Around Portarlington Way

ANNUAL CHURCH GATE COLLECTION

The annual Church gate collection for Portarlington Social Services/Meals on Wheels will take place at all Masses on Saturday & Sunday October 29 & 30 at St Michael’s Church Portarlington, St John’s Church Killenard & the Church of the Sacred Heart Rath. We are always so grateful to everyone who supports our collections & also to all donations we receive during the year. Without your help we could not continue to provide over 5,000 meals a year.

All your Portarlington News here.

IRISH GUIDE DOGS

Gavin Allman (formerly Avondale estate) & his partner Natalie Long would like to sincerely thank everyone for your support & donations in their recent fundraisers for the Irish Guide Dogs Association. Table Quiz which was held in the Barrow Lodge & the Cake sale which was in Crosspatrick Co. Kilkenny  raised a total of €1,360 & donations on line for the rock Climb came to €1,234. Gavin completed a 30ft rock climb on Thursday last October 20 in Cork. The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind celebrate their 40th anniversary this year.

Gavin was aiming to raise €1,000 for the Irish Guide Dogs. 

St Vincent de Paul (Dancing)

Dancing continues every Monday night in The Gandon Inn, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm in aid of Portarlington St V de Paul. October 31-Peter Burke. November 7-Checkers.  Come along for a great night out.  Admission €7.  All welcome. Tickets for our annual Christmas Cake will be available in the coming weeks for raffle to take place on Monday December 19. Tickets €2 each. Cake kindly donated by Maura Porter.

Christmas Dance in the Gandon

Portarlington St V de Paul will hold their Annual Christmas dance in the Gandon Inn on Friday December 2. Music by the fabulous Checkers. Dancing from 9.30pm to 12am. Spot prizes & raffle on the night. Come along for a great night out. No partners needed. Admission €8.

All your Social Dancing News

BINGO

Bingo takes place in the Portarlington G.A.A. Centre Every Tuesday night commencing at 8.30pm. Every game €100 / Full house €200 on two flyers / Jackpot €2000. Volunteers needed – If you wish to volunteer, contact John on 087-2626345. All very welcome.

CHRISTMAS TREE COMMITTEE

The Committee are carrying out their annual door-to-door collections during the month of October & November. We look forward to your continued support.

Christmas spirit abounds in Portaarlington

MOVIE TIME

Mom & Me a Film By Portarlington native Ken Wardrop will be showing on Sunday November 13 in the Heritage Hotel Killenard. Afternoon matinee showing @ 3pm. Evening showing @ 7.30pm. 50 Tickets for each showing only available. For tickets and more details please contact the PCDA/Love Port office on 085 8568801 or call in to the office in the Community Centre.

FRIENDS TOGETHER

Meetings are held on Tuesday & Friday in the Scouts Den on Main Street from 2.30-5pm. Parents & children welcome. Volunteer drivers needed to transport people. Phone: 087-2788472.

Friends Together News

LIONS CLUB HUNT

President Gerry Dunne and the Lions members in Portarlington would like to thank everyone who supported and took part in the charity hunt on Sunday October 16.  From the North Kildare farmers hunt who have travelled for the last 8 years to participate and support, to the local riders who always support the event. Thanks to the joint Hunt Masters Darragh and Pat. We also are extremely grateful to the local land owners who allow us cross their lands as without them the event simply couldn’t happen.

All the latest news from Portarlington

To everyone from businesses and private donations thank you for supporting the auction and raffle. Gratitude to the Railway bar who are superb supporters of the event every year. Supervalu for their help with some of the catering, your assistance is always appreciated. We thank also the volunteers who turned out to simply offer help where needed. And we also thank the townspeople who showed their interest throughout the afternoon by following the hunt with their children from junction to junction viewing the horses.
It’s an annual event that brings a little something different to the town and allows us raise much needed funds.

Blessing Of The Graves

Blessing of the Graves will take place on Sunday November 6 in St John’s Cemetery Killenard after 10.30am Mass & in St Michael’s Cemetery Portarlington at 3pm.

Sympathy

Deepest Sympathy to the family of Bridie Weldon (nee Dunne) Cushina who passed away on Sunday October 16. Bridie was predeceased by her loving husband Anthony, daughter Philomena & son Christy. She will be sadly missed by her daughters Kathleen, Liz, Breda, Ann, Mary & Rose, sons Patsy, Sean & Stephen, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her extended family, neighbours & friends. Requiem mass took place on Wednesday October 19 in St Brochan’s Church Brakcnagh, with burial after in St Brochan’s Cemetery. May Bridies gentle soul rest in Peace.

Rest in Peace

Sympathy

It was with great sadness that the people of Walsh Island, Portarlington & the surrounding areas heard of the sudden & tragic death of Jim Duffy, Church View Walsh Island. Jim was well known as a great singer, entertainer & community worker. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife Catherine (nee Kelly), sons Martin, Kieran & Joseph, daughters in law Eleanor & Ruth, brothers , sisters, nephews, nieces, his extended family, the community of Walsh Island & a very wide circle of Friends. Requiem Mass took place on Saturday October 22 in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Walsh Island, with burial after in the adjoining Cemetery. May Jim rest in Peace.

DERRYOUNCE WALKS

The next PCDA/Derryounce Project Fundraising Walk 5K & 10K takes place on Saturday October 29th. Registration at 2pm at the Hawthorn Bar, Patrick Street. Start time 2.30pm. Cost €5. Route: Derryounce 5K approx 1 hour. 10K approx 2 hours. Refreshments after in the Hawthorn. For further information please contact PCDA/ Love Port office on 085 8568801.

Derryounce Lake Walk

PORT TRAIL WALKING GROUP
Come along and join us on our local walks every Tuesday & Thursday nights at 6.45pm. Meet up at Park Lane car park. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Portarlington Speakers

Congratulations to Gaynor Deacy for her first time as Toastmaster chairing the meeting in her own friendly way, to Noreen Diver for an excellent first time evaluation, to Joanne Molloy for her bewitching tongue teaser, to Edel Quinn for her debonair word of the day and to Geraldine Kennedy and Mark Bastow for their speeches. Geraldine took us through swopping your couch for running shoes and Mark gave an amusing tale of why it sometimes pays to be late. The star of the night was Donal Cahill with his amazing topics marathon which gave everyone who wanted the opportunity to speak on a wide range of topics for one to two minutes.

Great evening and there are more great evenings ahead on 1^st November 1, 15, & December 5.  Starting again in the New Year.

Club President Carmel Moore welcoming newest member Geraldine Kennedy

These meetings are relaxed fun friendly interludes where you can enjoy self-development and public speaking from 7.45pm to 9.30pm on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of the month in the Heritage Hotel Killenard. See the Speakers on MeetUp and FaceBook. All are welcome.

St. Michael’s Celebration

Portarlington born singer, songwriter, and pianist Tom Conroy (Piano Man Tom) has completed composing a new mass setting called “St. Michael’s Celebration.” Work on the new music and hymns began in the middle of 2015 and was completed in August, 2016. St. Michael’s Church is a towering presence on Patrick Street in Portarlington and continues to be an inspirational place of prayer and worship for anyone who enters. The town’s population has increased substantially over the last decade and many new faces have been warmly embraced by the community and by the church.

This is the second Mass setting that Tom has composed. “The Brittas Mass” was created in Clonaslee, Co. Laois from 2011-2013 and was broadcast live on RTE One TV in July, 2013 as part of a special Mass in honour of the Bi-Centenary of “St. Manman’s Church” in Clonaslee. This new Mass setting is scheduled to be part of a live celebration of Mass on RTE One TV and RTE Radio 1 Extra on October 30. Fr. Pat Hughes will lead the worship and St. Michael’s Folk Choir will feature many talented singers from Portarlington, as well as from Clonaslee and the surrounding areas in  Laois and Offaly. After over a year’s work, Tom also recently released his second full studio album of his own original songs called “Make A Wish”, which features the popular “Diana’s Royal Child” as well as nine other songs. Visit www.PianoManTom.com to listen to Tom’s ever-growing catalogue of music and learn more.

Information Night at Colaiste Iosagain

The Parents Council of Coláiste Íosagáin, Portarlington wish to invite all Parents/ Guardians of 5th year, 6th year and Transition Year to an information night on the Leaving Cert and going to College. A practical information evening. Here from a range of guest speakers in
Career Guidance, Psychology, Student Finance and Student Welfare.

Info night at Colaiste Iosagain

It will be held on the Thursday November 10 at 8pm in Coláiste Íosagáin. Portarlington Credit Union will be offering a €1,000 bursary to a 6th year student going to college in 2017. Application forms will be available on the night. We would like to thank Portarlington Credit Union for sponsoring one of the guest speakers.

PORT GAA LOTTO

Results for week 42. Numbers Drawn 2-5-15-31. No Jackpot Winner. €50 winners Jack O’ Neill c/o Jack O’ Neill and Vera Redmond c/o T A Coss. €25 winners Aisling O’ Neill c/o Jack O’ Neill and Neil O’ Reilly c/o C Ryan.

Jackpot next week €4,200.

Results-Laois Heritage Hotel U17 Championship Final-Portarlington 1-10- Emo, Courtwood, the Rock 1-04. Laois Heritage Hotel U15 Floodlit Super Touch Cup Rd 1, Portarlington 2-14-

Emo, Courtwood, the Rock- 1-07. Laois Heritage Hotel U15 Floodlit Super Touch Cup Rd 2, Portarlington 3-26-Railyard (KK) 1-02.

Fixtures-Laois Heritage Hotel U15 Floodlit Super Touch Cup Rd 3-Baltinglass (WW) vs Portarlington on October 26 at 19.45pm.

Keep up to date with what’s going on in Portarlington GAA Club by liking our Facebook page (Portarlington GAA Club) or following us on Twitter @PortGAA or our website here.