Inter Club Quiz

Probus Inter Club Quiz

On Wednesday 19th April teams from the Probus clubs of Omagh, Enniskillen, Cookstown and Derry met in the Golf Club for an inter-club quiz, apologies having ben received from Dungannon and Strabane Probus Clubs.  Prior to the pandemic the Inter-club Quiz had become something of a fixture in the Probus Calendar, with teams from as far afield as Portballintrae participating.   After a three year gap imposed on club activities by Covid 19, it was encouraging to see the quiz reinstated and garner the level of support and enthusiasm it had previously enjoyed.
The winners on 19th April, and recipient of the James Eakin Shield, was the team for Londonderry Probus.  The Bert McCrory Cup for the best Omagh team was won by Omagh Ladies Probus. The question master was Mr Peter Cummings, ably assisted by his wife Margaret. In all it proved to be an enjoyable morning with the expectation that it would be possible to reinstate the quiz in the Probus calendar of West Ulster.

Players at the ready for the Inter-club quiz
Derry Probus team receiving the James Eakin Shield
Omagh Ladies Probus with the McCrory Cup
Quiz Masters Peter and Margaret Cummings receiving a gift from Club Treasurer Michael Cooney

Ladies’ Club Celebrate 25th Anniversary

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Photographs of guests at the luncheon: clockwise from top left – Founder member, Ethel Cuthbertson cuts the cake with President, Zoe Reid; Chairman of FODC, Howard Thornton and Club Secretary, Pauline O’Hagan; Rotary President, Michael McCrossan, Club Treasurer, Pamela McClelland, Men’s Club President, Paddy McGowan; Jack Reid and guest Speaker, Anita Robinson.

Last Thursday (22nd November), the members and guests of Omagh and Ladies’ District Probus Club gathered together in the Silverbirch Hotel for a celebratory lunch.  Also present were Howard Thornton, Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh Council,  Paddy McGowan, President of Omagh Men’s Probus, Michael McCrossan, President of Omagh Rotary Club and Anita Robinson, columnist for the Irish News and Guest Speaker for the occasion.

 

Omagh was the first Ladies’ Probus Club in Ireland and was founded at the instigation of Marion Mitchell.  At the lunch, the cake was cut by President Zoe Reid and one of the founding members, Ethel Cuthbertson.

 

Following an excellent lunch, Howard Thornton spoke to those present and reflected on their achievements throughout the years, mentioning, in particular, the very successful All-Ireland Probus Rally hosted by the Omagh Clubs in 2017.  Speaking on behalf of the Council, he passed on their congratulations and wished Omagh & District Ladies’ Probus Club every success for the future.  These sentiments were echoed by Paddy McGowan and Michael McCrossan in their speeches.

 

Zoe Reid then outlined the history of Omagh and Ladies’ Probus and thanked Mary Keane, for all her hard work in maintaining the archives of the club.  She then introduced our guest speaker, Anita Robinson.  Anita has spoken to the members before at one of their monthly meetings and everyone was looking forward to her return.  Her witty and wry observations on life in general are always highly entertaining.  On this occasion, she reflected on Christmases past, the build-up to Christmas and how Christmas can often be in reality.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

 

If there is anyone who is interested in joining Probus, or coming along to a meeting to see what it is  all about, the next meeting will be on Thursday, January 3, 2019.  Please feel free to come along.  A warm welcome waits for you.