Men's Fellowship

President: Brian McLaughlin: Vice-president: Rev. Dr Isaac Thompson; Programme Secretary: Robert McNeely; Press Secretary: Brian McGlaughlin; Minute Secretary: Bill Houston; Social Secretary: Bill Houston; Ex Officio: Michael Gardiner, James Heaney, Graham Lowe and Hugh McGrattan.

Programme Sub Committee: Brian McLaughlin, Rev Dr Isaac Thompson, James Heaney, Bill Houston and 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 held in The Frazer Room. A full programme of speakers is 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 charities. Fellowship are always keen to welcome new members.

AUTUMN PROGRAMME 2026

Sept 24th - From Paperboy to Peacemaker - Tony Macauley

Oct 1st - The Power of Prayer - Jarvis Traynor

Oct 8th - The Ulster Scots Diaspora and Global Influence - Ulster Scots Association

Oct 15th - Speaking the Truth - Will Leitch

Oct 22nd - Air Ambulance - Tracy Strachan

Oct 29th - Breakfast by Eswatini with Portrush Ukes

Nov 5th - Remembrance of the Somme and Anzacs - Rev Dr I Thompson

Nov 12th - Virtual Heritage Tours of Portrush - John McNally

Nov 19th - Ballywillan Wellness Hub - Christine Dunlop

Nov 26th - The History of the RNLI in Ulster - Robert Corbett

Dec 3rd - Co Antrim’s Connection to American Independence - Keith Beattie

Dec 10th - CHRISTMAS LUNCH in the Royal Court Hotel at 12.45pm