Ballymena Rotary Club

Ballymena Rotary Club The Club meets normally on Tuesdays {except Public Holidays} at the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena at 1pm. Every third Tuesday we have an evening meeting at 6pm.

Meetings commence at 1.00pm with a buffet lunch and finish at 2.00pm. Every third Tuesday we meet in the evening at 6.00pm with Dinner followed by a Guest Speaker. We are always delighted to welcome guests to our meetings.

On Friday, 28th August, the President of the Rotary Club of Ballymena, Chris Wales, accompanied by several fellow Rotari...
28/08/2026

On Friday, 28th August, the President of the Rotary Club of Ballymena, Chris Wales, accompanied by several fellow Rotarians, was delighted to attend the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant by the Harryville Men's Shed at the Services Club, Trostan Avenue, Ballymena.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a voluntary pledge to support the welfare, employment and education of the Armed Forces community and their families. It represents a national commitment to ensuring that those who serve or have served, along with their families, receive fair treatment and the support they deserve.
It was a privilege to be present for this important occasion and to show our support for the Armed Forces community and the valuable work being carried out within our local community.
The event was also enhanced by some fantastic music from the Ballymena and Harryville Young Conquerors, who provided a wonderful musical accompaniment to the proceedings.
The Rotary Club of Ballymena is proud to stand alongside local organisations and community groups in supporting those who have served, and continue to serve, our country.
Service Above Self.

It was a pleasure to welcome District Governor George Roche, his wife Maeve, and Assistant Governor Kim Devlin-Neil to t...
18/08/2026

It was a pleasure to welcome District Governor George Roche, his wife Maeve, and Assistant Governor Kim Devlin-Neil to the Rotary Club of Ballymena meeting today at the Adair Arms Hotel.
We would like to thank George and Kim for taking the time to visit our Club and for sharing their thoughts, encouragement and enthusiasm for Rotary.
A club pennant was presented to District Governor George, who in turn presented a small gift to Club President Chris Wales.
Following the meeting, George was given a short tour of the Rotary Rest Space at Midtown Makers , before he and several Rotarians were warmly hosted in the Mayor’s Parlour by Deputy Mayor Bethany Carson-Ferris.
A very enjoyable and worthwhile afternoon of Rotary fellowship, community connections, and sharing the work we do locally.
Thank you, George, Maeve, Kim and Bethany, for making it such a memorable visit.

Great to see Emma Dempsey (who won our Youth Leadership Competition) has been appointed head girl at Ballymena Academy f...
18/06/2026

Great to see Emma Dempsey (who won our Youth Leadership Competition) has been appointed head girl at Ballymena Academy for 2026/27

Rotary Club of Ballymena Supports Local Community OrganisationsThe Rotary Club of Ballymena is delighted to announce don...
17/06/2026

Rotary Club of Ballymena Supports Local Community Organisations
The Rotary Club of Ballymena is delighted to announce donations of £400 each to five outstanding local organisations that make a significant difference within our community.
The recipients are:
🔹 Crocus Special Needs Association – providing support and opportunities for people with learning difficulties.
🔹 Macmillan Cancer Support – helping local cancer sufferers and their families through difficult times.
🔹 Turning Point NI– provides free, community-based support, counselling, intervention and prevention programmes for people affected by mental health issues, su***de, self-harm and addiction, while also signposting individuals to other appropriate services when needed
🔹 Back In The Game – a walking football group based in Galgorm that promotes physical fitness, social connection, and mental well-being among its players.
🔹 The George Sloan Centre – delivering a wide range of services, including day care for individuals with learning disabilities and complex healthcare needs.
These donations reflect Rotary’s commitment to supporting organisations that improve lives, promote wellbeing, and strengthen our local community.
We commend the staff, volunteers, and participants of these groups for the valuable work they do every day and are pleased to play a small part in supporting their efforts.

The Club Assembly meeting today provided an excellent opportunity for committee chairs to outline their plans, projects,...
16/06/2026

The Club Assembly meeting today provided an excellent opportunity for committee chairs to outline their plans, projects, goals, and areas of focus for the 2026–27 Rotary year. These presentations helped create a clear picture of the Club’s direction and priorities for the year ahead, ensuring that members can work together effectively to support our communities and achieve our objectives.
A special highlight of the evening was the formal handover of the Rotary Chain of Office from outgoing President Debbie Chestnutt to incoming President Chris Wales, marking the beginning of a new Rotary year and leadership team.
The evening also celebrated individual service and commitment, with the prestigious Rotarian of the Year Award and perpetual cup being presented to Honorary Secretary and Past President Peter Chestnutt in recognition of his outstanding dedication and service to the Club.
Congratulations to Chris on his presidency, to Peter on his well-deserved award, and to all committee chairs as we look forward to another year of Service Above Self.

12/06/2026

Congratulations to Gordon Kane MBE
The Rotary Club of Ballymena extends its warmest congratulations to our Honorary Member, Gordon Kane, on being awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).
This prestigious honour is a fitting recognition of Gordon’s exceptional dedication, commitment, and service to the community over many years. Through his tireless efforts, he has made a positive and lasting impact on countless individuals, organisations, and community initiatives. This national recognition reflects the immense respect and admiration in which he is held by all who have had the privilege of working alongside him.
Everyone at the Rotary Club of Ballymena is immensely proud of Gordon’s achievement. As a valued friend and Honorary Member of our Club, he has consistently demonstrated the very highest standards of service above self, inspiring others through his example and unwavering commitment to helping others.
We thank Gordon for his friendship, encouragement, and outstanding contribution to our community, and we wish him every happiness as he celebrates this remarkable and richly deserved honour.
Sincere congratulations, Gordon, on your MBE – a truly fitting recognition of a lifetime dedicated to service, leadership, and making a difference.

Recognition of support for the Rotary Club of Ballymena Christmas Hamper Scheme It is incredible to reflect that almost ...
11/06/2026

Recognition of support for the Rotary Club of Ballymena Christmas Hamper Scheme
It is incredible to reflect that almost 30 years have passed since Rotarian John Stuart established the Rotary Club of Ballymena Christmas Hamper Scheme. Through his dedication and vision, strong relationships were built with schools throughout the Ballymena area, creating a lasting legacy of kindness and community spirit.
Today, thanks to the continued generosity of our local primary and post-primary schools, pupils, parents and supporters, we are able to provide over 400 Christmas hampers each year to local people experiencing loneliness, financial hardship, homelessness, mental health challenges and other difficult circumstances.
To recognise and thank the schools whose incredible donations make this possible, the Rotary Club of Ballymena hosted a Tea, Coffee and Scones morning at the Adair Arms Hotel on 11th June 2026. This event was an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding contribution of our school communities and acknowledge the difference they make across Ballymena.
Today, we were also proud to recognise three local charities that have benefited from the Christmas Hamper Appeal:
Barnardo’s Leaving Care, Ballymena
Simon Community, Ballymena
Women’s Aid ABCLN, Ballymena
Whether schools have supported us since the beginning or have recently come on board, every contribution helps make Christmas a little kinder for those in need.
On behalf of Rotary Club of Ballymena and everyone who receives a hamper — thank you for your continued kindness, generosity and community spirit.

Our Charities Exhibition for the months of June and July will showcase the incredible work of the Society of St Vincent ...
10/06/2026

Our Charities Exhibition for the months of June and July will showcase the incredible work of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP). This display, together with a permanent Rotary exhibition, is located in the new dedicated Rotary Rest Space in Midtown Makers. During the launch of the exhibition yesterday we met with some Spanish visitors from Bilbao and were delighted to introduce them to the work of the Rotary Club of Ballymena!

Prior to the launch we were joined at our Rotary Club meeting by Kieran Killough, President of the Ballymena area of SVP. Kieran thanked the Club for its generous donations over the years and gave examples of the services provided to individuals facing poverty and disadvantage.

Further information on SVP is available throughout the months of June and July at the Rotary Rest Space in Midtown Makers, Church St, Ballymena. Once again, our sincere thanks to our Corporate Members from Ballymena Business Centre who created this dedicated Rotary space.

400 Million Steps for 400 Years – A Remarkable Achievement! Rotarians stepping out at Saturday's Ballymena 400 parade ar...
24/05/2026

400 Million Steps for 400 Years – A Remarkable Achievement!

Rotarians stepping out at Saturday's Ballymena 400 parade around Ballymena.

Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Ballymena on reaching an incredible 400 million steps on the Treekly App —a truly fitting way to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Ballymena’s Town Charter.
This milestone is a powerful reflection of community spirit, teamwork, and dedication. Every step taken has not only honoured Ballymena’s rich history but has also contributed to a healthier, more connected community.
The Treekly App itself is built around a simple but inspiring mission—encouraging people to walk more for their own well-being while making a positive impact on the planet. By achieving daily step goals, participants help fund real-world tree-planting projects, support global reforestation, and help reduce carbon emissions, all while fostering friendly competition and community engagement.
Through this initiative, the Rotary Club of Ballymena has demonstrated how local action can have a truly global impact. In addition to improving health and strengthening community bonds, we have helped protect our environment for future generations by planting over 16,000 mangrove trees, thereby counteracting climate change.
An outstanding achievement—well done to everyone involved!

ROTARY SIGNPOST CELEBRATES BALLYMENA 400 As part of Ballymena 400 celebrations, the Rotary Club of Ballymena has unveile...
24/05/2026

ROTARY SIGNPOST CELEBRATES BALLYMENA 400
As part of Ballymena 400 celebrations, the Rotary Club of Ballymena has unveiled a new international signpost in the People’s Park, highlighting Ballymena’s links across the world and to the Rotary movement.
The signpost has six ‘directional fingers’ which point to the following places:
Chicago- this is where the Rotary organisation was first established by Paul Harris in 1905.
London- location of the first Rotary Club outside the USA
Toronto- Timothy Eaton from Ballymena established the first Eaton store in Toronto
There are also fingers which point in the direction of Morehead, Kentucky, as well as Gibraltar. Ballymena is ‘twinned’ with both locations.
The international signpost also has a finger which points towards Slemish, one of the most famous landmarks close to Ballymena.
The sign was manufactured by Harryville Men’s Shed and unveiled by Mayor Councillor Jackson Minford during the Ballymena 400 Celebration Parade and Fun Day.
The plaque at the base of the new sign includes the following inscription…
This signpost has been donated by the Rotary Club of Ballymena in recognition of the 400th Anniversary of the granting of the Ballymena Estate to the Adair Family by Charles I.
A lasting reminder of Ballymena’s local and international connections for future generations.

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1 Ballymoney Road
Ballymena
BT435BS

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