Athlone Probus group elects new president

Seamus McCormack was recently elected as the new president of the Probus Club of Athlone, succeeding Michael Harney.

Athlone Probus is an association of retired and semi-retired men who enjoy meeting up to discuss and share their interests. The club was founded in 1993, having been sponsored by Athlone Rotary Club.

There are 129 Probus clubs in Ireland, North and South, totalling some 4,500 members.

The emphasis is for Probus clubs to be simple in structure and free from the constraints and obligations of service clubs. The club is directed primarily to provide fellowship, with the opportunity for development and acquaintance, and is made up of members who are compatible with one another. The organisation and the constituent clubs are both non-sectarian and non-political. Athlone Probus Club meets at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel at 11am on Mondays (excluding Bank Holidays) from January to June, and from September to December. There is a summer break from meetings in July and August.

The weekly Monday meeting (of approximately one hour) consists of club business, which is kept to a minimum and mainly about future activities. An invited speaker will address the gathering on a local, national or international topic, or a club member will speak on some topic of personal interest.

Alternatively, the meeting can consist of a Monday visit to museums, gardens, factories, etc, of interest.

The Probus club of Athlone said membership provides self-generating goodwill, a sense of belonging, and a diverse background of interests. "The fellowship and cordiality evident within Probus clubs ensures a highly successful future for Probus as a firmly-established part of the community," it added.