Oliver Loughran 29.01.25

PROBUS CLUB 29th January 2025 Mr Oliver Loughran

Omagh Men’s Probus Club annually extends an invitation to the president of Omagh Rotary to address members in recognition of the fact that the club was sponsored by Rotary in the first instance, and owes its existence to Rotary, – as do all Probus Clubs in the UK and Ireland.  Unfortunately Mr Peter Waterson, Rotary President 2024 – 25 was unable to attend on Wednesday 29th. In his absence club member and Omagh Rotarian, Mr Oliver Loughran filled in and conveyed the best wishes of the Rotary Club for the year ahead.

Oliver took club members on a light-hearted trip down memory lane reminiscing about his childhood in Ballygawley where his grandfather, Joseph Loughran, had brought electricity to the village. Oliver attended St Matthews Primary School, Garvaghey where his mother was a teacher.  He recalled that the school was fully integrated and was envious that the Protestant pupils were allowed to play outside when the priest came to teach R.E.

Oliver is not the only club member to have attended the Christian Brothers Grammar School in Omagh and his contemporaries enjoyed sharing memories of the hardships they endured and the successes they enjoyed. At Queens he read English and with some pals formed a dance band. Their first booking was in an Orange Hall in Sandy Row.

In such lively and engaging vein, Oliver filled the morning with characteristic wit and good humour, a contribution for which he was warmly applauded.