These are our official ‘Travelling Lions’ gifted to us by Kelly, our International friend from Johannesburg in South Africa. Other than travelling all the way from South Africa to Ireland, these Lions, along with a member or two, have travelled locally from Portumna to Lions Clubs in Roscrea, Gort, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Tuam, Ennis and Galway, sharing and exchanging ideas and supporting projects, events and fundraisers wherever possible.

Galway Lions Club –
President, Geraldine Mannion
13/02/2023
7.30pm
(Lion Points 145.2)

This is the largest Club meeting we’ve attended so far. It started off with guest speakers from two very worthy causes.

‘ALONE’, a support and befriending service to older people who request companionship and social activity, and ‘GALWAY CITY PARTNERSHIP’ who assist with much needed repairs and maintenance to homeplaces in the community. Then there were heartfelt tributes paid to two loyal, long-serving members who have recently passed and will be sorely missed. Thereafter, the agenda covered many of their exciting projects and fundraisers to follow. Members also generously bought a few of our ‘LIMITED DRAW’ tickets. Much needed inspiration!

Tuam Lions Club – President, Eamonn Kitt
02/02/2023 9pm (Lion Points 159.4)
Ann and Cindy received a very warm welcome from these Tuam Gentlemen and after telling them all about our exciting ‘Limited Draw’ fundraiser, they generously bought a book of 10 tickets which we were very grateful for.
Good luck guys, we hope there’s a lucky one!

Ennis Lions Club –
President, Paul Watson
02/02/2023 8pm (Lion Points 141.6)

Our future Club Secretary, Trish, presenting President, Paul with a little Lion souvenir as a token of our thanks for hosting us. Trish was asked to read the Lion’s Charter at the beginning of the meeting and was so moved by the time taken to reflect on World Peace. What a way to open a meeting!

Ballinasloe Lions Club –
President, Liam Howley
01/11/2023 8pm (Lion Points 69.2)
Our President, Patricia and Mary smiling after a very productive meeting which was initiated in November 2022 at the Emerging Lions Leadership Institute (ELLI) in Dublin. Another great collaboration!

Roscrea Lions Club –
President, Danny Kelly
10/10/2022 8.30pm
(Lion Points 82.8)

In October 2022, Margaret and Cindy joined their meeting, accompanied by Heather, another friend of Portumna and District Lions, who was on holiday from South Africa at the time.

On returning home to South Africa, Heather contacted and quickly joined her local Lions Club in Northcliff, Johannesburg.  She will be forever thankful to Roscrea Lions Club and its members for allowing her to attend their meeting and for making such a good impression. She was recently appointed Northcliff Lions Club’s Marketing Officer. What a success story!

Loughrea Lions Club –
President, Gerard Holohan
09/19/2022 8.30pm
(Lion Points 64.6)

After joining our neighbours for their September 2022 meeting we were very excited to support and attend their annual Christmas Concert which was a ‘sold-out’ success. We cannot wait to attend the next one!

‘Travelling Lions’ was originally devised in 1970 by Bert Mason, to encourage Inter-Club visits to develop fellowship, knowledge sharing, exchange of ideas and support wherever possible with projects, events and fundraisers. At the start of each Lionistic year, the District Competitions Officer issues Travelling Lion Cards to all Clubs.

Terms and Conditions for Travelling Lions:

  1. Visits are arranged in consultation with the President of the Club to be visited.
  2. Written evidence stating the Club visited, date and names of visiting Lions, must be signed by the President of the Club visited and must be emailed to awards@lionsclubs.ie.
  3. Lions Points are earned for visiting other Clubs within District 133, but not more than two visits to any one Club during the year.
  4. Lions Points will only be awarded for visits on Club meeting nights and Charter Anniversary nights.
  5. District Officers on official duty do not count and no points for travelling and finding no meeting.
  6. A 25% Bonus is awarded for 10 or more members visiting the same Club on the same date.
  7. Lions Points are calculated by multiplying the distance in kilometers travelled between clubs by the number of members attending the meeting.
  8. The winner shall be the Club with the highest number of Lion Points.
  9. The Competition will be judged on cards received between the start of the Lionistic Year and the 15th February each year.