The end of an era for Ballycastle’s Poppy Appeal stalwart Eileen

BALLYCASTLE branch of the Royal British Legion has marked the end of an incredible era for Eileen McAlister.

Eileen has been a dedicated member of the RBL for the past 45 years and a volunteer collector with the Poppy Appeal for 40 years.

Eileen has recently stepped down from her role as Poppy Appeal organiser, though remains a proud member of the RBL.

Eileen McAlister (nee Jamison) was born in the townland of Carnately in 1947. After leaving school she took up employment in the office of McCaughan’s garage in Market Street at the age of 16 years.

As Hon. Treasurer Eileen took charge of the opening, counting and banking of the monies. But once Remembrance Sunday is over, Eileen's tasks weren't!

Eileen's selfless dedication to the role saw her ordering wreaths and poppies for the various organisations that place wreaths at the war memorial and Bonamargy War Graves on Remembrance Sunday, as well as volunteer poppy collectors in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.

A cornerstone of the RBL, Eileen used her garage as a workshop to sort out wreaths and poppy boxes for the poppy collectors.

And every year without fail for over 35 years, she delivered the boxes, with help from volunteers, to various outlets in the Ballycastle area, arranging poppy sellers for the various supermarket entrances and house to house collections in the weeks running up to Remembrance Day, then collecting them back in again.

*For more see this week's Chronicle