St Kents Have Been Awarded

Community Club Of The Year 2009

Words From Kevin

Well I was delighted to accept this award

When I took over the club back in 2002 I could see the potential of weekly events and it is now that I have to say to people sorry but the rooms are booked on every night if not 2 / 3 times a couple of days in the week but it helps the club to what it is today a very active warm and friendly club.

 I must thank all my team Eileen, Erick, Neil all my bar staff and catering staff for all the hours off hard work they put in plus my grounds man Erick Caulfield

But most of all I want to thank everyone who comes in and helps with all the classes at the club every week especially the don school on a toes night one off the longest run clubs in Manchester thanks to Tommy Corbett

But most of you young and old that use st Kents it is you have that helped me get this award so from the bottom off my heart thank you so much and keep calling in and for my friends that were able to be there with my staff out very early this year for there Christmas celebrations it was just great

Words from Christina the clubs secretary

St Kentigern’s Social Club in Fallowfield has once again formalised its status as one of the nation’s most successful clubs by winning the coveted title of Community Club of the year 2009. The award was presented to Club manager Kevin Fitzpatrick at a glittering ceremony hosted by the Club Mirror Magazine at the Palace Hotel in Manchester.
Kevin fought off stiff competition from Clubs all over the country to secure this prestigious award which in Kevin’s words is “The most important award of all “Kevin said after the ceremony ‘this is very special award because it rewards the work of the whole Parish Community’.

The Club is a hub for all aspects of the community from Irish Language classes to ladies darts, pool, cards, set dancing, Irish dancing, family parties, two football teams, credit union etc.
Every day of the week the Club is used by members of the local community and this award recognises that.
I am delighted for Fr Connolly p.p. and the whole team.

The award adds to the accolades given to St Kentigern’s last year at the same event.
St Kentigern’s was awarded the overall title ‘King of Clubs as well Club Manager and Secretary of the year.

The Club Mirror’s editor Matthew Morridge praised all the winners at the ceremony for making their clubs successful over the past year in spite of these times of recession.
Clare Balding the evening’s celebrity compere described the winners as the nation’s best and congratulated them on all their success

Words From Fr Tom

The Annual National Awards Night, sponsored by the “Club Mirror” Journal was well attended by members of the St Kentigern’s community- parish and social Club last Wednesday night at the Palace Hotel.  At a Dinner for 600 we were part of the contestant s to win a National Award from the Club Mirror for being “The Best” in various categories.
St Kentigern’s came in to win on the BEST COMMUNITY CLUB in Britain for 2009-10.  We went wild with excitement and joy as Kevin Fitzpatrick, our Manager and Director of operations went up on the stage to receive from Claire Balding the award. 
How well deserved was this?  We surely had cause to be glad for Kevin had directed the St Kentigern’s Irish Club in being the host or organiser or advisor to other charity organisers to raise thousands of pounds each and every year since he became the Manager in Chair of all operations.  He has helped to raise money for Christie Hospital, St Ann’s Hospice, Francis House, Brittle Bone, British Hear Foundation to name a few.  He has sponsored St Brendan’s men and women GAA and brought the Old Gregorian Footballers o see the Club as the Place to be.  From founding the St Kentigern’s Golfers he has sponsored Competitions to raise money for the various good causes.  He has made the Club a centre of community life from education in Irish dancing- Irish Language, Irish traditional Musical Instruments lessons, Set Dancing.  So many groups now see St Kentigern’s Club as “The Place to be”, the slogan Kevin started with and which is now a reality.  So many folk see it as the place to meet and do their thing whether it is our parish Youth or the Wythenshawe Hospital Nurse’s Night out or the Foster Parents of Manchester City Council- they all come and are given a great welcome with professional service and with five star catering laid on too whether it is a Jubilee, a birthday or a funeral!  There is no place just like it and it reflects the energy and vision and dynamism and hard work and professionalism of the Supremo of operations – our dear  Mr Kevin Fitzpatrick of County Fermanagh.

Fr Tom Connolly

PRESS

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Kevin Fitzpatrick MD of Manchester based St Kentigerns Social Club has been awarded the prestigious Club Mirror Award "King of Clubs"

Club Mirrors Awards 2008: Photograph of friends on the night.

Chris John Smiths, Ena kennedy Catering Manager, Sharon Duffy Catering Manager, Eileen Edwards Ass Manager/Bar Manager, Mary Fitzpatrick, Rev Tom connolly, Christina Heneghan the club secertary from 1971 and Roy Walker the mc for the night.

Kevin Fitzpatrick receiving his award as Club Manager of the Year with Christina Heneghan the club secertary from 1971. The award covers scotland england and wales over 15,000 clubs associated with the club mirror. Club Mirror Magazine is dedicated to and reports on the promotions and entertainment programmes of membership organisations as well as general trends in the industry. It also looks closely at how these organisations cater for their members' needs. The nominations are a reflection of the team effort and hard work of all staff and volunteers over the past year.

Heaton Chapel Managing Director wins third Award!

They say that good fortune comes in three, well the luck of the Irish certainly seems to be shinning on thity four year old Kevin Fitzpatrick from Heaton Chapel. The champagne corks have been popping non stop all week for the proud Stockport based Managing director. This is the young manager's third major award this year. Earlier on in the year the golf mad sportsman scooped the inaugural 'Gordon Atkinson' memorial trophy at Heaton Moor Golf club, where he is a lifetime member. This week he scooped two National Awards for the club he manages in South Manchester called - St Kent's. The Four hundred capacity venue which is one of Manchester’s top entertainment and family orientated centres, won the coveted Club Mirror Award ‘King of Clubs’ sponsored by John Smiths and ‘The Manager of the Year’ sponsored by the Route Organisation. Club Mirror has over 15,000 members throughout the UK and this is the fifteenth year that they have staged these National Awards for its members. The awards were presented by TV celebrity Roy Walker of 'Catchphrase' fame to the manager of the club - thirty four year old Kevin Fitzpatrick, the Clubs Secretary and Accountant - Christina Heneghan and the Parish Priest - Rev Father Tom Connolly.

Father Tom Connolly said “The whole community is delighted for Kevin, he thoroughly deserves these two awards. His skills and warm character have made this St Kentigern’s what it is today and everyone knows it. I am the most fortunate priest to have Kevin running the club.

When asked how he felt about winning the award the jubilant young manager said “I did not know what award I was nominated for until the actual event, I got a major surprise when I saw I was short listed in four of the categories and when we won two of them they had to pick me up from the floor. I have not stopped smiling since, but I would like to acknowledge the support of all my staff, especially the secretary -Christina Heneghan who has been at the club since it started. This my third major Award in 2008 and my fourth since I took over the club just six years ago, after having already won the Irish World Newspaper Community Award in 2006.”

The club was started in 1971, when it was built and paid for by the parishioners in the parish to serve the needs of the parish as a family orientated community and entertainment venue. Since its inception it has been one of the main hubs of Manchester’s Irish community while still making it accessible and welcoming to people of all different cultural backgrounds and faiths. Since Kevin’s appointment as the manager of the club he completely refurbished it, developed its community links, built up its reputation as a live Irish music venue and has helped raise just over £375,000 for local and national charities. Despite the credit crunch, during November alone close to £20,000 was raised from different charity functions which included a joint event with the West Indian community which raised £4,400 for Christie’s Cancer Hospital. The club is open seven days a week, where it hosts events for all different sectors of the community, these include: Special weekly Youth Club events, a Credit Union, Irish Language lessons, Traditional Irish Music tuition, Irish Set dancing and Irish dancing classes which taking place on different nights of the week. The club itself has a national reputation for attracting a host of major Irish artists from all over the UK and Ireland. It has played host to the likes of The Wolftones, Big Tom, Bible Code Sundays, Philomena Begley, The Fureys, Mick Falvin, Declan Nerney, Susan McCann and TR Dallas to name just a selection of the acts.

During December the club will host the twenty first Christmas reunion of Manchester’s legendary Celtic Rock band ‘Toss the Feathers’ who are presently on tour in Dubai before they fly back for the gig on Saturday 20 December.

The venue is also a great supporter of sport and sponsors a number of Gaelic Football and Hurling teams, as well as sponsoring and organising its own annual Charity Golf tournament.

From: Richard Ellis

Hi kev (fellow king!)

I guess you're still on cloud 9, and quite right too!

just thought i'd say hi... you've now got my contact details and lets keep in touch.

nice website btw... keep in touch

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From: Charlie

Congratulations mate, fantastic achievement and nice to see recognition of all the hard work put into the club, see you soon bud.

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From: Tony

Kevin

Many congrats – that’s brilliant – so well deserved
Fantastic photos.
Look forward to seeing you soon.

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From: Sean

Hello Kevin,

Greetings & Congratulations from Enniskillen.

Absolutely brilliant news - it couldn't happen a nicer guy - well done.

We had many's the good night in The Clubhouse in preparation!!

Mum is looking very well, tell her I said Hello and wont ever forget the good food she continually gave us.

I hope all is good and I wish you continued success.

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From: Bernie (Sligo Airport)

Well done Kevin. Delighted that your hard work is being recognized  by so many. I wish you many years of continued success. We are hopeful that the Sligo to Manchester service will resume at the end of March and if so I will certainly be in contact with you to see how we can best work together.

Warmest regards