Out and About in South Laois

Abbeyleix & Durrow have been jointly selected as Bank of Ireland ‘Enterprise Towns’. The local Business Expo will take place on Friday, 14th October from 5pm to 8pm and a Sports and Community Expo will take place on Saturday 15th October from 11am to 2pm. Both events will take place in in Scoil Mhuire National School, Abbeyleix, are free to attend and are open to both customers and non-customers of Bank of Ireland.

Huge congratulations to our Rover Scout, Lorna Campion who is one of ten graduates in the Scouting Ireland AcdaMoot. The first in our group, County and Province, this is a huge achievement and we wish her the best on the AcdaMoot 2021. Scouting all about our youth working to the best of their abilities, our youth all doing great things. Well done Lorna.

St. Canice’s members are entitled to enter our monthly car and cash draw. In October we will have a bumper draw giveaway of two cars and €50,000 in cash. Up to ten winners will be selected in mid-October and on the 22nd we will have a Deal-Or-No-Deal style competition to determine who has won the cars and who has won a selection of cash prizes from €5K upwards. The event will be broadcast live from McDonagh Junction Shopping Centre on KCL Radio.

Congratulations to Cullohill Tidy Towns on their recent success in the Laois Tidy Towns competition 2016. Cullohill won first prize in the category for a population of under 200, and was also the overall winner of the tidiest place in Laois. A big thanks to   everyone who has helped out over the years to get this recognition. We look forward to seeing you all on Saturday 29th of October for the Tidy Towns Fancy Dress Halloween Party which will be held in O’Connell’s Bar, Cullohill.

Study classes have commenced in The Presentation Centre every Saturday Morning from 9am to 1pm. Anyone interested can call in and register with Siobhan during the opening times.

We would like to invite one and all to the newly formed community choir in Durrow. Open to all, from 19 to 90 who love to sing, and have fun. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 11th of October in Durrow Library (the Old Courthouse) on Chapel St at 7.15pm. Come along even if you’re not sure, just to check us out. We look forward to hearing you. For more information call Ann on (086) 6045409.

Anyone looking for help can contact us on (087) 3476012.

Readers Rota: Saturday Evenings: October 15th and 22nd: Kay Sheppard. Sunday Mornings: October 16th and 23rd: Gearoid Ryan.

Church Cleaning Rota – November: Mary Kennedy, Mary Walsh, Gabriel Daz, Miriam & Pat Connolly.

Eucharist Ministers Rota – November: Saturdays – Rose Woods and Sean Phelan; Sundays – Padraig Walshe and Sheila Finnegan.

SYMPATHY is extended to the Lynch Family, late of Aharney, Durrow and Margaret Lynch, Derrywood on their recent bereavement.

Sympathy is extended to the Doheny Family, Graigueavoice, Cullohill their recent bereavement.

The Killermogh Parish Whist drive restarted for the winter season last week in the Parochial Hall, Cork Road, Durrow. The top score was by Ray Seale; the First Lady was tied between Lena McEvoy and Elizabeth Coffey; the First Gent was tied between Des Finnamore and Pauric Dowling; Quarters: Kathleen Conroy, Nula Phelan, Madge Brennan, Eamonn McEvoy, Mary McEvoy, Kathleen Kavanagh and Margaret Neil; Juvenile: Erin Lalor; Low Score: Eileen Phelan. The raffle winners were: Nula Phelan, Mary McCabe, Ray Seale, Louise Kavanagh and Mary McEvoy. The next Whist Drive will be on Thursday night, October 27th at 8.30pm.

There will be an Enterprise afternoon held in Ballyragget Community hall on Sunday, 16th October from 1pm to 5pm. It might be of interest to Durrow residents as most of the local services and companies in the area will be in attendance.

The Cullohill Community Council are delighted to confirm that Phase 1 of the remedial works on the Mountain Road are now complete. C.C.C. acknowledge and greatly appreciate the assistance and co-operation of Laois County Council in this regard. Special thanks to Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services who agreed to include the repair of an additional 60m of road in Phase 1. Additional works will take place in 2017.

Cullahill Castle, seat of the McGiollaphadraig Clan will be the start point for the Annual October Bank Holiday Monday South Laois Tourism McGiollaphadraig Way Walk. Starting at 12 noon the route will follow the original path taken by Cormac McGiollaphadraig in the mid-17th century as he fled Cromwell’s men to the place of his demise on Cullohill Mountain where a monument bush now stands. From here the walk will continue across Cullohill Mountain through the   Ballykealy wood and the Ballagh hill to the finish in Durrow. At the finish refreshments will be served in Dec’s Bar, Durrow. For information contact 087-2395357, 087-4168549 or Facebook south laois tourism.

Midland Cakes by Rita has now joined Kyle Farm Potatoes and Fresh Veg at the Saturday Market every Saturday morning from 8.30am to 12 noon in the CAIT Centre, beside the Catholic Church in Durrow. Rita makes celebration cakes for all  occasions, cupcakes, cookies, scones, breads and standard cakes and these will be available each Saturday. Christmas cake orders now taken up until October 8th. For more information, please phone Rita on (085) 8423201 or Marie on (087) 7742506. Do drop in on Saturdays!

Durrow Bridge Club started its new season on Wednesday October 5th in the Presentation Centre and continues every Wednesday night at 7.45pm for the winter season. All are most welcome.

Cullohill-Durrow Flower & Garden Club meet on Monday 10th October in Cullohill Community Hall at 8pm. On the night our speaker will be Hazel Glennon from Gortnalee Garden, Donaghmore talking about garden design. New members and visitors are always welcome.

The Midlands Simon Community invites people from across Laois to get involved or support in its Sleep Out for Simon in Laois GAA’s HQ, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Friday, October 21st. The event will support services for the homeless. Contact Michael on (086) 1223421 for more information or register on the night at 9pm. There will be live music from 11pm until 12.30am.

Monday 26th September 2016: There was no jackpot winner of €9,350. The Numbers drawn were: 05, 06, 15 and 19. The small draw winners were: €30: The JC, IF, BC & HS Syndicate at Bob’s Bar; €25: John Doheny, c/o The Castle Arms Hotel; €20: Kathleen Stapleton, Erkindale, Durrow.

Monday 3rd October 2016: There was no jackpot winner of €9,500. The Numbers drawn were: 07, 13, 17 and 19. The small draw winners were: €30: Mary Comerford, c/o Durrow Post Office; €25: Audrey Ryan, Daybreak Stores, Durrow; €20: Seamus Doyle, Dunmore, Durrow, Co. Laois.

CONGRATULATIONS to Michael and Muireann Curley (nee Phelan, Cork Rd) Foxford, Co. Mayo on the birth of a son, Jack.

The last Cullohill ICA meeting held on Tuesday October 4th was well attended. Votes of sympathy were passed with Geraldine Delaney on death of her mother Mary Curran, The Whyte family on death of Bill, to the Doheny family on death of their mother Mary-Ann, and to the Lynch family on death of Packie. May they Rest In Peace. The report from the Federation meeting was discussed and it was noted that Laois week next year will be held from June 12th to June 16th.

Contributions were given to the Ben and Jake Foundation, to the Cuisle Centre, and to the Cancer Home Care Team. There are now 20 Guilds and 207 members in the ICA in Laois. The Pilates classes will continue every Tuesday up until   November 15th. Ann Holland demonstrated her crafts which were very interesting and entertaining and will continue on November 14th. The usual raffle and a cuppa finished off the meeting on the night and the next meeting will be held on November 1st.

Draft Flood Risk Management Plans for the Laois Area: Draft Flood Risk Management Plans have been produced by RPS on behalf of the Office of Public Works. These plans set out the preferred feasible measures to manage significant flood risk within each geographic area known as a Unit of Management. A Public Consultation Day will be held on Wednesday 12th October at Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise, Co. Laois between 2pm and 7pm.

This event will cover the following areas within Units of Management 14 and 15: Athy, Ballyroan, Carlow, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Portarlington, Portlaoise and Rathdowney. The OPW wants to give local people the opportunity to comment on the draft Flood Risk Management Plans before they are finalised. Please come along on the day, view the draft plan for your area and provide any comments you may have.

As part of Laois Connects week, a “Valuing Volunteers” presentation will take place in Portlaoise Parish Centre on Monday October 10th from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Speakers include Stuart Garland from Volunteer Ireland and Finola Colgan from Mental Health Ireland. The event will be of interest to all volunteers or people who wish to become volunteers and all are welcome. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact Storm Powell on (087) 1775729.

The Durrow-Cullohill Parish Anglers held their last pike fishing competition of the season for the John Dwyer Memorial Cup recently. The winners were: First – Pat Dunphy; Second – Seamus Coffey and Third – Mick Walsh. Well done to all.

Clonmel: LKCC Club members has a very enjoyable Sunday on the new Clonmel Slalom Course. A fantastic asset to the paddling community and our kayakers joined with paddlers from Clonmel Canoe Club, Kilkenny Aqua Canoe Club and Thomastown Paddlers.

Congratulations to LKCC’s Michael Malone who won the silver medal on October 1st in the Killary Gaelforce Great Fjord Swim. The Connemara race is now part of the Global Swim Series

Advance notice of LKCC’s Winter Pool Schedule with Balto Kayak Club: The following Sunday’s are now confirmed. Learn to roll or just improve your skills in the warmth of Athy pool. Please confirm with Brian or Matt to reserve your place.  Arrive for 5pm, on the water from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. The scheduled pool session dates are October 9th and 23rd, November 6th and 20th, December 4th and 18th, January 8th and 22nd, February 5th and 19th and finally March 5th and 19th.

Winter is Coming: With the winter drawing in, paddling will now be at weekends only and advance notice of events and meets will be on our Viber Group or on our Facebook page and Website. We do look forward to seeing you on the water and paddling together and don’t forget to check www.laoiskayak.com for any updates or follow our Facebook page!

Win €500 per Month with The Harps GAA – Third Time Lucky Lotto! Come join us this Tuesday night, October 11th at 9.30pm in Bob’s Bar for the launch of our new draw where everybody who has signed up will be assigned their lucky number! The winner of €500 will be determined by the bonus ball in the main National Lotto draw on the third Saturday of every month – hence third time lucky! If interested in joining – the very last few numbers are still up for grabs – then please contact Seamus on (087) 2797214. More  details, including all the terms and conditions are posted on the club’s website: www.theharpsgaa.com and on the club’s Facebook page here.

An information/registration night is planned for Thursday, October 29th.

Hard luck to our Senior girls who lost out to O’Moores in the semi-final on 24th September last. Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Louise Mahony who broke a bone in her hand after a bad challenge. Now on a more positive note well done to club players Molly O’Connor, Emer Fitzpatrick, Jade Bergin and Sophie McCabe who were part of the successful Laois U15 team which won the Cup final in the National Camogie Development blitz. The girls beat Carlow in the final. Great achievement for the girls, Jade, Emer and Sophie who will still be eligible for U15 next year and especially Molly O’Connor who captained the team!

Durrow Tidy Towns is in much need of volunteers for the coming season, if you feel that you would like to get involved in the community, improve your living environment, have your speak on how you would like your town to improve, how you would like your town to shine and how you would like your town to excel, please keep it in mind as we will be looking for volunteers over the coming months, every little bit helps and every new idea lights a spark in a community that will enhance and improve your own living community and your own living environment, Don’t be shy, have your say and get involved! We will issue further notices in the coming weeks.