Latest Laois News: Out and about in Durrow

All the news from Durrow, Cullohill and Spink

SCARECROW BINGO – YOU PLAY, WE PAY!

With the long summer evenings now in, we will hold our Online Scarecrow Bingo on the last Saturday of every month until the Autumn. Please check social media and local press for details of the next games. We would like to thank all of our players who enjoyed the games over the past few months and we look forward to seeing you again before the end of May! See: durrowscarecrowfestival.com/scarecrow-bingo for more information.

APPEAL:

We are looking to paint the community hall opposite the Church on the Kilkenny road. This is where the Scout Den and Meals on Wheels are operating from. There are also some other small maintenance jobs around the village which need to be cleaned up for this year’s Tidy Towns Competition.  The CES scheme will paint the same but we need your help to sponsor a bucket of paint. If you can sponsor €25 or any amount, please call Astrid in the CES scheme on (083) 4092464 or Ethel in the Community Council on (087) 0665752

CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE:

Thanks again to all who a bought a horse in our sweepstake on the Grand National and congratulations to all the winners – 1st Manilla Times – Bríd O’Sullivan €1,000. 2nd Balko Des Flos – Paschal Bergin €500. 3rd Any Second Now – Kieran & Ciara McEvoy €300. And €200 for last place! – Class Conti / Bláthnaid Deegan. With restrictions beginning to ease, hopefully in the not too distant future we will be able to have an open day to allow all to view the refurbished facilities. Over time then hopefully handball, squash, progressive 25 and all the other activities can return to near normal.   

Your latest news from Durrow and its environs

SHAPING OUR ELECTRICITY FUTURE WORKSHOPS:

Irish Rural Link are hosting a series of consultation workshops on EirGrid’s Shaping Our Electricity Future Strategy. A new report that details innovative approaches to developing the grid to meet ambitious 2030 renewable energy targets. It must redevelop the grid to manage 70% of Ireland’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030. Shaping Our Electricity Future comprises four approaches to achieving this, as well as meeting the projected increase demand for electricity over the coming years.

Shaping Our Electricity Future comprises four approaches to achieving this, as well as meeting the projected increase demand for electricity over the coming years… Generation-Led: Government policy would influence where renewable energy is generated – favouring locations where the grid is already strong; Developer-Led: In this approach, we continue to connect new sources of renewable electricity as requested in any location;  Technology-Led: This approach uses technical solutions to make the grid more resilient so it can better handle the variable nature of renewable energy; Demand-Led: Government policy determines where large energy users locate in Ireland. Irish Rural Link will facilitate a public consultation workshop for the Midlands Region on 5th May from 7pm to 9pm.

The workshop aims to get the thoughts of rural communities and individuals on the four draft approaches in order to reach the 2030 targets. This is the first in a number of regional workshops and Irish Rural Link encourages individuals to attend the workshop designated for their region. If individuals are unavailable to participate in the workshop set for their region, please register for the region closest to them.” People can find out more about the public consultation and how to have their say in Shaping Ireland’s Electricity Future by visiting consult.eirgrid.ie Speakers will include: * Mark Foley, CEO Eirgrid; * Brian O’Gallachoir, UCC; * Siona Daly, Tipperary Energy; * Bill Kelly, Community Power; * Chaired Seamus Boland, Irish Rural Link. Register in advance for this meeting: Midlands Region 5th May – 7pm to 9pm here.

BEGINNERS KAYAKING COURSE FOR ADULTS (SAT 26th – SUN 27th JUNE 2021)

A fun weekend of paddling and on-the-water instruction for adults who want to learn the basics of kayaking with qualified Canoeing Ireland instructors.The programme includes: Level 2 Kayak Skills Award – Training and Assessment / River Safety and Rescue Cert (RSR1) / Annual Membership of Laois Kayak & Canoe Club / and Registration with Canoeing Ireland. Places are limited. Booking through Eventbrite here.

LEAFY LOOP WALKERS PLEASE TAKE NOTE:

A portion of river bank on the River Erkina has collapsed between Castle Durrow and the Knockanoran wood. It is not very safe. This has been reported to the Leafy Loop team and thanks to Mary for letting us know.

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.