Page 89 - Linkline Yearbook 2017

Lions Clubs in Ireland Continue to Grow as Centenary Year Approaches
With 155 clubs throughout Ireland, North and South, and almost 3,000 members, Lions Clubs in Ireland are well positioned to celebrate the 2017 centenary of their international organisation, which exists to provide voluntary services to humanitarian causes in their local communities.
"Where there’s a need there’s a Lion"
Founded in Chicago in 1917 by Insurance Agent, Melvin Jones, Lions Clubs International has spread around
the world, with 43,000 clubs, representing 1.4 million
members in more than 180 countries. The first expansion of the organisation came in 1920 when it spread to Canada.
It officially came to Ireland in 1955 when the first club was formed in Dublin. Ireland operates as one Lions district, with no distinction between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Recently, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Paul Allen was elected as head of the network of Lions Clubs in Ireland. Hailing from Kildare Town, County Kildare, Paul has been a member of the organisation since 1992, and has held many offices at both club and district level. He explained that many of the recent controversies surrounding the massive overheads incurred by charities in Ireland had not affected the Lions Club, as all the administration costs are sustained by the membership and the organisation incurs no overheads.
“With more than 100 clubs and 2,300 members spread throughout Ireland, Lions operates and supports a wide range of projects at national and local levels. These range from a nationwide diabetes screening programme and a senior citizens holiday for more than 600 guests to carers respite weekends, a national food appeal, suicide awareness, anti-bullying programmes and medical alert projects,” Mr Allen explained.
Melvin Jones, Lion's Club founder
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LIONS CLUB