Latest Laois News: Out and About in Durrow

All your news from Ballinakill, Cullohill, Durrow and Spink

THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS:

Waiting List: The group have huge numbers in all sections this year so unfortunately can’t take any new members at the moment. A waiting list is currently in operation for September and to add your child just send their name and their age to gldurrow@gmail.com by email. 

TRIDENT FITNESS CLUB – KETTLEBELL SPORTS AND FITNESS CLASSES: 

Learn to use kettlebells safely and effectively from one of Ireland’s top ranked and most experienced professional kettlebell sports and fitness instructors with over 10 years of experience in kettlebell sport and fitness. Included in the classes are bodyweight exercises as well as posture correction and strengthening techniques. Together with proper kettlebell instruction you can learn to prevent and remedy a wide range of joint and mobility issues and injuries. Class schedule: Tuesday 6.30pm; Thursday 6.30pm; Saturday 11am. Venue: Durrow Community Hall CYMS. Call David or email for further information. Also available for personal training. Tel: (087) 3833258 or email: tridentfitnessclub@yahoo.ie or borukettlebellclub@yahoo.com for more information.

PEDAL VINTAGE –

Durrow Community Bike Hire Scheme: “Spring Chicken” Leisure Cycle Trails in association with Kenna’s Family Butchers Durrow. Bookings are now being accepted for our novel leisure cycling event, which will be held on Friday evenings at 7pm and/or Saturday mornings at 10am., during the month of April. Cycle fee €5 includes the hire of one of our leisure bicycles, helmet, hi-vis jacket and free entry into our draw for a free range chicken, courtesy of Kenna Family Butchers, Durrow. Routes will be decided on the day of the event, being mindful of each cyclist’s capabilities. Groups or individuals are very welcome. Leisure bikes available for hire 7 days per week for the summer months within reasonable booking times. Contact: (086) 8694691 or email durrow.doings@gmail.com for more information.

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COMMUNITY:

Durrow Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) is about to commence the creation of an Energy Master Plan for the area, in conjunction with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). If you are a local business or home owner interested in getting involved with the Energy Master Plan, please contact Kevin Delaney (087) 1947743, Fred Townsend or Mike McEvoy for more details.

LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

Supermacs at the M8 Junction 3 – Manor Stone Motorway    Services, Ballacolla are hiring full time and part time workers. Call in store to drop in your Curriculum   Vitae (CV) or apply at https://supermacs.ie/job/restaurant-staff-ballacolla-co-laois online.  

DURROW TIDY TOWNS WOW DAYS:

Our work on Wednesdays will continue on Wednesdays, meeting in the Square at 7.30pm, all are welcome, we aim to keep our WOW evenings to an hour and all ages including children are welcome to help keep Durrow beautiful. Join when you can, there is no pressure to attend every Wednesday. Litter Picking continues and all are welcome to assist at a time that suits your own schedule. Our Litter picking station is behind the CYMS hall and bags, gloves and litter pickers are available. For more information, please contact any of our Tidy Towns team. 

CHURCH NEWS:

Parish Office: 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, Christenings 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.

Readers: The following is the rota for Mass Readers during March and April: Saturdays – April 23rd – Seosamh Murphy; April 30th – Oliver Lawlor. Sundays – April 24th – Stephanie Phelan; May 1st – Martin Lawlor. Mass Times in Durrow: Sundays – 12 noon; Saturday Nights – 7.30pm. All are most welcome.

CULLOHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL: Scoil Tighearnach Naofa, Cullohill, is now accepting enrolments for Junior Infants, September 2022. For further information email scoiltnaofa@gmail.com or phone the office on (057) 8737281.

DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES: We currently have two vacancies on our Community Employment Scheme: Position: 2 x Environmental Workers. Location: 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 of Social Protection. Please contact Astrid Andersson on 057 87 36870 or andersson@durrowcs.com

PILATES CLASSES IN BALLYOUSKILL COMMUNITY CENTRE: Block of mixed level pilates classes continue on Thursdays at 8:15pm in Ballyouskill Community Hall for four weeks. €10 per class.

CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE: Progressive 25 Card Game continues in Cullohill Community Centre on Sundays at 8.00pm sharp. All are welcome.

DURROW COMMUNITY SATURDAY MARKET: Durrow Community Market continues on Saturdays from 9am to 12 noon on the Kilkenny Road beside the church.

LAOIS ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY: For more information on Alzheimer’s contact Ann Munnelly on (057) 8663398 or (086) 8372168  Homecare Co-ordinator, Portlaoise or to laois.branch@alzheimer.ie by email.

ZUMBA, PILATES, ACTIVE RETIREMENT – DURROW AND BALLINAKILL:

Mondays in Ballinakill Community Centre: 10.30am – Pilates Beginners Course; 11.30am – Active Retirement (Latin Dance,   Pilates and Yoga). Tuesdays in Ballinakill Community Centre: 6.30pm – LatinFit  Dance Workout (Zumba Toning); 7.30pm – Easy Yoga (Back Care). Wednesdays in Durrow Community Centre: 10.30am – LatinFit Dance Workout (Zumba Toning); 11.30am – Active Retirement (Latin Dance, Pilates and Yoga); 6.30pm – LatinFit  Dance Workout (Zumba Toning); 7.30pm – Pilates Core, Legs and Bum. Please book in advance online at: www.yogafitness.ie or email info@yogafitness.ie or call (085) 7637981.

LIVE LOCAL WEATHER: Visit www.laoisweather.com for live local weather data from Durrow with up-to-the minute temperature, humidity, rainfall, air pressure, windspeed and wind direction information.

DURROW LIBRARY NEWS:

Library Survey – “Laois Libraries are looking for those aged 55 and over to help them improve their library services. Share your opinions and suggestions by filling out a short questionnaire at your local library during the months of April and May. Share with your families, friends and community groups. Please help us to spread the word so we can hear from as many older persons as possible”.

Lego Free Play – Every Wednesday from 2pm – 4 pm. Children are invited to call to the Library with their parent or guardian to play with our big selection of lego. Places are limited. Please phone or email in advance to book your place.

Book Club  – Call to Durrow Library and join our brand new adult book club. Our first meeting is on Tuesday 19th April at 6pm. Phone ahead to register your interest.Easter Colouring and Craft – Every Tuesday from 2pm – 7.30pm. For the month of April our colouring and simple craft table will open for all on Tuesdays.

Durrow Library Opening hours are Tuesday 11am -7.30pm and Wednesday 10am -5.30pm (closed for lunch 1.30-2pm) .  Phone: 057 8736090 Email: durrowlibrary@laoiscoco.ie

WHIST DRIVE: The Killermogh Whist Drive is held in the Parochial Hall, Cork Road, Durrow at 8 pm. It will be held on the last Thursday of every month. Please come and enjoy a lovely friendly night.

NUMBER FOR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL – LAST UPDATED JULY 2021: Our new contact phone number for confidential assistance is (087) 6974792.

FREE RANGE EGGS – New Egg Vending Machine: Eggs picked and packed freshly. Thanks to the Hennessy family it’s located at Manor Stone Service Station and Garden Centre. The vending machine  accepts coins and credit card contact-less payments. One tray of 30 free range eggs only €7!

THE HARPS GAA CLUB NEWS:

Split the Bucket: A standing order of €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. If you would like to set up a monthly standing order please contact Joe Deegan on (087) 9678729 or Shane Brophy on (087) 2034035. Thanks to everyone, who supports our weekly Split the Bucket draw.

THE HARPS GAA JUVENILE CLUB:

The Harps Nursery Programme continues every Sunday from 12 to 1pm for approx. five more weeks in the Lions Astroturf pitch in Durrow. The Nursery Programme is open to all boys from the parish in junior infants and senior infants’ classes. The purpose of the Nursery Programme is to introduce the boys within this age category to the basic skills of Gaelic Games with an emphasis on fun and it will be structured to improve the coordination, balance, running, jumping,    catching skills etc. of the participants. There is a small fee of €2 per child per week. If the boys have hurls and helmets they can bring them along. The club would like to welcome and encourage as many parents as possible to help out with the organisation and running of the Nursery Programme. The success of the programme is dependent on sufficient numbers of parents being available to help out each Sunday. If you have queries in relation to any aspect of the Nursery Programme please contact Enda Carroll at 087 6348615, Podge Phelan at 087 9755876 or any committee member.

LIONS AFC 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.

LIONS AFC FOOTBALL ACADEMY: Developing Footballers and Friendships – Our Football Academy is back on Sundays in the Club Grounds, Durrow at 12.15pm. €2 per session. New members most welcome. €20 registration fee. Previous members free.

DURROW FIRE AND RESCUE:

Do you need a smoke alarm? Or do you know of someone who does, in the Durrow, Cullohill or Ballacolla area? Every home should have a minimum of two of the life saving   devices! Durrow Fire & Rescue will provide and install smoke alarms for anyone that needs them, and there is no charge for this service. Simply email info@durrow.ie if you are interested, or if you know of a friend or neighbour that needs to have the devices installed. Please leave a contact number too.

ST. CANICE’S CREDIT UNION DURROW:

St. Canice’s Credit Union is located on Mary Street in Durrow. It provides a range of services including Current Accounts, globally accepted Debit Cards, Loans including Mortgages and Agri, Online Banking Services and a Mobile App. Contact Mary, Catherine or Breda. 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 (available six days – Monday to Saturday) or (057) 8736522. Email: info@stcanicescu.ie (also available six days – Monday to Saturday).

DURROW COMMUNITY ALERT:

With the long winter nights people are asked to keep an eye on their elderly neighbours daily. Check that they have enough fuel to keep warm, enough food to last a number of days, that they are healthy and not in need of medical attention. Check visitors and report strange movement of people and cars to your local community alert and to the Gardaí.

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.

SPEECH, DRAMA AND ELOCUTION CLASSES:

Speech, Drama and Elocution Classes begin in January and are suitable for all ages from 6 to 15 years. The opportunity to take the Irish Board of Speech and Drama exams is available for all age groups, in all the grades and public speaking. If interested contact Mairead at Star Blossom Communications, Speech & Drama School on (087) 6473414. A few of the many benefits of Speech & Drama: Great fun! – Develops the voice and personal awareness; – Improves clarity and fluency of speech; – increases confidence and improves communication skills.

SINGING LESSONS:

Whether you want to learn how to sing or develop your existing skills – Amy offers one-to-one tuition or group tuition for families for everyone aged 9 or over. Learn vocal techniques, breathing exercises, control, performance and delivery. For information please contact Amy (083) 8253665 by phone or to amyphelan65@gmail.com by email. You can also reach Amy’s Social Media page by visiting facebook.com/amyphelansinger online.

NEXT NEWSLETTER:

The next newsletter will be out on the weekend of April 23rd and 24th 2022. 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 printed in the upcoming newsletter and also be posted on the Durrow.ie website.