Out and About in South Laois Extra

Cullohill ICA Guild held their March meeting in the Community Centre recently. Votes of Sympathy were passed on the families of Kitty Delehunty and Sadie Delaney, Kyledellig. Sadie was a card player at the 25’s every Sunday night. May they rest in peace. The Pilate classes continue every Monday night until March 21st. Laois week at An Grianan is from 13th to 17th June. Next month we will hold our AGM and fees are due for next year. Contributions were made to the Federation Charity and to the Durrow Senior citizens Party. The raffle was won by Anne Delaney and Mary Kelly. The next meeting is on Tuesday April 5th and we will be having our AGM that night. All members are asked to attend.

Killermogh Parish Union Whist Drive results for February: Top Score – Mary McCabe; First Lady – Rose Ann Corcoran; Second Lady – Mary Quigley; First Gent – M. Delaney; Second Gent – Henry Martyn; Low Score – Mary Lennon; Juveniles – Ed Slevin, Erin Lalor, Colleen Lalor; Quarters – Alice Thompson, Josie McCartney, Patricia Delaney, Kathleen Phelan and Eamonn McEvoy. Raffle – Des Finnamore, Nellie Conroy, Margaret Slevin, Ed Slevin and Mick Scully. The next Whist Drive will be held on Thursday March 31st at 8.30pm.

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!

Presents Country & Western sensation Robert Mizzell and Soundz Country on Friday 8th April at 9pm in The Castle Arms Hotel. The evening will also include a mini auction and raffle with many prizes including a Shane Long signed Irish Jersey, a trip for two to Manchester United, a two night break in the lovely Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, a €250 All4One voucher, a plane ride for two, and many many more.

Tickets are €15 includes entry for a door prize. Tickets are available from Mary (086) 0823447 or Ethel (087) 0665752. All proceeds go to the Naomh Bríd Autism Unit in Abbeyleix.

Durrow/Cullohill Parish Anglers are preparing for a good years fishing during 2016. Anglers are reminded that the Trout season starts on St. Patrick’s Day March 17th. Membership available at Lawlor’s Gala, Daybreak, Lawlor’s Florists and from Mick Walsh. On Thursday St. Patrick’s Day the club will hold their first trout fishing competition of the year for the Michael Walsh Cup.

Entries will be taken at Lawlor’s Flower shop from 9.30am with the competition stating at 10am and weigh-in at 6pm sharp at the Durrow Inn.

2015/16 Membership– Membership is now due for the new season, please download memberships forms from the website and return as soon as possible.

Fundraising Bag Pack- The club will be having a fundraising bag pack at Dunnes Stores,  Portlaoise on Easter Saturday 26th March. If you are in the area please call in, every coin is a help towards the club and its development. If any members would like to assist, please contact Emer O’Brien.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade- The club will take part in the Durrow St. Patrick’s Day parade, if you would like to join in please contact either Mick Malone or Karl Rafferty or any other club member for details.

Freestyle Team Trials 2016- Congratulations to Mikie Murphy on qualifying for the Junior Irish Freestyle Team, he will compete in Germany. His qualification shows the commitment of the club to our junior members and the increasing development of freestyle kayaking in Laois.

Interested in Kayaking- If you are interested in taking up paddling, we will be having training sessions in the coming months as the evenings get longer and these sessions are a perfect opportunity to try it out. We will be running different kayaking courses with trained instructors and this will give you a great opportunity to get to know the water and be more confident in your kayaking skills. Please keep an eye out on Facebook and on our website for details – visit www.laoiskayak.com online for further 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.

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…

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.

Super Sunday of Success for Cullohill Handball – Cullohill Handball Club enjoyed a day to remember on Sunday last with success on both sides of the Atlantic. The day started with a full house of victories in the GAA Leinster Juvenile Handball Championships Girls. The U12 Doubles winners were Emma Delaney and Lucy O’Connor; U13 Doubles winners were Ruby McEvoy and Aoife Dunne; U14  Doubles winners were Lauren McGuigan and Aoife Dunne; Boys U17 Singles winner was Podge Delaney; Winners from U14 up progress to represent Leinster in the All Irelands. Good luck in the All Ireland Semi Finals this weekend to Podge Delaney in the U17 Singles and Lauren McGuigan and Aoife Brophy in the U14 Doubles. As play ended in the Leinster Championships on Sunday news filtered through that our star player Niamh Dunne and her Doubles Partner had won the USA Collegiate Open Doubles Championships in Minnesota. This is another big milestone in the glittering career of Niamh who continues to do Cullohill and Laois proud on the national and now international stage! Don’t forget you can follow all the club    results and news us on our Facebook page.

Harps Players set foundation for Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown Senior College’s victory – This was the first senior colleges title ever for the school and no fewer than four players came from the Harps club. Captain and centre back David Doheny, goalkeeper Liam Dunphy left half back Johnny Doyle and full forward Padraig Delaney all played well.

It has been a super campaign for the Johnstown side with hard fought battles with Gorey and Enniscorthy of Wexford to reach final against Ard Scoil Ris of Dublin in the final last Tuesday at Dr. Cullen Park. It was a fantastic match and the sides were only  separated after extra time. But in the end the Johnstown lads’ skill, steel and determination secured a victory by 5 points. Well done to all the Harps lads who incidentally had more club men on the first 15 than any other of the Kilkenny or Tipperary clubs!

Barney’s Bonus Bonanza is the Harps Camogie Clubs new lotto! This lotto draw is limited to 47 people. The cost is €20 per month and you sign up for a year. Each member is allocated a number for the year. On the first Saturday of every month, if your number matches the national lottery’s bonus number you win €500. Contact Vera Dunphy on (087) 1359333 or Mary Donohue (087) 2866147 if you would like to support the club and give yourself the chance of winning.

Congratulations to the Whelan Family, Dunmore, Durrow in the South East Schools Orienteering Championships in John F Kennedy Park, Wexford last week. Conall came first in the Post-Junior Cert, Fionn first in Pre-Junior Cert and Eoghan first in the Primary 6th class category.

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

The next newsletter will be on sale weekending April 2nd and 3rd. 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.