Kilkenny Lions Club appoints new president for the coming year

Kilkenny Lions Club has announced the appointment of Gerry McGovern as its new president.

Gerry has been a dedicated member of the Lions Club for several years and brings a wealth of experience, and a strong commitment to community service to his new role.

He has been involved in numerous Lions Club charity fundraising initiatives, including the Christmas Hamper Appeal, the Kilkenny Lions Annual Charity Quiz, the weekly partnership projects during the summer with the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful committee and he is also responsible for the club's social media.

Gerry McGovern. PICTURES: VICKY COMERFORD

Since his retirement, as well as his involvement with Kilkenny Lions Club he is also involved with KIDCo, a non-profit organisation where he has served as Chairman since 2019. KIDCo was established in 1999 and collaborates with Kilkenny County Council, the Design and Crafts Council, and Tourism Ireland to enhance the quality of life in Kilkenny.
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In its early years, KIDCo focused on assisting local businesses by providing office premises for startups, thereby boosting local employment. Currently, the organisation concentrates on helping to develop Kilkenny as a premier cultural, arts, and tourism destination. Prior to that Gerry was on the board of Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce.

His professional background is rooted in banking, settling in Kilkenny in 1993 and subsequently working in various roles in Dublin until his retirement in May 2020. Retirement allowed him to dedicate more time to community service in which he always had an interest. He is married to Angela and they have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Gerry extended his congratulations to the outgoing President of the Lions Club Marie Kennedy, for her exceptional year in office.

“Marie has been an outstanding ambassador for the county’s charities, and her dedication and commitment was clearly evident over the past 12 months,” he said.

Gerry also emphasised the importance of local businesses and the people of Kilkenny in raising essential funds.

“They are a lifeline for local charities,” he said. He expressed his appreciation for the unwavering support from the Mayor of Kilkenny which includes the Mayors Christmas Appeal Fund and the Cathaoirleach of the County Council. “Their continued backing is crucial for our efforts,” he noted.

Additionally, Gerry thanked the Kilkenny People and KCLR for their invaluable assistance in bringing attention to local charitable fundraising and in particular the funds raised in the Christmas Hamper Appeal which will continue to be donated to local organisations such as the St Vincent de Paul.

Originally from Strokestown, Roscommon, Gerry is an avid follower of Kilkenny hurling and a devoted supporter of Roscommon football, despite the team’s occasional struggles. His hobbies include cycling and golf. He is a member and former chairman of the Marble City Cyclers and a member of the Kilkenny Golf Club.

Gerry is honoured to have been elected President of the Kilkenny Lions Club, which has raised nearly €900,000 for charity since 2002 thanks to the unwavering commitment of its volunteer members and generous donations from the local community. The Kilkenny Lions Club was formed in 1967.

A as he steps into his new role, Gerry looks forward to building on the solid foundation laid by his predecessors and leading the Kilkenny Lions Club to even greater achievements in community service and charity. During his term, as well as focusing on fundraising initiatives, Gerry would like to further raise awareness of environmental and sustainability issues and show how members of the club can work with the local authority and others to take concrete actions to help with the carbon reduction agenda.