Glentoran Social Partnership has marked what would have been the birthday of former Glentoran Director Maura Muldoon by delivering almost 200 hot meals to children, families and pensioners across East Belfast.

The Meal Drive was personally funded by Glentoran Social Partnership Trustee Cheryl Lamont in memory of her late partner, ensuring practical support reached those who needed it most during the recent school half-term break.

Half-term can be particularly challenging for families whose children rely on school meals, and making sure young people had access to a hot meal during that period was a key focus of this latest meal drive.

A total of 184 individuals and households from the Partnership’s community support database benefited directly, with meals delivered across the Parkgate and Pitt Park areas.

Since the Meal Drive was reintroduced in October 2025, more than 1,500 hot meals have now been delivered to vulnerable individuals and families across East Belfast.

Cheryl Lamont, Glentoran Social Partnership Trustee, said: “Maura was a passionate advocate for Glentoran’s role beyond football. She truly believed the Club had a responsibility to support and strengthen the community around it and that its impact should be measured not only on the pitch, but in the lives it touches off it.

“She cared deeply about Glentoran, but more than that, she cared about the people around it. Marking her birthday by helping local families felt like the most meaningful way to honour her memory and the values she stood for.

“Knowing that 184 hot meals were delivered in her name, and that children, families and pensioners received support at a time when it was genuinely needed, brings real comfort. She believed in practical help, not just words, and I think she would have been proud to know that her birthday was marked by making a real difference.”

Maura Muldoon was a true trailblazer for women’s football in Northern Ireland and someone who gave so much of her time and energy to Glentoran. A former goalkeeper with Belfast United, she went on to play a leading role in shaping the women’s side as it evolved into Glentoran Women, helping build the foundations that players continue to benefit from today.

She made history as the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors at Glentoran Football Club, a reflection not just of her leadership, but of the respect she earned across the game. Maura was never afraid to speak up, and she consistently championed opportunities for women and girls in football at every level.

Colin Jess, Chairman of Glentoran Football Club, said: “This was a generous and very meaningful gesture from Cheryl, and one that allowed us to deliver real support at a time when it was genuinely needed.

“Funding this initiative meant that 184 hot meals could be prepared and delivered during half-term, helping children, families and pensioners across East Belfast. For many households, that kind of practical support can make a real difference.

“What makes this especially powerful is that it reflects the values Maura stood for. She believed Glentoran should play a positive role in the lives of people beyond football. Through this tribute, that belief has been turned into action, and its impact has been felt directly within our community.”

The Meal Drive initiative forms part of the Glentoran Social Partnership’s wider community support programme, delivering practical assistance to individuals and families across East Belfast and beyond.

Recent activity has included the delivery of hundreds of toy parcels to families in the days leading up to Christmas, made possible through Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas, alongside the hosting of a dedicated Pensioners’ Christmas Dinner at the BetMcLean Oval.

The Glentoran Social Partnership generates an estimated £2.9 million in social value each year, engaging more than 3,500 people through a wide-ranging programme of community initiatives.

Its work has been recognised with Club Community Initiative of the Year at the 2025 NIFL Football Awards and the Community Impact Award at the 2024 EastSide Awards.