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All the recent news from the Durrow and Cullohill areas
THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS
On Friday 9th June the Beaver group of nineteen kids and four leaders travelled by bus to Portlick Scout Den outside Athlone. We arrived to horrible weather. Tents and our Marquee were pitched in the rain but it didn’t dampen the kid’s spirits. A very late night and an extremely early morning was sure to put a smile on the leaders faces!
The kids however never felt the worse for wear. On Saturday there were so many enjoyable activities for all the kids. They enjoyed archery, fusion football, zip-lining, gladiator challenge and a mixture of sports in the morning.
After their lunch of burgers and fruit snack it was back to activities which included a boat trip in the Canadian canoes which was a massive hit with them all including the kids who were super nervous beforehand
They were all super proud of themselves and deservedly so. Then it was on to the waterslide … only that we called time on it, some kids would still be there! After changing clothes and a quick snack it was back to activities which were an obstacle course and finally crate stacking. All of the activities were loved by them all.
Saturday evening there was an array of food for dinner, a choice of spaghetti bolognaise, chicken curry or mince and gravy. As it was Alanna’s birthday we had fabulous chocolate fudge cake for dessert, needless to say there was none left over. There were board games and field games later.
To finish the night off we had our own singsong, with some fabulous singers. We also had some great dances and a few dodgy ones from leaders! The weather was much calmer Saturday night thankfully.
On Sunday morning it was straight up and into action. Kids were to be up, dressed and bags packed between breakfast. Then all our tents and equipment had to be dismantled, a lot of going which was made easier from all the help from our beavers. We were ready for home at 11amand passed the time waiting for our bus playing games. On our return journey we visited Supermacs in Roscrea for some much appreciated food and ice-cream. All returned home wrecked but after having a great time.
Well done to all of our nineteen beavers who attended their summer camp, it was not easy going at times considering the weather. All stayed cheery and worked well together – we are proud of you all!
Thanks to the 6th Tipperary Scout group as our Ventures and Rover Scouts had a lovely overnight at their scout Den and enjoyed the water activities also. The Ventures will be staffing camp 5 during July in Mountmeleray, Co. Waterford from the 9th to 16th and are looking forward to this.
The Scout Group wish to thank the person who gave an anonymous donation to the club. This money will be used for the replacement of new tents. It was totally unexpected but very much appreciated, our most sincere thanks.
VARIETY CONCERT
Durrow Community Council are holding a Variety Concert in the Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow on Friday night June 30th commencing at 9pm sharp. Admission is €10 with free entry into the door prize draw.
The concert features the first appearance of the Vocem Daru Choir under choirmaster Ann Moylan in concert in Durrow. The choir was formed last September and has members from around the local area. Also on the programme are Fiuntas – the award winning Ceoltas group from Laois who have played in the National Concert Hall; The Mimosa Trio; The Creagh Family; Set to Laois Dancers; The Moylan Sisters; Joan and many more acts.
All proceeds from this event will go to the Senior Citizens Party and the Annual Senior Citizen’s Trip. There will be a raffle on the night with wonderful prizes. A superb night is guaranteed and we hope to see you there!
ST VINCENT de PAUL
Anyone looking for help can contact us on (087) 3476012.
DURROW LIBRARY
Children’s Events: Several events will take place at the library over the summer for the Summer Reading Challenge programme and for Heritage Week. Booking will be required so drop in if you’re interested in securing a place.
Chess Club: Wednesdays in July from 2.30pm until 3.30pm for eight to twelve year olds – all abilities welcome.
Harry Potter Drawing Class:Thursday August 17th from 4.30pm until 5.30pm for ages ten to fifteen year olds.
Mr Men and Little Miss Treasure Hunt:Tuesday 4th July at 2pm for three to nine year olds.
Children’s Introduction to Irish Wildlife:Wednesday 23rd of August from 12.15pm until 1.15pm.
DURROW AND DISTRICT BEFRIENDING GROUP
Volunteers are required urgently to help with the work of the group. All it takes is one hour of your time per week to visit somebody living alone. Its very rewarding to do this small task weekly and its so much appreciated by the recipient. For more information please contact Patricia on (089) 4649759.
CHURCH NEWS
Church Cleaning Rota – July 2017: Mary Kennedy, Mary Walsh, Gabriel Daz, Miriam and Pat Connolly. Mass Readers: Saturdays – June 17th: Mary Lawlor and Abbi Townsend; June 24th and July 1st: Ann Vaugh and Tommy Doyle. Sundays – June 18th: Stephanie Phelan and Kate Allen; June 25th and July 2nd: Michael Conroy and Abbey Starnes.
CEMETERY MASS
Cemetery Mass in Cullohill will be held on Friday evening June 23rd at 8pmfor the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
SYMPATHY is extended to the Hiney family and the Walsh family, Carrigan Street and Erkindale Drive, Durrow, on the death of Kathleen Hiney, Ballinakill.
ST KIERAN’S COLLEGE
The newly formed Alumni Association is planning a major two-day event on June 30th and July 1st to enable all past pupils to come together to celebrate all that is unique and special about St. Kieran’s College and those associated with it.
Starting with a Golf Classic at Gowran Golf Club on Friday, June 30th then on Saturday July 1st there will be an Open Day at the College from 1pm to 6pm with guided tours and an opportunity for past pupils to meet with former classmates in an informal setting.
The official naming of the senior hurling pitch in honour of Fr. Tommy Maher and a Gala Dinner in the College Gymnasium on Saturday night. Individuals can book through (056) 7721086 or email pastpupils@stkieranscollege.ie
DURROW FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE
Durrow Fire & Rescue wish to advise members of the public that in the event of an emergency always call 999 or 112 to ensure the quickest possible response to any situation. Please do not contact fire-fighters directly as this actually slows down the response time, and fire-fighters do not have the authority to self-deploy.
MONSTER BINGO
Join us for Monster Bingo with €5,000 in prize money on Sunday 2nd July in Mountrath Community School at 3pm. Double Book €15, Single book €10, Single sheet €2. All welcome.
COFFEE MORNING
A charity Tea and Coffee Morning will be held in aid of Motor Neurone Disease will be held on Wednesday June 21st from 10am to 12 noon in Brookhaven Nursing Home, Ballyragget. Please join us for Tea and Coffee, a few sweet treats and a great chat all in aid of MND. All proceeds greatly appreciated for this worthy cause.
CULLOHILL AND DURROW GARDEN & FLOWER CLUB
Cullohill and Durrow Flower Club will meet in Durrow on Monday 19th June at 7pm to go on a garden visit to Nancy Costello’s garden in Graigueafulla, Clonaslee. For more details please contact a club member.
DURROW COMMUNITY CENTRE
The committee of Durrow Community Centre wish to thank everyone who gave bags of used clothes to our recent used clothes collection. Your donation went to NCBI who work with people suffering sight loss. Most of the clothes donated help stock NCBI network of retail charity shops with the remainder sent for recycling. Your support was very much appreciated.
CULLOHILL ICA
Cullohill ICA held their monthly meeting in Cullohill Community Centre recently. Votes of sympathy was passed and prayers were said for the Holland family on death of Sheila, The Delahunty family on death of Richard, the Phelan family on death of Michael in Freshford and to the Kenny and Mooney families on death of Rev. Patrick Kenny in England.
May they all Rest In Peace. All Leaving and Junior cert Students were wished well for their exams. The Feile Teams were also wished every success in Wexford next weekend. The guild will host the Federation Summer meeting on Wednesday night June 21st. The Laois heat of the Aldi Brown Bread Baking Competition will also be judged on the night. The final will be held at the Ploughing Match at Tullamore in September. The raffle winners were Mary Walsh, Helen Muldowney and Agnes Barnavile. A nice cuppa finished off the meeting.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Anne Marie Downey, Durrow and Brian Shanahan, Rosscarbery, County Cork who were married on 9th June in Rosscarbery Church.
DURROW PARISH LOTTO RESULTS
Tuesday 6th June 2017: There was no jackpot winner of €1,000. The Numbers drawn were: 02, 03, 07 and 25. The small draw winners were: €30: Brigid Dunne, 29 Erkindale, Durrow, Laois; €25: Lorraine Mason, c/o Martin Lawlor, Durrow; €20: Caroline Dunne, c/o Kathleen Dunne, Gurteen, Cullohill.
Monday 12th June 2017: There was no jackpot winner of €1,150. The Numbers drawn were: 05, 08, 17 and 27. The small draw winners were: €30: Jim Butler, Grove Tce, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny; €25: Maeve Thornton, Derrywood, Durrow, Laois; €20: Lilly Mooney, Attanagh, Co. Laois.
JOHNNY BARRETT BENEFIT NIGHT
The Castle Arms Hotel hosts their Annual Johnny Barrett Night on Wednesday night June 21st. Dancing from 9pm till 1am to four top bands: Ciaran Rosney, Sam O’Doherty, Patrick O’Sullivan, Teddy and Cathal Barry. Admission is €10 and light refreshments will be served. All proceeds will be given to The Cuisle Centre, Portlaoise and Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Dublin. All are welcome and your support for these worthy causes would be greatly appreciated.
OPEN EVENING
Cairdeas, Kilkenny Parkinson’s Choir invite anyone interested in seeing the amazing beneficial this very special choir is for people with Parkinson’s disease. On Wednesday June 28th we’re opening our regular choir sessions to anyone who is curious or interested. The Choir meets from 7pm to 9pm at St. Patrick’s Centre, Loughboy, Kilkenny beside St. Fiacre’s Church. All are welcome to see and hear this wonderful choir singing despite their illness.
TIDY TOWNS
Assessment is carried out by an independent panel of adjudicators and takes place during the months of June, July and August each year. This assessment is conducted in secret and on unspecified dates and Durrow Tidy Towns are appealing to everybody and to all businesses and homes to be active and keep the outside of their homes, premises and public areas clean and tidy. Extra effort has been put in for this years competition and without your help we can’t achieve better marks. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated in this.
Work Night: Thanks to everybody both young and old who came out for our work night on Wednesday, there was great work done and we appreciated the help. We have another work night this Wednesday, meeting in the square at 7.30pm – all help again would be much appreciated.
ROUND BALE DECORATING COMPETITION: Open to Clubs/Families/Groups of Friends. Book your pitch and hay bale on (086) 8320139 or (087) 2319393 and join in the fun on competition day, Bale decorating will start on Saturday 29th July and be completed on Sunday 30th July by 12 Noonready for the opening of The Scarecrow Festival. Entry Forms on Website www.durrowscarecrowfestival.com – it costs €10 per entry with €300 in prize money. Spaces are limited so book your pitch early!
SCARECROW FESTIVAL TEEN ZONE: Our Teen zone runs specifically for ages 13-17 years on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for teenage boys and girls and includes, teen makeup and hair, kayaking and archery. This year by request and on feedback, there’s a pre-teen zone night (10-12yrs) for hair. Teen Zone is by booking only and details will be available on our brochure and online in the coming weeks
CHILDRENS SCARECROW SUMMER CAMP is now fully booked out, unfortunately we don’t have any more spaces left.
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION AT SCARECROW FESTIVAL: This Annual Photography competition has a Junior and Senior Category. Entry Fees: Senior €8, Juvenile (U16s) €5. Print sizes allowed for both competitions – Standard size to Maximum 12” x 10”. Entry Dates: Monday 31st July and Tuesday 1st August from 3pm-6pm both days in Durrow Community Centre. Maximum of 3 photos per entry. For further information contact Andrew Walsh (086) 3791904 or see www.durrowscarecrowfestival.com – Entries do not have to be of scarecrows, this is a general photography competition and all entries are welcome. All monies go towards the prizes awarded.
ARTS AND CRAFTS: As part of the Durrow Scarecrow Festival, the Annual Arts and Crafts Exhibition & Sale will be held at Durrow Community Centre, from Sunday 30th July to Monday 7th August inclusive. Items will be displayed throughout the venue including Photography, Knitwear, Pottery, Artworks including Oils & Acrylics. Anyone interested in exhibiting should contact Mary on (087) 2200199.
LAOIS KAYAK AND CANOE CLUB – Club Trip
A Great day out was had at the River Inny in County Longford on Sunday 11th June. A new river to most of our kayakers and it didn’t disappoint. Even at the low water level there was loads of fun and learning.
Tidy Towns Clean-Up
Thanks to all our club members and parents for their assistance in cleaning at the River Bank in conjunction with Durrow Tidy Towns. Loads of fun was had in the water too as it coincided with our kayaking night!
Interested in Kayaking? Midweek Paddling is on Wednesday or Thursday evenings, please see our Facebook page for updated details. If you are interested in taking up paddling please keep an eye out on Facebook and on our website for introduction nights, training sessions and events for Junior and Senior paddlers – details at www.laoiskayak.com online.
HARPS CAMOGIE
Congratulations to our June winner of Barney’s Bonus Bonanza – Justin Brophy.
HARPS GAA Race Night
All adult players and committee members are currently selling horses ahead of our Annual Race Night which will be held on the 1st of July in Lennons Bar, Durrow. Horses are €10 each. Please support this vital fundraiser for the Club.
U-14s in League Final: Best of Luck to our U14 hurling team who face Rathdowney-Errill in the League Final on Friday 23rd of June at 7pm in Durrow and all support would be gratefully appreciated.
ATHLETICS
A huge congratulations to Avril Deegan on her recent success in achieving a brilliant podium double at the prestigious All-Ireland Schools Track & Field championship in Tullamore on June 3rd. Representing her school, Presentation Thurles, Avril is now the Senior girls champion over 3000m winning gold in a tactical race in a good personal best time of 10:15. In the 1500m Avril ran 4:41 to claim bronze. A fantastic achievement to close out Avrils School Athletics. No let up for Avril yet as immediately after her Leaving Certificate the Club U20 Leinster & All-Ireland Championships takes place. Well done and continued success to Avril in the year ahead.
HANDBALL: Cullohill Handball Club enjoyed major success yet again at the Handball All-Ireland Feile Ma nGael held at Carlow and Wexford venues last weekend. Following a pulsating and entertaining final tiebreaker Cullohill Team 1 are All-Ireland Feile Na nGael Division 3 Champions. They lifted the title after a thrilling single point tiebreak win over the highly fancied Moycullen of Galway. After disposing of Clogh of Kilkenny, Mallow of Cork and Broadford of Limerick the Division went down to a straight final shoot out between Cullohill and Moycullen. After the matches where Luke Dunphy partnered Cody Comerford and Dan Kirby partnered Dylan Foyle both ended at 15-14 a share. The two teams had to go to a sudden death playoff to eleven points, Luke and Cody went back in and after leading 10-4 the Galway team pulled it back to 10 all with the final serve deciding the destination of the All-Ireland Title. Thankfully the Cullohill boys held their nerve to close out the match 11-10 and lift the All-Ireland Division 3 Feile title.
Well Done Luke Dunphy, Dylan Foyle, Cody Comerford , Dan Kirby and Martin Drennan on a fantastic achievement. That was not enough for man of the moment Luke Dunphy who went on to collect a second All Ireland Title in the Feile Skills competition Well done also to team mentor Sean Dunphy and also to Ray Fogarty for his help as Skills Coach The Team received a heroes welcome back in Cullohill and all the congratulations are well deserved. photos and updates are on the Cullohill Handball Facebook Page.
WOODENBRIDGE PADDLERS
24hr Canoe Polo For The Cuisle Centre – On Saturday and Sunday the 22nd and 23rd of June the Woodenbridge Paddlers supported by many local clubs will embark on a 24hr Canoe Polo Extravaganza.
Well-known celebrities along with local musicians are invited to come along and lend their support for this Cuisle Centre fundraiser. The event will take place at the Woodenbridge where the Canoe Polo Goals which were sponsored by Oldtown Construction were erected in 2016. A marquee will also be on site where refreshments will be provided. This marathon event which will kick off at 2pm on Saturday 22nd and conclude at 2pm on Sunday July 23rd and will attempt to enter the Guinness book of records.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Hidden – But Still Among Us. Would you like to Volunteer in the ‘Guild of St. Philip’?
Prisoners are easy to forget, locked in institutions, they seem to disappear from society‟s sight, but prisoners still belong to society that incarnates them.
Most will eventually be released and the experience they have in prison will greatly affect their ability to adjust to life ‘outside’ as law abiding citizens. That experience can be influences for the better through the action of concerned, informed citizens. If you wish to be involved please text (086) 0462405 or email judy.p@hotmail.com
VOCEM DARU CHOIR
Our choirmaster Ann Moylan requests that for the next Tuesday night members attending choir practice, not to be late – even arrive ten minutes early if possible. We will have a Piano accompanist and two Musicians with us.
CORE HEALTH AND FITNESS
Get fit, lose weight and feel better. With memberships from €32 per month, Personal training for less than €7 per session, at a time that suits you. Pilates, Yoga and Circuit training classes ongoing, you really have no more excuses! Feel free to come in and look around. For more information visit our website www.corehealthandfitness.ie or contact us on (087) 9302152 or (057) 8740637 or info@corehealthandfitness.ie by email.
DURROW REMINISCING GROUP
A book with 200 pages of Photographs spanning almost 100 years of Durrow and Cullohill memories including ICA, Hurling, Camogie, Soccer, School to mention but a few.
Books for sale €25 each or two for €40. Please text or call Tom on (087) 2936531 or Kathleen on (086) 8263368 for further information.
CASTLEWOOD FARMSHOP
Now re-opened. Organic meat, apple juice, eggs and other produce. Farmshop and tearoom open Fridays and Saturdays 10am – 5pm; Sunday 11am – 5pm. Enquiries to Dominic (087)9694070.
CULLOHILL NATIONAL SCHOOL
The School is now enrolling new pupils for the 2017-2018 term. Please contact the School at (057) 8737281 for further details.
CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE
Progressive 25 Card Games are held in the hall every Sunday night at 8.30pm sharp followed by tea and sandwiches. Please support!
APPEAL
This year, 2017 is the 100th anniversary of the O’Brien’s starting their Headstone business in Durrow. If anyone has any old pictures of the Quarry on the Derry Road, Sean would be delighted to hear from you.
You can email them to seanobrien1957@eircom.net or phone Sean on (086) 2656657 if you have them in paper form. Any additional details such as the names and date of the picture would be greatly appreciated.
The next newsletter will be on sale the weekend of July 1st and 2nd. 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.
