Last year, the Newry Inner Wheel donated its archive of photographs, records, and press material to Newry and Mourne Museum, a remarkable record of decades of women-led voluntary activity. This newly donated archive preserves this long history of civic engagement that may otherwise have been overlooked by mainstream histories.
The Inner Wheel was first established in Manchester in 1924 by wives of members of The Rotary Club, which was launched in 1905. The object of the club was firstly to forge friendships between the spouses of Rotarians, and secondly, widen opportunities of service.
Charitable work took centre stage, but the Manchester group also helped in the formation of other clubs and then districts. By 1934, ‘The Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland’ was established and by 1967, International Inner Wheel (IIW) was formed. Active in 104 countries, it is one of the largest women’s voluntary movements in the world and has representation at the United Nations.
Inner Wheel District 16 comprises clubs from across Ireland. As well as its core values of friendship and humanitarianism, the organisation also encourages leadership and personal development.
The Inner Wheel Club of Newry, No. 16 District, was established in 1948. The founder President was Mrs. E. Mahood and the Secretary was Mrs. F. Kennedy. Their Charter presentation took place on 24th May 1949 in The Great Northern Hotel in Rostrevor, with dinner and musical entertainment. Most Rotary and Inner Wheel clubs in District 16 were represented.
In the beginning, their focus and energies were spent attending to twenty-four elderly patients in the local hospital, who had no relatives. They were visited regularly and on Christmas Eve, received treats and a special present each. There were also a considerable number of parcels wrapped up containing food, sweets, toys, crackers, cigarettes, etc., for unfortunate people in the district. Requests were often received for donations or assistance from many groups like the Newry Swimming Club, Newry Youth Club or Friends of Newry Hospitals who needed volunteers for the Trolley Service.
In the 1960’s monthly meetings took place in various locations. Local hotels, including the Boulevard, Ardmore, Imperial and Ballyedmond Castle Hotel were popular destinations. Alternative venues had to be found during the Troubles. On 16th February 1972 the minutes read, ‘There was not any monthly meeting in January because of the troubles in Newry. We changed the venue to the Seven Steps, Warrenpoint’. Meetings were also held in the Wave Crest Hotel, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Hotel, as well as being hosted in members houses.
The business of the club also involved working with other women’s groups and a regular programme of talks. On 2nd October 1963, the secretary was asked to write to the Newry Business Professional Women’s Club, with the view to holding a joint meeting to collaborate on shared matters. The minutes from 5th October 1966, read ‘Mrs Feeney, guest speaker, gave us a most interesting talk and demonstration on Carrickmacross Lace. We were all fascinated and watched and listened in silent admiration’. The following month, there was discussion on an invitation from the Newry Soroptimist Club, to attend a talk about the Thalidomide Appeal. The guest speaker on 5th November 1980 was Mrs. Margaret Niblock, principal of Daisy Hill Hospital School, who gave an interesting talk on the teaching of sick children.
As previous generations have benefited from the benevolent work of Newry Inner Wheel, Newry and Mourne Museum thank them for entrusting their records to the Museum’s Collection, where they can be preserved for future generations.
