Latest Laois News: Around Portarlington Way
All the latest news from Portarlington, Killenard and environs
BLOOD DONATIONS
The Blood Donation Clinic will be at the Portarlington Community Centre on this Tuesday May 4 from 3.45pm to 8pm. Donors are needed urgently. Please ring 059- 9132125 and make your appointment.
We appreciate your support to ensure we are able to meet the needs of patients in our hospitals.
GARDEN PROJECT AT BNS
Scoil Phadraig BNS have started on the garden project for the new school on Canal Road. The central piece of the garden is the Trinity Loop, which has been commissioned as part of the “Percent for Art Project”. They will also have a sensory garden, outdoor classroom, vegetable garden and wild willow woodland. If you are a parent, grandparent, past pupil or a member of the wider Portarlington Community and you would like to contribute to this new, exciting garden project, you can donate through their Go Fund Me Page. All donations gratefully accepted.
SYMPATHY
Deepest Sympathy to the family of Michael Keogh, Derryvilla & late of the Lake Road, Ballybrittas who passed away on Friday April 23 at Oghill Nursing Home, Monasterevin. Mick will be sadly missed by his loving wife Anne, sisters Carmel Fennelly & Phil Mason, extended family & many friends. Funeral Mass took place on Sunday April 25 at St John’s Church Killenard, with burial after in the adjoining Cemetery. May Michael rest in Peace.
SYMPATHY
It was with deep sadness that the news came to Portarlington of the death of Robert (Robbie) Lyons who passed away on Saturday April 24 at his home in Chatterts, Cambridgeshire England. Formerly of St Patrick’s Tce Portarlington, Robbie was predeceased by his parents Dinny & Polly & brother Dermot. He will be sadly missed by his brothers Jimmy, Dinny, Raymond, Martin and Kevin, sisters Tanya, Eileen and Ann-Marie, as well as nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends. Funeral arrangements for to follow later. May Robbie rest in Peace.
SYMPATHY
The death occurred on Monday April 26 of Very Rev. Patrick Gaynor, Walsh Island & formerly Tullow, Co. Carlow. Fr Gaynor was predeceased by his parents John & Mary Gaynor, brother Jimmy, sisters Sr Elizabeth & Sr Frances. Fr Gaynor will be sadly missed by his extended family, Bishop Denis Nulty, priests of Kildare & Leighlin Diocese, his former parishioners, carers & friends. Requiem Mass took place on Wednesday April 28 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Walsh Island, with burial after in the adjoining Cemetery. May Fr Gaynor gentle soul rest in Peace.
PARISH NOTES
The Parish office will remain closed until further notice due to the present restrictions. All notices/Anniversaries for the Parish newsletter must be in by Wednesday each week. You can e-mail to portarlingtonparishoffice@eircom.net or drop in the letter box. You can also contact Eileen at 086-1508048 & Rosemary at 087-9423658.
Masses-No public Masses allowed. All Masses will be online. Weekdays-10am. Saturday-6.15pm. Sunday 9am & 12.15pm. Churches will remain open for private prayer.
Link for St Michael’s Church webcam is here
PORTARLINGTON CONCERT BAND
Lessons are continuing on a one-to-one basis, and new musicians are always welcome. Contact Pat @0838510428. The Concert Band need your help. Due to Covid the Band were not able to hold any fundraising concerts or do their annual collections in the Community. They still have significant overheads with insurance, instruments and heating to pay for. Any donation is greatly appreciated on the following link-https://gofund.me/7c161056
PORTARLINGTON G.A.A.
Port GAA bingo is now online via Zoom with all the usual callers & a guarantee of €3000 in prizes each night. Single books are priced at €8 and are available for purchase through clubforce at the link below, where you can also find further details on how to play. Link is here.
For anyone local who wishes to purchase a book for the Online Bingo but who do not have email access, you can order from the club by texting 085 8264994 via text or WhatsApp giving your name and address.
A reply will be sent back when books are ready. Books can then be collected in Brian Whelan’s Electrical shop on Main Street. Full payment upon collection. PLEASE NOTE: Cut off for Online book purchases is 12pm on Tuesdays and cut off for phone purchases is 6pm on Monday evenings.
A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the new sensory garden currently being built at our near neighbours Scoil Phadraig Portarlington.
GRACEFIELD GAA
The Club Lotto is also back. The first draw took place on Monday April 26. Numbers drawn were 13-28-22-21. No Jackpot winner. €50 each to Cathal Bryan, PJ Hoctor, Elisha Lawlor, Marian Bryan & Margaret Walsh. Promoter-Kerry Kinahan. Next Jackpot-€13,400. You can now purchase your tickets from your usual seller, also from Centra Shop, Gracefield, and Anthony Early’s Shop Gracefield, or alternatively you can now do it online if you follow the link. Wishing you all the best of luck, guaranteed winners every week and you’re helping your local club in the process. Link is here
ST CONLETHS LGFC
On behalf of all at St Conleths we are delighted to be in a position to welcome back our players, mentors and volunteers for our return to play. Our club is made up of players from Portarlington , Gracefield , Courtwood , O’Dempeys, Emo & Rath, which is our catchment area. New players from these areas are more than welcome to join our thriving Club.
We are looking forward to welcoming back our stars of the future after such a long break. Again, new players of any age and ability are more than welcome to our club. Any further info can be sought from our club secretary Catherine Burbage at 087-6842028 or club chairman Michael Luttrell at 087-2626008.