Out and About in South Laois

Our scouts are heading off to Tullamore this weekend to take part in the Slieve Bloom County Challenge. This is a pre-qualifier challenge for the National competition “Phoenix” which is held in August. We have put in a lot of work this year and we are hoping to do well. Over the weekend their scouting skills will be tested by setting up a camp site, cam-craft, cooking and adventure skills. Also their ability to work in a Patrol is very important. We wish them the very best of luck. For the group, this is what it’s all about!

A Huge thanks to everybody who both baked and supported the Durrow Development Forum Cake Sale on the May Bank Holiday Weekend for the Cuisle Centre, a massive €800 was raised which included a donation from Durrow Development Forum and a further donation of €100 from Durrow Craft Fairs along with a   hamper donated by Mary Walsh for the Raffle and a further €20 donated after the event   bringing a total of €920 going to The Cuisle Centre Cancer Support, Well done to everybody who gave so much to a hugely worthy amenity in our area.

The committee are holding a Church Gate Collection on next week end before Mass on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May. Funds are required annually to    supply flowers and plants for the summer months and for general expenses. We are depending on your generous support. Thanking you in anticipation of your ongoing support.

Cullohill Community Council was established in March 2016 in response to the identification of Cullohill as an area for development under the Laois Local Development Strategy Action Plan (LDS).

Cullohill has been identified as one of the 6 areas in Co. Laois which has not engaged with public funding programmes. The purpose of this council is to assist and support clubs and groups operating in the village (including Tidy Towns, Community Alert, Cullohill Handball Club, Community Centre, Board of Management & Parents Council of Scoil Tighearnach Naofa) to access the funding available.

Members of the council are as follows: Chairperson – Jimmy Walsh, Secretary – Marian Mahony, Treasurer – Billy Holland, Liam Dunphy, Eamonn Fitzpatrick, Elaine Maher, Martin Muldowney, John Scanlan, Brendan Gibbons, Tony Dunne, Vincent O’Sullivan and Paddy Dunne.

Following meetings in recent weeks with Laois County Council the Cullohill Community Council are delighted to confirm the following upcoming works:

*Works will take place on the mountain road to address subsidence issues. These limited works will   constitute phase one of the project with more extensive works being carried out in 2017.

*Remedial works will take place to address drainage issues at Cullohill Castle.

*Removal of stone obstruction on Belmont Hill.

*Review of works at the Five Crossroads to address ongoing drainage issues.

*Introduction of Speed Radar Signs on the main road similar to those in Abbeyleix and Rathdowney.

In preparation for this year’s festival weekly scarecrow workshops have commenced and will continue every Wednesday evening from 7pm in Evelyn Clancy’s house at Barnhill, Durrow. Please do come and join us, we would be more than happy to have you come on board for the 2016 Durrow Scarecrow Festival! For more information  contact Evelyn on (087) 9194428.

Readers: Saturday Evenings: May 7th – Mary Lawlor; May 14th and 21st – Catherine Walsh; May 28th and June 4th: Seosamh Murphy. Sunday Mornings: May 8th: Liam Phelan; May 15th and 22nd – Fergal Hassett; May 29th and June 5th: Kevin Kelly.

Church Cleaning Rota – May 2016: Daisy and Mary Dollard, Kay Mahony and Babe Duggan.

Eucharist Ministers – May 2016: Saturdays – Rose Woods and Sean Phelan; Sundays – John Kelly and Maura Fitzpatrick.

Sympathy is extended to the Saunders family, Cullohill 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.

On April 21st last our Parish Priest Very Rev. Sean Canon O’Doherty was elected Archdeacon of Ossory by the Canons of the Diocese. This is a tremendous honour for Canon O’Doherty to be elected to such a high position within the Church in Ossory. The role of Archdeacon is an honourable appointment and he will assist Bishop Freeman in running the Church within the diocese. We wish Archdeacon Sean O’Doherty all of God’s Blessing in his new role in the Diocese of Ossory.

Fr. McGree will celebrate his Golden Jubilee in the priesthood on Sunday 12th June commencing with mass in Cullohill at 11am followed by refreshments in Cullohill Community Centre. Tickets for this celebration are €20 each and are available from members of the Parish Council: Jimmy Walsh, Michael Killeen, Eamon Fitzpatrick, Seamus Comerford,  Ciara McEvoy and Margaret Murphy. All are most welcome.

Results of Cullohill Bridge Club President’s Prize: First – Peggy Duggan and Dickey Dempsey; Second – Nora and Jim Ratigan; Third – Mary Kelly and John Bowe; Fourth – Bridget Nolan and Canon Lalor; Fifth – Joan Dempsey and Marie Mahon; Sixth – Bridget Delaney and Jimmy Ryan; Seventh – Josie Murphy and Jennie Delahunty; Eighth – Mary Hickey & Karen Delaney; Ninth – Breda Burke and Theresa Delaney. Best Gross – Marie Foley and Jack Murphy. Session 1 – Babe Duggan & Marie Gibbons; Session 2 – Clare Fitzpatrick & Ann Kilbride.

Results of Durrow Bridge Club President’s Prize: First – Nancy Bennett and Paul Maher; Second – Babe Duggan and Phil Mahony; Third – Canon John Lalor and Anne Dooley; Fourth – Bridget Nolan and Josie Murphy; Fifth – Joan and Dickie Dempsey; Sixth – Bridget Delaney and Jimmy Ryan; Seventh – Alice and Johnny Bowe; Eighth – Marjorie McGeough and Kathleen Broderick; Ninth – Theresa Muldowney and Jimmy Ryan; Tenth – Dolores and Francis Campion; Eleventh – Mary Hovendon and Peggy Duggan; Twelfth – Marie Foley and Jack Murphy. Player of the Year: Marie Foley. Best Gross – Nuala Molumby & Shem Mulhall. First Session – Dolly Harding and Ann Fitzpatrick; Second Session – Marian Sherman and Helen Woods.

Top Score – Pauric Dowling; First Lady – Mary MacGelligh; Second Lady (Tie) – Bridie Reilly, Mary McCabe and Kathleen Kennedy; First Gent – Desmond Finnamore and Tom Lalor; Quarters – Nuala Phelan, Henry Martyn, Annie Walsh, Erin Lalor & Michael Kennedy. Juvenile – Damien Carter & Coleen Lalor. Low Score – Robert Caldbeck. Raffle – Des Finnamore, Louise Kavanagh, Madge Brennan, Margaret Neile and Coleen Lalor. The Whist Drives are now on a break for the summer season. We hope to see you all in the Autumn.

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.

Monday 25th April 2016: There was no jackpot winner of €6,050. The Numbers drawn were: 14, 24, 25 and 26. The small draw winners were: €30: Sean Lambert, Erkindale, Durrow, Co. Laois; €25: Bridie Ryan, Ballacolla Village, Co. Laois; €20: Agnese & Shane, Mill Road, Durrow, Laois.

Tuesday 3rd May 2016: There was no jackpot winner of €6,200. The Numbers drawn were: 06, 09, 11 and 12. The small draw winners were: €30: Seosamh Murphy, Castle Arms, Durrow; €25: Vinny Cooney, Tinweir, Durrow, Co. Laois; €20: Patsy Dunphy, Rath, Durrow, Co. Laois.

The Summerhill Family Fun and Fair Days’ second annual event will take place on Sunday 29th May at the Summerhill School’s Campus in Portlaoise from 1pm to 5pm. Crafters, food vendors and stallholders are now invited to apply for their stalls at this event. Please note that stalls are on a first come first served basis. For an  application form or more information you can contact summerhillcraftandfoodfair@gmail.com by email. You can also find Summerhill Fair Portlaoise on Facebook.

The Cullohill ICA held their monthly meeting in the community hall on Tuesday night last. Votes of sympathy were passed with the Fitzpatrick Family on the death of Peggy, the Saunders   family on the death of Mary and the Muldowney Family on the death of Sylvester in New     Zealand – may they all Rest in Peace. A report on the recent Federation meeting in Abbeyleix was read. Members enjoyed the recent Annual Dinner Dance in the Castle Arms Hotel and two members will attend Laois Week in An Grianan.

The Cullohill annual pilgrimage to Knock is on Tuesday July 12th this year. Laois ICA plan a summer outing to Galway and Clare from June 28th to July 1st based at Fall’s Hotel Ennistymon with all meals supplied and daily bus trips. Fr. Tom McGree was congratulated on his Golden Jubilee. Mary Bergin and Mary Walsh won the Raffle. The next meeting will be on Tuesday June 7th at 8pm in the Community Centre.

Durrow-Cullohill Parish Anglers held a trout fishing competition for the Mick Monahan Memorial Cup. The winner was Philip Kearney; Second – Niall Donohue and Third – Pat Dunphy. U14 – Daniel O’Regan; U18 – Patrick O’Regan. The next competition will be on Sunday May 15th and all members will receive a text message with full details of the competition shortly.

Cullohill-Durrow Flower club will meet on Monday May 9th at 8pm in the  Community Centre, Cullohill. This month we have a club night with planting up window boxes, tubs and hanging baskets for the coming season. New members are always welcome. We will also finalise arrangements for the upcoming outing to Waterford due on June 11th.