Out and About in South Laois Extra

The Party will be held on Saturday 6th March in the Castle Arms Hotel, commencing at 2.00pm with a four course meal followed by music and dancing.          Invitations will be sent out over the coming weeks. If you know of someone who would wish to attend that we are not aware of please contact Eileen on (086) 0868017 or any member of the Community Council committee.

The Durrow Bridge Club winners on January 27th were: First – Helen Woods and Marian Sherman; Second – Babe Duggan and Phil Mahony; Third – Ella Walshe and Mairead Woods. 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.

The Parents Council of Scoil Tighearnach Naofa would like to sincerely thank all those who supported our ‘Gladrags Cabaret’ last weekend. It was a great night. Congratulations to our Best Dressed Winners. ‘Best Dressed Lady’ was Aishling Aylward. Runners up were Caitriona Phelan and Catriona Phelan Ellis. ‘Best Dressed Male’ was Paul    Aylward. Runners Up were Gerry Murphy and Conor Deegan. Special thanks to Claire Johnston from Silver Swan Headwear who judged the competition and provide the amazing prizes of  fascinators for the ladies. Congratulations to ‘Mr & Mrs’ winners Mick and Mary Killeen and to Gerry Murphy who added great fun as quizmaster.  Thanks also to those who sponsored the raffle and door prizes including Deegan’s Centra, Urlingford. Manor Stone Garden Centre, Lucia Lee Hair & Beauty and Shirley’s Gifts.

Monday 1st February 2016: There was no jackpot    winner of €4,150. The numbers drawn were: 02, 04, 18 and 27. The mini-draw winners were as follows: €30: Mick Aylward, Patrick St, Durrow, Co. Laois; €25: Mary Townsend, Swan Rd, Durrow, Co. Laois; €20: Olivia Keenan, Derrywood, Durrow, Co. Laois.

Monday 8th February 2016: There was no jackpot winner of €4,300. The Numbers drawn were: 05, 17, 19 and 26. The small draw winners were: €30: Martha Dunphy, St Fintans, Durrow, Laois; €25: Breda Tynan, Rath, Durrow, County Laois; €20: Peg Fitzpatrick, Gurteen, Durrow, Co. Laois.

Monday 15th February 2016: There was no jackpot winner of €4,450. The Numbers drawn were: 12, 13, 17 and 19. The small draw winners were: €30: Pat Barnaville, Cullohill Village, Co. Laois; €25: Ger Alley, The Square, Durrow, Co. Laois; €20: Ann Fitzpatrick, Parknahown, Cullohill, Laois.

A big thank you to everybody who attended the launch of the Dunmore Community Alert CCTV system. The launch took place on Wednesday 17th February at 2.30pm on the Mill Rd – Swan Rd junction with the Main Rd. Proceedings commenced with a rousing speech from Chairman, Oliver Clooney who thanked the community for their tremendous support and everybody involved in the project especially Senator John Whelan and Minister Alan Kelly for the provision of funding.

Oliver was followed by Chief Supt. John Scanlon, Laois Offaly Division, who in turn was followed by Pat Hennessy, Chairman of Laois IFA. Senator John Whelan then spoke and proceedings  concluded with John Whelan cutting the tape to officially launch the system. Cameras are up and running in most locations and the project will be completed in the coming week.

Those who attended were invited back to Bob’s Bar for light refreshments and a big thank you to Bob and Marian and to the ladies who made sandwiches. Thank you also to Martin and Oliver Lawlor for preparing the area and to Billy White for the Provision of a PA system.

CONGRATULATIONS to Ciaran Walsh of Mary Street, Durrow and Eleanor McNamara of  Southampton, England, on their recent marriage.

Seachtain na Gaeilge – Spink Comhaltas will be hosting an evening of Irish   transitional music, song and story telling in Abbeyleix library on Thurs 10th March, between 6pm and 7pm ,as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge.

St. Patrick’s Parade: 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!

As it is the 100th year anniversary since the 1916 rising, Durrow Development Forum are looking for old FCA uniforms that can be used for a piece celebrating same at the Durrow Scarecrow Festival. If you have a uniform that you are not using we would appreciate your donation. Please contact us by message on Facebook here or info@durrow.ie

Anybody who would like to get involved in the Annual Durrow Scarecrow Festival or who has ideas for same, please do not hesitate to join us, many hands are needed to make the scarecrows and create the festival and we are more than happy to have you come on board the straw machine!

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

Durrow Saturday market is open every Saturday from 9am to 12.30pm in the Computer Centre beside the RC Church on the Kilkenny Rd. Potato’s and Fresh Veg are available, to book your favourites please ring Marie on (087) 7742506. Home Baking from Bernie Brennan is also available with a selection of fresh breads, scones, tarts and cakes. You can also book cakes for parties etc..

Paddling – With the short winter evenings, outdoor paddling is at the weekend only, keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates. Competitions and races continue throughout the winter and will increase in spring.  The club wishes to remind all local kayakers not to paddle on their own, especially with the higher water levels.

Pool Sessions – Pool sessions continue every second Sunday joining with Balto Kayak Club in Athy. This is a great opportunity to practice your rolls, rescues and general skills in the comfort of a warm pool. If interested contact Matt or Brian re same.

 Scoil Tighearnach Naofa, Cullohill Enrolment for 2016 is now open. Please contact school  office for further information. Telephone: (057) 8737281. Office hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9.15am until 1.15pm.

ARTHRITIS IRELAND LAOIS BRANCH:

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.

Visit www.laoisweather.com for up-to-the-minute information.

Lions AFC are hosting an Easter Soccer Sisters camp for girls aged 7 to 12 years. It is on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th March from 10 to 2pm. Cost €20. Each participant gets a jersey. Limited number of spaces left so book now to avoid disappointment. Book online at www.fai.ie/soccersisters or phone (01) 8999304.

For sale: A limited number of Lions wind shearer tops and beanie hats are still available to buy. Sizes available SB (7-8 yr old), MB (9-10 yr old), LB (11-12 yr old), S (13yr old), M (14 yrs old) L (15yr old). Contact lionsafc@gmail.com for further information.

Membership: Durrow-Cullohill Waters – Senior €40 and Juvenile €5; Day Permit – €10; Grantstown  Membership: Senior – €30 and Juvenile €5; Day Permit – €10. Membership cards can be purchased at Lawlor’s Gala, Daybreak, Lawlor’s Flower Shop and through Michael Walsh, club secretary.

Any old or unwanted clothes or fabric can be left in the porch of the Cullohill Community Centre. All collections are in aid of Cullohill Handball Club.

A big weekend ahead for Cullohill Handball Club Juvenile players as they play in the Leinster Semi- Finals. Best of luck to all Players for Sunday – they have been training hard so hopefully we will have plenty of players in next weekend’s Leinster Finals. Follow the results on the Cullohill Handball Facebook Page here.

The Annual Laois GAA All County Clubs Member Draws will commence on March 4th with four draws and a total prize fund of €116,000. Tickets are €130 or €32.50 per month for four months. This is a major fundraiser for the club and we look forward to your  continued support. Each of the four draws have prizes as follows: First Prize – €10,000; Second Prize – €5,000; Third Prize – €3,000; Fourth Prize – €1,500; Fifth Prize – €1,500; Sixth Prize – €1,000 and fourteen further prizes of €500. Tickets are available from any Harps GAA Club committee member or any adult player. We thank you in anticipation of your continued and  ongoing support.

Pat Barnaville has issued an appeal for the return of the following items: Medical Bag, Bag of Hurling Balls, Bag of Bibs, Jerseys sponsored by Oldtown Construction bearing the following numbers – 17, 21, 23, 25 and Jerseys sponsored by MES bearing the numbers – 16 and 30. If anyone knows the whereabouts of these items, please return them to Pat as soon as possible. Phone: (086) 8304420.

The Harps senior hurlers, playing for the first time under new manager David Cuddy, got off to a winning start in the opening round of the Palmer Cup.  Played in Durrow on a heavy sod, our opponents Trumera/Kyle were a game side but the gap between Senior A and Senior B teams eventually told as The Harps ran out nine point winners; 2-14 to 0-11.

The opening half saw numerous frees from both sides converted as the playing conditions resulted in a lot of rucks and scraps for the ball. Michael Lanigan was flawless on free-taking duty, while Greg Aylward shot a fine point from play. Trumera/Kyle were struggling in open play, but they too were hitting the frees well to keep them in contention. The gap began to widen however, and when Shane Donoghue ghosted in behind the Trumera/Kyle defence and rifled the sliotar to the net The Harps finally had breathing space. Pat Walsh tagged on a good point from play before Donoghue again found space in attack to score goal number two. The sides traded points just before the break to leave the half time score at The Harps 2-09 Trumera/Kyle 0-04.

The second half continued in a similar fashion with both teams main source of scores coming from placed balls. Both sides introduced new players into the fray as the match went on and the effort from both sets of players was     commendable for a match in February. A positive start then for The Harps, but the players and management alike will be well aware that a lot of the hard work still has to be done as this weekend sees The Harps up against Abbeyleix in the second round of the Palmer Cup.

The Harps: 1.Peter Walsh; 2.Tommy Moore; 3.Pakie Flynn; 4.Aaron Dunne; 5.John Prior; 6.Conor Dunne; 7.Barry Dunne; 8.Conor Brophy; 9.Kieran Freeman; 10.Shane Donoghue; 11.Richie Saunders; 12.Pat Walsh; 13.Greg     Aylward; 14.Mick Lanigan; 15.Conor Deegan. Subs: Shane Fitzpatrick, Ciaran Costigan, John Dunne, Cathal Phelan.

The next newsletter will be on sale weekending March 5th & 6th. All adverts must be booked with Angela Drennan (087) 1928522 or Mary Walsh (086) 3055157. Advertisements cost €2 per issue of Durrow Parish Newsletter and must be paid for in advance.