Welcome to the Rotary Club of Ballymoney.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders.

There are over 32,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

There are some 58,000 Rotarians in Great Britain and Ireland in 1,845 clubs.

Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.

John Borland

Club President

Ballymoney is a market town with approximately 9000 inhabitants, situated near the breathtaking Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland. It has the highest life expectancy of any area in Northern Ireland.

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Ballymoney Rotary Club is pleased to congratulate Hannah Scott, from Dalriada School Ballymoney, on being the 2022 winner for Ballymoney schools Rotary Ireland Youth Leadership Competition. This prestigious competition is one of Rotary Ireland’s longest running youth projects and rewards young people with clear leadership potential.

Hannah has gone on to be selected as one of 4 winners from the Rotary Ireland Zone covering the northern part of N Ireland following a second interview stage held at the Lodge Hotel Coleraine on Wednesday 23rd November 2022. Her prize includes an all-expenses trip to Belfast, Dublin and the Strasbourg European Parliament in February 2023 along with all the other winners from Ireland.

Hannah participated in 2 stages of interviews with topics including her personal achievements, experience of leadership, knowledge of Rotary International, European Union and current Environmental issues.

Ballymoney Rotary Club President Trevor Patton presenting certificate and prize for winning the Ballymoney Schools final to Hannah at Dalriada School. Included from left are Head Teacher Tom Skelton, Senior Teacher Anne Williamson, Hannah Scott, President of Ballymoney Rotary Club Trevor Patton, John Flynn Youth Convenor and President of Ballymoney Inner Wheel Sharon Flynn.

Hannah Scott (first right) and 3 other Zone winners receiving congratulations from Joan Breen (second right), President of Coleraine Rotary Club following the Zone final held at the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine.

Annual Charity Breakfast - 8 March 2023

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Just One Life

Ballymoney Rotary Club - in partnership with PSNI, the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service - have once again undertaken their Newly-Qualified Safe Driving initiative, known as Just One Life.

Hosted on Wednesday afternoon 29 March 2023 by Dalriada School, approximately 250 Year 12 pupils from Dalriada, Our Lady of Lourdes and Ballymoney High Schools joined together to see what exactly can happen when a young driver takes their attention off the road.

During an action-packed and harrowingly realistic day, the pupils - who will soon be sitting their driving test and taking to the road themselves - got to see first-hand the effects of a young driver texting behind the wheel of a car.

Following a welcome by Dalriada Headmaster Tom Skelton and Mayor Ivor Wallace, a minute’s silence was held to remember the 55 victims of accidents on our roads during 2022. 55 pairs of empty shoes lined the stage to represent each one of the people killed.

The pupils then watched a short video where Police Inspector John Miller told them about what happens when a young driver is involved in a serious accident. After that they all moved outside into the car park to be met by the scene of a serious accident!

In a live Road Traffic Collision re-enactment, the Police were the first to arrive with lights and sirens going on the scene. A car had been involved in a collision with another car and there had been a fatality, with some passengers seriously injured.

The pupils were kept informed throughout the rescue process by officer Stuart Crutchey of the PSNI and David Fletcher of the Fire Brigade as members of the fire crew began cutting through the roof of the car to rescue those inside. They also were able to watch the young driver having his mobile phone confiscated - to be used as evidence - before being arrested and led away in handcuffs. The seriousness of the incident - effectively a murder scene, with evidence being collected for a subsequent court case - was impressed on them.

The sound of the cutters crunching through the car, while other members of the team shielded those still trapped inside from that work, was very shocking. It showed just how serious and dangerous a situation like this continues to be to those involved, even after the collision itself.

From the crash scene, the pupils moved back inside. Dr Ian Erskine - an Emergency Response Doctor - showed them first-hand what he and his colleagues had to deal with at the scene of a Road Traffic Collision. In his calm, quiet voice, he showed them time after time what simple mistakes can do, and some of the horrific consequences that people are left to cope with afterwards. The pupils sat in stunned silence at times; at other times ripples of horror passed through the room. By the end of his talk, no-one in the room was left in any doubt about the cost of a serious traffic collision. 

Following his talk, Dr Erskine joined a member of the PSNI team and a member the Fire Service on stage for a Question and Answer session with the audience. This again had a powerful emotional impact, as each member described the effect that particular incidents had had on them personally.

Ballymoney Rotary Club would like to express their sincere gratitude to the huge team of people involved in bringing this Road Safety initiative together, without whom it would not be possible:

The PSNI, the Fire Brigade and the Ambulance Service, who all give up their time and considerable resources, both in planning the event and on the day itself, to make the event as realistic as possible.

The Heads and Staff of the three schools, who support this initiative with great enthusiasm and throw the full weight of their own resources behind it and the pupils who took part in the crash scene.

Causeway Coast and Glens Council, who provide invaluable support including the provision of vehicles for the crash scene and transport of pupils to the event and sound equipment so that pupils can hear what is going on over the sounds of the cutting and other rescue activities!.

On Wednesday March 8th Ballymoney Rotary Club held their Annual Charity Breakfast in the Parish Centre in Ballymoney. President Trevor’s favoured charity this year was Samaritans and the Coleraine & District branch was to be the beneficiary of the breakfast proceeds. A phenomenal crowd passed through the Parish Centre that morning. The quality of breakfast was outstanding and the net result was a superb boost to Coleraine branch funds of £3,000. 

Ballymoney Rotary Club’s mantra is ‘Service above Self’ and whilst Samaritans benefited hugely this year, the Club’s reach exerts a positive impact on so many worthy causes at home and abroad with another recent triumph being the delivery of Shelter Box tents to Turkey in the aftermath of the recent earthquake.

David McKeown thanked the Rotary Club for their loyal support of Coleraine & District Samaritans over recent years; support which really made a difference during the dark days of the COVID pandemic. He praised the club for its initiative, energy and commitment and told the meeting that in Ireland (north & south) a Samaritan responds to 1,500 contacts every day – 24/7 every day of the year. That’s one every minute.

Samaritan volunteers give 100,000 hours of their time, voluntarily and last year dealt with way over 500,000 callers. Over the UK & Ireland as a whole there are 20,000 Samaritan volunteers who donate 1 million hours to listening to people who are distressed for whatever reason. 

David went on to say that Samaritans depend on the generosity of the public to enable it to deliver its service with 8 branches in N. Ireland. It is humbling to see, in the midst of so many worthy causes, the amazing generosity which our local community across the Causeway Coast area extended towards the Samaritan service.

President Trevor Patton presents a cheque for £3,000 to Coleraine & District Samaritans.

Rotarians & Samaritans pictured L-R – Mary McMahon, Michael Fleming, Alan Millar, Margaret McDowell, Trevor Patton (President Ballymoney Rotary Club), Anne Millar, John Borland, David McKeown (Director Coleraine & District Samaritans).

Presentation of cheques to local charities

Trevor Patton, President of Ballymoney Rotary Club, hands over charity donations to local charities  St. Vincent de Paul Society, CAP, Salvation Army, Wave and Robinson Hospital Palliative Care Fund. During the past the club has raised funds with various events, providing funding for international, national and local charities.

President Trevor Patton with St. Vincent de Paul Society representatives Margaret Gilmore and Noel Burns

President Trevor Patton with CAP representative Gordon Robinson

President Trevor Patton with Salvation Army representative Joan Archibald and Rotarian David Simpson

President Trevor Patton with WAVE representative Johann Coyle and Rotarian David Simpson

President Trevor Patton with Robinson Hospital Palliative Care Fund representative Margaret Allison

ROTARY CLUB OF BALLYMONEY  -

JACK PINKERTON ENDEAVOUR AWARD 2023

Simon Osborne receives the Jack Pinkerton Endeavour award from Trevor Patton, President of Ballymoney Rotary Club, right, watched by Simon’s father Tony Osborne.

The prestigious Jack Pinkerton Endeavour Award is made annually in memory of our founding President, Jack Pinkerton, esteemed father of our own Past President John Pinkerton. The award recognises the outstanding contribution made by an individual or group to the community of Ballymoney and district.

Following a serious accident on his motorcycle in January 2019,  Simon Osborne required the assistance of the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance. He credits the Air Ambulance with saving his life and indeed his injuries were so severe he was very lucky to survive. In return, assisted by his father Tony, mother Sharon, family, friends and members of the local community, Simon has organised a large number of fundraising events, with the amount raised by the Simon Osborne NI Air Ambulance Appeal now approaching an amazing 250,000.

On Sunday July 16 Ballymoney Rotary Club members and their friends and families enjoyed a barbeque in a marquee in the grounds of Rotarian John Borland. John very generously provided the marquee, catering and other facilities including a bouncy castle for the children. The Dalriada Folk Group provided music and the District Governor of Rotary Ireland Kenny Fisher attended, together with his wife Betty. Assistant District Governor Michael Fleming and his wife Eithne were also in attendance for what was a very enjoyable afternoon with all donations received going to Rotary charities.

After a busy day, John Borland finally gets a chance to relax with friends

Ballymoney Rotary President David Simpson receives a banner from District Governor Kenny Fisher with Assistant District Governor Michael Fleming looking on.

Recently the members of Ballymoney Rotary Club had a very enjoyable breakfast at the CAN (Compass Advocacy Network) facilities at Lislagan Farm, outside Ballymoney. After an informative and inspiring talk about the charity’s many different initiatives and its future plans, the members were given a tour of the facilities.

Trevor Patton, Past President of Ballymoney Rotary Club, had been able to secure funding from the Rotary Foundation and this was boosted by the Club. This enabled current President David Simpson to present Janet Schofield, CEO of the charity CAN, with a cheque for £2,000.

David commented that the charity was doing excellent work, in so many different ways, for those with learning disabilities, enhancing lives, creating change and providing services and social enterprise initiatives. He was in admiration of the way they provided much needed support for parents and siblings of those with learning disabilities, also providing support for health issues for the learning disabled. He wished the charity well with their future plans for the Lislagan Farm project.  

Cheque presentation to CAN (Compass Advocacy Network)

David Simpson. President of Ballymoney Rotary Club, presents Janet Schofield, CEO of the charity CAN, with a cheque for £2,000.

Rotary Youth Leadership Competition

On Tuesday 28th November Ballymoney Rotary Club hosted the Zone Final of the Rotary Youth Leadership Competition at the Royal Court Hotel, Portrush. Students from schools as far apart as Ballycastle, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Larne and Limavady had competed to represent their local area and at the Zone final and four students were successful in earning an all-expenses paid trip to Strasbourg, Belfast and Dublin with fellow zone winners from all around the island of Ireland. 

The competition, which is one of Rotary Ireland’s longest running youth projects, rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities. It is run in conjunction with the EU Parliament office in Dublin and Euroscola in Strasbourg. It is an opportunity for young people to enhance their personal development and improve their communication and teambuilding skills. Students learn life skills, as well as gaining confidence in public speaking and debate. 

The winning candidates were Lauren Bond from Dalriada School, Ballymoney, Grainne McAuley from St. Louis Grammar School, Ballymena, Lauren McKeown from Larne Grammar School and Sinead O’Reilly from Loreto College, Coleraine. The judging panel for the zone final comprised retired school inspector Brian Spears, Dr. Hazel Siberry and retired school principal Alan Brown. 

Commenting on their behalf Mr Spiers stated that the standard of the competitors was extremely high and very inspiring. 

Rotary Club of Ballymoney President David Simpson thanked all those who had made the event a success and said that he was extremely grateful to the main organiser of the event, Past President Trevor Patton. He assured the winners that they were in for an inspiring trip that they would never forget. 

Successful candidate Lauren Bond with David Simpson, President Ballymoney Rotary Club

Winning candidates Lauren Bond - Dalriada School, Ballymoney, Sinead O’Reilly - Loreto College, Coleraine. Grainne McAuley - St. Louis Grammar School, Ballymena and Lauren McKeown - Larne Grammar School.  

The seven worthy finalists together with the independent Judges Brian Spiers, Alan Brown & Dr. Hazel Siberry

Ballymoney heat of the Rotary Youth Leadership Competition.

Eva Beveridge, school winner for Ballymoney High School.

Ella Sharpe and Sarah Carson also took part.

Trevor Patton, Youth Leadership Competition co-ordinator, contestant Rebecca Ross, school winner for Dalriada School Lauren Bond, David Simpson, President of Ballymoney Rotary Club and Tom Skelton, Dalriada School Principal. Lauren went on to win the zone final and will travel to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The Rotary Club of Ballymoney recently donated £500 to Helen Logan from Stranocum to help fund the specially fitted sports wheelchair that she needs to train with the Commonwealth Game 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball team. This will be the first time that the Commonwealth Games has female competitors in the sport.

Helen, who was born with Spina Bifida, leads a busy life as a medical secretary. Two years ago, she found that she needed to use a wheelchair on a permanent basis and although initially this seemed a major setback she has made the most of things and joined the Forge Gym in Ballymoney to help build the strength in her arms. Her coach at the Forge Gym, Grace Boyd, encouraged Helen to apply to join the Commonwealth Games Wheelchair Basketball team. However, the necessary specially adapted wheelchair costs in the region of £5,000.

Grace set up a Go Fund Me page for Helen and the generous people of the area very quickly donated a large proportion of the funds necessary. The £500 donation by the Rotary Club of Ballymoney brings Helen even closer to her target but she has a bit to go yet and would appreciate any donations via her GoFundMe page. (At www.gofundme.com search for Helen Logan and the link to ‘Help Helen (Basher) Buy a Sport Wheelchair should appear).

Helen is also undergoing trials for the Northern Ireland Basketball team which has separate rules from the Commonwealth Games team. She plays wheelchair basketball for the Causeway Giants, one of seven wheelchair basketball teams in Northern Ireland. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have awarded Helen Elite Athlete Status. She appreciates the help that Disability Sport NI has given her and cannot speak highly enough of the coaching, support and encouragement given to her by Grace Boyd. Helen will be eternally grateful to the financial support she has received from so many local donors.

David Simpson, President of Ballymoney Rotary Club, said that the club had been inspired by Helen’s hard work and determination. He thanked Helen for highlighting to the club the challenges faced by wheelchair users and providing an insight into the world of wheelchair basketball, largely unknown to the public. He wished her every success and looked forward to seeing her again soon with her new sports wheelchair.

Helen Logan receives a cheque for £500 from David Simpson, President of Ballymoney Rotary Club. Looking on is Helen’s coach Grace Boyd from Forge Female Fitness.

On Wednesday 21st February the members of Ballymoney Rotary Club and their guests enjoyed a fascinating talk by Patrick Casement on Sir Roger Casement and the Casement family at the Royal Court Hotel, Portrush. During the evening Rotarian Billy O’Neill MBE was surprised when David Simpson, President of Ballymoney Rotary Club, presented him with a Paul Harris Award, the highest form of recognition that a Rotary Club can present, telling Billy that he embodied the true spirit of Rotary.  This award is presented to a Rotarian or member of the community who has made an outstanding contribution to the community.

Billy has previously been a recipient of this award so on this occasion he received the prestigious Paul Harris Sapphire Award. He has been a loyal supporter of Rotary fundraising events over many years and had embarked on a huge charity fundraising effort to celebrate his 80th birthday. In the more recent past the journalist Ivan Little wrote a book ‘Against the Tide: The Billy & Lily O’Neill Story’ and Billy has very generously donated a large some of money received from sales of this interesting book to Rotary charities.

Club President David Simpson presents Billy O’Neill MBE with the Paul Harris Sapphire Award

Patrick Casement addresses a large attentive audience

Ballymoney Rotary Club Annual Charity Breakfast March 2024

Just One Life

On March 20 in Dalriada School, Ballymoney Rotary Club - in partnership with PSNI, the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade and Dr Ian Erskine from Antrim Area Hospital A&E Department, once again undertook their Just One Life safe driving initiative aimed at newly qualified drivers and those planning to learn to drive.

Approximately 300 Year 12 pupils from Dalriada, Our Lady of Lourdes and Ballymoney High Schools joined together to see the consequences resulting from a young driver taking their attention off the road.

Following a welcome by Dalriada vice Principal Dr Walker and Deputy Mayor Margaret-Anne McKillop, a minute’s silence was held to remember the 71 deaths on our roads during 2023. 71 pairs of empty shoes lined the stage to represent each one of the people killed.

After watching a short video where Police Inspector John Miller told them about what happens when a young driver is involved in a serious accident, the pupils moved outside into the car park to witness a live Road Traffic Collision re-enactment. A car had been involved in a collision with another car and there had been a fatality, with some passengers seriously injured.

The pupils were kept informed throughout the rescue process by officer Stuart Crutchley of the PSNI and Station Commander Alan Murdoch from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. Members of the fire crew began cut through the roof of the car to rescue the occupants. The young driver of one of the cars had his mobile phone confiscated - to be used as evidence and after being breathalysed he was arrested and led away in handcuffs.

There followed the shocking sound of fire service cutters crunching through the car, while other members of the team shielded those still trapped inside from that work. One of the victims was carefully rescued from a damaged car using a spinal board.

The pupils then returned inside from the crash scene and Dr Ian Erskine an Emergency Response Doctor - showed them first-hand what he and his colleagues had to deal with at the scene of a Road Traffic Collision. He calmly showed them instances of what simple mistakes can do, and some of the horrific consequences that people are left to cope with afterwards. There was stunned silence throughout the room. By the end of his talk, no-one in the room was left in any doubt about the consequences of a serious traffic collision. 

Following his talk, Dr Erskine joined two members of the PSNI team and a member the Fire Service on stage for a Question-and-Answer session with the audience. Searching questions from the pupils resulted in comprehensive and thought-provoking answers from the panel. Miss Eilish Gillan, principal of Our lady of Lourdes School, brought the proceedings to a close with some insightful remarks and advice to pupils planning to drive.

Ballymoney Rotary Club would like to express their sincere gratitude to the huge team of people involved in bringing this Road Safety initiative together, without whom it would not be possible:

The PSNI, the Fire Brigade and Dr Ian Erskine, who all gave up their time and considerable resources, both in planning the event and on the day itself, to make the event as realistic as possible.

The Heads and staff of the three schools, who support this initiative with great enthusiasm and throw the full weight of their own resources behind it and the pupils who took part in the crash scene.

The Causeway Coast and Glens Council Policing and Community Safety Partnership, who provide invaluable support and the mayoral team. The Ballymoney Hospice Shop who loaned the 71 pairs of shoes to highlight the terrible loss of life on our roads.

Finally huge thanks are due to Trevor Patton from Ballymoney Rotary Club who coordinated the entire event.

Deputy Mayor Margaret-Anne McKillop addresses the pupils

At a recent evening event, Ballymoney Rotary Club President David Simpson presented a cheque for £1700 to Air Ambulance N.I., funds raised at the club’s Annual Charity Breakfast. There to collect it on behalf of Air Ambulance N.I. were Tony and Sharon Osborne whose son Simon has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident and whose life had undoubtedly been saved by the Air Ambulance. Since then, Tony, Sharon, Simon and their family, friends and members of the community have raised a huge amount of funding to help keep the Air Ambulance in the air. Although the Air Ambulance N.I. works closely with the NHS it receives 96% of its funding from public support. It could not fly without the volunteers who raise funds and awareness for the charity within the local community.

The critical pre-hospital care that is provided to trauma patients in Northern Ireland by the N.I. Air Ambulance is for many the difference between life and death. The helicopter engine never gets a chance to cool.

Sharon and Tony Osborne collecting a cheque for £1700 from David Simpson, president of Ballymoney Rotary Club

Ballymoney Rotary Club donates £1700 to Air Ambulance N.I.

With the help of the club and many local donors Helen has purchased and is now using her new wheelchair, training to compete in the Commonwealth games. Since she last visited the club, Helen has played her first match for the for the Northern Ireland team.

The members of the club were very impressed with this new lightweight wheelchair which is so much faster and more manoeuvrable and means that Helen does not have to put all her effort into moving a heavy wheelchair into position but can glide faster into position while being able to line up her shot.

Helen finds wheelchair basketball good for her mental and physical health and is now encouraging and helping younger people to take it up. As someone who has only been confined to a wheelchair in recent years, Helen offers a fascinating insight into life as a wheelchair user. On behalf of the club, Ballymoney Rotary President David Simpson wished Helen every success in her sporting endeavours.

Helen Logan demonstrates her new wheelchair to Ballymoney Rotary Club members

Ballymoney Rotary Club Jack Pinkerton Endeavour Award 2024

The Jack Pinkerton Endeavour Award, in memory of Ballymoney Rotary's founding President, the late Jack Pinkerton, recognises outstanding service and achievement by either an individual or a group to the wider community of Ballymoney and District.

This year it was awarded to Zara Hutchinson for her outstanding service to The Samaritans and to Ballymoney Community Fridge.

Zara has been an outstanding Samaritan since she joined the Coleraine & District over 2 years ago. Her zest for volunteering and quietly helping others is apparent to all who know her. In addition to being there for volunteers who call Samaritans, Zara is also there as a huge support to her fellow listeners. Zara's enthusiasm is infectious, and she makes all who come across her better people.

Under Zara’s leadership, Ballymoney Community Fridge has grown to the extent that the growing number of fridges and freezers has necessitated a move from the Old School House to the big hall at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre in Ballymoney.

Every Friday a warm space is provided for people to have tea or coffee and a chat. This is more necessary now than ever since after Covid many still feel isolated. Large supermarkets and independent food shops are happy to donate items that would otherwise be wasted e.g. fruit, veg, bread, meat etc, and the public, via the Community Fridge, can benefit from this produce.

Zara is very modest and keen to acknowledge the efforts of her loyal and dedicated team. Ballymoney Rotary Club keen to acknowledge her efforts.

Although Zara is a busy driving instructor, she is also a volunteer for the National Trust and delivers talks on the topic of hedgehogs to local schools.

The members of Ballymoney Rotary Club unanimously nominated Zara for the 2024 Jack Pinkerton Endeavour Award. She exemplifies the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’.

Zara Hutchinson receives the Ballymoney Rotary Club Jack Pinkerton Endeavour Award 2024 from club president David Simpson

Back in January 2024 the members of Ballymoney Rotary Club gave £500 to Helen Logan, who suffers from spina bifida and scoliosis, to help her to purchase a custom-made wheelchair to play wheelchair basketball. These wheelchairs cost thousands of pounds and Helen, who plays wheelchair basketball for the Causeway Giants, promised to return with her new wheelchair once it was purchased.

Rotary Charity Barbeque

The Rotary Club of Ballymoney recently hosted a successful barbeque at the Compass Advocacy Network (CAN) facilities at Lislagan Farm on the outskirts of Ballymoney. Rotarians and their spouses rolled up their sleeves to ensure 120 people enjoyed an excellent barbeque with Ballymoney’s very own Alastair Coyles providing musical entertainment. The event raised £2,500 which will be donated to local charities supported by the Rotary Club of Ballymoney.

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Club president John Borland rolls up his sleeves to ensure a successful event

Ballymoney Rotary Club will be hosting the Rotary Ireland District Conference in September 2025

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