Centenary Events

Presidential Invitation

Áras an Uachtaráin

President Adrian and Margaret (Belfast Club) and President Randal and Jennifer (Dublin Club) were delighted to accept the invitation of Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, to Áras an Uachtaráin. Also present were RIBI President Burman, District 1160 District Governor Barney Callaghan and District Secretary Niamh Mulholland.

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Special
Club Meeting

Europa Hotel

To celebrate the first meeting of the Rotary Club of Belfast on 24th July 1911 this unique Club Centenary Meeting was held in the evening of 25th July in the Europa Hotel. District Governor Barney Callaghan attended as did the Presidents of the Clubs which the Rotary Club of Belfast extended. The meeting specially re-enacted the first Club meeting in ‘the style of the time’. In addition, the sealed box, filled 50 years ago and presented to Rotarian Alan White (the youngest member at the time) was presented to Centenary President Adrian and opened.                   Report

Celebratory Dinner

City Hall, Belfast

The gala Charity Dinner held Thursday 15 September 2011 in the magnificent surroundings of the City Hall, Belfast celebrated the Club's 100 years continuous service to the City of Belfast, the island of Ireland and worldwide since the first meeting in 1911.

The centrepiece in our year of celebrations we were delighted to have as special guests: Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant from the County Borough of Belfast Dame Mary Peters, Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland President Burman (pictured 3rd left) and Rotary District Governor Barney Callaghan (pictured far left).

Keynote speeches were given by RI President Kaylan Bangeree (by video link), RIBI President Burman and President Adrian.

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District 1160 Conference

Limerick

The Conference themed “The Next 100 Years” was held in Limerick 22-25 September 2011.

The Club's Centenary was uniquely presented to the Conference by PP Bryan Johnston (again resplendent in period costume) ADG Maurice Brooks, PP Arthur Boyd, Ronnie Porter and President Adrian

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Service of Thanksgiving

St Annes’s Cathedral
Belfast

3.30pm

In celebration of 100 years of Rotary Service in the City of Belfast and beyond the Club held an Inter-denominational Service of Thanksgiving in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast on Sunday 30 October.

The Choral Evensong was conducted by The Very Reverend John Mann, Dean of Belfast Cathedral. The invited congregation comprised visiting clergy, Dame Mary Peters, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast, Past District Governors, Officers and members of Rotary Clubs throughout Ireland together with representatives from many of the charitable organisations with which the Club has been associated.

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 MT4Uth Concert

May St Church Belfast

6.00pm

The 50 strong, talented, young cast, selected from auditions across Ireland, entertained, thrilled and delighted all the audience with a show of song, dance and drama in their spectacular musical West Side Story. 

Held specially for the Club Centenary, this special Rotary Family Concert by MT4Uth concluded their Belfast Festival's run in May St Church.

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21 Gun Salute

Hillsborough Castle

12.00 noon

A special day was had by the Club when the Club proudly celebrated the Centenary at a 21 Royal Gun Salute fired at noon Monday 14 November 2011, the birthday of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. At this singular event 3 ceremonial light guns were fired at 12 noon simultaneously with salutes held in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Gibraltar, York and Stirling. 

Our own Honorary Member Dame Mary Peters, DBE, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Belfast inspected the troop after the Salute. 

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District Council
Dinner 

The Club were delighted to organise a dinner in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings for Rotary Clubs throughout Ireland who had gathered in Belfast to attend the Council Meeting of Rotary District 1160 (Ireland). The dinner, recognising the Centenary of The Rotary Club of Belfast by District 1160 was kindly hosted, on behalf of the Club, by Michelle McIlveen MLA. 

DG Barney Cavanagh held the Council meeting in Belfast as an honour to the Belfast Club as he had been touched to see present the 3rd generation of founder members and a long service member at the Club Centenary Meeting.

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Dinner 
in the
House of Lords

Hosted by Lord Laird, members of The Rotary Club of Belfast will be joined by several members from the Rotary Club of London and international guests of Lord Laird for a tour and Dinner in the House of Lords. 

By kind permission of Black Rod we are also privileged to include a tour of the House of Commons.