Direct from Durrow Extra

SET DANCING: Set Dancing classes are held on Monday evenings at 8.30pm in The Castle Arms Hotel.All are most welcome. For more information please contact Declan Doocey on (087) 2168680.

CONGRATULATIONS to Castle Durrow Hotel on being voted 7th best hotel in Ireland by TripAdvisor!

Congratulations also to Bernard O’Shea who is doing well on RTE’s Dancing with the Stars!

GROW: Understanding and minding your mental health with GROW… the community mental health movement in Ireland. A community mental health programme will commence on Thursday the 1st of February from 7.30pm until 9.30pm at Wolfe Tone Court, Townparks, Mountmellick. The programme is free to attend and all are most welcome. Week 1 module (Thursday, 1st February): Understanding and Promoting Positive Mental Health; Week 2 module (Thursday 8th February): Managing Stress & Anxiety; Week 3 module (Thursday 15th February): Mindfulness; Week 4 module (Thursday 22nd February): Suicide Awareness & Prevention; Week 5 module (Thursday 1st March): Bereavement/Nine Activities to Ensure Good Mental Health & Wellbeing. For more details please phone (086) 4183805 or send an email to: midlandregion@grow.ie for further information. “GROW’s Mission is to nurture mental health, personal growth, prevention & full recovery from all kinds of mental illness”. We hope to see you there.

OUR LADY’S MEADOW SCHOOL: Enrolment is now open for Our Lady’s Meadow Primary School, Durrow for the new year commencing September 2018. If you have not received an enrolment form from us and want to enrol your child with us please contact the school at (057) 8736329 or send an email to: ourladysmeadowschool@gmail.com as soon as possible. The closing date for return of completed enrolment forms is 5th February 2018.

DATA PROTECTION WORKSHOP: New General Data Protection Regulations comes into effect this May to protect us from the misuse of information which organisations store about us. As all clubs and groups record personal information about their members (names, addresses, contact details, etc…) this new legislation will affect everyone. We are holding a workshop with the assistance of the Office of the Data Commissioner to give clubs some practical suggestions on how to prepare for compliance with the new legislation. This workshop will be very relevant to anyone in a group who is involved in keeping records, photos, mailing lists, etc… about their members. The workshop will be held on Monday, February 5th at 7.30pm until 9pm in Portlaoise Parish Centre. The workshop is free-of-charge, but places are limited so pre-booking is required. Call (057) 8671248 for full details and to book your place!

DURROW BRIDGE CLUB: The results from January 10th are as follows: First – Margorie McGeough and Kathleen Broderick; Second – Fr. John Lalor and Ann Dooley; Third – Rose Talbot and Sadie Phelan. The club continues for the winter season on Wednesday evenings in the Presentation Centre at 7.45pm.

USED CLOTHES COLLECTION IN AID OF DURROW COMMUNITY CENTRE: The committee are holding a used clothes collection which will be collected from the Community Hall on February 17th. Bags of used clothes, footwear and hadbags can be left into the Hall each morning from 9am to 1pm. No duvets, pillows or cushions to be included as they will not be accepted. This is an opportunity to do a clean-out of used clothes and by doing so, you will be supporting the Community Centre The National Council for the Blind – this would be very much appreciated!

ZUMBA CLASSES: Zumba Classes will commence in Durrow Community Centre on Thursday 22nd March from 8pm until 9pm continuing every Thursday thereafter. Contact Karen Ivanova by email to karen.ivanova1@gmail.com for more information. Please note change of dates from last issue.

ST VINCENT de PAUL DURROW: Contact us, in strict confidence on (087) 1917813 (New Number).

DURROW FIVE YEAR PLAN: Thanks to everyone who came to the Community Consultation Workshop on Thursday in the Castle Arms Hotel. The workshop was important for Durrow Development Forum, the community of Durrow, Businesses, Clubs and Organisations in going forward and with Thursdays outcome it was good to see that all groups had the same essential ideas and goals for Durrow. If anybody missed the meeting, please don’t worry – there will be a further meeting on February 15th with the time and place advertised on the newsletter and Facebook over the coming weeks. If you have any further queries or would like to have your own input on same, please contact Sean at (087) 9873489 or send an email to seanjdcrowley@gmail.com – All are welcome to attend the next meeting and/or contact Sean.

VALENTINES FUNDRAISER IN AID OF HOMECARE: A Valentine’s Fundraiser in aid of the Carlow and Kilkenny Home Care Team will be held on Wednesday, February 14th in Langton House Hotel. Tickets €30 for a Four Course Meal, Band and DJ. Tickets available from Langton’s or Mary Harrington (087)2128664.

Weekend Paddling: We had a cold but rewarding paddling session on the Erkina last weekend and it was a great learning experience and practice for our Level 2 paddlers. This week-ends events will be on our Facebook page.

Munster Polo League: This league is always beneficial to our paddlers and they gain great experience in the competition. We wish all paddlers the best of luck in same.

Pool Sessions: Pool sessions to improve level 2 and 3 paddlers continue with Balto Canoeing club in Athy on Sundays evenings. It’s a great opportunity for younger paddlers to practice their roll.

Condolences: LKCC were saddened to hear of the loss of two well regarded Irish paddlers Alex McGourty and David Higgins who lost their lives due to a freak flood whilst paddling in Ecuador. For any of our younger kayakers who paddled with NUIG and Galway Fest both paddlers were well know and David in particular took huge interest in guiding and gave of his time freely, with enthusiasm and passed along a love for kayaking to our younger paddlers. Our thoughts and prayers are with all their families, friends and fellow Kayakers and with the family and friends of Adam Vaughan who is still missing.

Interested in Kayaking: We are founded and based in Durrow with a huge commitment to encouraging our youth to participate. Follow us on Facebook at Laois Kayak and Canoe Club or at www.laoiskayak.com

JANUARY OFFER AT TRIDENT FITNESS CLUB! – CLASSES ONLY €5 EACH!!! Learn to use kettlebells safely and effectively from one of Ireland’s top kettlebell lifters. My classes place great emphasis on posture correction and improvement through mobility, strength and endurance training. Circuits are a mix of kettlebell and bodyweight exercises which deliver a huge calorie burn and build a strong, toned body. Classes held at The Harps GAA Club Gym, Durrow, Co. Laois. For more information contact David on (087) 3833258 or email tridentfitnessclub@yahoo.ie to book your place. Hurry as places fill quickly!

LIONS AFC: Club togs and socks are now available through each team manager – €10 for both, which is great value!

The 5K Fun Run: There was a fantastic turn out at our 5K Fun Run held on New Years Eve. A big thanks to everyone for their support throughout the event. The winners were as follows:

Men: First: Stephen Hunter; Second: Tom Dunne and Third: Tom Lupton. Women: First: Avril Deegan; Second: Breda McDonald and Third: Louise Mahony.

Christmas Raffle: The draw for our raffle was held in O’Connells Pub, Cullohill just before Christmas. Well done to those who won a prize. We would also like to thank everyone who supported our Christmas Raffle. The following were the winners: Electric Picnic Tickets – Teresa Kennedy, Fermoyle, Durrow; CastleDurrow Voucher – Sophie Ellis; Deegans Centra Hamper – Breda Tynan; Turkey – Leandra Pollard; Ham from Pius Hennessy – Laura Mahony; Meat Voucher from Tommy Kenna – Anne Comerford; Powers Whiskey – Martin Walsh; Bailey’s – Aveen Kavanagh; Molton Browne Set – Stephanie Phelan; Wine – Ray Fogarty, Donal Prior and Mick Dalton; Daltons Cullohill Torch – Michael Kells; Chocolates – Tom Kennedy, Mairead Doheny and Aoife Donohue; Sweets – Muire Fitzpatrick.

Barney’s Bonus Bonanza: Congratulations to our January winner Bill McEvoy.

Achievements: Well done to Molly O Connor, Ruby McEvoy and Lucy O’Connor who recently won a Munster Camogie Final with their school, The Presentation, Thurles. They now go on to compete in the All Ireland Semi-Final next month.

DURROW-CULLOHILL PARISH ANGLERS: The following officers were elected at the AGM held recently at the Presentation Centre, Durrow. The following were elected: Chairman – Philip Kearney; Vice-Chairman – Tommy Coffey; Secretary – Michael Walsh; Assistant-Secretary – Pat Dunphy; Treasurer – Oliver Lawlor; Assistant Treasurer – Niall Donohue. The committee: Alan Dwyer, Seanie Delehunty, David Walsh, Ian Drennan, Patrick Regan, Jonathan Stapleton, Simon Dwyer and Darren Cooney.

Membership is the same as last year and membership cards are available from Lawlor’s Gala, Daybreak, Lawlor’s Flower shop and Michael Walsh, 18 Erkindale Drive.

Fishing: The first competition of the year was held on Sunday for the Brendan Sheeran Memorial Cup. First – Mick Walsh; Second – Sean Geoghegan and Third – David Walsh. The next competition will be held on Sunday January 28 and it is for the Harold Lawlor Cup. Each member will get a text during the week

outlining the full details of the competition.