Direct from Durrow

CONGRATULATIONS to Aaron and Lorraine Delaney, Ballynevin, Cullohill on the birth of a son, Liam on the 26th August last.

DURROW LIBRARY: The library will be open on Tuesdays from 1.30pm until 5.30pm and 6pm until 7.30pm; Wednesdays from 10am until 1.30pm and 2pm until 5.30pm; also Saturdays from 11am until 1pm. Membership to the library is free to all and provides a range of services for the community, so call in and say hello!

FRIENDS OF CUAN MHUIRE: The weekly meetings of Friends of Cuan Mhuire will take place at 7.30pm on Friday nights at the Sue Ryder Centre, Kilminchy village in Portlaoise. If you or someone you know is suffering with alcohol, narcotics or gambling addictions we are here to support you and to listen to you with compassion. This is an opportunity to meet and talk with people who understand your issues.

If you are in recovery from addiction, struggling with addiction or need support due to someone else’s addiction we can offer a wide variety of help and support systems. Sister Consilio will give a talk at the first meeting along with her team of highly trained staff members. Everyone is welcome to come along. Light refreshments will be available on the night. More information is available from Kieran (085) 7754876, Liam (087) 8298808 or Andrew (085) 1106872.

DURROW REMINISCING GROUP: A book with 200 pages of Photographs spanning almost 100 years of Durrow and Cullohill memories including ICA, Hurling, Camogie, Soccer, School to mention but a few. Books for sale €25 each or two for €40. Please text or call Tom on (087) 2936531 or Kathleen on (086) 8263368.

SATURDAY MARKET VACANCY: A vacancy has opened in the Country Market for anyone interested in selling Home Made Cakes, Buns, Breads, etc… For further information please   contact Marie Clooney on (087) 7742506 or drop by the Saturday Market.

CAREGIVERS URGENTLY REQUIRED: Home Instead Senior Care is the largest non-medical home care provider in Ireland. We urgently require Care Givers in the Durrow and Cullohill  areas. Candidates should have completed or be studying a FETAC Level 5 Qualification or Equivalent. Patient moving and handling qualification and experience is an advantage. Fluent English and own transport essential. Must have a kind, dependable and trustworthy nature. Please call Philomena on (045) 484623orphilomena.clarke@homeinstead.ie by email

Monday 29th August 2016: There was no jackpot winner of €8,750. The Numbers drawn were: 06, 07, 21 and 23. The small draw winners were: €30: Carmel Murphy, Cork Rd, Durrow, Co. Laois; €25: Fiona Bergin, Grennan, Attanagh, Co. Laois; €20: Brian Thornton, Tinweir, Durrow, Co. Laois.

Monday 5th September 2016: There was no jackpot winner of €8,900. The Numbers drawn were: 08, 10, 14 and 22. The small draw winners were: €30: Karen Drennan, Erkindale, Durrow, Laois; €25: Brigid Dunne, 29 Erkindale, Durrow, Laois; €20: Joe Costigan, Cullohill Village, County Laois.

BOOK ABOUT DURROW: Julie Thorne is a historian based in Oxfordshire, England and she has wrote a book telling the story of the Cinderella marriage in 1766 of the Second Viscount Ashbrook of CastleDurrow and an Oxfordshire fisherman’s daughter named Betty Ridge. This year is the 250th anniversary of that marriage. Betty’s elder brother William Ridge came to live in Durrow c.1772 and took charge of the Ashbrook estates until his death in 1798.

Her younger brother John became a Church of Ireland minister – with two wives living, one in England and one in Ireland! His parish was at Eirke. Julie visited Durrow in 2012 to research the story, and the resulting book is called “The Water Gypsy: how a Thames fishergirl became a Viscountess”, and is available to buy from the online Amazon bookstore.

NEED A LOAN??? At St. Canice’s Credit Union Durrow Branch our loan book is open and we have a loan to suit your needs. St. Canice’s issued over 600 loans in July so call in and see Mary and the team. We work hard to say yes to loans!

FISHING: The next angling competition will be the last trout fishing competition of the year and it will be fished on Sunday September 11th for the Paddy Holohan Memorial Cup

ST VINCENT de PAUL: Anyone looking for help can contact us on (087) 3476012.

Membership Reminders: For Club memberships that are up on 18/09/16 and 05/10/16 for Laois Kayak and Canoe Club members. If you wish to renew please have membership in at least a week before the renewal date to ensure your insurance is paid up to date. Membership forms are on website and at the club house but if you need one posted out please PM us as soon as possible. Membership can be given to any committee  member or contact Emer O’Brien on (087) 9626350 regarding same. If you wish to join the club in this period, please also fill in the form or if you have a query please let us know.

Winter Pool Schedule: Advance notice of Winter Pool Schedule with Balto Kayak Club the   following Sunday’s are now confirmed. Learn to roll or just improve your skills in the warmth of Athy pool. Please confirm with Brian or Matt to reserve your place. Arrive for 5pm, on the water from 5.30pm ’till 6.30pm. The pool session dates are October 9th and 23rd, November 6th and 20th, December 4th and 18th, January 8th and 22nd, February 5th and 19th, March 5th & 19th.

Lower Liffey Descent: Nice levels on the Lower Liffey for the LKCC Kayakers who partook in the event, Well done to Matt, Finbar, Mick and Brian who were placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the open canoe doubles.

Paddlefest: Best of luck to all our younger LKCC paddlers taking part in Paddlefest next week-end in Hidden Valley and also to all our LKCC instructors who will assist over the weekend, we wish you all the very happiest of paddling experience and enjoy the club BBQ on Saturday night!

Shorter Evenings: With the winter drawing in, the LKCC Kayakers partook in another  Wednesday paddle at the bridge, as the evenings grow shorter, kayaking will revert to week-ends only and advance notice of events and meets will be on our Viber Group or on our Facebook page and Website. If you are interested in joining don’t forget that the next membership renewal date is 18/9 and 5/10 after that it will be May of next year to keep in sync with Canoeing Ireland. We look forward to seeing you on the water and paddling together, don’t forget to check www.laoiskayak.com for any updates or follow our facebook page online!

Congratulations – Our Minor Football Team who performed magnificently in the B County Final last Monday, 2nd September overcoming a strong The Heath side to claim the title. Well done to all the players and their mentors Gabby Irwin, Dave Finnegan and Richie Comerford for such a successful campaign.

Win €500 per Month with The Harps GAA – Third Time Lucky Lotto! The club would like to hear from supporters who may be interested in participating in our new monthly lotto. The draw will be limited to the first 47 names who sign up. Each person will get a random number between 1 and 47 which becomes their number costing €20 per month. The winner of €500 will be determined by the bonus ball in the main National Lotto draw on the third Saturday of the month – hence third time lucky! If interested, please contact Seamus (087) 2797214 or email the club secretary on theharpsgaa@gmail.com – further details including terms and conditions will be posted on the club’s website: www.theharpsgaa.com online.

The Harps U12 Camogie team will take on Naomh Eamonn in the semi final of the league this Saturday 10th September (please see Harps Camogie  Facebook page for the result!). They have had a successful league campaign so far winning all nine games and topping the table. Along the way they have beaten St. Brigids, Portlaoise, O’Moores, Clonad,  St. Lazarians, Clough Ballacolla, Camross and Banrion Gaels with Naomh Eamonn conceeding. The girls have worked extremely hard all year under the guidance of their trainers Padraig Henderson, Kay O’Connor and  Joan Dollard.

After being beaten by a single point in last year’s final against Camross, the panel and management have been doing over and above to ensure the cup goes to Durrow/Cullahill this year. Portlaoise take on Camross in the other semi final which is sure to be a cracker of a game.

Panel: Cara Henderson, Ella Henderson, Brid Drennan, Rachel Deegan, Rachael Dollard, Aisling Townsend,  Abby Townsend, Eva Dunphy, Caoimhe Doheny, Lisa Kirby, Mollie O Connor, Emma Delahunty, Abby Gibbons, Amy Lacey, Katie Healy, Una Brophy, Emma Delaney, Blaithnaid Deegan, Orlaith White.

DURROW TIDY TOWNS: Durrow Tidy Towns is in much need of volunteers for the coming season. If you feel that you would like to get involved in the community, improve your living environment, to have your speak on how you would like your town to improve, how you would like your town to shine and how you would like your town to excel, please keep it in mind as we will be looking for volunteers over the coming months. Every little bit helps and every new idea lights a spark in a community that will enhance and improve your community and your  living environment – so please get involved! We will issue further notices in the coming weeks.

SATURDAY MARKET: Durrow Saturday market is open every Saturday from 9am to 12.30pm in the Computer Centre beside the RC Church on the Kilkenny Rd. Potato’s and Fresh Veg are available, to book your favourites please ring Marie on (087) 7742506.

LIVE WEATHER DATA: Visit www.laoisweather.com for up-to-the-minute information.

GROW – Community Mental Health Movement: The GROW Community Mental Health Movement holds regular meetings in various towns around Laois. In Portlaoise they meet every Wednesday at 7.30pm in Room 1 in the Parish Centre. The Rathdowney group meets every Wednesday at 7.30pm in 12 Cuan Bhríde, Rathdowney.

The group meet every Thursday at 7pm in the Jobs Club, Oriel House, Upper Main Street, Portarlington. The Mountmellick group   meetings are in recess at present and hope to resume in the coming months. Anyone who may feel anxious, isolated or depressed are invited along to join in any of the above group meetings where they can learn a practical psychology of mental health. For more details contact John on 086 803 3126, visit their website at www.grow.ie or phone their Infoline on 1890 474 474.

TRIDENT FITNESS CLUB – Kettlebell and Bodyweight Training: Training with Kettlebells gives you a fantastic cardiovascular workout along with the muscle toning benefits of weight training, without an increase in muscle mass. Kettlebell training has been proven by recent ACE research as the most effective training method for burning      calories. An hour long workout can burn 1200 calories!

Benefits of training with kettlebells include – Full body strength and conditioning; improved posture; rapid fat loss; improved flexibility; stronger bones and joints; enhanced performance in athletic and everyday movement. Blast that fat today! Beginners classes will continue in The Harps GAA Club, Durrow on Tuesday evenings at 8pm. Contact David to join in the classes on (087) 3833258 or email tridentfitnessclub@yahoo.ie to book your place.

INNER WORLD YOGA & MEDIATION STUDIO: Offering Yoga for beginners, Yoga for men, Restorative Yoga and Sand Meditation. For more information or to book a class call Zara on (087) 1225752, Ballynevin, Cullohill.

NEXT NEWSLETTER: The next newsletter will be on sale weekending September 24th & 25th. All adverts must be booked with Angela Drennan (087) 1928522 or Mary Walsh (086) 3055157. Advertisements cost €2 per issue of Durrow Parish Newsletter and must be paid for in advance.