More than 200 delegates from all over the island of Ireland are expected to attend Rotary Club’s annual conference at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen from Friday, September 29 until Sunday, October 1.
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Create Hope in the World’, and the event will feature a range of speakers involved in supporting communities in need, caring for the environment, promoting awareness of the importance of mental health and safeguarding our heritage and culture.
Speakers at the conference will include Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust, an organisation which now boasts five million members; US Air Force Colonel JC Clapsaddle, on the Corrymeela Project, which has dedicated itself to bringing people from different traditions in Northern Ireland together since 1965; Shelly Cowan, from Enniskillen, and her amazing recovery from ME; Father Brian D’Arcy, who has been writing columns and broadcasting on national radio stations for almost 50 years; and 81-year-old Margaret Gallagher, who continues to live off-grid in her 280-year-old thatched cottage outside Belcoo.
Kenny Fisher, who was recently elected District Governor of Rotary Ireland, said the conference presents members from all over the island with a wonderful opportunity to embrace the fellowship of Rotary while enjoying the delights of the Fermanagh Lakelands.
He said the conference committee under the chairmanship of Henry Robinson had put a huge amount of work into designing a very exciting programme of events.
“The annual conference is about exploring new ways Rotary can make a positive contribution to communities both here and abroad.
“Two of the things we will be focusing on in the year ahead are our ‘End Polio Now’ campaign and our new partnership with leading mental health charity, Aware,” said Kenny.
“With the former, we want to build on our success, to date, and reach our fundraising targets, while with the latter we want to highlight the support Aware offers to clients with mental health issues through initiative such as peer-support groups and online services. It really is important to focus on the mental health of our members along with the communities we serve.
“The purpose of the conference is to highlight the work of Rotary and club activities all over the island of Ireland and further afield, to hear about various ongoing projects and to be motivated by the exciting line-up of speakers.”
The conference is putting a particular emphasis on the social aspect of proceedings with delegates and their partners able to avail of a range of activities, including sightseeing trips on Lough Erne down as far as Devenish Island, outings to Castle Coole and the Ballroom of Romance in Co. Leitrim, as well as free entry to local museums and the Coles Monument, as well as discounted shopping in Enniskillen itself.
Welcoming Rotarians to the conference, Ken Rainey, President of Enniskillen Rotary Club, said the club was particularly pleased that one of their own, Kenny Fisher – who has twice been President of the club – was District Governor for 2023/24.
He said: “Kenny is well known throughout the county for his support of community life and good causes and under his leadership I am confident that Rotary Ireland will prosper.
“Kenny has many plans for his year, and I know that he has the drive to achieve these if all of us as Rotarians give him our support.”
To learn more about the conference or to register to attend, go to Rotary in Ireland (rotary-ribi.org).
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