Melvin Jones Fellowships
The Melvin Jones Fellowship is recognition of a commitment to humanitarian work. The fellowship is the foundation's highest honor and represents humanitarian qualities such as generosity, compassion, and concern for the less fortunate.
At our Christmas party, Malahide Lions President, Stephen MacDonagh, had the great pleasure in presenting Lion Damian Carberry with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.
Damian initially joined Antrim Lions Club in January 1991. He was Antrim Lions Club President in 1994/1995 when they first hosted the 105i Lions Convention in the Dunadry Hotel. After leaving Antrim, Damian was then a member of Cavan Lions Club from 2008 until 2010.
He joined Malahide Lions Club in March 2017. Damian was Club President from 2018 until 2020. He remains a most valued member of our club.
Damian was chairperson Zone E from 2019 until 2023 and is a CPR District Officer since 2020.  He became part of the District Diabetes Team in 2023 and has been District Officer for the Message in a Bottle initiative since 2020.
Many congratulations, Damian, on your award from all the Malahide Lions.
At the meeting on 20th June, Lion Jimmy Brett was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship. Since joining the Club in 2001, Jimmy has been an outstanding member, and has acted as Auditor for the Club accounts for many years. He served as President in 2007. Congratulations Jimmy.
At the president's Handover on 5th July, outgoing President Bernadette Murray was delighted to present long standing Club Member, Michael Ryan, with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for his outstanding contribution over so many years to Malahide Lions Club. Michael joined the Club in 1995, President in 2000, Food Appeal coordinator for so many years, is always willing to help and take part in all and any activities and is one of our best attenders!
Congratulations, Michael!
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Due to Covid 19, the Melvin Jones Fellowship Awards for 2020 were presented by the spouses of the recipients during a Zoom club meeting. In her address President Bernadette Murray thanked Lion Brian Dooley  for his long distinguished service to the club and his outstanding role as club secretary for the past 8 years. She also thanked Sheilagh McGirl for her 15 years service to the club during which she served as president on 2 occasions.
At the Charter Dinner 2018, the District Governor, Frank O'Donoghue, presented Melvin Jones Fellowships to Lion Alfie O'Dowd, in recognition of his hard work organising club events, and to Matthew Ryan (Jr) who continues to make the Grand Hotel available to the club for all occasions, following the tradition set by his father, Matt Sr. since the club's inception in 1973.
At the President's Handover on 3rd July 2018, outgoing President Mary McNamara had the pleasure of presenting Stephen MacDonagh and Tony McCarthy with Melvin Jones Fellowship Awards. Both were inducted into the club on the same day in 1989. In her address Lion President Mary complimented Tony on his organisation of the club's Art Exhibition over the years (Tony is an acclaimed artist himself), his photography during club events, and his compiling of the club's scrapbooks and photo albums. Stephen was complimented on his twenty-year commitment to St. Francis Hospice through the annual Hill Walk, and his commitment to the wider community through his involvement in Meals on Wheels, the parish Lourdes pilgrimage, the Credit Union and the St. Sylvester's GAA Healthy Clubs Initiative. The award came as a surprise to both recipients, who are former club presidents. 
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Patricia & Stephen MacDonagh
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Terry & Tony McCarthy
At the club meeting of May 15th 2018, Lion President Mary McNamara presented the organisation's highest award to Lion Paul Douglas. During her speech she outlined his twenty five years of service, including Club presidency, Zone Chairmanship, district officer and his great service to the community, especially his work with the local Senior Citizens. The award came as a great surprise to Paul, who was somewhat nonplussed to see his wife Marie being led into the meeting as the president began to speak.
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Malahide Lions Club presents Lion Frank Higgins with the Melvin Jones Award.
At the President's handover on 3rd July, to acknowledge his dedication to duty, to serve his fellow man and the community, this globally recognised award, the most senior award in Lionism, was presented for the fourth time.
"By his enthusiasm, commitment and unselfish devotion to helping others in need, his creativity and attention to detail, his achievement with so many different and diverse activities, all the time leading from the front providing motivation and inspiration to so many others, this stalwart of Malahide Lions has been unanimously awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones fellowship."
​The outgoing President, Joseph D Gunning, stated with all humility that it really was a pleasure, a privilege and an honour, to present such an award to such a deserving colleague, fellow member and friend, who emulates all that is best in Lionism, Mr Frank Higgins.
President: Stephen MacDonagh
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