an appeal by Lions Ireland to help people in Cork who suffered due to flooding caused by Storm Babet, Newcastle Lions president Liz Murphy has presented a cheque for £500 to Marion McGreevy Vice District Governor Lions Club Ireland to pass to the Lions in County Cork. 

Dare to Dream Peace Poster Contest Winner

Newcastle  and  Ballynahinch  Lions  clubs  combined  again this  year to sponsor  a  superb  peace  poster competition in   5  local  post  primary  schools.

The  judges  Robin McCaren Newcastle Lions and Alison Heron Head of Art at Belfast High School had  a  busy time  looking  at the  creative  talents  of  over 100  entries.

This was a  fantastic  response  once  again from our  local  schools.

The  winning  entry  was submitted by Assumption Grammar  school pupil Saranya  Nagineni  who had  a  beautiful  reflective  and  appropriate quote  for  us  all submitted with the poster.

"  Your  dreams  of  today  can  be  reality  tomorrow  if  we  work  together"

Saranya ‘s poster was forwarded to the all Ireland competition where it achieved first place and it has now been  selected  as  Irelands  entry  to the  International  Peace  Poster Contest. It was posted to the USA on 1st December 2023 and the local Lions wish Saranya every good luck in this very prestigious competition.

This  is  great news for Saranya,  her  parents, her  teacher , and  the school.

The clubs  visited  the  schools and pupils who had submitted entries and  presented certificates and  prizes at assemblies. They  were  also  able  to  talk  about  Lions  work  at  local, District  and international  level.

The Winning Poster by Saranya  Nagineni

Photo   Left  to  R  Mr  T  Barry  Art  Teacher  John  Murphy  Ballynahinch  Lions,  Marian  McGreevy  Vice District Governor winner Assumption Grammar student Saranya  Nagineni,  Francis  Casement Ballynahinch  Lions Jeanine  Knight  Newcastle  Lions Vice  President  and  Mrs  Deirdre  Keary  Head  of  Art  and  Design Assumption