History

The Club

Dalkey Leo Club was founded in September 2005 as a charitable youth organisation for the Dalkey Area within the framework of Lions Clubs International.

The Club grew out of a pre-existing youth group in Dalkey called Wide Eyes. This was founded in 2002 and oversaw the Heart to Hand project very successfully for a number of years. In the Spring of 2005, discussions began about adopting a more permanent structure for our activities in Dalkey. With the help of Killiney and Leopardstown Lions, it was decided to form a new Leo Club in Dalkey. Most of the members were people who had been involved in Wide Eyes and various parish activities in Dalkey. In September 2005, the first meeting was held in Fitzpatrick’s Hotel in Killiney and Ruth Dowling was elected Charter President.

On the 6th December, the official Inauguration of the Group took place in the Rochestown Lodge Hotel. Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin was the guest of honour and praised the efforts of the young people involved in the Club. The District Governor of the Lions in Ireland, Mr. John Mooney presented each new member with their Leo pin and a certificate of membership. Subsequently, the Club received its official framed Charter listing all the names of the founding members. The club is now thriving with about 30 members, all in either secondary school or college and has done great work in Dalkey and further a field. It meets every fortnight in Our Lady’s Hall in Dalkey.