LAOIS COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY AWARDS 2017: Laois County Council in participation with Laois Public Participation Network are proud to announce that the Laois Community and Voluntary Awards, 2017 are being held on the 17th October, 2017. Nomination Forms and details available from the Community Development Section or email dce@laoiscoco.ie. The closing date for nominations has now been extended to Friday 25th August, 2017.

CONGRATULATIONS to Tomas and Claire Woods, Carrigan Street, Durrow, on the birth of a daughter.

STOLEN: A large 22” World Lawnmower with a Briggs & Stratton Engine – WYZ2OH – was taken from outside the Kayak and Canoe Club Building on Thursday last, 17th August. Anyone with any information please phone the local FÁS Office on (057) 8736870.

ST VINCENT de PAUL: Anyone looking for help can contact us on (087) 3476012.

SCOUTS APPEAL: Now is the time to contact Delphine Lawlor on (086) 3655178 if you wish to join us as Scouters/Leaders as we need adults to make the meetings more active for the youth in September. A planned information night will be held in July to show what we do and what is needed to become a Scouter. Required: over 18, likes the outdoors and wanting to live an adventure with kids… having fun!

VARIETY CONCERT DVD: The official DVD of the Variety Concert is available to purchase at a cost of €10 and it is well worth having as the concert was excellent. Many thanks to Pat Farrell who filmed the show and then edited and produced the finished product. The DVD is available from Mick Dunphy, Mary Walsh and Pat Farrell.

COMHALTAS: Spink Comhaltas are continuing their popular Summer Seisiún series on Wednesday nights between 8pm and 10pm during August. The weekly Seisiún takes place in the Heritage House Museum, Abbeyleix, and all are welcome. There is no entry fee, but donations are accepted to cover the cost of the venue. The Seisiún has a different event every week – but it will comprise the best of Laois musicians in traditional Irish music, song, story telling and the occasional dancer. All are most welcome.

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.

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!

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 always 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 ongoing assistance would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks for your ongoing help.

DURROW HIGH NELLY CLUB – UPCOMING EVENTS: August 20th: Join us for the highly anticipated Jack Moyney re-enactment and High Nelly Cycle in period costume. The cycle commences at 3pm with the re-enactment at 5pm. VIP tickets €10, Bar view €8 and bridge area €5.
October 7th: Greenway cycle from Waterford to Dungarvan. Leaving Bobs at 9am and staying overnight in Lawlor’s Hotel, Dungarvan. Booking details: Phone (058) 41122 or email olivekiely@lawlorshotel.com – the rate is €75 per person sharing and includes breakfast and dinner. Quote “High Nelly Cycle” when ringing. Book ASAP as places will fill fast.

DURROW LIBRARY: Upcoming Events: The following events have been planned for Durrow Library…
Wednesday 23rd of August at 12.15pm – Introduction to Irish Wildlife (Children’s talk)
Friday 22nd of September at 7pm – Culture Night event Author reading and Book-based crafting with Helena Duggan, author of A Place Called Perfect (Waterstones and Easons Children’s Book of the Month for August) This event will be for children aged 9+ and booking will be necessary as there is a limited
amount of places for this event.
Irish Rural Link – Computer Classes for Beginners: Free computer and internet classes are being offered by the Irish Rural link group. If anyone is interested please contact Durrow library or call in!
Summer Reading Stars: The reading challenge is just coming to an end. Remember to bring your challenge cards with you to the library so that they can be stamped! The Prize giving date will be announce as soon as possible.
Library Opening Times: The open times are as follows: Tuesdays: 1.30pm to 5.30pm and 6pm to 7.30pm; Wednesdays: 10am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm; Saturdays 11am to 1pm. Phone: (057) 8736090 or e-mail: Lmoriarty@laoiscoco.ie for further information on any of the above.

MARKET: The Cottage Market Mountrath brings you all things home-made, home-grown and hand-crafted. Located at The Macra Hall, Main St. Mountrath – from 10am to 2pm on the first Saturday of each month. Contact Anne or Lucy on (089) 2048089 for more details.

LIVE WEATHER DATA: Up-to-the-minute local weather conditions for Durrow are available online at www.laoisweather.com which includes day-to-day records going back to the year 2008.

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

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.

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.

FOOTBALL CÚL CAMP THIS COMING WEEK: Football Cúl Camp will be held at The Harps GAA grounds in Durrow from August 21st to August 25th. Make sure you book now as places are filling up fast – visit https://www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie/booking/online/?venue=562 to go right onto the registration page.

LAOIS KAYAK AND CANOE CLUB – Interested in Kayaking? Midweek Paddling is on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings from 7.15pm, please see Facebook for 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.

NEXT NEWSLETTER: The next newsletter will be on sale this weekend of September 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.