Durrow News
THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS: Second hand Jumpers are available to purchase from the Group for Beavers and Cubs and also shirts for Scouts. Even with long and rainy winter nights, you can catch the Scouts out and about. Last week, they did a scavenger hunt and Cubs did a treasure hunt. The Cubs did also a night walk in Capponellan before the investiture of three new Cubs. They all loved the Smores and hot chocolate at the end…
FRIENDS OF SHANE WALSH: The Friends of Shane Walsh are hosting a Charity Auction Night with Music by Abbeyfolk and DJ Sheppo on Saturday, November 30th in The Castle Arms Hotel. Foors open at 8.30pm and admission will be €15. Take a preview of all the amazing lots on offer to be auctioned by visiting: facebook.com/
DURROW FIRE AND RESCUE: Do you need a smoke alarm? Or do you know of someone who does, in the Durrow, Cullohill or Ballacolla areas? Every home should have a minimum of two of the life saving devices! Durrow Fire and Rescue will provide and install smoke alarms for anyone that needs them, and there is no charge for this service. Simply contact and Durrow Fire and Rescue member if you are interested, or if you know of a friend or a neighbour that needs to have the devices installed.
DOG FOULING: Unfortunately there is a lot of dog fouling around Durrow and in particular on The Greens. If your dog poops it’s your responsibility to pick it up, leaving it there is a health hazard and in particular for the children coming out from school who automatically play on The Greens. This is so frustrating for the community and for responsible dog owners who do clean up, however, for those who don’t clean up, you really do need to take responsibility for your dog. We have had so many complaints in the past few weeks regarding this issue and it is a health hazard. Please take pride in your village and clean up after your dog!
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 2019 SWITCH ON: The Christmas lights in Durrow town centre will be switched on next Friday evening, December 6th in the Square at 7pm sharp. A Christmas Carol Service will be held and Hot Chocolate will be served to everyone to enjoy. All are most welcome to attend.
DURROW DEVELOPMENT FORUM: Commencement works on building the new community hub in Durrow will start in the coming weeks. We would ask all residents in the village to have patience whilst this is happening. From the Town Plan meetings, the provision of a community hub was one of the main results. We will be looking for a suitable name for the hub and if any residents have any ideas they can contact the Durrow Development Forum or Durrow Laois Facebook pages or email secretary@durrow.ie. We will narrow the names down for the hub and arrange a community vote. We will update you on works going forward and thank you for your patience.
WEATHER: Visit www.laoisweather.com for up-to-the-minute weather data from Durrow.
DURROW LIBRARY: The Chatty Crafting Group in the library is going from strength to strength! Meeting at the library every Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm. Come for the crochet and stay for the chats!
Lego Free Play Sessions are being held every Saturday from 11am to 12 midday. Duplo is available for younger builders!
DURROW TIDY TOWNS: Appeal: We encourage everybody to sweep up leaves off footpaths from outside their houses and premises as they can become quite a slip hazard when wet.
MASS TIMES CHANGES: From this weekend of November 30th and December 1st Mass Times will be changed. This is in line with the new arrangements within our Diocese of Ossory. On Saturday evening November 30th the Vigil Mass will be in The Holy Trinity Church, Durrow at 7pm. Vigil Mass in Cullohill on Saturday evening will be at 8pm in St Tighearnach Church. On Sunday December 1st Mass will be in The Holy Trinity Church Durrow at 11.30am with no Mass in Cullohill on Sunday. These new times for the Masses in the Parish will continue until a review at the end of the first year.
CHURCH NEWS: Church Cleaning Rota – December 2019: Maeve Thornton, Eileen Keenan, Brigid Traynor. Mass Readers: Saturdays – November 30th and December 7th: Catherine Freeman; December 14th and 21st: Ann Vaugh. Sundays – December 1st and 8th: Michael Conroy; December 15th and 22nd: Fergal Hassett.
Readers and Cleaners: Readers and Cleaners are needed to assist the present group who are doing great work reading at Mass and cleaning the Church weekly in the Holy Trinity Church, Durrow. The rota for Readers is two Masses every six months and the readings are given to you once we receive them in the Church. For more details contact Martin Lawlor who co-ordinates the readers at (087) 2185839.
The Rota for the cleaners is a couple hours once a week for a month and it reoccurs every four to five months depending on the number of cleaners. The number of cleaners has dropped in the past year and we appeal to anyone who has two hours a week in the morning for a month rota maybe twice a year to contact Angela Drennan or any member of the cleaners to get your name added to the list. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Parish Evenings: Starting in Advent the Diocesan retreat team will host parish evenings in St Kieran’s College, or in your own parish. These evenings are an opportunity for people to take time to reflect in the midst of our busy lives. The theme this year, taken from Laudato Si’, for the retreats is “Praised be to you O Risen – Lord Alive in Every Creature”
Support Group: A support group meeting for Relatives of a Loved One with Mental Health Issues on Wednesday, 4th December at 7pm in The Resource Centre, Springhill Clinic, Waterford Road, Kilkenny.
Rome Pilgrimage: The Ossory Adult Faith Development group are leading a pilgrimage to Rome (24th to 29th of August 2020). These days in the eternal city are an opportunity through art and sacred sites to unlock knowledge of our faith and to deepen our understanding of God. Anyone interested can contact afd@ossory.ie or call (056) 7753624.
Taizé Youth Programme 2020: A youth trip to Taizé in France organised by Ossory Youth will take place from Sunday 28th June to Sunday 5th July 2020. A week in the Taize Community is an opportunity for reflection and contemplation and a little step back from daily life. But bringing people together is also the essence of Taize and it is a week of meeting young people from different countries and cultures where new friendships are made. Tens of thousands of young people from around the world, including 30 from Kilkenny, made the trip to Taizé this year.
The programme, which runs from December 2019 to July 2020 is open to Transition year, 5th year and Leaving Cert students. Closing date is Friday 22nd November. For additional information, including cost, and application forms, contact Patrick Bookle, Ossory Youth at (056) 7761200, (087) 2129006 or pbookle@ossoryyouth.com
SYMPATHY is extended to Delaney family, Erkindale, Durrow on their recent bereavement.
ONLINE ADVENT RETREAT: Reflect on the great ‘O Antiphons’ used in Evening Prayer and Mass during the second part of Advent. Watch an online talk each day from December 16th 2019. Register Now by contacting (01) 4048124 or emailling enquiries@prioryinstitute.com or visiting www.prioryinstitute.com
CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE: On Sunday 22nd December at 7.00 pm you are invited to a Christmas Carol Service in St. Fintan’s Church (Church of Ireland), Durrow. We are delighted that the Durrow Community Choir, Vocem Daru, will be joining us for a seasonal service of lessons and carols. Mulled wine and mince pies served afterwards. All very welcome!
POLIO: Polio Survivors Ireland, is the new name for the Post Polio Support Group. People who had polio are invited to sign up to the new National Polio Register. It is estimated that as many as 7,000 people who had polio live in Ireland, many are not in touch with the charity Polio Survivors Ireland, making it difficult to lobby for improved services and support for those living with the impact of polio. The Register is being launched in Co. Kilkenny and we are asking parishioners to help promote and support the Polio Register and also relay this information to polio survivors and their families. Please contact us if you need more information or materials: Call Emma on (01) 8898920 or info@ppsg.ie or visit www.polio.ie
HOMELESS IN LAOIS: With over 1,6000 applicants seeking accommodation from Laois County Council and numerous homeless people all over the county sleeping rough, a rally is being organised to highlight the housing and homeless situation in Laois. It will be held on the same day – Thursday 5 December – that a national demonstration on the homeless crisis in Ireland is being held in Dublin. The rally in Laois will be held at the Civic Plaza at County Hall, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise and begins at noon. All those affected by or have a genuine concern for people affected by the housing/homeless situation in Laois are invited to attend.
PRESENTATION CENTRE: The Presentation Centre beside the Catholic Church is available for hire. For further information please contact Angela on (087) 1928522.
NEW NUMBER FOR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL: Please note our new phone number (087) 6072617.
LAOIS ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY: Laois Alzheimer’s Society Resource Centre at 47 Main Street Portlaoise R32 VRX8 is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Our next Social Club will be held on Thursday 12th December between 2.30pm and 4.30pm in Portlaoise Parish centre.
Laois Alzheimer’s are offering a week’s respite care to people who have a dementia diagnosis in the Waterman’s Lodge Care Centre, Ballina-Killaloe, Co Tipperary. Their specialist overnight respite centre offers stimulation and activity to the person with dementia in a safe, friendly environment and respite from caring for the caregiver. You do not have to be availing of homecare services to apply. To access respite care please contact Ann (details below). Places are limited so get in touch with us.
For more information on dementia contact Ann Munnelly on (057) 8663398 or (086) 8372168 Homecare Co-ordinator, Portlaoise or to laois.branch@alzheimer.ie by email.
FOUND: One house key was found on the Derry Rd recently. Contact (086) 8263368 for more info.
BE SAFE – BE SEEN: With evenings getting darker much earlier, and fewer hours of daylight during the day, it’s even more important for vulnerable road-users such as walkers, joggers and cyclists to ensure they can be seen by other road-users when out on the roads. The most effective way to do this is to wear high visibility clothing such as a high-viz vest or a Sam Browne belt, carrying a torch when out on the roads and by ensuring you have working lights on your bicycle. Through our partnership with Electric Ireland, every junior infant in Ireland will receive a high visibility vest which will help to ensure our most vulnerable road-users can be safe and be seen when out on the roads. 154 people have been killed on Irish roads to date this year, 14 more road deaths when compared to the same period last year. Of these, 21 were pedestrians and five were cyclists. The Road Safety Authority is advising all road-users to be safe and be seen when using the roads this winter.
SENIOR ALERT SCHEME: The Woodenbridge Community Alert are the local authorised Personal Alarm (Senior Alert Scheme) suppliers for the Durrow, Cullohill, Ballacolla and Rathdowney areas. The new programme states that (1) eligible persons (65 years and over) no longer have to be living alone; and (2) there will be free monitoring of alarm service for one year for all new participants after November 1st 2017. For more information contact Michael G Phelan (087) 2395357.
PRESENTATION ON CYBERBULLYING & INTERNET SAFETY: Heywood Community School will hold a Cyberbullying and Online Safety Talk for all parents/guardians including parents/guardians of incoming 5th and 6th Class students on Tuesday 3rd December at 7.30pm. Entry Fee: €2.
CONGRATULATIONS: to Katrina (nee. Sheeran) and Tadgh Maher on the birth of a baby boy Fionn.
Congratulations to the members of Durrow Fire and Rescue Service who were presented with their commemorative 1916-2016 medals recently.
SOCIAL DANCE CLASSES: There will be Social Dance Classes for Waltz, Quickstep, and Foxtrot, etc… held in the Ballyragget Community Hall every Saturday night from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. This is a Healthy, relaxing and very sociable evening. All are most welcome and for more information please contact Yvonne on (087) 2448535.
NO JUNK MAIL STICKERS: Fed up of Junk Mail and want to do your bit for the environment – there are now free stickers in Lawlor’s Gala and Ryan’s Daybreak. Pick up yours today and stick them to your letter box! For more updates, click like on the Durrow Tidy Towns Facebook Page.
SET DANCING CLASSES: Set Dancing Classes in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow continue on Mondays from 8.30pm until 10.30pm. Beginners are most welcome. Contact Declan on (087) 2168680 for more information.
DURROW CHOIR: Vocem Darú Choir (Durrow’s Community Choir) is back! Rehearsals continue on Tuesdays and we are always looking for new members. We sing a wide range of Music – popular, classical, international – with the focus on fun and friendship. For more details phone Ann on (086) 6045409
DURROW BRIDGE CLUB: Results from November 6th: First – Teresa Phelan and Nora Fitzpatrick; Second – Dolly Harding and Ann Fitzpatrick; Third – Theresa Muldowney and Jimmy Ryan. Results from November 13th: First N/S – Phil Kingston and Paddy Purcell; Second N/S – Marie Foley and Jack Murphy; First E/W – Theresa Muldowney and Jimmy Ryan; Second E/W – Marie Nancy Bennett and Paul Maher. The club meets every Wednesday night at 7.45pm in the Presentation Centre, Durrow. All welcome.
IRISH MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE ASSOCIATION: We would like to thank all who contributed most generously to our Annual Church Gate Collection in Durrow and Cullohill on November 9th and 10th.
REWARD: A reward is offered for the recovery of a mislaid book titled “Ballaconra Murphy History” by Maureen Palmer. Please contact (086) 8263368 to reunite the book with it’s owner and for the reward!
FLOWER & GARDEN CLUB: Cullohill-Durrow Flower and Garden Club are hosting a Christmas Gala Night in the Castle Arms Hotel on Monday December 9th at 8 pm. Christine Hughes the incoming chairperson of AOIFA, the Association of Irish Flora Artists will be the guest Floral Artist for the night. Christine is an exceptional Floral Artist and is known all over Ireland. Tickets are €15 each, available from any club member or at the door on the night. Proceeds from the night will go to Pieta House (chosen charity of AOIFA) and Abbeyleix Support Group for Hibernian House. Mulled wine and mince pies served on the night. All floral arrangements will be raffled on the night. All welcome.
GATHABAWN NS: On Wednesday December 4th, Creenkill National School will host a fun Wreath Making or table arrangement from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. All material will be provided and you take your creation away with you on the night! If you do have your own personal decorations/greenery you wish to use on the evening, you are very welcome to bring them along. Refreshments on the night including a glass of wine and cheese board. Booking is essential as places are limited. Hosted by Rene Fitzpatrick and Marie Stapleton. Call (087) 7767509 to book.
CAROL SERVICE: Vocem Daru and friends will host a Carol Service in St. Tiernach Church, Cullohill on Friday night December 13th at 7 pm. The proceeds of this Festival of Carols will go to Freeland School Building Project in Capetown South Africa. This is a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and to help a worthy project. All are welcome. Your attendance and generosity will be greatly appreciated.
AGM: Woodenbridge Community Alert will hold their Annual General Meeting on Monday 9th December at 7.30pm in Newtown Mill. Attendance will include Crime Prevention Officer Graham Kavanagh, Muintir na Tire Regional officer Conor O’Leary, Cllr. Conor Bergin (Minister Flanagan’s Office) Garda Declan Quinlan and Helplink South (Senior Alert Scheme) Officer Patricia Johnson. Agenda will include update on Community CCTV Project. Refreshments will be served. All outside groups are welcome to attend.
ART CLASSES: Art classes continue in Durrow Library on Wednesday evenings only from 7pm to 9pm up until 18th December. Classes will resume again in the new year on the 8th and 9th of January (Wednesday & Thursday from 7pm to 9pm). Beginners welcome – all enquiries to Marie (086) 3136028.
HEYWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE: A unique community celebration featuring the School’s Sacred Choir, Traditional Irish Music Group and Soloists. The School Choir will sing a feast of beautiful Christmas Carols, old and new for all the family to sing and enjoy with seasonal readings and reflections in St. Brigid’s Church, Ballinakill on Thursday 12th December at 7.30pm.