Killarney Lions Club were delighted to welcome the club's International Vice President to town this week.

VISIT: Lions Club International Vice President Brian Sheehan and his wife Lori pictured on their visit to Killarney at the weekend.

On St Patrick's weekend Killarney Lions Club welcomed International Vice President Brian Sheehan and his wife Lori in Killarney.

Brian and his wife are in Killarney in advance of his presidency which will commence in July. Brian, whose family originally hail from Cork and Kerry, has organised for the full board of Lions Club International to have their meeting in Killarney in March 2023.

Brian who resides in Minnesota, USA visited the Monastery Boys National School Killarney to view their sensory room and garden which Killarney Lions Club contributed towards.

This was followed by a tree planting in the Maurice O’Donoghue Memorial Park where this week Transition Year students from the local secondary schools joined Killarney Lions Club with the cooperation of Kerry County Council to plant trees as part of Killarney Lions Club annual tree planting initiative.

"On Saturday Brian planted a tree to commemorate his visit and also in attendance was Mayor of Killarney Marie Moloney, Ann Ellis District Governor of Lions Clubs Ireland and representatives from Kerry County Council. Brain was assisted by students from the Killarney Community College, St Brendan’s College and St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School," Club President, John Fuller, said.

There was also a meeting in Killarney with the Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club who have received sponsorship for their basketball team and competitions from The Lions Club in Killarney.

Lions Club International are the largest Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in the world with 1.4 million members worldwide. Its motto is “We Serve”. It was voted by the Financial Times as the best Non Governmental Organisation in the world for its efficiency in operation.

All members are volunteers at local level and the membership fees they pay cover for all costs to run the organisation internationally, nationally and locally meaning that all funds raised go directly to those in need.

Killarney Lions Club have 30 members and actively seek to have others join. It recently celebrated 50 years in Killarney but due to COVID, celebrations were curtailed.