For Sinead McAuliffe and mum Eimear, Rotary definitely runs in the family.
They created an Irish historic first by becoming the first mother and daughter to be Rotary presidents in the same year.
Dubliner Sinead took over the help of Carlow Rotary, while Eimear is President of Dun Laoghaire Rotary.
In an interview with the Carlow Nationalist, Sinead, who works as a Montessori teacher, described it as a huge honour to take over as President of the club in south-east Ireland.
Sinead told the newspaper: “I would like to thank our outgoing president Fintan Phelan, who did an excellent job at steering the club over the past two years.
“Over my term as president, I am looking forward to working on many long-standing Rotary projects, such as our Christmas remembrance tree on Barrack Street.
“I am also excited to be bringing in some new projects, such as a Bikes to Africa scheme, in collaboration with Carlow County Council, whereby old bikes can be brought to a designated drop-off point and they will be restored and sent out to most deserving children in Africa.”
Sinead has been a Rotarian for five years since moving to Carlow. She said she was aware of the ethos and good work of Rotary.
She added: “I have grown up with Rotary and I have seen all the good work it does in the community.
“As club president, I will be giving it my all and, working with our club members, we will continue to help our local community while developing life-long friendships.”
Among the more creative of President’s handovers, Fordingbridge Rotary in Hampshire did theirs in style, using a Harley Davidson bike.
Among the more creative of President’s handovers, Fordingbridge Rotary in Hampshire did theirs in style, using a Harley Davidson bike.
Biker Peter Mouland came to the rescue with his sparkling Harley Davidson 1800 Herald Deluxe to collect the Presidential chain of office from now Past President, Paul Hammond, at his home in Breamore.
From there, the chain was taken by bike to the new President’s house, Toni Butler, at Alderholt, where she received it, and handed over the Vice-President’s chain to Pete so that he could take it back to Fordingbridge, where the new vice-President, Will Peak lives.
