Latest Laois News: Out and about in Durrow
All the latest news from Durrow, Ballinakill, Spink and Cullohill
DURROW TIDY TOWNS – TIDY TOWNS COMPETITION 2021:
The 2021 Tidy Towns Competition is confirmed as going ahead and we need all help possible to make Durrow’s entry one of the best. A five minute sweep once or twice a week outside your business premises or home. As the summer season is coming households and businesses are asked to give colour to the town by putting up Hanging Baskets, window boxes and tubs.
CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEB PAGE:
Visit http://www.durrow.ie/clubs-organisations/durrow-tidy-towns to see our new webpage which we will be expanding over the comins weeks!
BALLINAKILL SWIMMING POOL:
Re-opened on Saturday 19th June and there are changes this year (the heated water being one). If you have queries be sure to message us but some of the basics are:- Both annual membership & pay per session will be available.- Booking will be online and will include both health declaration and contact tracing requirements.- Changing facilities must remain closed.- Each swimming session will last 1 hour 15 mins. (time must be allowed for ‘cleaning’ after each session). – Cost per session remains unchanged (€3/ child, €5/ adult)- Membership: €150/family, €80/adult and & €55/ child.Can’t wait to see everybody swimming! Thanks for your support, and patience!
LYME DISEASE AWARENESS: May is Worldwide Lyme Disease Awareness, we just would like to remind you all to be careful on all the lovely Walks around Durrow and look after the children especially and check for Ticks after a trip in the Great Outdoors. Use Tick repellant too! See www.ticktalkireland.org for more information.
CHILDMINDER AVAILABLE:
Reliable person with lots of experience available for child minding during the summer. Also available for babysitting.Contact durrowchildminding@gmail.com by email.
SCAM ALERT:
Calls from a Dublin number pretending to be HSE. They had all details, contact, DOB, PPS and date of stay in Hospital. They asked for bank details to refund due to overcharging. Person hung up and called the GP. The GP said they had numerous calls about it already, it’s hackers releasing data. Be super careful if you get calls – hang up.
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.
SCARECROW FESTIVAL 2021 CANCELLED:
We can now confirm that the 2021 Durrow Scarecrow Festival will not be taking place this year. Like everyone else, we were hugely disappointed when the global pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 festival. We never gave up hope of bringing the event to you this summer and have been working hard behind the scenes to make it happen. However, for the safety of all our frontline workers, volunteers, artists, traders and visitors, we now know that it’s not possible to make it happen. However, we do have exciting news for 2022! We will be back from Sunday 24th July until Monday 1st August 2022. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the HSE staff for their extraordinary efforts in rolling out the vaccine, as well as thanking all of you for your support in keeping the Scarecrow Festival alive by your participation in our online Scarecrow Bingo on Saturday nights. Until we can be together again, keep you and yours, safe and well.
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 2021! 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.
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. Last week’s winner won €600. 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.JUVENILE PLAYERS RETURN: With juvenile teams back on the pitch can all parents/guardians please register players on www.foireann.ie Players must be registered and covid questionnaire completed and submitted before the player takes part in a training session. The Harps club will be asking all players and adults to comply with public health guidelines when attending training sessions
NURSERY:
The Harps juvenile club are delighted to welcome players back to non contact training. All existing and new players welcome with under 7s (nursery) hurling starting at 7pm Tuesday in the juvenile pitch in durrow and 8s,9s,10s and 11s at 6.30pm Tuesday in durrow pitch. All new players and adult help welcome!CUL CAMPS: The Harps will host two cul camps in summer 2021. The first session will be 12th to 16th July for hurling and camogie. The second session will be 16th to 20th August for hurling/camogie/football. Camps can be booked online from now and number limits do not apply.
ALONE COVID-19 Support Line for Older People:
ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024.
LIVE LOCAL WEATHER:
Visit www.laoisweather.com for live local weather data from Durrow.
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!
WOODENBRIDGE COMMUNITY ALERT:
The committee of the Woodenbridge Community Alert group would like to alert local residents that during this period of the Coronavirus outbreak (Covid 19) if anyone in the area is in need of assistance of any kind Day or Night please do not hesitate to contact any of the following: Chair – Michael G Phelan (087) 2395357; Vice Chair – Kevin Galvin (086) 2452337; Secretary – Liam Geoghegan (087) 2587084; Assistant Secretary – Pat Dollard (087) 8460657; Joint Treasurer – Michael Broderick (087) 2254099 ; Ann Marie Begadon-Browne (087) 1262102.SENIOR ALERT SCHEME: The Woodenbridge Community Alert are the local authorised Personal Alarm (Senior Alert Scheme) suppliers for the Durrow, Cullohill, Ballacolla and Rathdowney areas. The new programme states that (1) eligible persons (65 years and over) no longer have to be living alone; and (2) there will be free monitoring of alarm service for one year for all new participants since November 1st 2017. For more information contact Michael G Phelan (087) 2395357.
NEW NUMBER FOR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL:
Please note our new phone number (087) 6072617.
CREDIT UNION:
St. Canice’s Credit Union | Durrow Branch – St. Canice’s Credit Union, in partnership with Energia and House 2 Home, is delighted to announce the launch of CU Greener Homes, a one-stop-solution for all your home energy efficiency improvements. Whether you are considering a new boiler or a deep retrofit, CU Greener Homes is here to help you. Key Benefits of the Scheme: Easy Application Process | A one-stop-solution to help you with all the elements of home energy efficiency improvements Grants/ Supports of up to 40% available and discounted up front Fully managed Grant process – all aspects of the grant application managed on your behalf. Expert Advice and Assistance – A dedicated project manager is on hand to help you with all aspects of the project, from start to finish. To find out more go http://stcanicescu.ie/cugreenerhomes/ or cugreenerhomes.ie, drop into your local St. Canice’s Credit Union branch in Durrow and have a chat with Mary or call our Member Service Centre on 056 7722042. St. Canice’s Kilkenny Credit Union Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
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.