Men's Fellowship

President: Brian McLaughlin: Vice-president: Rev. Dr Isaac Thompson; Treasurer: Graham Lowe; Programme Secretary: Robert McNeely; Minute Secretary: Bill Houston; Social Secretary: Bill Houston; Press Secretary: Hugh McGrattan.

Programme Sub Committee: Brian McLaughlin, Rev Dr Isaac Thompson, James Heaney, Robert McNeely (Sec)

Meets Thursday mornings (10.30) from September to March.

For the past 30 years, the Ballywillan Men's Fellowship has provided a weekly meeting-place for the retired and semi-retired men of the district.

During that time, several hundred speakers have entertained and enlightened the members through varied talks and presentations.Just as importantly, hundreds of friendships have been made in the informal atmosphere of pre-meeting gatherings where tea, coffee, biscuits and craic are enjoyed in equal measure!

Never intended as a strictly Ballywillan Only gathering, the Fellowship has lived up to its initial expectations and can claim members from every church denomination in the area,as well as many with no church connections at all. Current membership stands at 36 within an age range from the fifties to the nineties.

Members come not only from the Portrush district, but from a wide area extending up to a dozen miles away and including Coleraine and Portstewart. In the past year they have enjoyed a programme of varied talks and presentations.

Meetings are normally held in The Frazer Room. A full programme of speakers has been arranged until Easter, when the session will end in traditional style with lunch at a local restaurant. Indeed, lunch is usually enjoyed two or three times during the year, with wives and friends invited.

There is a small annual fee (£15) with another £1 per meeting, which helps to defray speakers' expenses. Surplus funds are usually shared between one or two social welfare type charities. Fellowship are always keen to welcome new members.

PROGRAMME 2025 - 2026

Sept 18th - Committee Meeting

Sept 25th - Streetwise - Judith Lavery

Oct 2nd - Memories of VE Day

Oct 9th - Old Belfast - Colin Shaw

Oct 16th - Chaplaincy at Coleraine FC. - Rev M Ferry

Oct 23rd - Breakfast with Portrush Ukes

Oct 30th - Chaplaincy at University of Coleraine - Rev John Coulter

Nov 6th - Remembrance Nan Commemoration - Keith Beatti

Nov 13th - To EV or not to EV - David Boyd

Nov 20th - Wycliffe Translators - Rev A Bill

Nov 27th - Refugees - a side effect of conflict - Dougie Tyler

Dec 4th - Townlands of Ulster - Andrew Kane

Dec 11th - CHRISTMAS LUNCH