🎈Celebrating More Milestone Institute Anniversaries!

It’s cake cutting time again!

The Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland is celebrating 90 years in 2022!  Here, we share some of the Institutes that have also reached a special milestone mark recently!  Some Institutes were unable to celebrate their anniversaries in 2020 and 2021, but now that Covid restrictions have eased, it’s great that our groups can get together again and party in person!  

 

Congratulations ladies – here’s to many more years!

 

🎈Ballymoney WI – 85th Anniversary

The Ballymoney ladies celebrated with their 85th anniversary dinner in the Royal Court Hotel, Portrush. Honorary membership was granted to Eileen Slater who has been a member of Ballymoney WI for over 50 years. Eileen cut the anniversary cake with President Isabel Dobbin.

 

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🎈 Hillhall WI – 75th Anniversary

 The Hillhall ladies celebrated with a special 75th anniversary lunch in the Braniel Hall.  President Anna Scott cut the anniversary cake, along with Lagan Area Executive Member Sheelagh McRandal.   The hall was wonderfully decorated with every aspect of WI life represented, including historical items from Hillhall WI’s formation in 1947. Following the lunch, guest speaker George Scott, a keen local photographer, displayed old photographic slides of Lisburn, evoking feelings of nostalgia for many of the members.

 

 

 

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🎈Boardmills WI – 70th Anniversary

 Boardmills WI held its first official meeting in January 1951 but, like many other celebrations, the members had to mark their anniversary a year late due to the pandemic.  A belated celebratory dinner was held in April, when members and guests enjoyed a delicious three course meal in the Mulberry Tree Restaurant, Seaforde. The celebrations continued with a visit to the Island Centre in Lisburn on another day, when the Boardmills ladies were the special guests of the Mayor, Stephen Martin and enjoyed a guided tour of the Council Chamber.

 

Cutting the 70th anniversary cake (L-R): Boardmills President Agnes Black, honorary member May Fox, Federation Chairman Margaret Broome and Rowallane Area Executive Member Brenda Richardson.

 

Inside the Council Chamber – members of Boardmills WI with Stephen Martin, Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

 

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🎈Magheramorne WI – 70th Anniversary

Members and friends of Magheramorne WI enjoyed a special night in the Curran Court Hotel, Larne to celebrate 70 years of the Institute.  Inver Area Executive Member Heather Adamson helped to cut the anniversary cake along with President Eithne Workman, who had baked it. The daughter of a fellow member had decorated the cake so beautifully that it was almost a shame to cut it! 😉

 

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🎈Muckamore WI  – 70th Anniversary

 

The Muckamore ladies held a special reception in the Dunadry Hotel to celebrate 70 years of their Institute.  President Elizabeth Gray welcomed everyone, including Knockagh Area Executive Member Pamela Robinson. Evelyn Fleming, one of the longest-serving members, said Grace before everyone tucked into a delightful meal. The theme for the evening’s entertainment led by members was ‘Down Memory Lane’ and included stories, poetry, history and lots of nostalgia.

Muckamore WI wish to thank those who sent cards and helped to sponsor this event.

 

Muckamore WI Committee members with President Elizabeth Gray (seated centre) at the Institute’s platinum celebrations.

 

Muckamore member Jennifer Johnston with the special 70th anniversary cake that she baked for the occasion. The cake was tastefully decorated by Jennifer’s daughter, Deirdre. This is the 4th anniversary cake that Jennifer has  made – another mouth-watering creation!

 

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🎈Culmore WI – 60th Anniversary

The Culmore ladies were finally able to celebrate their Institute’s 60th anniversary, when they gathered in Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Londonderry in May.  There was a great turnout and the ladies were delighted that the Mayor of Londonderry, Graham Warke was able to join them for the festivities.

♥ This was a bittersweet celebration, as their long-time fellow member and dear friend Kathleen Gallagher had passed away just a few weeks earlier.  The ladies really missed her presence.

 

Culmore President Dawn Devine with the Mayor of Londonderry, Graham Warke.

 

 

A WI tradition, cutting the anniversary cake – long-serving Culmore WI members Eileen Ranken and Else Millar, with Londonderry Area Executive Member Teresa Feeney, the Mayor of Londonderry and Culmore President Dawn Devine.

 

 

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