Direct from Durrow

THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS NEWS: The cubs and the scouts had a fantastic day in Shannon Air Adventure at the weekend just gone. They got to inflate life vests, learn about all the different navigation systems and aircrafts, the reason behind safety demos in an aircraft and for most of them the highlight of using a flight simulator. A great day for everybody, scouts and Scouters! If you are interested in joining us? Contact Delphine Lawlor on (086) 3655178 for further details.

Laois Scouting News

CLEAN UP LAOIS WEEK – APRIL 23rd to 27th: This is the 15th Anniversary of Clean Up Laois Week! Last year the County saw 111 groups register with over 900 volunteers taking part. A whopping 32.22 tonnes of waste collected by these groups across the county and later collected by our very kind sponsors AES. Please don’t say ”I didn’t drop it there” Chances are the person who eventually has to pick it up didn’t either!

Durrow Tidy Towns Clean-up Evening: A litter pick evening will be held on Tuesday, April 24th. We appeal to residents to come out on the evening and assist committee members and volunteers. We also ask people to sweep and clean outside their premises. Anything recyclable that is cleaned up on the night can be brought to the community centre in a plastic bag to be collected.

Shouldn’t all of Laois be spotlessly clean?

Junior Tidy Towns: Durrow Tidy Towns are very interested in starting a junior tidy towns group. We hope to identify a specified project where all the work would be carried out by the children, with the help of some of the committee. This project would be a permanent and lasting addition to the efforts of the committee so far.
Residents Groups: To try and continue the good work started during cleanup week, the committee hopes that residents’ groups can be set up in the different areas and estates around the town. These groups could be included in the organisation of the different projects planned for the year.

CULLOHILL ICA: Cullohill March meeting was held in the Community Centre on Tuesday night. Vote of sympathy was passed with the Drennan family on the death of Ber. He was a regular Sunday night card player in Cullohill. Ar Deis de go raibh a anam uasal dilis. Laois Federation to Killarney is on Tuesday June 5th to Friday June 8th, staying at the Gleneagle Hotel and touring Kerry for four days. Contact Noreen Byrne on (086) 8389590 to reserve a place. The federation Craft Day is in Castletown Hall on Saturday March 21st from 10am to 4pm. There are five craft courses. Contact Mary McWey (057) 8731349 to book, open to non-members.

Presentation of a cheque to chosen charity from Laois ICA held at 2014 Laois Federation AGM Photo courtesy of www.ica.ie

The Laois Spring Federation Meeting is in Mountmellick on Wednesday April 25th whilst Laois week in An Grianan is from June 18th to June 22nd. Mary Bergin and Sheila Moore won the Raffle and then light refreshments were served. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday May 1st. Congratulations also to the Harps Camogie team who won the Leinster League played in Abbotstown on Sunday. They played Castletown-Geoghegan. They were presented with the winning cup.

CAKE SALE IN AID OF CUISLE CENTRE: Durrow Development Forum will hold a Cake Sale to support the Cuisle Centre, Portlaoise on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of April after both Masses, in the Presentation Centre. Cakes can be dropped in for sale before Mass on each day. Please do call in for a cup of tea, coffee, cake and a chat to support this very worthy and local support centre.

Congratulations to Bowe’s Foodhall and Café on being short listed for the Midland Radio 103 Hospitality Awards 2018 for the Best Casual Dining. Once again well done to everyone at Bowe’s for their great work and excellent food.

CHURCH NEWS: DURROW PARISH NEWS: Church Cleaning Rota – May 2018: Mary Dollard and Babe Duggan.
Mass Readers: Saturdays – April 21st and 28th: Oliver Lawlor; May 5th and 12th: Ann-Marie Lalor; May 19th and 26th: Kay Sheppard. Sundays – April 22nd: Bea Alley; April 29th and May 6th: Liam Phelan; May 13th and 20th: Stephanie Phelan.
Special Ministers of the Eucharist: May: Saturday Evenings – Rose Woods and Sean Phelan; May: Sunday Mornings – Mary Doogue and Marie Martin.

All the news from Durrow

VISIT OF POPE FRANCIS TO IRELAND: A formal announcement that Pope Francis will attend the World Meeting of Families in Ireland is expected shortly. Pope Francis personally chose Ireland to host this event. Parishioners who would like to attend all or part of the event can register for the three-day Pastoral Congress on www.worldmeeting2018.ie online.

Places for the Congress are limited and guarantee a ticket for the Festival of Families and the Final Mass which are expected to be led by Pope Francis. Although there will be no charge for any event led by the Pope, tickets for the Festival of Families will be very limited and not released until a later date, along with tickets for the Final Mass.

Save The 8th Amendment: A 24 hour Eucharistic Adoration will be held on Wednesday 25th April from 9am until 9am on Thursday 26th April at The Church of the Holy Trinity Durrow. Please contact Kay on (087) 9912047 to fill in an hour.

Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2015. Pic courtesy of www.thomastownparish.ie

Pilgrimage: The Diocese of Ossory Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from May 22nd to May 27th inclusive. Bookings are now being taken and anyone wishing to travel on the Ossory Pilgrimage to Lourdes can contact Eleanor at (051) 880414 during weekdays between 9.30am and 1.30pm except for Wednesdays. The cost of the Pilgrimage will be €785.

SYMPATHY is extended to the Dunphy family, Bunlacken, Cullohill on their recent bereavement.

RADIO MARIA IRELAND: Radio Maria Ireland is an Irish-run Catholic talk-radio station with Prayer, catechesis, uplifting music, talks, interviews and testimonies – all commercial free! Listen via our FREE App “Radio Maria Ireland”, streaming on www.radiomaria.ie or via phone – get live radio feed by calling (01) 4373277 (no extra charges apply). Please join our growing faith family!

DURROW FUNDRAISING CONCERT: On Saturday 12th May at 7.30pm in St. Fintan’s Church (Church of Ireland) Durrow, the Blessington Millennium Choir will sing a concert of classical and ‘easy listening’ music in aid of work to the fabric of St. Fintan’s Church. Please mark the date! All welcome.

THANK YOU: The Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown, Transition Year students who held the fund raising cake sale in Cullohill on Easter Sunday would like to sincerely thank all who supported them.