Around Portarlington Way
AGM
Port Text Alert AGM will be held to communicate how in 2017 we have launched the Community Text Alert. Over the past 12 months the committee have been working on establishing a Text Alert Service to cover the town of Portarlington, Killenard and the surrounding areas which are currently not covered by a community text alert service. The service was launched in September 2017,
PORT TEXT ALERTS
At the AGM there will be an opportunity to sign up to the service which cost €10, we will also be looking for additional committee members.
For additional information contact porttextalert@gmail.com or the Love Port Office in the Community Centre.
CHRISTMAS MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA
The 4th Annual Christmas Extravaganza takes place on Sunday December 17 at 8pm in the Heritage Hotel Killenard. Mulled wine reception from 7pm.
Tickets now available at €10 from the Love Port office in the Community Centre. Also from Julia Leavy, Margaret Guijt Lawlor, Lillian Shiels & Ann Bourke Dunne. Proceeds this year to the Amber Wellbeing Committee in Colaiste Iosagain. A great night’s entertainment assured as always.
BINGO
Bingo will continue in Portarlington GAA Centre every Tuesday night at 8.30pm. Over €2,000 in prize money.
MONDAY NIGHT DANCING
Dancing in Aid of Portarlington St Vincent de Paul every Monday night in the Gandon Inn Hotel & Restaurant. Monday November 27-Glen Flynn. Admission €7. Dancing 9.30pm to 12. A great night assured.
MONSTER BINGO
Monster bingo on Sunday November 26 in the Mountrath Community School at 3pm. €5,000 in prize money. Double book €15, Single book €10, Single sheet €2. Lots of spot prizes and big cash raffle on the day. All welcome.
THE COTTAGE MARKET MOUNTRATH
Christmas Markets on December 2 & 16. Main St Mountrath.
COTTAGE MARKET MOUNTRATH
WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE
Come along to Portarlington G.A.A. Centre, McCann Park every week. Special offer of €35 payable on the first day. For every week you are down weight you receive €5 back at the end of the challenge. Fee also includes complimentary Herbalife 6-day ideal breakfast pack, meal plans, weekly nutritional talk, fun, support & advice. Facebook Healthy Hub Port Text WLC with your name & time to Bernie/ John on 086-2596618. Booking essential as places are limited.
ST PATRICKS DAY PARADE MEETING
Portarlington St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee are urgently seeking volunteers to help with the running of next year’s parade. Please go to their emergency meeting on the November 22 in the Anvil Inn at 8pm. If they cannot recruit new members there will be no 2018 Parade. Even if you can spare an hour or two the committee would be delighted to see you. Contact 087 -2638140 if you can’t attend but would like to help.
Port Parade Meeting
SYMPATHY
Deepest Sympathy to Sheila Brereton & family Avondale estate on the death of her Mam, Bridget (Bridie) Donoher (nee Walsh), Cloncarlin Monasterevin. Bridie will be sadly missed by her loving husband George, daughters Sheila & Mary, sons Martin, Thomas, George, Noel, Ken, Liam & Trevor, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family & friends. Requiem Mass took place on Saturday November 18 in SS Peter & Paul’s Church, with burial after in St Evin’s Cemetery. May Bridie rest in Peace.
SYMPATHY
Deepest Sympathy to Ita Dempsey & family Shandra on the recent death of her brother James (Jim) Murphy Carlow. Jim will be sadly missed by his sisters Ita Dempsey & Esther O’Connor, brothers Pat & Tom, his extended family, neighbours & friends. Requiem Mass took place on Tuesday November 12 in the Cathedral of the Assumption , with burial after in St Mary’s Cemetery. May Jim rest in Peace.
ST MICHAEL’S CEMETERY PORTARLINGTON
The committee sincerely thank all the people of Portarlington & surrounding areas who contributed so generously to the upkeep of the Cemetery. Owing to the rising costs of waste disposal & also the extension to St Michael’s Cemetery, all donations are greatly accepted.
BUSINESS ADVICE CLINICS
Laois Local Enterprise Office will be holding a series of Business Clinics in various towns in Co. Laois in the coming weeks.
These clinics will offer an opportunity for local businesses, or for local people thinking of starting a business, to meet with the Local Enterprise Office for a confidential 1 to 1 basis to discuss your business or business idea and to see how the services offered by the Local Enterprise Office might be able to help you.
The clinics will take place in Mountmellick on Tuesday 28th November, Rathdowney on Thursday 30th November, Portarlington on Wednesday 6th December and in Mountrath on Tuesday 12th December.
To book an appointment call the Local Enterprise Office on 057-8661800
Local Businesses Urged to Sign up for “Midlands Management Programme”
The Local Enterprise Office is urging all local business owners and managers to get 2018 off to a positive start by signing up for their new “Midlands Management Programme”.
The Midlands management programme is a new support programme developed by the Local Enterprise Office to assist the owners or managers of Laois based companies who hope to expand over the coming years and who are seeking to put the right structures in place for their business to help with their growth.
This programme will be run in conjunction with Local Enterprise Office Offaly and participation will be limited to 10 businesses from each county. Because of the small numbers involved the course will offer an intensive level of support to local business owners and managers. It is also likely that places on it will be booked very quickly so any business interested in taking part is urged to reserve their place without delay.
The objective of the Midlands Management Programme is to get companies in Laois stabilised, ready for growth and for increased competitiveness. Participants will learn new approaches to improve every area of their business, enhance their leadership skills and develop a clear strategy for the future growth of the business.
The programme will commence on 16th January 2018 and run for 15 weeks. It will consist of a half day workshop every week and a number of individual mentoring sessions for each participating business. Each workshop will examine a different theme based on issues such as planning, goal setting, business models, sales, human resources and finance.
Portarlington is an Enterprise Town
Evelyn Reddin, Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office, describes the Midlands Management Programme as one of the most comprehensive contribution the Local Enterprise Office has offered to local business owners and managers in Laois.
She said that “The owners and managers of small businesses in Laois are expected to play a far wider role in their businesses than their counterparts in larger companies. The owner or manager of a small local business must be on top of every aspect of the business and as a result often doesn’t have time to consider their own training needs or the long term strategic growth of their business.
We have developed this programme as a support to these local business owners and managers. It is a comprehensive programme which will help them evaluate every aspect of their business and will get their business ready for increased growth and competitiveness. This programme recognises that a manager or business owner is one of the essential parts of a business and needs support to carry out their role to the best of their ability.”
New location for Local Enterprise Office Laois at County Hall, Portlaoise
The cost of the Midlands Management Programme is heavily subsidised by the Local Enterprise Office with a nominal contribution of €250 from every participating business. Places on the programme are limited to 10 in Laois and can booked at www.localenterprise.ie/laois
Further information about the Midlands Management Programme can be obtained by contacting the Séamus Doran, Business Advisor with the Local Enterprise Office, on 0578661800