Out and About in South Laois

At the weekend, the scouts were about town to complete challenges during their POW weekend (or Patrol online). They were sent challenges through the weekend by Scouting Ireland and had to post back the results on Facebook so many other scout groups around the county could see what happened around Ireland. They created their ideal campsite in miniature and promoted it,they cooked their own dinner and had to do a good deed too. They planted new flowers at the pound, kindly sponsored by Dunnes Garden Centre. All had a good weekend and were tired after a sleepless night.

The Durrow St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place on 17th March 2016, there will be an open air country market on the green from 11am until 5pm along with bouncy castles and entertainment. The parade will take place at 2.00pm. All are welcome to join in both in the parade and also on the green to celebrate our first St. Patrick’s Day on the newly re-generated green. We hope that you can join us in the celebrations!

Would you like to get involved with the Durrow St. Patrick’s Day parade. Durrow Development Forum are looking for adult  volunteers to wear a fantastic and spectacular range of costumes which will greatly enhance the parade in Durrow and celebrate our first St. Patricks Day parade after the completion of Stage 1 of the re-generation of the green. If you would like to be involved, please contact any forum member as soon as possible, you won’t be disappointed!

We would like to remind all that an AED Defibrillator is  located on the side-wall of Cullohill Community Centre. Pat Barnaville (086) 8304420 also    carries around an AED in his car at all times. An AED is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm. In the event of a person collapsing and becoming unresponsive: 1. Call 999 (landline) or 112 (mobile) 2. Call any one of our local Defibrillator Responders – their numbers can be found in the Defibrillator box. 3. Start CPR immediately while awaiting responder and emergency service.

The Cullohill Community Centre and Cullohill Tidy Towns Committees would like to thank all those who contributed to our recent Monster Auction and supported us on the day.  Thanks to your generosity we had a very successful Auction and the proceeds raised will help support the ongoing maintenance of the Cullohill Community Centre and some of the many projects being undertaken by Cullohill Tidy Towns.

Well done to all the pupils, teachers, staff and parents of Our Lady Meadow Primary School for their superb presentation of “Cinderella and Rockerfella” 2016. It was truly a great feat that all pupils of the school had a part in the show. Parents, family  members and everyone had a very enjoyable night!

Keep up-to-date with all the news, sport and notices from your local   community by visiting www.durrow.ie online.

Our group will still meet socially each Wednesday evening at 7pm for the cuppa and a chat at O’Loughlins Hotel, Main St, Portlaoise. All welcome! The Local Branch can be contacted by phone on (089) 2525344.

Readers: Saturday Evenings: March 19th – Noreen Joyce; March 26th – Mary Lawlor. Sunday Mornings: March 20th – Kevin Kelly; March 27th – Michael Conroy.

Church Cleaning Rota: April 2016: Maeve Thornton, Eileen Keenan, Brigid Traynor, Angela Drennan.

Eucharist Ministers: April 2016: Saturdays – Willie Dunne and Kay Mahony; Sundays– Pat O’Hara and Donal Bowe.

Sympathy is extended to Jacinta Fitzpatrick and family, Upper Tubberboe, the Kenny  family, Grange, Ballyragget and the Kenny family, Newtown, Durrow on their recent bereavement.

Sympathy is extended to the Lowry Family, Watercastle, Durrow on their recent bereavement.

The 2016 Ossory Pilgrimage to Our Lady Shrine in Lourdes will take place from May 22nd to May 27th. The price is €765 per person sharing. All bookings to Glenmore Parish Office: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday between 9.30am and 1.30pm and ask for Eleanor.

The Durrow Bridge Club winners on February 24th were: First – Fr. John Lalor and Ann Fitzpatrick; Second – Nora Fitzpatrick and Teresa Phelan; Third – Marie Foley and Jack Murphy. Well done to all! New members welcome.

The Community Centre in Durrow is available for bookings to hold parties or any sports activities etc… Contact: Mary Walsh (086) 3055157.

The Presentation Centre in Durrow is also available for bookings to hold meetings or similar  activities etc. Contact: Angela Drennan (087) 1928522.

Special Olympics Ireland urgently requires volunteers in the Durrow area to help with its charity collection day which takes place on Friday 22 April. Collection Day is the biggest annual fund raising event in aid of Special Olympics with the funds supporting more than 9,000 athletes in 360 clubs around Ireland. Special Olympics Ireland requires volunteers across the day. If you can commit to the full day or even just an hour, please contact Louise Duffy on 01 869 1626, email: duffy.louise@specialolympics.ie or check out the website www.specialolympics.ie.

Durrow/Cullohill Senior Citizens Party was held on last Saturday, 5th March in Castle Arms Hotel. It was great to see the large crowd in attendance and enjoying the lovely meal that was served and the music and dancing which followed. The cake was cut by the most senior lady Mrs Bolger and the most senior gent Joe Cantwell, they were both given a gift and Mrs Bolger was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

The committee wish to thank everyone who gave sponsorship and prizes for the raffle and  everyone who helped on the day. A special word of thanks to Seosamh Murphy for the use of the lovely venue and all his Staff for their hard work.

The group wish to thank all those who donated cakes, tarts, scones, buns etc., for their recent Cake Sale in the Presentation Centre they were very much appreciated, also thank you to everyone who supported us on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The winners of the  raffle were: First Prize – Seamus Brennan, Ballyfunshion, Attanagh; Second Prize – Donal Hanlon c/o Pat Young; Third Prize – Susan Morrissey, Patrick Street, Durrow. All proceeds goes towards the running expenses of the Group. For information on the Befriending Group contact Patricia on (089) 4649759.

Congratulations to James and Karen Shortall, Seandoire, Durrow on the birth of a son, Danny.

Congratulations to all the children who made their First Holy Confessions on Wednesday last.

There was no jackpot winner of €4,700. The numbers drawn were: 11, 19, 22 and 24. The mini-draw winners were as follows: €30: BC, IF, VoB, JQ and J.Kelly, c/o Bobs Bar; €25: Mary and Kieran Campion, Rathmakelly; €20: Norah Cahill, c/o The Castle Arms Hotel, The Sqaure, Durrow, Co. Laois.

There was no jackpot winner of €4,850. The Numbers drawn were: 08, 16, 17 and 20. The small draw winners were: €30: Shane Keown, Barnhill, Durrow, Co. Laois. €25: Kayla Dwyer, Rath, Durrow, County Laois. €20: Alex Sheppard, Derrywood, Durrow, Laois.

There was no jackpot winner of €5,000. The Numbers drawn were: 05, 11, 19 and 27. The small draw winners were: €30: Ann Gilligan, Erkindale Dr, Durrow, Laois. €25: Finbar O’Brien, Cork Rd, Durrow, Co. Laois. €20: Lilly Mooney, Attanagh, County Laois.