Tannagh Hill Rural Development Associatlon
Report of the Chalr, year, May 2023 to April 2024
We meet tonight for our A.G.M. after our first full year of activity after the
Lockdown.
The Wednesday Club continues to be the mainstay of the association,
so it is good to see that nonnality has returned fully after the Lockdown
period.
In May saw the first Bus Trip we have organised since the
lockdown. This was a shorter and closer to home trip than usual for
us. It was to Brownlow House, Lurgan for a very informative tour of
the House by David Martin, followed by a Buffet Lunch provided by
the in-house Caterers.
After Brownlow House there was time for a few hours shopping in
Rushmere Shopping Centre, Craigavon.
In September was rnore like our usual Bus Trip. Our first stop was
at the Ulster Scots Centre, Reivers House in Kilkeel where we
heard about their work in the Kilkeel area and were entertained to
some Highland dancing, fifing and lambeg drumming.
Then it was onto a breezy but dry Newcastle for the afternoon. Our very
enjoyable Evening meal was provided by Warrenpoint Golf Club.
The Club meetings for the season started in October with
Sarah Milsop from Armagh County Museum giving us a reminiscence
session using some old household items which some members had
some memory of using.
In November we had Stanley Burrows show old photographs of
Armagh shops. Again, members could see the changes that time
has brought to Armagh.

OurAnnual Carol Service was held in the Orange Hall on Sunday
afternoon the 11 th December. Revd Bill Atkins officiated as Revd
Matthew Hagan, Chaplin to the Hospice was unable to attend.
Our best ever collection for the Southern Area Hospice saw the
Association being able to fomard a cheque to the Hospice for £750.
Our December Club meeting took the fomi of a soup lunch with
dessert. The food was supplied by Diamond catering in
Aughnacloy but served by the members themselves.
We had the unusual format of two different speakers after the
Lunch. Craig Neville from the uls.ter Scots Agency spoke on
Lambeg drum making and John Proctor from Portadown spoke on
stamp collecting and showed some of his extensive collection.
In January was our four course New Year Dinner, supplied and
served by Diamond Catering Aughnacloy which was enjoyed by all
present. After dinner entertainment was by Sharon Whitcroft.
In February we had a very interesting and informative speaker,
local man Mark Dougan who is a Paramedic. Mark told us about
his training and what he could encounter on duty any day. He told
us that having to deliver a baby was the scariest duty he has ever
had to perform.
In March our speaker was the recently installed Rector of the
Parishes of Tynan, Aghavilly and Middletown, Revd Derek Kerr
who is a mind of information on the Royal Family. His talk was both
informative and witty. He also brought some of his Royal
memorabilia which members enjoyed seeing up close.

Our final meeting of the season was in April where we again had a
soup and desert lunch served by the members.
Our speaker was no stranger to the Club, Stephanie Rock, the Senior
Citizen Officer from A.B.C. Council. Stephanie brought us up to date with
the Councils strategy for older people in the Council area.
During the year the Association obtained funding from;
The Ulster Scots Agency
DAERA
C.AC.D. Markethill, re the Cross Border Circle of Learning
programme of workshops which Ivan and Roy attended.
On a sad note we lost one of our long standing club member's when
Cilla Jackson passed away in February after a short illness.
Once again l as Chair and on behalf of the committee would like to thank
the staff of C.A.C.D, Markethill for all their help and advice throughout
the year which we could not do without.
Finally, a word of thanks to all of the committee who work for the benefit
of the association and particularly those who work closely with the
Wednesday Club.
Ladies and Gentlemen it gives me great pleasure to present this report.
Ivan White, Chalr, Tannagh Hill Rural Development Associatlon.
Wednesday 12th June 2024.