The Blessed Virgin Ballymena conference of the Society was proud to welcome UTV's Paul Clarke along to officially open their new Vincent's clothing boutique on 21st February 2009.   The new shop is situated in the new All Saints Parish Centre complex on the Cushendall Road and was designed with the needs of a charity shop in mind. It comes with plenty of display area, lighting, changing and sorting rooms, a kitchen and plenty of storage areas for both clothing and furniture.   Local conference president Mary Waide welcomed everyone to the event and thanked them for their help and support in bringing this long awaited re-furbished shop to the town.   Also present were SVP regional president and board representatives, shop workers and local volunteers, members of the clergy, the lord mayor and Cllr Declan O'Loan, a long standing member of the Blessed Virgin Conference at All Saints in Ballymena.   The shop replaces the old one at "Kenbaan" on the nearby Broughshane Road which was operating under cramped conditions for over twenty years.   Paul Clarke meets Cormac & Linda Outside new shop SVP members

Paul Clarke cuts the ribbon click to enlarge

The conference of Blessed Virgin Ballymena was formed in 1891 in the room above the sacristy of All Saints Church with James McAllister as president and John Mullaghan as his vice-president. The heart of the conference lay in its primary work - the constant relief of the poor in their own homes. By 1950 the conference had 27 active members and 17 honorary members. Numbers dwindled gradually during the next few decades but in 1988 the local parish granted them use of premises and a "Thrift Shop" was opened at Kenbaan on the Broughshane Road. Today the conference boasts 20 members. The shop is open daily Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5:30pm. The shop can be accessed via the Cushendall Road side of the Parish Centre. Telephone 028-2564-4122. The shop accepts donations of good quality clothing, shoes, books, toys and bric-a-brac. We particularly appeal for household furniture and First Communion dresses which our van can collect from your door. As always volunteers are required. Application Forms available from the shop.   Group of conference members in grounds of All Saints Church   Centenary celebrations in 1991 The old shop at "Kenbaan" Last makeover for Kenbaan in 1996   All Saints Parish Centre click to enlarge