Three decades of friendship in Ballyhaise/Castletara

“Life is a gift and age is a privilege.” Those were the words of local woman Angela Reilly at Ballyhaise/Castletara Social Club’s recent 30th anniversary celebrations.

“Thirty years is a long time,” the chairperson said.

“We have shared days away, birthdays, quiet cups of tea, Christmas parties and outings together. We have supported each other through life’s hard moments, and cheered for each other’s joy.”

“This is down to our loyal members,” she praised.

“This is what makes our club and I want to thank each and everyone of you for your loyalty.”

The club held a special gathering last Wednesday, August 12, in Ballyhaise Community Centre, welcoming club members and their counterparts from social clubs in Laragh and Bunnoe. There are around 55 members in the Ballyhaise club.

Those gathered chatted for a while before they enjoyed a meal, followed by speeches and entertainment by Belturbet’s Sam O’Keeffe. The hall, lined with tables, was decorated with posters and balloons to celebrate the occasion.

Almost 30 years ago, led by Angela and Gabriel O’Hanlon, who were both public nurses in the area at the time, with parish priest Fr Leo O’Reilly, a public meeting was held on November 5, 1996, to discuss how they could meet the social needs of people over the age of 65 years in the parish.

“It was a different time back then,” said Breege Lyons, the club’s Assistant Chairperson.

A committee was formed that day, and the group came together for their first meeting the following week in Castletara Hall. They were supported by Age & Opportunity (now Positive Age) and the North Eastern Health Board.

Twenty people attended this meeting and agreed to be volunteers to run the club, some of whom are still in the group today. It was also agreed that the club would meet the second Wednesday of each month, a tradition that still stands.

Their first annual outing was a boat trip on the River Erne. “That was a very exciting day,” Breege recalled.

“We could tell a lot of stories from that day.”

From 2000 until the pandemic hit in 2020, the club also went on overnight stays each year.

“Only for this club, we would not have seen or heard of places that we visited on our day trips and our days away,” the assistant chair said.

“There are not many counties in Ireland that we have not seen.”

Seamus Costello, who has been coming to the club since 2019, enjoys meeting up with new people and old friends.

“Sure it’s just brilliant,” he told the Celt.

“It’s a great social outing for me.”

The Castletara man had a very bad stroke in 2016 and lost complete power on his left hand side. In 2018, as he was starting to recover, he had a second bleed on his brain.

“It’s especially good for me to be able to get here,” Seamus said.

“I’m blessed that I can get to events, considering what happened me.”

For the past 20 years, Belturbet woman Phyllis Cassidy has also attended the club. She started coming with her friend Mary, who has since sadly passed away.

She has met new people since joining, and enjoys the “togetherness” of people chatting.

Ballyhaise/Castletara Social Club fondly remembers those who have passed, and is grateful for the support of members, local businesses and everyone who helps them, and to those who have provided entertainment over the years.

“Here’s to the next 30 years,” Breege concluded.