Welcome to SI Republic of Ireland

Our President's Message

Cead Mile Failte go dti an suiubh lui seo. I extend a warm welcome to our National web site. We have a thriving National Association with 22 clubs throughout the Republic of Ireland.

My theme for the year is 'Together in Service and Friendship'. I chose this theme because friendship is at the very core of what Soroptimism is about. Soroptimist clubs are first and foremost Friendship clubs and this friendship is extended from each club through the Friendship links Programme and by its very nature, Service is an integral part of Friendship. Our predecessors had a unique and wonderful commitmentto Service and Friendship and today we follow in their footsteps, giving freely of our time and skills.

I would like to encourage clubs to evaluate what we are currently doing to envision the future and to communicate this vision in a way that attracts and excites new members. This demands that every Soroptimist takes appropriate responsibility for the office or task to which they are assigned. I will support all club projects and will be delighted to accept invitations to all club functions. Communicationis very important at all levels, from grass roots to the top and I look forward to meeting many members at our Friendship Weekend in Castlebar Co.Mayo from Sept.15t-17th 2006.

I sent greetings to all those who attended our friendship weekend in Castlebar and hope you arrived home safely. The weekend was a resounding success. We had members from almost all our clubs together with members from Wigan in Lancashire (friendship link club to Castlebar the host club) and Margaret Marsh from the Stourbridge club (a Mayo woman !). The weekend was also attended by Northern Ireland President Rita, Maureen Maguire from Portadown club and Sandra Dieffenthaller, Federation board member.

Members were inspired by talks given by Sianna Campbell and Dr Ursula Kilkelly on Women and Human Rights and Women and their role in peace, health and the media.

Congratulations to the Castlebar club for a truely wonderful conference. Every aspect of the weekend was excellent, thanks to President Maura Mc Guinness and her committee. It was a proud occasion for me to return to my native county as National President to attend such a splendidly organised conference.

I now look ahead to next weekend, when I will travel to Newry to attend the Northern Ireland Friendship weekend. It is with pleasure that I look forward to the final month of my Presidency and the Federation Conference in Gateshead in October.

Ann Jackson

Our Officers

These club pages were last updated on: 27 July 2007
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