Direct from Durrow

THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS: Third Laois Durrow Scouts wish a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone. We would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who is supporting us and buying the newsletter and lotto tickets every week as these are our main fundraisers. We would like to say a big thanks to Daniel Dunne who helps us  compile the  newsletter every fortnight, it is very much appreciated.

CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE: The St. Fintan’s Church Annual Carol Service will take place this Tuesday 19th December at 8pm. This is always a lovely night of music and gets everyone into the Christmas spirit whilst supporting the restoration of the church. All are most welcome to attend. Please note there will be a small entrance fee as a fundraiser for the ongoing Church restoration. Please support generously.

DURROW DEVELOPMENT FORUM: Durrow Development Forum would like to wish the    community of Durrow a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year. We are extremely grateful for all of your support over the past year with all our projects and with the smooth  running of DDF, the Scarecrow Festival and the Tidy Towns. We look forward to 2018 and your continued support in our fundraisers for ongoing projects within the community. Nollaig Shona Daoibh agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Daoibh!

BE WINTER READY: Information on Be Winter-Ready and tips on how to be prepared for bad weather this winter is available at www.laois.ie or www.winterready.ie/en online. Leaflets are also available from the Laois County Council offices or from Pamela Tynan, Laois PPN – eMail: ptynan@laoiscoco.ie or phone: (057) 8665661 or 8664060.

LaoisWeather: Live weather data from Durrow is available online at www.laoisweather.com which tracks temperatures, rainfall amounts, wind-speeds and much more.

GIVE BLOOD THIS CHRISTMAS: The Mobile Unit of the Blood Transfusion Service will visit The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow on Wednesday December 27th from 4.30pm to 8.00pm. With over two hundred units of blood each day over the festive season please give the perfect gift; the gift of Life by donating blood in Durrow. We appeal to everyone who can donate to give one hour of your time to donate and you can be sure that your donation will save lives.

ST. STEPHEN’S DAY WALK: The Annual Leafy Loop St. Stephen’s Day Walk will start at 11am from the Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Registration will take place at the Hotel from 10.30am. This is a 10km walk and all proceeds raised goes to Laois Hospice Service. Please do support.

DEFRIBILLATOR IN GURTEEN – CULLOHILL: The Leinster Sports Clinic have purchased a defibrillator and is on site at the clinic in the case of an emergency in Gurteen or the surrounding local rural area. Please let everyone know to help raise awareness.

CHURCH NEWS: Church Cleaning Rota – January 2018: Mary Dollard and Babe Duggan.

Mass Readers: Saturdays – December 16th and 23rd: Bernie Murphy; December 30th and January 6th: Catherine Walsh; January 13th and 20th: Ann Marie Lawlor.

Sundays – December 17th and 24th: Fergal Hassett; December 31st and January 7th: Kevin Kelly; January 14th and January 21st: Stephanie Phelan.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES: St. Tigerneach’s Church, Cullohill: A Vigil Mass will be held on  December 23rd at 8pm; Sunday Mass on December 24th will be held at 10am; Christmas Eve Mass will be held at 8pm and Christmas Day Mass will be held at 10am. Fr. Tom McGree wishes everyone in the parish a very happy, holy and healthy Christmas and every blessing for the

New Year in 2018.

SYMPATHY is extended to Oliver Clooney and family, The Swan, Durrow on the death of their sister in England recently.

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

DURROW COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Cake Sale: The committee wish to thank everybody who supported our recent Cake Sale in aid of the Senior Citizens’ Party. A huge thanks to everyone who baked and brought cakes on the day, it was very much appreciated. A total of €405 was raised which was a great achievement. The winners of the raffle were: First Prize – Christmas Hamper: Sheila Finnegan, Cork Rd; Second Prize – Food Hamper: Kathleen Stapleton, Erkindale Drive; Third Prize – Bushmills Whisky: Sheila Finnegan, Cork Rd; Fourth Prize – Box of Chocolates and Box of Biscuits: Eileen Keenan & Ethel Dunphy.

Christmas Tree: A huge thank you to Gearoid Ryan and the FÁS Team for their hard work in securing the Christmas tree and decorating it with lights last week. Thank you also to Liam Clancy for providing the tree and to Dominic Leonard for supplying the transport of the tree. The Christmas tree looks very well and is much admired by all in the community. Well done!

The Committee wish everybody a Happy, Peaceful and Safe Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2018. Many thanks to all for their support throughout the year gone.

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.

CONGRATULATIONS: to John and Paula Clooney, Kyle, Durrow on the birth of their daughter Anna-Marie recently.