Author: OPC

 

On Wednesday 7 December 2022 Omagh Men’s Probus Club hosted a Christmas Lunch for members and their wives and the widows of former members.  In addition the Club was pleased to welcome Mr John Campbell, President of Omagh Rotary Club, Mr Phil Marshall, Captain of Omagh Golf Club, and Mrs Anne McBain, Vice-President of Omagh and District Ladies Probus Club.   The general feeling was that it was great to back in the Golf Club after a two-year break enforced on the Club by the Coronavirus pandemic.  As members and guests arrived they were treated to a glass of Prosecco or a soft drink before taking their seats for lunch. All were warmly welcomed by the Club President, Mr Michael Cooney, whose witty opening address preceded a fine festive lunch.  A raffle of gifts provided by Club members rounded off very pleasant afternoon during which there had been many opportunities to catch up with old friends, some of who had not met since the last luncheon in 2019.

Photos: Members and Guests enjoying Lunch

Wednesday 16th November 2022: Speaker, Mr Gerry Knight RNID
Gerry has been a volunteer with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf for the past 22 years, service which was recently recognised by the award of a British Empire Medal [BEM].  Gerry focussed his talk on what he does as a RNID volunteer., starting with drop-in clinics held monthly in various local centres.  At these he does minor repairs to hearing aids as well as help people adjust to a new aid. When taken off hearing aids default to zero and it takes time for users to learn how to reset them. Hearing aids also require regular cleaning, something with Gerry is happy to demonstrate at clinics. For those who cannot attend clinics, home visits are arranged.

Gerry reported that hearing loss is widespread in the community with men being the poorest patients because of their reluctance to admit anything is wrong.  GP referrals to an audiology clinic normally take about three weeks and hearing aids provided by the NHS are every bit as good as privately purchased aids costing upwards of £2,000.  Hearing loss can be inherited but can also be due to a range of illnesses and reaction to certain types of medication. Over 500,000 people in the UK cannot use a telephone.

Gerry concluded his talk by discussing some of the latest developments in hearing aid technology which are allowing young persons to play musical instruments. Following an informative question and answer session he was thanked for his valuable talk by Oliver Loughran.

Wed19 Oct 2022: Speaker Mr Malachy McAleer, Former Principal, S W College

The guest speaker at the meeting held on Wednesday 19 October was Mr Malachy McAleer who entitled his talk, “Life’s journey – lessons learned”. Although born in Glasgow his formative years were spent on the family farm near Trillick where his mother put great store by education and learning. The family home was full of books, and he got all the encouragement needed to progress from Primary School to Grammar School and on to the Queen’s University, Belfast where he took a degree in Civil Engineering. On graduating he joined the well-known company of Ferguson and McElveen before moving into education as a lecturer in the Sligo Institute of Technology. After 10 years in Sligo he joined the staff of “Omagh Tech” now part of the South West College. As Principal on the Omagh Campus he worked hard to create a partnership between the College and industry with the focus on employment and employability. As regards Further Education in Northern Ireland he sees it as work in progress, feeling that there is much that could learned from the institutes of Technology in the Republic of Ireland and in Germany.

Meeting 5 October 2022. 

When the club resumed activities after the summer recess 14 members turned up in Omagh Golf Club to plan a programme for the autumn.  It was agreed to have one speaker per month and one meeting led by Club Members.  After discussion in which many ideas were floated, a sub- committee was set up to determine the direction of travel.  During the meeting attention focussed on the publication, in booklet form, of reminiscences of members of both the Men’s and Ladies’ Probus based on memories of childhood in the 50’s and significant events since.  The photo below shows those present on Wednesday 5 October.   There was regret that Theresa who served the members with tea coffee and biscuits each Wednesday was leaving the Golf Club for employment elsewhere. It was agreed to present her with a small gift in appreciation for her services over several years and in future purchase refreshments from the new drinks’ dispenser recently installed in the foyer of the Golf Club

Front Row [L – R] Club secretary, Alastair Orr, Vice-President, Hugh Ward, Chairman Michael Cooney, Des Smart, Harman Scott, Club Treasurer Felim O’Neill
Back Row: [L – R] Emon Cunningham, John McCandless, David Haddow, Kenneth Collins, Derick Rainey, Dr Tom Connolly, John Robson, Jim McBain

 

Omagh Probus Club Outing Wednesday 1 June 2022

On a day when the sun shone brightly 21 club members and guests set out on a coach tour of Inishowen, capably arranged by Club President, Michael Cooney. The first stop was Fort Dunree for coffee and scones before moving on to the Famine Village at Doagh. The day ended with a scenic trip to Malin Head with an enjoyable evening meal in the Strand Hotel, Ballylifin on the way home.

 FORT DUNREE, CO. DONEGAL

The fort is located on a rocky promontory accessed over a natural fissure. It was originally built as part of a series of fortifications defending Lough Swilly during the Napoleonic Wars.  The fort was neglected after the peace of 1815.  In 1874 it was armed with seven 24 Pounder guns.  Later 2 x 6 inch guns were added; both guns were operational during the First World War.

In December 1921, the Anglo Irish Treaty provided for the establishment of the Irish Free State.  The Treaty included provisions by which the British would retain sovereignty over three strategically important ports known as the Treaty ports, one of which was Fort Dunree on Lough Swilly.  The fort remained under British sovereignty until 1938; thereafter  and the guns were maintained  by the Irish Army until decommissioned following the Second World War. Fort Dunree was used by the Irish Army for training until 1990.

Doagh Famine Village
Doagh Famine Village tells the story of a Donegal family and community living on the edge of Donegal and surviving from Famine times right up to the present day. A visit here also helps explain the road to peace in Northern Ireland, Ireland in the ‘Celtic Tiger’ years and the current economic collapse.

Doagh Famine Village contains a wide selection of actual size attractions, including some original dwellings which were still inhabited up to 20 years ago. In fact, the centre has been built around the home of the owner who lived here with his family until 1983.

Some of the Famine Village’s buildings – such as the Orange Hall, Presbyterian Meeting House, Mass Rock and Hedge School and a Republican Safe House – depict the diverse history and culture of this corner of the Inishowen peninsula. Other buildings house information on the travelling community’s culture and other Irish traditions such as food, cures and the ‘Irish Wake’, a traditional send-off for the dead.

 

Wednesday 8 May 2022: Mr Stephen Kee speaking about his heart transplant

In his own words: 
I am a 58-year-old Husband and Father from Omagh who earns a living through worldwide trading in construction equipment and components.   In 2013 I suffered Heart Failure by a mystery virus and had an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator or ICD fitted to regulate my heart rhythm and provide a shock if needed.  Shortly after surgery I was discharged and enjoyed a good recovery returning to near normal physical activities and everyday life.

Almost 30 months later in 2016 I was unfortunately again attacked by the virus and deteriorated rapidly in the early summer of that year. One Wednesday in June I went to my GP for a check-up, and he noted my levels were low and I presented with blue lips and other symptoms of advanced Heart Failure.  He contacted my Cardiac Nurse and put the wheels in motion for me to be admitted to hospital 5 days later for observation.

Shortly after I was admitted my Cardiologist determined I had end stage Heart Failure and stated there was nothing more could be done for me in his hospital.  I was told to get my affairs in order, and he would continue efforts to have me admitted to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne.  Days later I was taken by air ambulance to The Freeman and urgently rushed through Transplant Assessment.

Later that week I was deemed suitable for Transplant and placed on the top of the UK Transplant List.  At this stage my life was being measured in days rather than weeks or months but I was on the list and in the Freeman so I felt I had a chance!  One warm Wednesday afternoon with only days to live and exactly 4 weeks after my GP had put the wheels in motion, I was told there was a potential organ on the way and to get ready for theatre!

I presented one of Europe’s most experienced transplant teams with some of their greatest ever challenges and spent nearly 30 hours over the next 5 days in theatre as they battled to give me the gift of life.  Some 10 days later I was still alive and extremely confused but fighting and began 9 months of recovery.

They taught me how to grip a cup, swallow, stand and then walk.  In 6 weeks I was discharged to a flat close to hospital and spent another 6 weeks there with daily clinics and yet more surgery on wounds before being discharged and returning home.  I now visit The Freeman for clinic every 12 weeks and follow a strict medication regime but lead a meaningful life with objectives which include “Plan for the worst but Hope for the best”

The reason I write these words is due to the courage of my Donor and the power of Organ Donation.

Thank You

Stephen J Kee

 

 

 

Club Members who visited Gortin Glen Forest Park on Wednesday 4 May 2022

The group was welcomed to Gortin Glen by Sean Harper a member of the management team responsible for the maintenance and development of the Forest Park. Sean explained that over the last few years several million pounds had been spent upgrading walks and cycle trails and improving visitor experience. The most eye catching feature was a new play park built around a Californian Redwood Tree. A café, open at the weekends and on public holidays has proved very popular. Local schools have access to a refurbished classroom an adult groups can book the covered barbecue area. Toile facilities have been upgraded and lovely wood carvings are encountered at every turn. After a visit to the deer enclosure the group repaired to the Glen Perk Restaurant for tea, coffee and scones.

 

Wednesday 23 March: Meeting of the Programme Committee 

The committee met at 10.30 am in the Hugh Ward’s home.  After stopping to admire the lovey displays of spring flowers in Hugh’s extensive garden it was down to the serious business of enjoying tea, coffee and scones provided by Hugh’s wife.  The meeting itself was very productive with a programme for the first part of the year – up to the June Outing and Summer recess – put in place and with a goodly number of ideas noted for the second part of the year.

Meeting of Wednesday 16th March 2022 : Speaker Fr Peter O’Kane, Drumragh Parish

Invited to deliver a New Year address Fr Peter conceded that events had transpired to delay his visit but pointed out that every day starts a new year in our lives and the opportunity to take a fresh look at the future.   He spoke of the opportunities he had had along the way to make decisions about his own future starting from schooldays in Strabane when he could never recall wanting to be anything other than a priest.   In 1998 he entered Maynooth College, there to take a degree in Philosophy, Theology and Music. Following placements in Dublin which involved chaplaincy duties in prisons and hospitals and work among the homeless he was ordained and assigned to a parish in the Waterside district of Derry.  His continuing interest in academic studies saw him posted to Rome in 2009 to study Canon Law.  On his return he ministered in the Greater Dublin area for a time before joining the Dominican Order in Cork. During this time, he lectured in Canon Law in Maynooth before returning to Co Tyrone as Curate for the Parish of Drumragh. His new year message drawn from his own experiences was simple. “Accept that there is a providential hand guiding your life: believe in it and find peace wherever you are”