Direct from Durrow

Activity has started back in every section following the Christmas Break. Ventures are hoping to go to Lough Dan for a skills weekend with other   Ventures in April while the Scouts are preparing for the Shield (skills competition over 3 days). Our Cubs are getting very busy getting ready to take part to the Talent Show next weekend (12th February) where four acts will be represented. Finally, our Beavers are planning hard to compete in the County Challenge. Best of luck to all in the coming weeks!

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday afternoon, February 7th at 2pm in the Community Centre, Cullohill.

The Blood Transfusion service visited Durrow on Christmas week and there was a great turn out of donor’s despite the huge amount of illness in the area and of course busy for Christmas. A total of 107 donors attended including eighteen new donors and three lapsed donors. Many thanks for your generosity. The winners of the Silver Award were Robert Rawlison of Mountmellick, Ida Thompson of Abbeyleix and Eddie Clancy of Durrow. The winner of the Gold Award was Siobhan Manning of Abbeyleix. Well done to all!

Durrow Development Forum regret to advise that due to committee members being away they will be unable to run this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival. If there is any other organisation in the town that would be available to run same then the committee members that are available, would be happy to assist in the running of the parade. Please do get in contact with any committee member if interested.

This year 2017, Durrow Development Forum celebrates  it’s 20th year of existence and this year we will continue to strive to better and enhance the community. We would be delighted if all households took part in the Scarecrow Festival and displayed a Scarecrow outside their home or business. We will be sending out some information coming up to the festival and hope that anybody that is interested would be happy to attend some Scarecrow Making Classes which should assist in their creations!

Durrow Community Services have two vacancies for the position of General Operative on their Ballacolla operations team and one position for General Operative on the Durrow operations team. For further information or to apply, please contact Patrick Quinn on (057) 8736870 or call into the FÁS Office beside Durrow Catholic Church during office hours.

DDF will have a specialised award in this years scarecrow festival.  The award which started last year saw Erkindale Drive winning same with their fantastic display of  Scarecrows and this year DDF will continue the Local Community Award.

A prize of €200 will be awarded to the best area for displaying scarecrows. A minimum of ten scarecrows must be on display to be considered for this award. There is no separate entry required, the judges will consider each area in their judging process. The Square, Old Esso Station and any DDF Display Scarecrows will be excluded from this judging process.

Areas will be judged as follows: Cork Road and Patrick Street, Barnhill and Carrigan Street, Erkindale Drive, Swan Road, St. Fintan’s Terrace, Mill Road to include Green Display Area, Derry Road, Chapel Street and Mary Street, Sean Doire and Derry Wood.

Plans are underway already for the 2017 festival and Durrow Development Forum will be looking for volunteers. We will post notices on the newsletter and on facebook seeking assistance. Any new ideas and any community involvement will be of great benefit to both DDF and the community as a whole.

Mass Readers Rota: Saturday Evenings: February 4th: Oliver Lawlor; February 11th and 18th: Catherine Freeman; February 25th: Mary Lawlor. Sunday Mornings: February 5th and 12th: Declan Phelan; February 19th and 26th: Michael Conroy.

Church Cleaning Rota – March 2017: Mary Kennedy, Mary Walsh, Gabriel Daz and Miriam and Pat Connolly.

The Foundation would like to thank everybody for their kind support at the recent collection. A total of €392 was raised.

is extended to the Campion Family, Cork Rd, Durrow on their recent bereavement.

Sympathy is extended to the Sheppard Family, Mill Rd, Durrow and the Bourke Family, Kilkenny on their recent bereavement.

The results of the game held on January 11th are as follows: First – Teresa Muldowney & Jimmy Ryan; Second – Phil Kingston & Paddy Purcell; Third – Josie Murphy & Bridget Nolan.

The results of the game held on January 18th are as follows: First N/S – Marjorie McGeough and      Kathleen Broderick; Second N/S – Babe Duggan and Phil Mahony; First E/W Ann Dooley and Mary    Shortall; Second E/W – Dolly Harding and Ann Fitzpatrick.

The results of the game held on January 25th are as follows: First – Nancy Bennett and Paul Maher;  Second – Marjorie McGeough and Kathleen Broderick; Third – Dolly Harding and Ann Fitzpatrick.

The Killermogh Parishes Whist Drive results for January are as follows: Top Score – Eileen Phelan; First Lady – Lena McEvoy; Second Lady – Mary McCabe; First Gent – Tom Gowing; Second Gent – Mick Scully; Quarters – Violet Cantwell, Eugene Murphy, Margaret Moynan, Liam McCartney, Mary McEvoy and Bridie Metcalf; Juvenile – Damien Carter; Low Score – Sheila Fogarty. The raffle winners were – Louise Kavanagh, Alice Thompson, Margaret Neil, Mary McCabe and Margaret Moynan. The next Whist Drive will be held on Thursday, February 23rd at 8.30pm in the Parochial Hall, Cork Rd, Durrow.

CONGRATULATIONS to John and Marie Brophy, Derrywood, Durrow on the birth of their daughter, Anna.

Congratulations to Bowes Café and Foodhall, Durrow who are included in the Georgina Campbell Ireland-Guide for 2017!

Congratulations to Castle Durrow which is number six in the top 25 hotels of Ireland according to the 2017 TripAdvisor awards!

The Committee will hold their next meeting on Monday the 6th of February at 8.30pm in the FAS Office. All members are asked to attend this meeting.

The Laois Alzheimer Social Club are holding a Social Club meeting on Thursday 9th February from 2.30pm to 4.30pm in the Portlaoise Parish Centre. Our Social Club is open to people with Dementia and their loved ones as an informal get together. You will have access to information and support and exchange ideas and experiences whilst enjoying a cup of tea in a relaxed environment. For more information and details please contact Ann Munnelly on (086) 8372168.

On Sunday February 12th next, everyone are invited to a Farmland walk on Talbots Farm, Durrow Road, Ballacolla. The assembly point is at the Picnic Seat on the Durrow Road and the walk starts at 2pm sharp. The walk will be approximately 5km and it is free. All are welcome including your dog on a lead.

The Cullahill and Durrow flower club meet next on Monday 13th February in the Community Call, Cullahill at 8pm. We will have a flower arranging demonstration by Bertranda Delaney. New members are always welcome and also visitors.