Craigavon Mayor Cllr George Savage with Larry McArdle (SVP Regional President) and Mjr David Jackson (Div Commander Salvation Army)   click to enlarge   A special message from the President General of the Society José Ramón Díaz-Torremocha was read out to his 'beloved brothers of the Society in Craigavon Borough'.   "I feel very proud for this honour and I know very well that such an award is the consequence of a true and ongoing commitment of all our brothers throughout the world, who dedicate all their effort and time to alleviate the suffering of the poor".   MOVE AHEAD AND NEVER GIVE UP! GOD BLESS YOU ALL click to enlarge As the President General of the International Confederation, I am very happy to see that the Society of St Vincent de Paul in this region of Ireland, is very active and fully involved in social projects as well as in spiritual support given to the suffering people.   With all my prayers and affection." (José Ramón Díaz-Torremocha)     Area President Peter Clarke, Malachy McKernan of Seagoe and Reg President Larry McArdle   Portadown conference members   Prison visitation conference and Portadown SVP click to enlarge

Freedom of Craigavon Borough conferred on Society and Salvation Army at special award ceremony on 31st May 2006.   The Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour that a Council can bestow on an organisation and is not given lightly nor without due consideration.     In his message of thanks, SVP Regional President Larry McArdle said:-   "Our first conference in this borough was established at St Peter's in Lurgan in 1863. Today, the Society has five conferences and four clothing outlets in the borough in Portadown, Seagoe, Lurgan, Craigavon and Aghagallon.   Every week our volunteers visit around 100 people and during 2005 they spent £133k helping people in need.   This award is indeed a great honour and we feel very humbled that our work, along with our close friends in the salvation Army, should be recognised this evening".     Donal Henry and Sean Campbell with Larry McArdle   Conferences display their awards   A special 'Resolution' proposed by Cllr Dolores Kelly, MLA and seconded by Ald Stephen Moutray MLA declared that:-   "The Craigavon Borough Council recognises and appreciates the work carried out without discrimination by both the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army and acknowledges the outstanding contribution made to both the Craigavon and International community in their work as Christian organisations, dedicated to the relief of poverty and hardship and therefore confers on said organisations the Freedom of the Borough of Craigavon".