Direct from Durrow

RALLY TO SAVE PORTLAOISE HOSPITAL NEXT SATURDAY:

A rally has been organised by the Portlaoise Hospital Action Committee to protest against the planned downgrade of the main hospital in Portlaoise. The committee says it acknowledges the feeling of the wider public to demonstrate their protest at the recent leaked reports and comments, which were made by Dr Susan O’Reilly on behalf of the Dublin-Midland Hospital Group.

The committee says it will be a peaceful rally aptly called ‘Light for Lives’ Rally’ in support of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. The march takes place on Saturday, December 2nd next from 5pm until 7pm and the committee hope that as many people as possible from the Durrow and Cullohill area attend this important rally. The rally will culminate at Laois County Council Offices.

FLOODING IN MOUNTMELLICK – APPEAL: Following the severe flooding in Mountmellick on Wednesday last where over 50mm of rain fell in a short space of time causing three rivers to burst their banks, a support group on Facebook has been set up to assist those who have lost their homes and businesses to floodwater. The page is here where offers and requests of support are posted. Please keep a look out on the page to see if there is any assistance you can offer.

NEW PHONE NUMBER FOR THE ST VINCENT de PAUL DURROW: Please note that the phone number has changed and anyone in need of help or assistance can contact us, in strict confidence on (087) 1917813. Please note the change of number.

CAKE SALE: DURROW COMMUNITY COUNCIL will hold a CAKE SALE next weekend in The Presentation Centre after Mass on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of December. All proceeds will be in aid of the Senior Citizens Party. Your support would be very much appreciated.

CHURCH NEWS: Church Cleaning Rota – December 2017: Maeve Thornton, Eileen Keenan, Brigid Traynor and Angela Drennan. Mass Readers: Saturdays – November 25th: Oliver  Lawlor; December 2nd and 9th: Ann Vaugh; December 16th and 23rd: Bernie Murphy.      Sundays – November 26th: Declan Phelan; December 3rd and 10th: Deirdre Moore; December 17th and 24th: Fergal Hassett.

SYMPATHY is extended to Mary Walsh and family, Mary Street, Durrow, on the death recently of her mother Mary McConnell, Cavan RIP.

Sympathy is extended to Kathleen Moore and family, Balinaslee on the death of her brother, Canice Carroll, Ballyduff, Clough, Ballacolla recently.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN DURROW: The Annual Christmas Lights Switch-On is planned for Friday, December 8th. We hope to have everybody in the community gather on The Square for 7pm where Christmas Carols will be sang by members of the Vocum Darú Choir and Third Laois Durrow Scouts. Please keep an eye on Facebook for confirmation of this event – as it is still in planning stages. A big thanks to Jim Clancy and members of Durrow Community Services for their huge work over the past few weeks sorting out the lights and hanging them in the trees that surround the greens and streets.

CULLOHILL CHOIR: Cullohill Choir presents “A Time to Remember” a Gala concert in St Tighearnach’s Church, Cullohill on Sunday, 10th December at 3.30pm. The choir has touched the lives of so many in our community through funerals, weddings, receiving the sacraments, Christmas and Easter ceremonies and our weekly masses. The choir now wish to thank the community for their support by performing a once-off concert which will also celebrate 25 years of service to the choir by organist Brigid Maher. Refreshments will also be provided in Cullohill Community Centre after the concert. All are invited to come join in our celebration of remembrance and thanksgiving. More details will be advertised closer to the event.

PRESENTATION CENTRE: The Presentation Centre beside the Catholic Church is available for hire. For further information please contact Angela on (087) 1928522.

CONGRATULATIONS: to Tony and Stephanie Woods, formerly Barnhill, Durrow and currently New York,on the birth of their daughter Sophia.

Congratulations to Eva-Maria Dunne on her recent success in Athens, Greece at the IGSF World Kettlebells Championships where she received a silver and bronze medal in her lifts.  Eva-Maria and her son Oisin will travel to Milan, Italy this weekend to participate in the IKMF World Kettlebells Marathon and all their friends and family want to wish them the best of luck. Lift Strong!

DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES: Current Vacancies: Durrow Community Services are looking to recruit a Catering Assistant to work with our busy Meals On Wheels service, a Groundskeeper for the Lions Soccer Club Durrow and another Groundskeeper at The Harps GAA Club Durrow. For further information on these positions or to apply please contact (057) 8736870 during office hours on any weekday.

CULLOHILL WALKING CLUB: As the dark evenings draw in why not stay active and walk in the safety and the company of others. Walking continues every Monday and Friday evening leaving Cullohill Community centre at 7.30 pm sharp. Free activity. All are most welcome.

DURROW SOCIAL CLUB: Our next meet up is in Bob’s Bar on Saturday the 25th of November at 9pm. Contact us on (086) 2224178 for more information and like our Facebook page –    Durrow Social Club at www.facebook.com/DurrowSocialClub to stay up to date with the latest news and events.

MONSTER CHRISTMAS BINGO: A monster Christmas bingo with €5,000 in prize money will take place on Sunday, 26th November at 3pm. Double book €15, Single book €10 and Single sheet €2. Lots of spot prizes and a big cash raffle on the day. All are most welcome.

THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS: If you are interested in the outdoors and like to show skills to others, why don’t you join us? Contact Delphine Lawlor on (086) 3655178 for further details.

LOCAL WEATHER: Keep up to date with the latest Durrow weather data – www.laoisweather.com

DURROW BRIDGE CLUB: The winners on November 8th were: First – Fr. Martin Delaney and Marion Sherman; Second – Fr. John Lalor and Ann Dooley; Third – Joan and Dickie Dempsey. Durrow Bridge Club continues for the winter season on Wednesday evenings in the Presentation Centre at 7.45pm. All are most welcome.

CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE: Cards: The Progressive 25 Card Games are held in the hall every Sunday night at 8.30pm sharp followed by tea and sandwiches. Please support!

Cullohill ICA: The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 5th.

DURROW LIBRARY: If anyone is interested in a genealogy course please do call in! Library Opening Times: The open times are as follows: Tuesdays: 1.30pm to 5.30pm and 6pm to 7.30pm; Wednesdays: 10am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm; Saturdays 11am to 1pm. Phone: (057) 8736090 or e-mail: Lmoriarty@laoiscoco.ie for information on any of the above.

MARKET: A Free Mulled Wine Evening and Artisan Food Market will take place on Thursday the 30th of November from 2pm until 10pm at Manor Stone Garden Centre, Ballacolla to thank all our lovely customers, suppliers, family and friends for their continued support. We would like to invite you all to our free evening of celebration where there will be a festive buffet, music and a chance to get a look at our new extension. Also, the connect2laois Christmas market will have over twenty stalls selling the best Artisan foods from all around Laois!

CULLOHILL-DURROW FLOWER AND GARDENING CLUB: The Cullohill-Durrow Flower and Gardening Club Annual Christmas Gala will be held on December 11th at 8pm in The Castle Arms Hotel with Oliver Lawlor. Mulled wine and mince pies as usual! Admission is just €10 with all proceeds supporting The Irish Association for Cancer Research. Please come along on the night and bring a friend!

THANK YOU: The Blood Transfusion Service wish to thank everyone who attended their clinic in Durrow on Thursday September 21st last. A total of 98 attended including four new donors and six lapsed donors. Gold awards for twenty donations were given to Alan Guilfoyle of No. 3 Dervald, Durrow and John Malone of Castlecomer. A Silver award was given to Patrick Halley of Ballacolla for his ten donations. Well done to everyone – heroes one and all.

DEFIBRILLATORS IN DURROW: Durrow now has three defibrillators across the town with one in Our Lady’s Meadow National School, one outside on the wall between Lawlor’s Gala and Sheppard’s Auctioneers and one at the reception in the Castle Arms Hotel.

LIAM LAWTON IN CONCERT: Liam Lawton will be perform in concert with the Irish Festival Orchestra in the Church of The Holy Trinity, Rathdowney on Thursday, 21st of December. Other acts performing on the night include the Rathdowney Parish Choir and the Creagh Family. Doors open at 7.30pm with the concert commencing at 8pm. Tickets €30 are available from the   Rathdowney Parish Office. All enquiries by phone to: (050) 546282

WOODENBRIDGE COMMUNITY ALERT AGM: The Woodenbridge Community Alert AGM will be held on Tuesday 12th December at 8.40pm in Newtown Mill. The meeting will be attended by members of An Garda Siochana and Help Link South (Senior Alert Scheme). The Woodenbridge Community Alert are the local authorised Personal Alarm suppliers for Durrow, Cullohill and  Ballacolla. The new programme includes (1) that eligible persons (65 years and over) no longer have to be living alone and (2) free monitoring of alarm service for one year for all new       participants after November 1st 2017. For more information contact Michael G Phelan by phone on (087) 2395357. All local interested groups are invited to attend this meeting.

DURROW TIDY TOWNS: Durrow Tidy Towns under DDF are in early preparations for the 2018 judging. Further to meetings and new members on the committee, we are delighted to action water butts for the town and further improvements will be made in the coming months. We would encourage all residents and businesses to get involved in every way possible and keep the outside of their own premises clean and tidy. Our Junior Tidy Towns committee is in the process of being set up and we would encourage all our over 10 year olds in the community to assist our junior committee in improving Durrow’s tidy town results for 2018 – together, as a community we can make it happen! This Saturday morning, (Nov 25th) members will plant the large wooden containers with winter flowers. Please help out if you can!