St Patrick's Day in Belfast

Newcastle Lions enjoy International visits by Lions.

Newcastle Lions Club made a big effort to make the visit by the International Director Brian Sheehan and the international board to Northern Ireland a great success. Club members travelled to Belfast City airport to help welcome the international visitors, helped out at the welcome desk at the Culloden Hotel base and took part in as many events with the group as possible, including walking with the visitors in the Belfast St Patrick's Day parade. For one club member Emma Chestnutt, who is a member of Columbo Lions Alexandrite Sri Lanka and an associate member of Newcastle Lions Club, the visit was inspiring when she met up International Director Mahesh Pasqual and his family Dr Manel and their daughter Imasha in Belfast. The club were well represented at the Townhall meeting organised by International Director Brian in the Europa Hotel, where they stressed the need for better communication to the public about the work of Lions as a way of increasing membership.

Photo: Newcastle Lion helping to get the group organised before the parade.

Photo: Associate Newcastle Lions member Emma Chestnutt meets International Director Mahesh Pasqual and his family Dr. Manel and their daughter Imasha in Belfast.

Photo: Terry O'Reilly Newcastle Lions in costume with International Lions from Colombo Sri Lanka getting ready for St Patricks Day parade in Belfast

Photo: The grand staircase Titantic at International Lions St Pstricks Day Celebration

International Lions visit Northern Ireland

In 2022 Lions International President Brian Sheehan decided to hold a Lions Clubs International Board Meeting in our District 133 in 2023. The event would take place in Belfast starting on Monday 13th March and the last event would involve the International group taking part in the St Patrick's day parade in Belfast . The Lions have a world wide membership of nearly 1.5m members .Each year the Board of Directors of this group of volunteers hold an annual meeting. The group began arriving at Belfast City airport over the last days and Newcastle Lions members were on hand at their hotel and airport to help welcome the visitors. During the week, lions from all over Northern Ireland will meet the group. Following the St Patrick's Day parade the International visitors will leave for Killarney and visit other lion projects in Ireland.

Newcastle Lions Dan O'Reilly and Beth Cairnduff welcome International Lions Director Gary E brown New York State, PCC Jose Bonifacio Da Cunha Brazil, PDG Bernard Black, Ernest Tiyerina San Antonio Texas at Belfast City Airport.

Dan O'Reilly receiving Lions Ireland Scribe of the year award

Dan O'Reilly receiving Lions Ireland Scribe of the year award from Teresa Dineen International Director at convention in Wexford