Neil Coey was initiated into Irish Freemasonry by joining Victoria Temperance Masonic Lodge No 208 (now Victoria Masonic Lodge No 452) in October 1982, rising to the office of Worshipful Master in 1988 and subsequently serving as Treasurer for 23yrs from 1990.
In 1998, he joined the Rosetta Lodge of Installed Masters, serving as Treasurer from 2009 – 2011 and serving as Worshipful Master in 2014.
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Down then recognised the endeavours of W.Bro. Coey, appointing him as Inner Guard in 2007 which was followed by a further Provincial honour by being appointed to the office of PGL Inspector from 2009 to 2013, and then as auditor in 2013.
A Grand Lodge honour was sure to follow and in 2016, Neil was appointed a Foreign Representative at Grand Lodge for the Grand Lodge of Iceland.

M.E. Comp. Neil Coey was exalted into Royal Arch Masonry into Sherborne R.A.C. No 732 in 1984 advancing to the office of Excellent King in 1992. He then served as registrar for 1993 and then as registrar and Treasurer from then until 2012 when he had to retire from Chapter office upon his appointment as District Deputy Grand King. His service to District Chapter included District Grand High Priest (2008-09), District Assistant Grand Treasurer (2012- 2013), District Deputy Grand King (2013-2016) until finally being elevated to the office of District Grand King in 2016. His service to Royal Arch Masonry was recognised by Supreme Grand Chapter in 2015 when he was appointed as a Foreign Representative of the SGRAC of Florida.

M.E.Comp. Coey’s lifetime in banking has been put to good use over his time in Freemasonry, being Treasurer in his Craft Lodge, Auditor in Provincial Grand Lodge, Treasurer in his Royal Arch Chapter, Assistant Treasurer in District Grand Chapter, Treasurer in his Preceptory and the Rosetta KT Class of Instruction, Auditor of Provincial Priory of South Ulster, Treasurer of Prince Masons Class, Newtownards Road Hall Management Committee and Northern Provinces Committee for the Grand Master’s festival for 2008.
All in all, M.E.Comp. Coey’s contribution to Royal Arch Masonry has encompassed the safeguarding of the many funds he has been charged to administer and this has been for the benefit of all the branches he has served well.

A very popular choice as District Grand King, District Chapter can now look forward to many more years of continued success, following on the wonderful legacy left by his predecessors.