Success All Round at Armoy Women’s Institute.

WHAT better evidence to show that the Women’s Institute has something to suit the interests of different ladies than the sheaf of awards received at recent Northern Ireland Competitions by the Armoy ladies.

Janne Patton came first in Decoupage while Beverly Simpson got a top mark in the Music Festival and a first for her singing of a Song from the Shows (in costume).

Freda Cunningham won the Bowling Competition, Isobel Barkley won the Isobel Lusk cup for Knitting and our own Karen Munnis had yet another of her Photographs used for the front cover of our Ulster Countrywoman magazine.

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So from art to music and bowling to knitting,photography to many other activities there is something at WI for everyone - even if it is only the happy social gathering with a delicous supper that you enjoy.

The speaker this month was Jim Milliken who took members on a visual tour around National Trust properties around the spectacular North Coast.

Many places were very familiar yet their beauty never ceases to enthrall us.

The National Trust is the largest conservation charity in Europe and its aim is” to make all of their sites available for everyone for ever.”

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With stories about the monetary cost of restoring the lions at Lions gate (£50,000) to the physical cost of carrying the 2,000 concrete blocks one at a time across the Carrik -a-Rede bridge to restore the Fisherman’s cottage and the dilemma of trying to accommodate the public at places like Portstewart Strand and White Park Bay and yet maintain the natural Flora and Fauna the diverse and very important work of the Trust was highlighted.

Why not make this summer the year that you try to visit as many local NT sites as possible and cut down on petrol costs of travelling further afield.

April is competition time and with an impressive display of over 30 entries the winners were as follows: Decorated Carrot Cake -Katy McCurdy, Pot of Lemon Curd-Lorna McClure, Knitted Baby Blanket -Valerie Tweed, WI 80th Anniversary Home made Card -Nancy Orr and 5 Bloom Flower Arrangement in an unusual container - Lorna McClure.

These ladies will now represent Armoy at the Area Spring Meeting on the 30th April in Portballintrae.

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Thanks go to the two regular judges - Myrtle Calderwood and Paddy Loughridge who so willingly share their expertise w leaving members many tips -their best one is Practice makes Perfect!

Summer events including, meal at Logans in May, catering at Balmoral show ,ACWW walk for ‘Women walk the world’ in Ballymoney and outing to the 80th Anniversary at Greenmount College were arranged before we closed our meeting