This article is from page 79 of the 2009-12-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 79 JPG
DOZENS of senior citizens from Newmarket-on-Fergus gathered on Sunday for their annual Christmas party.
The Christmas bash is generally one of the highlights of the year for mature residents in the Newmarket- on-Fergus area and this year was no different.
The event would not be possible without the fantastic efforts of local volunteers and businesses who help
out on an ongoing basis.
Support is vital for the Christmas party and this year it came in the shape of €500 from the Shannon and District Lions Club, along with spot prizes from various businesses in Newmarket-on-Fergus and Shan- rHTOyee
PRO of the committee, Michelle Quigley, said more and more peo- ple are getting on board, helping out with the club every year.
“The committee has got bigger. Newer members have joined in and
therefore we can carry out extra ac- tivities,’ she said.
There is a lot of goodwill. Because we have a bigger number of people in the committee, we can spread it out. “We have been very lucky to get sponsorship from local businesses and the Lions Club. That helps to make the Christmas party a great Success,’ she said.
Fundraising also plays a role and the committee spearheads various projects, such as bag packs and poker classics.
“A lot of people are living on their own and the Christmas party is their only outlet. It is good for people to meet others that they only meet on these occasions, while they also get to meet new people. It is very much hands on,” she said.
Throughout the year, the club’s members are treated to various trips around the county and they thor- oughly enjoy these tours. More than 50 people travel on those trips, while more than 150 attend the annual Christmas party.