Latest Laois News: Out and About in Durrow

All your news from Ballinakill, Cullohill, Durrow & Spink

THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS GROUP: Shine A Light Night 2022 – Give one night to change a lifetime. In partnership with Scouting Ireland the Third Laois Durrow Scouts will be sleeping out on Saturday 5th November to raise money for Focus Ireland. We need your support through scout sponsorship or donations. Please support us on the night!

DURROW IFA BRANCH AGM 2022: The Durrow IFA Branch AGM will be held on Thursday 10th November at 8pm in the Castle Arms Hotel. Guest speaker will be Niall Jackson from the Laois DVO to talk about TB. All are most welcome to attend.

CULLOHILL-DURROW FLOWER AND GARDEN CLUB: The Cullohill and Durrow Flower and Garden Club are hosting their Christmas Gala Flower Demonstration in the Castle Arms Hotel on Monday 12th December at 8pm. “CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND” by floral artist Harumi Langford. Tickets: €15 are available from club members. All are most welcome.

DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES CLG: Durrow Community Services currently have vacancies for an Office Administrator (Durrow) and Environmental Workers (Durrow). No experience required. Work 19.5 hours per week. Eligibility to participate in CE is generally linked to those who are 21 years or over and in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for one 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) 8736870 or andersson@durrowcs.com by email.

FOUND: Implements in Durrow graveyard. Contact Tom: (087) 2936531.

CHURCH NEWS: Memorial Mass – This year’s Memorial Mass will take place on 11th November 2022 at 7.30pm in the Holy Trinity Church,Durrow. If you have a loved one who passed away during the year 2022, and would like them to be included please contact the Parish office on 0852625033 during Wednesdays to Fridays from 10am to 2pm or to durrow@ossory.ie by email. It is important that everyone who passed away be remembered by a family/friend who will light the memorial candle on the altar. Please contact family members away from  Durrow/Cullohill to keep that date in their Diary. If your family member died away from Durrow/Cullohill and is from the area they also can be included.

CHURCH NEWS: Parish Office: The Parish Office at the Presentation Centre beside the Church is open from 10am to 2pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 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. You can also call the Parish Office on (085) 2625033.

Mass Times in Durrow: Sundays – 12 noon; Saturday Nights – 7.30pm.

Mass Times in Cullohill:  Saturday Nights – 7pm. All are most welcome.

STUDIO M DURROW: To all StudioM Clients – We would like to sincerely thank everyone for supporting our business since the very first day we opened our doors over six years ago. We have loved every minute of working with you all and genuinely have to say, we have meet so many beautiful people throughout these years. We will be continuing our work from home in Borris-in-Ossory. Thank you for all the lovely kind messages – your support through all the years has been very much appreciated and your continued love and support even more! Here’s to a new chapter.

LIONS AFC NEWS: Our U10 Girls had their first game of the season on Saturday October 8th away to Freebooters. There was some great teamwork and several fantastic goals topped off by a brilliant defensive display. Well done girls!

LIONS LADIES AFC: History of Female Football in the Lions AFC – The club’s new women’s senior team will begin their season with a match against Newpark Utd. in Kilkenny soon. This will be a momentous occasion for the club, being the culmination of many years of effort by club volunteers and female players at underage level. For several seasons now the club has been able to offer the opportunity to every young girl from 5 to 16 years old to play soccer. And while this is a worthwhile endeavour in its own right, the hope was that this conveyer belt of players would eventually lead to the formation of an enduring women’s adult team. With Denise Kelly, David Starnes and Stephen Thomas at the helm, this hope may now be a reality.

The foundations of female soccer within the club began in 2002 when a team managed by Brian Sheppard and Claire Donoghue was part of a newly formed girls U16 league in Kilkenny. Among the players on that team were Aoife Donoghue, Annie Downey and Veronica Boyhan. The team only lasted for that season however. Indeed eight years would pass before the next girl’s teams were entered in the Kilkenny league, with U12 and U14 teams registered for the 2010-11 season. Chloe Kenna, who was part of the Irish team who won the Ladies Street Soccer Nations Cup last month, also represented the Kilkenny & District League U14 Gaynor Cup team that season. The attempt to get female soccer off the ground proved more sustainable second time around, with U12 and U14 teams being entered almost every year since that 2010-11 season. 

This was in no small part due to the efforts of Dawn Shortall (RIP) and Kieran Shortall who held the positions of schoolboys/girl’s secretary and chairperson for most of those seasons. Under their stewardship U11, U13 and U15 sides were formed in 2012-13 and an U10 team added in the following season. While many people have managed and coached girl’s teams over the last decade, Freddie Townsend, Denise Kelly, David Starnes, Kieran Shortall, Albert Townsend and JP Buckley have been involved almost continuously during that time.

Kevin Donoghue, Stephen Thomas and Shane Walsh have the distinction of managing the first women’s adult team in the 2012-13 season, winning Division 2 that season and finishing runner-up in the Shield the following season. This team played for two seasons before being revived by James Shortall and Stephen Thomas for the 2018-19 season. Credit is also due to the current crop of managers and coaches who look after female teams at U10, U12, U14 and U16 age groups, along with the girls who play with the boy’s U8 team and younger girls who train with the Lions Academy on Sunday mornings. Here’s wishing Denise, David, Stephen and the players the best for this season ahead in what is hopefully the beginning of a new era for the club.

THE HARPS GAA CLUB NEWS: Congratulations to The Harps on winning the Minor C Football final at the LOETB CoE last Wednesday evening October 12th. Commiserations to Mountmellick Parish Gaels.

HARD LUCK – Hard luck to our minor hurlers last Friday night, October 7th who lost out by a single point in the County Final – a super effort by players and mentors all year. We are all very excited to see what these players can do in the future. Congratulations to Clough-Ballacolla.

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.

VOCEM DARU LADIES CHOIR: Vocem Darύ choir was founded in Durrow in 2017 and has established itself as a vibrant part of the local community for women of all ages.  From the beginning, the choir actively participated in choral events and festivals, both local and national and have discovered that we thrive on performing in front of an audience, singing everything from rock to light classical. We focus on creating beautiful music, making friends and having fun. We just love to sing! Vocem Darύ Ladies Choir is looking for new members! Meet Tuesday nights at 7.30pm in the Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow, Co Laois at 7.30pm. Group singing has been scientifically proven to lower stress, relieve anxiety and elevate endorphins. The release of these endorphins can leave you feeling completely rejuvenated and after our rehearsal, we are living proof of that!

CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE: Progressive 25 Card Game continues every Sunday night in Cullohill Community Centre at 8.30pm and all are most welcome.

DURROW LIBRARY NEWS: All our Laois Library branches are open to the public for browsing, PC usage, printing, photocopying and studying, in addition to all the free events taking place throughout the month – see all details below. You can browse the Laois Libraries online catalogue here: https://laois.spydus.ie and if needed, borrowers can reset their library PIN in order to access the catalogue – contact your local library or email library@laoiscoco.ie for assistance with this.

Laois Libraries are once again running our Parenting Support Programme in collaboration with Offaly Libraries throughout October and November. For a full list of all upcoming events – visit https://laois.ie/departments/libraries/programmes/parenting-support-programme online for more details.

Laois Libraries Online Book Club reads one book a month chosen from the BorrowBox collection. Join us on the last Wednesday of each month when questions are posed for discussion on our Book Club Facebook page. You can join the group on: https://www.facebook.com/groups/315513126404037 online. New members are always welcome.

Lego Creation Competition – Calling all master builders! Join us in the library on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm for a different Lego building challenge each week, with prizes on the day! Booking advised. On Wednesday, 19th October who can build the mightiest Lego castle!; On Wednesday, 26th October who can create the scariest, most terrifying Lego beast! Halloween fancy dress welcome.

Halloween Storytime and Craft – Join Amy in the library on Tuesday, 26th October at 11.30am for a special Halloween storytime reading of Squishy Squashy Pumpkin and themed craft. Fancy dress is most welcome!

Mindful Art Classes for Adults – the library is delighted to run Adult Mindful Art Classes in conjunction with the LOETB on Tuesday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm. This month’s sessions are fully booked, but contact the library directly to register your interest for future events.

Opening Hours – Durrow Library Opening hours are Tuesdays from 11am to 7.30pm and Wednesdays from 10am to 5.30pm (closed for lunch from 1.30pm to 2pm). Phone: (057) 8736090 Email: durrowlibrary@laoiscoco.ie for further information.

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

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.

DURROW AND CULLOHILL DISTRICT ANGLERS: Membership Cards for the River Nore and its Tributaries and also Grantstown Lake are available from Durrow-Cullohill Parish Anglers through their agents: Lawlor’s Gala, Daybreak Durrow, Lawlor’s Flower Shop, Fran’s Fishing Shop Mountrath and Club Secretary David Walsh.

JOB ALERT: The Castle Arms Hotel, The Square, Durrow are hiring Waiting/Bar Staff for weekdays and weekends. If interested, please send your CV to info@castlearmshotel.ieby email.

JOB ALERT: We are looking to hire a full time mill/mixer operator for our feed plant in Abbeyleix. Contact David on (086) 8353304 for more information.

SET DANCING CLASSES: Set dancing classes are held every Thursday night in The Wheel Inn, Ballyouskill from 9pm. All are most Welcome.

DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES: Durrow Community Services CLG currently have vacancies in Ballacolla and Durrow for Environmental Workers on the local Community Employment Scheme. Please contact Astrid Andersson on (057) 8736870 or andersson@durrowcs.com by email.

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

LIVE LOCAL WEATHER: Visit www.laoisweather.com for live local weather data from Durrow.

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.

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.

DURROW FIRE AND RESCUE: Members of Durrow Fire Brigade are available to give fire safety talk to any interested adult groups or organisations, in the Durrow, Cullohill and Ballacolla areas. If interested please contact Station Officer David Donohue.