16th / 17th December 1995.          Price 30p

 

DURROW PARISH NEWSLETTER

COMPILED BY THE DURROW SCOUTS

THE SPIDER ON YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

There is an ancient legend about a spider who saved the life of the infant Jesus. It happened like this.
The Holy Family were on their way to Egypt, escaping from King Herod’s soldiers. One night they found a dark damp cave in which to shelter. The night was cold and the land was carpeted with white boar-frost. Mary and Joseph tried to make the cave as warm and comfortable as they could for their newborn child. But it was impossible to light a fire because the wind blew so strongly into the cave. Soon the baby began to cry and woke a sleeping spider.

When the spider saw Jesus he decided he must do something to help. Patiently he began to spin a web across the entrance of the cave to make a curtain which would shield the baby from the searing wind. It was hard work and the spider was exhausted when the web was finished. He had only just completed his work when a detachment of Herod’s soldiers approached the cave. There was blood on their swords and hate in their hearts. Their mission was to kill the infant Jesus.

“Here’s a cave,” shouted one of them. “Someone might be hiding in there.” The soldiers were just about to burst in when the captain noticed the slender web covered with white boar-frost, stretched across the entrance. “Can’t you see the spider’s web, you idiots,” he cried, “it’s unbroken, there can’t possibly be anyone in there or they’d have torn the web going in.”

The soldiers went on their way and the infant Jesus slept peacefully that night. And so did the spider.

It’s said that the reason why we cover our Christmas trees with tinsel is so that the shiny streamers will remind us of the spider whose frost-covered web saved the life of the infant Jesus.

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DURROW / CULLOHILL COMMUNITY ALERT

The Committe of the above would again appeal to the Community to pay particular attention to their elserly neighbours and in particular persons living alone. Please visit them regularly during the winter months and make sure they are not in need of essential items such as food or heating. If there is a need or a problem please bring it to the notice of any member of Durrow / Cullohill Community Alert Association.

Keep on the alert for strangers or strange vehicles acting suspiciously and alert the Gardai at Abbeyleix, phone no. 31202. Don’t worry if it turns out to be a false alarm, the Gardai are there to give a service and are only too willing to check out strangers or strange vehicles in the area.

The Committee would like to thank the Community for their support during the year and we wish every member of the Community a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

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DURROW PARISH LOTTO

RESULTS: Monday 4th December – No Jackpot winner. £50 to Mary Townsend, Swan Road, Durrow.
Monday 11th December – No Jackpot winner. £50 to R.J. Dempsey, Swan Road, Durrow.

Next draw on Monday 18th December in O’Connell’s, Cullohill where our Annual Free Christmas Raffle will take place, with approximately 30 prizes to be won, which will include bottles of spirits, turkeys, hams etc. plus the Jackpot of £850.

A FREE BUS will be leaving the Square at 9.45 p.m. to take anyone interested up for the Draw and Raffle.

The first Lotto Draw of the New Year will take place in The Bridge Bar on Monday 8th January ’96.

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SYMPATHY is extended to the Palmer family, Tinweir, on their recent bereavement.

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ART COMPETITION

Discussed was our forthcoming Schools Art Competition for Our Lady’s Meadow school and the Holy Family Boys School. The club is delighted with the response from the children, as we have 94 entries in total.

From Our Lady’s Meadow School we have taking part: 1st – 2nd classes, 3rd – 4th classes, 5th – 6th classes. 80 entries in total.

The Holy Family Boys’ School have taking part: 7 – 9 age group and 9 – 12 age group. 14 entries in total.

The judge for the competition is Alice Power-Murphy, who is an Art teacher in Heywood C.S. The judging will be completed next week. The prizes will be presented to the winners early in the New Year. There will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize in each category.

SENIOR QUIZ – The club is taking part in the Senior Quiz which is being held in Eamon-On-Chonic on Tuesday 19th December at 9.00 p.m. Representing the club are Liam Bergin, Noelle Phelan, David Holland and Caroline Phelan.

VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT – Cullohill Macra are hosting a Volleyball Tournament in the Community Centre for all Macra Clubs in Laois on Sunday 17th December at 2.00 p.m. Representing Durrow our team of six are: John Lalor, David Holland, John Kennedy, Trevor Foley, Peter Phelan, John Clooney. Sub: David Tynan.

The club held their Christmas Party recently in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore. A great night out and a marvellous party atmosphere was enjoyed by all.

Some members are attending the County Christmas Party which is being held in the Montaque Hotel on Friday December 22nd.

A club officers meeting is being held on Saturday 16th December in the Presentation Centre at 9.00 p.m. The meeting is to plan a programme of events for the New Year which will be of benefit and enjoyment of all members.

The club would like to welcome back Edward Lalor to the Macra Club. He has been on a 3 months work experience course in Denmark.

Our delegate to the Competition Meeting on January 2nd is John Dorgan.

Delegate to the County Executive meeting on January 8th is David Holland.
Delegates to Agricultural Affairs are Liam Bergin, Edward Lalor, Brendan Maguire and David Holland. The meeting is on Monday January 15th.
Our next meeting is on Friday 5th January in the Presentation Centre at 9.30 p.m. New members are always welcome.

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SCOUT NEWS

On Monday 18th December the Younger Group of Scouts will visit Portlaoise Cinema to see “Babe”. All Scouts travelling are asked to meet in the Square at 7.45 p.m. The bus for this outing is being paid for by the Parents & Friends Committee. The cost of the Cinema is £3 per Scout.

On Saturday 23rd December all members of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts will meet at the Presentation Centre at 6.00 p.m. and will sing Christmas Carols inside the Church Gates for the people going to 7.00 p.m. Mass. All donations are in aid of the Senior Citizens Party.

We wish all parents and friends of Scouting in Durrow a very Happy Christmas and thank you for your support throughout 1995.

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NEWSLETTER SELLERS

This Sunday 17th December – Aileen Donohue, Mary Lawlor, Pat Walsh and Niall Donohue.

Weekend 13th / 14th January: Saturday evening – Pat Young, Mark Young, Jason Walsh and David Dunne.

Sunday morning – Martin Walsh, Mark Donohue, Seamus Stapleton and Jonathan Walsh.

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HEYWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL

An information night for parents of incoming First Years will be held in Heywood Community School on Tuesday 19th December at 7.00 p.m. Enrolments will take place after the meeting.

SILVER CIRCLE
The Parents Association of Heywood C.S. would like to thank all those who supported our Annual Silver Circle.
The following are the results of the last three draws in the Silver Circle.

Week 8 – £150 Richard Dowd, Rathmoyle, Abbeyleix. £75 – A. Sythes, Abbeyleix. £25 – J. Wallace, Ballypickas, Abbeyleix. £25 – M. McWey, Ballyroan. £25 – S. Delaney, Donaghmore, Ballyragget. Avonmore Hamper – Joe Delaney, Ballough, Monasterevan.

Week 9 – £150 Mrs Peacock Snr. Ballyroan. £75 – P & K Sinnot, Mountrath. £25 – Julia Casey, Granstown, Ballacolla. £25 – C. McEvoy, Ballinakill Mart. £25 – Edward Brennan, Cullohill. Avonmore Hamper – Eoin Lawlor, Derry Road, Durrow.

Week 10 – £150 Mrs. Ed. Kirwin, Boley, Abbeyleix. £75 – S. Jordan, Rathmoyle, Abbeyleix. £25 – C. Dowling, Grange, Ballyragget. £25 – L. Kinsella, Ralish, Abbeyleix.
£25 – Joan McGrath, Ballinakill. Avonmore Hamper – Mary Brennan, Clontyglass, Abbeyleix.

Weekend for Two, for fully paid up members – Card 221, Line 7 – Liam Fitzpatrick, Ballymaddock.
Promoters Prize – Catherine Kirwin, Raheenabrogue, Ballyroan.

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BERGIN JEWELLERS
31 Main street, Portlaoise.
Phone 0502 – 22543

For your Christmas Gifts – 9 ct Gold T Bars £39.95
Bangles, Chains – £29.95
Top Quality Watches – Seiko etc.
Large selection of Silver T Bars, Discs for teenagers etc.
Free engraving is part of our service.

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MOBILE UNISEX HAIRDRESSER
Geraldine Cranny

Treat yourself in the comfort of your own home at Christmas to: Perms, Cuts and Colours.
Monday to Saturday. Phone 0502-31713.
Make your Christmas appointment now.
Wishing all my customers a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

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RORY O’MOORE PIPE BAND

On behalf of the members and committee of Durrow Pipe Band we would like to thank everybody who supported our Cabaret in The Nore Nets on December 9th and making it a great success.

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DURROW COMMUNITY COUNCIL wish to thank everyone who contributed to the Church Gate Collection recently to help towards the expenses of erecting the Christmas Tree in the town. We wish to thank very sincerely all the business people of the town who gave very generous donations towards the Christmas tree expenses.
We also wish to thank Sean Brophy and the FAS team for their work erecting the tree.
Happy Christmas to each and every one of you from Durrow Community Council.

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The next issue of the NEWSLETTER will be on the 13th / 14th January. We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year and also to thank all our Newsletter sellers for their help during the year.

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DURROW FOROIGE CLUB

Durrow Foroige Club held a Coffee Morning & Cake Sale on Sunday 10th December, which turned out to be a great success and £60 was raised. Thank you to everyone who donated or helped out that morning and to those who supported.
Also our thanks to Martin Lawlor who judged our Christmas Wreath competition on that morning.
The results were: 1st – Joyce Donohue, 2nd – Laura Flynn, 3rd – Julie Ryan. Well done!

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DURROW & DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB

On Monday 11th December the club held it’s two important end of year competitions – The “Photographer Of The Year” and the “Print Of The Year” both in Senior and Junior branches. A large collection of prints of a very high standard were entered, and at the end of the night the results were as follows:

Photographer of the Year – Martin Walsh
Runner Up – Pat Farrell

Print of the Year – Joan Ryan
Runner Up – Liam Donohue.

Highly commended awards: Liam Donohue, Eugene Meegan and Joan Ryan.

Mrs. Mary Brophy presented Martin Walsh with the Joe Brophy Perpetual Cup. Congratulations to martin as this is the second year running that he has won this award.
For the record the winners have been: 1990 – Eugene Meegan. 1991 – Pat Farrell. 1992 – Eugene Meegan. 1993 – Pat Farrell. 1994 – Martin Walsh. 1995 – Martin Walsh.

The Print of the Year record is : 1990 – Breda Kelly. 1991 – Paul Cashin. 1992 – Liam Donohue. 1993 – Eugene Meegan. 1994 – Joan Ryan. 1995 – Joan Ryan.

The Junior Branch results were as follows:

Photographer of the Year – Jason Walsh.
Runner Up – Claire Donohue.

Print of the Year – Jason Walsh.
Runner Up – Jason Walsh.

John Freeman (Sponsor) presented Jason and Claire with their trophies.

At the end of the night club chairman, Pat Farrell, thanked everyone for entering, congratulated the winners, thanked Mrs. Brophy and John Freeman for their help and contributions and had a special word of encouragement for the Junior Branch which he said he hoped would go from strength to strength.

The Junior Branch also had their Grand Prix 1st round recently to the theme being “Macro / Close-Up.” Results:

1st – Jonathan Walsh, 2nd – Jason walsh, 3rd – Kevin Donohue.

The Club would like to take this opportunity to wish all members a happy and Peaceful Christmas and a ‘Snappy’ New Year.

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THE LATEST FILMS ON VIDEO
Are Now Available at
WALSH’S GROCERY
Carrigan Street, Durrow.

We have a wide and varied selection to choose from.
We wish all our customers a Very Happy Christmas.

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CONGRATULATIONS to Collette Donohue, Erkindale Drive, who celebrated her 21st Birthday recently.
CONGRATULATIONS to Peter McGree, Carrigan Street, who celebrated his 21st Birthday recently.

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