Latest news from Ballinakill, Cullohill, Durrow and Spink

DURROW COMMUNITY ALERT – FANCY DRESS SPOOKY WALK!

Dunmore Community Alert are hosting A Fancy Dress Spooky Walk in Dunmore Wood on Sunday 24th October from 2 to 4pm. Sponsorship cards are available and will be delivered to members in the next week or so. Refreshments and spot prizes on the day. Photo opportunity also available €5. All are most Welcome. We will also be unveiling an information plaque on the former Dunmore House which was demolished in the 1970’s. All proceeds will go for the upkeep and upgrading of community cameras. All support would be greatly appreciated.

DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES CLG (CE Scheme):

We currently have two vacancies on our Community Employment Scheme: Position: 2 x Environmental Workers; Location: Durrow and Ballacolla; No Experienced Required. Work 19.5 hours per week. Eligibility to participate on CE is generally linked to those who are 21 years or over and in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for 1 year or more or 18 years and over for certain disadvantaged groups. Your eligibility will have to be verified by the Department. Contact (057) 8736870 for further details. 

HEYWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL:

Virtual Tour and Presentation for Incoming First Years 2022/2023! Link available to Primary Schools and Parents/Guardians on School Website www.heywood.ie online from 15th to 30th October 2021 inclusive. Further queries to admin@heywood.ie by email or telephone: (057) 8733333. Important Dates to Remember: The school will commence accepting applications for admission 18 th October 2021. Closing date for applications for admission 8 th November 2021. Notification of decision on application 29th November 2021. Applicants must confirm acceptance of offer by 13th December 2021 (before 4pm). Provisional Dates Thursday 20th January 2022 – Information Evening for Incoming First Years; Saturday 12th February 2022 – Aptitude Tests for Incoming First Years. * Please note these provisional dates are subject to change based on Government Guidelines and Covid-19 restrictions *

ST CANICE’S CREDIT UNION DURROW:

Mary Street, Durrow. Services Available: Debit Card, Current Account, Direct Debits, Competitive Rates and much more. Contact Mary, Catherine or Breda with any questions about our financial products and services. Opening Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm also Fridays from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm. Visit our website at www.stcanicescu.ie online. Phone: 056 7722042 or 056 8736522. Email: info@stcanicescu.ie

CHRISTMAS FAIR AT DURROW – CALLING ALL TRADERS:

Looking to trade at the 2021 Durrow Christmas Market on Sunday 28th November? We’ve a few spaces left but please note we are booked out for Jewellery, Wood Turners, Chocolatiers, Coffee and Woodturners. If you’re Laois based too, we’d love to promote your products with us! Contact emer@durrow.ie for more details.

SPINK COMHALTAS:

A reminder that Spink Comhaltas has resumed music classes. There are a very small number of spaces still available for late registration. If you wish to apply, go to our website at www.spinkcomhaltas.ie/news – You can also read about our major investment in teaching music here too!

PILATES CLASSES:

Pilates Classes have resumed in Cullohill Community Centre and will continue every Tuesday from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. All welcome, do come along and enjoy yourself!

THE HARPS GAA SPLIT THE POT:

We encourage club members, parents and supporters to sign up for a standing order for the weekly split the bucket draw. Just €8 a month gives one entry a week, €16 a month gives two entries a week and €20 a month gives three entries a week. For standing order details contact Joe Deegan, 0879678729, Brian Farrell, 0879555500, or Shane Brophy, 0872034035. There is a lot of expenditure at present in improving the pitches and grounds in Cullahill and Durrow and all support is gratefully appreciated.

LAOIS LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE:

Do you want to green your business but don’t know where to start? Maybe you are looking for?* an independent energy engineer to look at insulation/ renewables options* A packaging expert to to review handling of packaging material* A procurement expert to look at green tendering, etc… Start here, with us at the launch of Green for Micro, the new tailored Green Business support designed to help you make positive changes in your business: Visit: www.localenterprise.ie/Laois/Financial-Supports/GreenForMicro online.

CHURCH NEWS:

The following Mass schedule has been set up and is now effective: Saturday Vigil Mass Cullahill: 7.00pm, Durrow 7.30pm Errill 8.30pm. Sunday Mass: Rathdowney; 10.30am, Durrow 12 noon.CONFIRMATION: Congratulations to all the children in the Confirmation Class at Our Lady’s Meadow who received their Confirmation on Friday 8th of October last.

NEW PARISH OFFICE IN DURROW:

The new Parish Office is now open at the Presentation Centre beside the Church or call (085) 2625033. Opening hours for this office will be from 10am to 2pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The booking of Masses, Chrisenings of babies, sale of Mass Cards, Booking of weddings and funeral arrangements will go through this office. All matters relating to church business in the parish must also go through this office.

CLEANER AVAILABLE:

Mondays to Fridays for the Durrow, Cullohill and Johnstown areas. Flexible hours. Call (085) 8166820.

IRISH DANCING CLASSES:

Scoil Rince Katrina practises Traditional Irish Dancing for all ages in a fun-filled environment. Benefits are numerous as it helps children to engage in their coordination, improves posture, helps them learn about timing and rhythm and encourages teamwork. Our main focus is to try to bring out the best in every individual and improve their confidence. There are regular competitions if dancers choose to take part. Book now to secure your place. Contact Katrina on 085 7606866. Classes take place in Durrow Community Hall on Monday evenings.

ODIN KETTLEBELL CLUB:

Kids Classes 6pm Tuesday & Friday; Adults class 7pm  Tuesday & Friday. Learn how to use a kettlebell effectively while burning up to 1000 (yes 1000) calories per class. An overall body workout that will make you stronger while burning excess fat. Kettlebell fitness also improves mobility and flexibility. All fitness levels and ages welcome. Small class sizes and all covid guidelines adhered to. Personalised programmes for those who wish to compete. Odin Kettlebell Club are affiliated to The Association of Kettlebell Sport Ireland and operate under the guidelines of the World Kettlebell Sport Federation.  For further information or to book your place dm here or phone 089 4400758.

LIONS AFC POOLS:

The Lions Jackpot 10 Pools gives you 10 fixtures, and you simply must guess the outcome of each match to be in with a chance of winning the Jackpot. It is hosted on https://www.kicktipp.com/lionsafcpools/ and one just needs to register first before entering their predictions. Guess all 10 correctly and you’ll win all or a share of the pools jackpot. If no winner of the Jackpot, there will be weekly prize for the highest points scorer each week. Jackpot will increase by €50 each Week. If Jackpot is won it will start the following week at €100. Weekly prize of €30 if Jackpot is not won. Entry fee is only €3.50 each week. Contact any committee member to join, or contact the Club’s Facebook Page!

LADIES SOCCER: Women’s social soccer on every Monday from 7pm until 8pm at the Lions AFC all weather pitch. All abilities welcome. Contact Sinead at (087) 9510587 for further details.

NUMBER FOR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL – UPDATED JULY 2021:

Our new contact number for assistance is 087 6974792.

BIKES FOR HIRE:

“Pedal Vintage” Durrow Community Bike Hire Scheme. Make the most of the end of Summer! Cycle on the quiet country roads around Durrow and enjoy a cuppa at one of our lovely coffee shops or restaurants. Comfortable leisure style bikes for hire seven days a week at only five euro per hour, to include vintage style helmet and hi-vis jacket. Call 0868694691 or email  durrow.doings@gmail.com for more information.

THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS NEWS:

If your child is interested in joining scouting at any age, please email Leanne our group leader at gldurrow@gmail.com. We’re also looking for adults to join as leaders –  the time commitment you give can be flexible and since we’re a voluntary organisation we rely on our fantastic leaders, without whom the group simply couldn’t exist. And who knows, you might even enjoy yourselves!!!And if being a leader isn’t your thing but you’d like to help in other ways then you could always join our parents and friends committee who help with fundraisers and general logistics throughout the year or become an associate member and offer help that way. Looking forward to September when we will be starting the adventure again.

LEAVE NO TRACE:

Please remember to leave no trace when out and about on our walks both in Durrow and around Durrow. We are proud members of Leave No Trace and we hope you will follow suit. Please keep your dogs on a lead, pick up after them and take your rubbish home with you. Leave our town and walks clean for all to enjoy safely. Be a part of who we are and what we believe in.

WALKERS TAKE NOTE:

Please remember that dogs are required to be on a lead on the Leafy Loop walk in Durrow. Please remember that the walk crosses Private, Coillte and Farmland and all dogs are required to be on a lead throughout the route, without exception. For local walkers, if you see a dog off the lead, please do remind visitors that dogs need to be on a lead as although there is some signage reminding people, sometimes it can be missed and visitors may not be aware that dogs must be on a lead at all times.

DURROW SCARECROW FESTIVAL APPEAL:

We are continuing to fundraise to match fund a grant received for stage two of our community hall! Our Festival as most of you will know is a huge fundraiser for projects within our community including the maintenance of our much loved amenity areas. If you can assist, please do, any amount would be so much appreciated. We are in this together and will look forward to working with and seeing you all in 2022! Visit www.gofundme.com/f/scarecrow-festival-community-hub online to donate if you can.  If you are not online, you can donate directly if you wish, this can be done by dropping an envelope into Happy Days Crèche or Lawlors Gala and addressing the same to DDF/Community Hub.

LIVE LOCAL WEATHER:

Visit www.laoisweather.com for live local weather data from Durrow.

LAOIS PPN:

Laois PPN were part of the Steering Group which launched “We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Laois” On Friday 1st October.Community Groups and businesses can sign up to this initiative, by logging on to www.laois.ie and clicking on the Healthy Ireland Page . https://laois.ie/were-breastfeeding-friendly-laois/Laois are the second County in the Country, after Limerick to launch We’re Breastfeeding Friendly.Who can join?Any community group or organisation or business that has premises open to the general public is eligible to joinIn order to join, a business, group or organisation or organisations can choose to sign up individually or across a number of premises.Criteria to join1. Breastfeeding is acceptable in all areas of your premises open to the public2. All staff members are made aware that your business, community group or organisation is participatingin We’re Breastfeeding Friendly and is therefore supportive of the needs of breastfeeding mothers3. A mother who is breastfeeding in an area of your premises open to the public will not be asked to moveto another area or stop breastfeeding4. The public are made aware that you are participating in We’re Breastfeeding Friendly and supportbreastfeeding through the display of a We’re Breastfeeding Friendly window sticker and/or poster.

DURROW COMMUNITY SATURDAY MARKET:

Durrow Community Market continues on Saturdays from 9am to 12 noon on the Kilkenny Road beside the church. Social Distancing will be in practice and please adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines!

NEXT NEWSLETTER:

The next newsletter will hopefully resume on sale later this year. All adverts must be booked with Angela Drennan (087) 1928522 or (057) 8736419. Advertisements cost €2 per issue of Durrow Parish Newsletter and must be paid for in advance. Clubs and Organisations are encouraged to email info@durrow.ie with their ongoing news and notices which will be posted on the Durrow.ie website in the absence of the printed version of the bi-weekly local Parish Newsletter.