Next Meeting
Newcomers Welcome

Thursday 17th September, 7 – 7.50 pm
Clonfert Family Centre,
Brackernagh, Ballinasloe.
H53 NX59

Ballinasloe ‘Come Follow Me’ Faith & Fun Club had its first meeting on Thursday 11th September 2025 and resumed weekly meetings on 10th September 2026.

The club has its roots in our Catholic Faith and is open to all children in 3rd, 4th and 5th class, and children between the ages of 8 and 11 years who are being home-schooled.

The club’s primary objective is to support participating children develop their personal relationship with God in age-appropriate, friendly and fun ways.  Our second objective is to support the children grow in friendship with one another.

Each meeting comprises three elements:

* social and settling-in time, including games
* bible story exploration which includes singing, listening, talking together and praying

* fun activities.

We also participate in the ‘Come, Follow Me’ Faith & Fun Clubs’ All-Ireland Quiz and Bible Scavenger Hunt competition and have the privilege of hosting it on Saturday June 6th 2026.

Background

Our club is modelled on similar clubs that have been running in France for more than thirty years.  We are also part of a growing network of Faith and Fun clubs in Ireland.  For example, similar clubs have been established in Ballintubber, Croghan and Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, in Galway city and Rathdowney, Co. Laois.  Clubs are also starting up in Kiltimagh and Swinford, Co. Mayo, Ballymote, Co. Sligo and Boyle and Elphin, Co. Roscommon.

All the above clubs have integrated or are integrating the phrase ‘Come, Follow Me’ into their names.  These are words used by Jesus when he invited his first disciples to get to know him.  This phrase  is also associated with a much respected French programme, developed to help children grow in knowledge, love and service of God.   

Our club is committed to drawing on this valuable resource and you can read more about it here: Come, Follow Me | Program for children

Why ‘Come, Follow Me’ over other programmes?

• It is very child-friendly
• Children learn a lot
• It complements the ‘Grow in Love’ Religious Education programme approved for use in Catholic Schools
• It is adaptable and weekly sessions can be run in less than an hour
• It supports the children get to know one another
• It can be used with very small groups, as well as groups of up to thirty children
• It seeks to foster a personal relationship between each participating child / adult and God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Our Lady, the Saints and the Church.
• It uses visual aids that appeal to children
• It is sensitive regarding children’s reading difficulties
• Parents / Guardians are welcome to remain in the room while the children engage.

Like all great programs, it does not try to do everything.  For example, it does not seek to prepare children to receive any sacrament.   Club activities, however, do seek to enrich children’s understanding and experience of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.

Future Meetings & Enrolment

The venue for all meetings, bar special prayer services, is:

The Clonfert Family Centre,
John Dunne Ave.,
Brackernagh,
Ballinasloe,
H53 NX59.

We strongly encourage children to join us initially on a ‘come and see’ basis, and  we request that a parent, grandparent or another trusted adult family member accompany them until they choose to come on their own.

Interested?

If you are interested ,or would like to know more, please contact any of the following Club Leaders:

1. Anne Burke
   087 690 6199
2. John Coughlan
   086 8600987
3. Justin Harkin *
   087 6171526
4. Fr John Garvey
   0909643916

* Please contact Justin if you would like to be added to the club’s WhatsApp Group.  This is our means of keeping in contact with parents and guardians.

Related Costs

Should your child decide to join, leaders would appreciate a contribution of €10  toward art and craft materials and a donation  of €2 per session, i.e. to meet light and heat costs.

Parents / Guardians will also be invited to contribute toward costs associated with special events, e.g. Christmas outing, all of which will be optional.

Request

Prayers asking God’s blessing on  the club would also be appreciated.  Thank you.

 

From Last Year

June 6th 2026 is a very special day in our club’s evolving story.  We were delighted to participate in Ireland’s first ‘Come, Follow Me’ Faith & Fun Clubs’ All-Ireland Bible Quiz and Scavenger Hunt Competition.  Our team members and pictured here with teams and mentors from The Claddagh (Galway Diocese), Ballintubber-Ballymoe (Elphin Diocese) and Rathdowney-Cullohill (Ossory diocese).

We salute our club members who took first place in the quiz part of the competition!

A very significant part of this special day was Mass with priest friend of Ireland’s clubs, Fr. Eamonn O’Connor PP, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.  During Mass Fr. Eamonn entrusted our club and all ‘Come, Follow Me’ Faith & Fun Clubs to the maternal and loving care of The Immaculate Heart of Mary.

We also enjoyed getting to know  young people and mentors from other clubs through some ice-breakers!

Physical distance worked against all qualifying clubs participating in the 2026 Quiz and Scavenger Hunt competition, e.g. Ardglass, Co. Down (Down & Connor diocese) and Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan (Kilmore diocese).
We were very fortunate in so far as the competition was hosted in The Clonfert Centre, Ballinasloe, by St. Grellan’s (Ballinasloe & District) Council of The Knights of St. Columbanus.  We thank our local knights for this kind support of all ‘Come, Follow Me’ Faith & Fun Clubs.   This picture shows our club leader and local knight, John Coughlan, calling the  questions.

Updated:  22nd August 2026.