Summer Outings – WI Ladies On Tour 2022!

Posted July 29, 2022 by WI Staff in Local Areas

Summer came early for lots of our WI members and friends, who’ve been setting off on fun-filled adventures across the province since early May. The Annual Outing is a WI tradition and it’s great that our groups are able to get together and get out for day trips once again, especially now that days are getting longer and brighter, showing all the signs of Summer!

Here are some snapshots of WI groups enjoying their Summer escapades…

Culmore WI (with Drumahoe WI)

The Culmore ladies were joined by 5 members of Drumahoe WI to round off the season with a comfortable coach run to Woodbank House Vintage Tea Room in Garvagh. Everyone enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea with prosecco in the drawing room – the same room that the very first Women’s Institute of Northern Ireland (Garvagh WI) held its inaugural meeting in back in 1932. The perfect place to visit in the WI’s 90th anniversary year! The group later visited Mid Ulster Garden Centre in Maghera for a spot of retail therapy. A wonderful day out, helped by lovely sunshine.

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Donaghadee WI

The Donaghadee ladies headed off on an outing to the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, where they enjoyed a guided tour, reading and listening to Heaney’s famous poetry and learning all about his interesting life. They later enjoyed a wander around the sensory garden in the sunshine, before heading to The Old Thatch Inn, Castledawson for a delicious meal.

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Gracehill & Galgorm WI

The Gracehill & Galgorm group enjoyed their first proper outing since before the lockdown in March 2020! The day started with some shopping in Magherafelt, before they travelled on by coach to visit the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy. Later in the afternoon everyone enjoyed a beautiful meal in the Taphouse Restaurant nearby, before returning to their starting point at Galgorm Community Centre.

♥ Special thanks to Gillian Fraser and Trisha Sherrey for organising the trip!

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Kells & Connor WI

At the end of April, the Kells & Connor ladies enjoyed a day out at Hillsborough Castle & Gardens, followed by a trip to The Boulevard shopping outlet, and later rounding off the day with dinner in The Halfway House, Banbridge.

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Killultagh WI (with Hillhall WI, Maghaberry WI & Maze WI!)

In May, Jennifer Brazil of Killultagh WI (with the help of Huttons Tours) organised a weekend trip to Carlow, staying at the Talbot hotel. The Killultagh ladies were joined by fellow WI members from Hillhall, Maze and Maghaberry, and some other friends – and off they set on their adventure! The group headed for Carlow via Strandfield in Dundalk, Newbridge (for lunch) and Brownshill Dolmen. On the following days, everyone visited Duckett’s Grove, Altamont Gardens, Delta Sensory Gardens, Kilkenny, Rathwood Centre, Ardgillan Castle and Gardens and finally rounded off the trip with a delicious meal in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry!

♥ Everyone had enjoyed a super weekend. Many thanks to Jennifer!

(Here are some of the gang, with a copy of the Ulster Countrywoman magazine on of their Carlow escapades!

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Mosside WI

Mosside members were in high spirits when they headed off on the train to Londonderry for their annual outing. A day of shopping in the city had been planned and everyone later got together for a lovely meal in the City Hotel, finishing off with great craic on the train journey home!

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Pomeroy WI

In celebration of the WI’s 90th anniversary, Pomeroy WI members and friends enjoyed a great day out at Woodbank House Vintage Tearoom – where the very first WI meeting (Garvagh WI) took place in Northern Ireland 90 years ago! The ladies later visited Maghera Garden Centre, where a lot of beautiful plants were purchased. What a lovely way to remember and celebrate this milestone in Northern Ireland WI history.

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Portaferry WI

Portaferry members and friends recently enjoyed a visit to the Tulip Festival at Glenarm Castle. Sandra Dickson told us, “The tulips were at their best and were absolutely beautiful! Although there was drizzle, it did not dampen our spirits!”

Afterwards everyone had a delicious lunch in the Londonderry Arms Hotel, Carnlough. Coach Connections ensured everyone’s safe travel and were very helpful.

A big thank you to the National Lottery Fund for covering all the costs of this great day out!

(Pictured are Secretary Barbara Lee & and Margaret Mitchell with June Braniff)

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Randalstown WI

President Pamela Walker organised an outing for the Randalstown ladies, to Hillsborough Castle, where the group enjoyed a guided tour. They also got to have a walk around the beautiful gardens. The outing was finished off with a delicious evening meal in Edenmore Country Club

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Richhill WI

The sun was shining, the ladies were smiling – it’d been 3 years waiting for Richhill WI’s outing! Killymoon Castle was the first port of call, where the group enjoyed a guided tour and learnt about the rich history and upkeep of this impressive building. President Edith McAdams commented, “Outside the sun was glistening on the meandering Ballinderry River, even the sheep came to greet us. We all came away feeling that we would never complain about housekeeping again!”

No WI outing would be complete without some retail therapy, so the next stop involved hitting the shops at Cookstown! The ladies later headed on to the Royal Hotel, to round off the day with a delcious high tea. All too soon, the ladies were back on the coach and homeward bound – tired, but very happy to have enjoyed a day out together once again!

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St. John’s WI

The St. John’s ladies recently visited Brian & Shirley McKnight’s garden in Waringstown, where the Head Gardener led them on a tour of spectacular blooms of flowers and shrubs in all colours. The beauty of the garden was matched with lovely sunshine! The group later headed on to Bide-A-While, near Mountnorris, for a tasty lunch and delicious desserts before returning home.