Kilkenny Rotary Club - Elaine O’Dwyer takes the helm as new president

A busy year for the incoming President of Rotary Kilkenny is set to begin with the club’s annual golf classic, in August.

It’s just one of the projects Elaine O’Dwyer is looking forward to spearheading as she takes over the role from outgoing President, Ella Dunphy.  “Our theme for this year is to ‘Create hope in the world’. I look forward to leading our club through this year with that theme in mind,” Elaine told her fellow Rotary members, on the day the chain of office was handed over to her.

She went on to say that the local club, one of the biggest Rotary groups in Ireland, will continue to support the local community through projects including the remembrance tree at Christmas, the youth leadership competition and the golf classic in aid of Cois Nore.

“We will also continue to support Rotary international through the End Polio now campaign and foundation charities. We have a few other exciting and new projects in mind.”
The Bikes for Africa project will also continue, following 186 bikes added to the shipments to Gambia during the last 12 months. The collection point is at the Dunmore Recycling Depot.
Elaine is the 45th president of Kilkenny Rotary Club.

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Golf Classic
The annual golf classic will take place on Friday, August 4, at Kilkenny Golf Club. Entry for a team of four costs €200 and there are great prizes on offer, as well as a buffet meal. To book a tee time contact Ella Dunphy on 0879002092 or Dermot Gaynor on 0862573843. You can also sponsor a tee.

The event is being held in aid of Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre in Kilkenny.
The event was inaugurated last summer by Rotary Kilkenny’s outgoing President, Ella Dunphy. Her year in office was a busy one for the club.

Speaking to the club, Ella said the many successes of the year were thanks to the significant input of all members.
One of the highlights of the year was seeing Kilkenny Rotary’s local winner go on to be named a winner at the national Youth Leadership Development Programme.
Rohan Vargas from CBS went on to represent Rotary Kilkenny and his school in Strasbourg.
Ella thanked Elaine in her role with the Youth Leadership and all members who helped out with the interviews at the initial stage.

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The club was involved in a number of charity fundraisers during the year.
The Remembrance Tree Event was very successful and a testament to the volume of work invested into it by club members and friends of Rotary, Ella said.
Great support for the club’s annual table quiz was also celebrated.

During the year the club also enjoyed a number of social events, including a Christmas get-together and an event to mark International Womens’ Day.
As President Ella met with the young Rotary Interact club at the Loreto Secondary School on a number of occasions, and planting crocus bulbs to mark Rotary’s world polio eradication campaign.