Club Projects
Our club actively participates in a wide range of service projects designed to meet the specific needs of our community.
Food Appeal
Our annual Christmas Food Appeal supports hundreds of local families in need during the holiday season.
Senior Support
We organise social outings, trips, and support services for older people in our community to combat isolation.
Joes Party
Joe’s Party is a long-running community event organised by the Dún Laoghaire Lions Club as part of its local service work…
Joe’s Party is a long-running community event organised by the Dún Laoghaire Lions Club as part of its local service work. Originally started as a Senior Citizens Party, it was renamed in 2013 after the death of Lion Joe Pankhurst to honour his major contribution to the event and the club. According to the club, it has been running for over 16 years and is designed not only for senior citizens but also for people experiencing isolation, limited social contact, or mental and physical challenges. The event began in Smyths Pub, later moved to the Motor Yacht Club, and more recently has been hosted at The Graduate in Killiney.
The purpose of Joe’s Party is social inclusion—bringing people together for companionship, entertainment, and community connection in a welcoming environment. It reflects the wider mission of the Dún Laoghaire Lions Club, which was founded in 1969 and focuses on voluntary community service, elder support, fundraising, and local wellbeing initiatives.
Carer’s weekend
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club supports the national Lions Clubs of Ireland Carers’ Weekend programme by helping local…
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club supports the national Lions Clubs of Ireland Carers’ Weekend programme by helping local family carers access fully funded respite weekends, even though the event itself is run nationally rather than exclusively in Dún Laoghaire. The programme is designed for unpaid family carers who provide round-the-clock care and need a restorative break from the physical and emotional demands of caring. Dún Laoghaire Lions Club, as part of Lions Clubs Ireland, contributes through fundraising, sponsorship, and local outreach to identify carers who would benefit.
The goal is to give carers respite, peer support, relaxation, and recognition for the often-isolating work they do. Many participants build lasting friendships and gain practical support.
Christmas Food and Toy Appeal
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club Christmas Food & Toy Appeal is one of the club’s longest-running and…
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club Christmas Food & Toy Appeal is one of the club’s longest-running and most significant community projects. Since the club was founded in 1969, it has organised this annual initiative through fundraising, public donations, and volunteer collections to support families and older people who may be struggling during the Christmas season. Every cent raised goes directly towards community support, as all administration costs are covered by Lions Club members themselves.
Each December, Dún Laoghaire Lions Club is based at Bloomfields Shopping Centre in Dún Laoghaire, where members collect food and donations for their annual Christmas Hamper Appeal. A Gift Giving Tree is also set up to help gather toys for children’s hampers. Cards placed on the tree display a child’s name and age, allowing shoppers to choose a card, purchase an appropriate gift, and return it to a Lions member on site or leave it securely with shopping centre staff.
These hampers are distributed to individuals and families in need throughout the Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown area. The appeal has been running successfully for many years, and the club greatly appreciates the continued generosity and support of the local community.
This appeal is about more than providing food and toys—it helps preserve dignity, hope, and joy for families who might otherwise face hardship during the festive season. It reflects the club’s wider commitment to elder support, social inclusion, and practical local service.
The Christmas Food & Toy Appeal remains a vital Dún Laoghaire community initiative, combining public generosity with direct action to provide hundreds of food and toy hampers each year. It continues to be one of the Dún Laoghaire Lions Club’s most valued charitable projects and a cornerstone of its service to the local community.
Spectacle Recycling
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club Spectacle Recycling Project is one of the club’s key year-round community and international aid initiatives…
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club Spectacle Recycling Project is one of the club’s key year-round community and international aid initiatives. It focuses on collecting unwanted glasses so they can be reused by people in need around the world. The project supports Lions Clubs Ireland’s wider “Recycle for Sight” programme, which helps improve access to vision care in lower-income countries where prescription glasses are often unavailable or unaffordable. Dún Laoghaire Lions believes that old glasses can make a life-changing difference for people with impaired vision.
The programme collects used prescription glasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses. Both intact and some damaged spectacles are accepted, as the lenses are especially valuable. Donations are sorted through the Lions recycling network before being shipped for grading and distribution to developing countries through Lions’ international partners.
The local impact of this project is significant. In 2022 alone, Dún Laoghaire Lions shipped 1,100 pairs of glasses for recycling and redistribution, while in 2025, more than 5,000 pairs were sent thanks to the generosity of donors. Collections take place throughout the year, making this an ongoing effort rather than a seasonal campaign. It forms part of the club’s wider mission of promoting wellbeing, supporting people with disabilities, and providing practical service both locally and globally.
Lions Clubs in District 133 Ireland are committed to helping people with impaired vision by giving new life to unwanted spectacles. Donated glasses can be posted directly to the club or dropped into collection boxes located in most Specsavers stores nationwide, as well as selected opticians throughout Dún Laoghaire. Spectacles collected in Ireland are sent to Medico Lions Clubs de France in Le Havre, where they are sorted and graded before being distributed to developing countries. Tens of thousands of pairs are recycled each year through this initiative. While lenses are the most essential part, intact frames and spectacle cases in good condition are also greatly appreciated.
This project is important because recycled spectacles can help children access education, adults improve employment opportunities, older people maintain independence, and communities reduce landfill waste through reuse and recycling.
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club Spectacle Recycling Project combines local generosity with global impact. By donating unwanted glasses, local people help provide the gift of sight to those who might otherwise go without vision correction. It is a practical, environmentally responsible, and deeply meaningful service that reflects the Lions Club’s longstanding commitment to supporting communities both locally and internationally.
Message in a Bottle
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club “Message in a Bottle” programme is a practical and potentially life-saving community safety initiative designed…
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club “Message in a Bottle” programme is a practical and potentially life-saving community safety initiative designed to help emergency services quickly access vital medical and personal information when someone is seriously ill, injured, or unable to communicate in their own home. Supported locally by Dún Laoghaire Lions Club as part of its commitment to health, wellbeing, and independent living, this scheme forms part of the wider Lions Clubs Ireland and UK Lions initiative.
The programme provides individuals—particularly those who are vulnerable, living alone, or managing medical conditions—with a clearly marked green plastic bottle containing an important personal information form. This form includes essential details such as name, address, photograph, medical history, medications, allergies, GP information, emergency contacts, next of kin or carer details, and even notes about pets that may require care. The bottle is stored in the fridge, where emergency responders are trained to look, while special stickers placed on the front door and fridge alert paramedics, Gardaí, fire services, or other first responders that a Message in a Bottle is available.
By providing immediate access to critical information, the scheme saves valuable time in emergencies and supports faster, safer decision-making. Quick access to accurate details about medications, allergies, and emergency contacts can be crucial, while also offering reassurance and peace of mind to users, their families, and carers.
Dún Laoghaire Lions Club provides the bottles, forms, and service free of charge to the public, funding the programme directly. To date, more than 3,000 of these potentially life-saving kits have been distributed throughout the Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown area.
The scheme is especially valuable for older people living alone, individuals with disabilities, carers, and anyone with health conditions or complex medical needs. However, it can benefit anyone who may require emergency assistance at home. Through community outreach, awareness campaigns, and local partnerships, Dún Laoghaire Lions Club continues to promote and distribute these packs as part of its broader mission of elder support, disability assistance, and practical community service.
The Message in a Bottle programme is a simple yet highly effective initiative that can save lives, reduce treatment delays, and help vulnerable people maintain independence in their own homes. By ensuring essential information is immediately available when it matters most, Dún Laoghaire Lions Club helps create safer communities while providing peace of mind for individuals and families alike. It remains one of the club’s most valuable and practical community-focused services
Peace Poster
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club Peace Poster Contest is part of the wider international Lions Clubs International Peace Poster…
The Dún Laoghaire Lions Club Peace Poster Contest is part of the wider international Lions Clubs International Peace Poster programme, a long-running youth initiative that encourages children to express their vision of peace through art. Organised locally by Dún Laoghaire Lions Club, the competition gives young people an opportunity to reflect on themes such as peace, kindness, understanding, and global citizenship while developing and showcasing their artistic talents. It is one of the club’s key educational and youth-focused projects.
Each year, Lions Clubs around the world invite young people aged 11 to 13 to design posters based on an annual peace theme set by Lions Clubs International. Schools and youth groups in the Dún Laoghaire area are invited to participate through local Lions outreach. Students create original artwork that reflects their interpretation of peace, unity, and hope for the future.
The contest is open to children aged 11–13 and is based on a specific international theme each year. Participants submit hand-drawn or hand-painted posters. Local winners are selected by the Dún Laoghaire Lions Club, and winning entries may progress to district, national, and international levels of judging. International winners receive recognition and prizes through Lions Clubs International.
The aims of the competition are to encourage young people to think about peace and global understanding, promote creativity and artistic expression, build awareness of social responsibility and kindness, and connect local communities to an international movement for peace.
Dún Laoghaire Lions Club promotes the contest locally by working with schools, teachers, and youth organisations. Club members help organise participation, judge entries, and celebrate the achievements of young artists. This reflects the Lions’ wider commitment to youth development, education, and community engagement.
The Peace Poster Contest gives children a voice on important global issues, builds confidence and creativity, strengthens school and community involvement, and promotes messages of tolerance, unity, and hope. For many participants, it is more than an art competition—it encourages reflection on real-life issues such as conflict, inclusion, friendship, and cooperation, aligning closely with educational values such as citizenship, empathy, and social awareness.
Local winners may receive certificates, awards, or public recognition at Dún Laoghaire Lions Club events, with selected posters progressing to higher levels of the competition.
For more than 30 years, Lions Clubs worldwide have supported this international art competition. Millions of children from nearly 100 countries have taken part, making it a truly global initiative. Dún Laoghaire Lions Club continues to encourage students in the Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown area to participate each year, with teachers playing an important role in supporting and inspiring pupils.
Overall, the Peace Poster Contest is a meaningful youth programme that combines creativity, education, and global awareness. By encouraging children to express what peace means to them, it nurtures artistic talent while promoting compassion, understanding, and hope. It remains a strong example of how Dún Laoghaire Lions Club supports young people and contributes to building a more thoughtful and peaceful community.