Killyleagh is getting much more friendly

Killyleagh is getting much more friendly

28 September 2016

A NEW Friendship Club in Killyleagh is bringing people from all walks of life in the town together.

Twice a month they meet at the Presbyterian Church’s outreach centre in Irish Street for lunch and yesterday’s get together also raised money for Macmillan Cancer.

The club — which is run by volunteers — was launched last April and after a summer break it has resumed, with people getting together on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. They meet at 12.30pm for a light lunch of home made soup and bread, cheese and tomatoes, followed by tea, coffee, biscuits and cake.

All the food is supplied by volunteers and while only 12 people came to the Friendship Club when it was launched shortly after Easter, that number has more than tripled. With the majority of those who attend women, the volunteers are hoping more men will join the club which is free and open to people of all ages.

Sandra Higgins, wife of Killyleagh minister, Rev. Hiram Higgins, explained the idea to set up the new club came about as a number of ladies were chatting around a table about reaching out to people in the community.

She said there are many people who attend churches in Killyleagh who are lonely and they wanted to provide an outlet for them, somewhere they could get together and meet up with people they had not seen for a while.

“We launched last April and advertised through the churches and word of mouth around Killyleagh. We were not sure how well it would go. We got an encouraging number on the first day and while there were a few Tuesdays that we were worried about how many would come, we were soon up to 28 people. There were almost 40 coming along before we had our summer beak which is terrific,” said Sandra.

“We are keen to see more men coming and hope this will happen. We are confident that not only will they enjoy the lunch, but have a bit craic with the others who are here. It is a very, friendly and relaxed atmosphere.”

While the Friendship Club is open to all, it is ostensibly used by senior citizens and is very much a cross-community initiative, with people from all the town’s four churches attending. And while all those who attend want to pay, the volunteers have to continually insist that the lunch is free.

Sandra added: “The Friendship Club is about fellowship and people coming together. The volunteers provide the food and we are all delighted to do so. We love to see a good crowd as that gives us all a boost. We would encourage people in other towns and villages to do what we do as it is very rewarding.”

Jim Scott, another one of the volunteers, said it is great to see the people coming along and interacting with one another.

“There is a wonderful, warm fellowship among all those who come along. It is very relaxed and very informal and the homemade soup and bread isn’t bad either,” he quipped. “We all get so much out of what we do. Seeing people, many of whom may live alone, coming along and interacting with one another is terrific. It’s great to see people’s face light up when they are enjoying the friendship of others.”

Ronnie McMaster, another one of the volunteers, explained the Friendship Club is about trying to bring the people of Killyleagh together.

“We hope that by doing this we will narrow the divide in the community. There is an open invitation for people to attend and the club provides a great opportunity for the elderly in particular to have a chat with old friends and make some new ones,” he continued.

“We are pleased with the number of people who are attending and would like to encourage the town’s menfolk to get involved. We believe they will enjoy what goes on here. The craic is great and the people who come along really get a lot out of it.”

Ronnie said the volunteers are delighted with the response of people to date, explaining the successful new initiative provides a great opportunity for elderly people in particular to meet up and have a chat, in many cases, with old friends.

The Friendship Club’s volunteers hopes more people in the Killyleagh area will come along, assuring them of a warm welcome, a filling lunch and some good company on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.