20th/21st December, 1997. Price: 30p

Durrow Parish Newsletter

Compiled by the Durrow Scouts

Presentation Sisters

The presence of the Presentation Sisters in Durrow comes to an end this week with the sad news of the departure of the order from the area.
Since the 1920’s the presentation sisters have played an enormous part in the sociol and educational fabric of the town. Their role in the education of generations of school children will never be forgotton and also their part in charity work in the area, which was mostly carried out behind the scenes and well away from the glare of publicity and from the knowledge of most of the general public.

They will be particularly missed by the 3rd Laois (Durrow) Scout Group. The Sisters were always firm supporters of the troop and from the early days had a large role to play in the establishment of scouting in the area. We will always be grateful for the use of the Convent grounds, where we carried out many and varied outdoor activities. Their role in establishing this newsletter was also very important as they gave us the use of their printing machine before we acquired our own. When the Convent buildings and grounds fell into private hands, a donation from them helped to ensure that the Scouts in Durrow would always have a home base – that legacy will be there permanently in the form of the Presentation Centre.

We would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Scouting in Durrow to thank the Presentation Sisters for their contribution to the Durrow area and wish them well in the future.

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Durrow Community Council

Durrow Community Council are organising a mass of Thanksgiving for the Presentation Sisters on Sunday 29th December at 4 pm. in Holy Trinity Church, Durrow. A presentation will be made afterwards in the Presentation centre.

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Cullohill/Durrow Community Games

Congratulations to Cullohill/Durrow Community Games who were presented with the Clooney Cup as the most improved area in Co Laois. Tony Mulhall presented the cup to Margaret Murphy, Cullohill.

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Parish Timetable – Christmas 1997

Cullohill – Sunday 21st Mass at 10 am. Confession after mass as required. Christmas eve mass at 9 pm. Confession 7 – 8 pm. Christmas morning Mass at 10 am.

Sick and Housebound – Fr Tobin will visit those on sick list on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd. Please let a priest know if there is anyone who would like a visit and the Sacraments.

Durrow – Sunday 21st: Carol service and Christmas Pagent at 7.30 pm. Monday 22nd DEC: Penitential Service at 7.30 pm. Christmas eve mass at 10.00 pm. Christmas morning masses: 8.30 am and 11 am.

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Congratulations

Congratulations to Albert and Margaret Moynan, Capponellan, Durrow, on the birth of a daughter.

Congratulations to Larry Dunphy, Bunlacken, Cullohill, and Rosemary O’Dea, Clare, on their recent engagement.

Congratulations to Frank Campion, Cork Rd, Durrow, who celebrates his 80th Birthday this weekend.

Congratulations to Caroline Dollard, Oldtown, Cullohill, on being conferred with a B.A. Science Degree at Trinity College, Dublin.

Congratulations to Shane Lawlor, Mill Road, Durrow, who celebrated his 21st Birthday recentley.

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Parish News

The Christmas offering for the sustenance of your priests will be gratefully received on Christmas Eve and morning.
Confessions: Please avail of the Sacrament of Confession on Monday 22nd at Pentential Service in Durrow at 7.30 pm or in Cullohill on Christmas Eve from 7 – 8 pm.
Fr. Sean & Fr. Martin wish you God’s Blessing for a Happy & Holy Christmas and a prosperous 1998.

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Lions Soccer Club

The Lions A team and a great victory over last years champions in a Premier Division game held in Kilkenny on Sunday last. The Lions B team drew 3 – 3 with Clover B.

South East Draw: In the second draw in the south east co – op draw the Lions had one winning ticket, it was owned by Sean and Sheelaigh Keown, St. Fintan’s Terrace, Durrow. They won a selection of gents clothing. The Lions hope that in January and february draws they will have more winners. To all subscribers of the club the finance committee wish to thank you all for your support.

25th Monster Christmas Draw: will be held on Christmas Eve (24th) in Gerri’s bar, Durrow. Prizes: 1st – Monster Hamper, 2nd – Full Lamb, 3rd – Bottle Whiskey & Brandy, 5th – Bottle Whiskey. Tickets £1 each can be had from all club members and at our annual stand in The Square, DSurrow on Christmas eve. The Finance committee of the Lions Soccer Club wish you all a very Happy & Holy Christmas.

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Our Lady’s Meadow

On Sunday night, December 21st, at 7.30 pm. in the Holy Trinity Church, Durrow, the pupils of Our Lady’s Meadow P.S. present a Christmas Pageant and Carol Service. The night will bring the birth of Jesus into the festive season. Everyone in the parish is invited to this wonderful night.

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Durrow & District Camera Club

The major competition in the Junior & Senior Branch, “The Photographer of the Year” & “The print of the Year” were held on Monday 15th December. The results were as follows:

Senior Branch – Photographer of the Year for the Joe Brophy Memorial Cup: 1st, Breda Kelly, 2nd, Terrance Smeaton.
Print of the Year for the Civil Defense Shield: 1st, Martin Walsh, 2nd, Liam Kavanagh.

Junior Branch – Photographer of the Year sponsored by John Freeman: 1st, Claire Doyle, 2nd, Erin Kelly.
Print of the Year sponsored by John Freeman: 1st, Claire Doyle, 2nd, Jason Walsh.

Eugen Meegan (Chairperson) congratulated all the winners and commented on the high standard of prints on display. Words of thanks were expressed to the main sponsors of the night: Mrs Mary Brophy, Seamus Clancy (Civil Defense) and John Freeman, whose contributions ensure that both the Junior and Senior Branch continue to take top class Photographs.

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Cullahill Community Centre

There will be a children’s disco in the Centre on Sunday 21st December from 3 pm. to 5 pm. and a special appearance from Santa. Both handball and squash leagues have reached their concluding stages. With games having been played the last five weeks two teams have now qualified for a final in each league. The final winners will each receive a ‘Cullohill Community Centre’ T-Shirt with the games to be played by Tuesday, December 23rd.

Teams involved in Squash final:

Team X – Jacinta Fitzpatrick, Padraig Henderson, Noel Delaney, Sean Duggan, Johnny Holland and Anthoney Phelan.
Team Y – Marlene White, Maartin Deegan, T.J Quinn, Martin Bergin, Joe Costigan and Andrew henderson.

Teams involved in Handball final:

Team X – Peter Phelan, Eamon Doheny, Johnny Holland and Bernard Ryan.
Team Y – Clement White, Noel Delaney, Joe Muldowney and Seamus Brophy.

Progressive 25 results:

December 10th – 1st – Henry O’ Grady & Pierce Kavanagh. 2nd – Margaret Delaney & Anthony Phelan.
Raffle – Pat Spencer & Jack Mooney.

December 17th – 1st John Dollard & Martin Muldowney. 2nd – Paddy Dunphy & Tom Kenny.
Raffle – John Dollard & Tommy White.

No Cards on next wednesday (Chrisatmas Eve) next game on New Year’s Eve at 8 pm Sharp. (Note early start).

Community Centre member’s draw was won by John and Teresa Delahunty, Raheenleigh.
FAS Workers holidays until January 5th. Happy Christmas to all.

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Midland Refuse Collection

Collection would normally be on Friday 26th December but it will now be collected on Monday 29th December. Bins out on Sunday night please.

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Walshe’s Videos, Crrigan Street, Durrow (beside the church)

Tommy and Mary would like to take this opportunity to wish all their customers a very Happy Christmasand a prospoerous new year. Some of their latest Videos are available:

Con-Air, Absolute Power, Liar Liar, Dante’s Peak, Marvin’s Room, The fifth Element, Anaconda, Scream, Fierce Creatures, Privat Parts, Donnie brasco, Romeo & Juliet, Eddie.

They are open all over christmas and new year.

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Harps News

The AGM of the Harps Club was held on Friday 19th December. The following were elected for the coming year:

President – John Cashin
Vice-Presidents – Fr Tobin & Fr O’Doherty
Chairman – Martin Fitzpatrick
Vice-Chairman – Padraig Henderson
Secretary – Donal Deegan
Ass-Secretary – Sean Conroy
Treasurer – Declan Phelan
P.R.O – Marie Phelan

Committee: Noel Delaney, Dan Deegan, John Dollard, John Bourke, Tom Flynn, Seamus Campion, Walter Foyle, Peter Phelan, Kevin Galvin, Billy Kirby, Sean Duggan, James Fogarty, Tommy Walsh, Sean Murphy and Tomas Kenna.

Camogie: The Harps U/18 Camogie girls played in the final of their championship last Sunday. This was a great game to watch as they played extremely well. They were beaten in the end by an experienced Camross team………

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Durrow Parish Lotto Results

Monday 6th December: 4 winners shared Jackpot of £2,2050. No’s 7-13-29
Each received £562.50.
Niamh Lalor, Derry Rd, William Bowden, Cullohill, Marie Clancy, Barn hill, Durrow and Richerd Dass, Carrigan Street, Durrow.

Monday 15th December: 2 winners shared Jackpot of £250. No’s 9-12-14
Each received £125 each.
Tommy Sheppard, Durrow and Tim Keegan, Abbeyleix.

Next draw on Monday 22nd December. Raffle for over 20 prizes will be held after the Lotto draw. There will be a break for two weeks in the Lotto. First draw after Christmas will be on Monday 12th January, 1998.

We wish all supporters of the Parish Lotto a very Happy Christmas and properous New Year.

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Attention

Please note the next issue of the Newsletter will be on weekend 11th/12th January, 1998.
We wish all supporters, contributers and sellers of the Newsletter a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous 1998.

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Where Art Thou, Moter Christmas – by Roald Dahl.

Where art thou, Mother Christmas?
I really wish i Knew
Why Father should get all the praise
And no one mentions you.

I’ll letyou buy the presents
And wrap them large and small
Then in the end our cunning friend
Pretendshe’s done it all.

So hail to Mother Christmas
The uncomplaining slave
And down with Father Christmas
That good-for-nothing Knave.

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Harps Camogie Team Members

Harps Camogie Team Members are as follows:

Elaine Clancy
Laura Mahony
Sharon Lynch
Catriona Phelan
Marie Lalor
Jane Kennedy
Blathnaid Clancy
Denise Quigley
Louise Mahony
Orla Phelan
Elaine Dollard
Maeve Brophy

Subs:

Mary Kells
Norma Shiel
Imelda Galvin
Orla Walsh

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Durrow Credit Union

At the recently held AGM meeting of Durrow Credit Union, the Chairman Oliver Clooney welcomed everyone to the meeting. He stated that since our last AGM we have installed a computer system, which is now up and running and proving a valuable asset to the office. He also paid tribute to his fellow directors and tellers who spent many a night getting familiarised with the set up of the computer system.
He then called on the Secretary, Ann Rafter, to read the minutes of the last AGM, Auditor, Mr Chris Bardon, gave his audit report and stated he has obtained all the information and explanations he considered necessary for the purpose of his audit. In his opinion proper books of account have been kept by Durrow Credit Union. The Financial statements are in agreement with the books of accounts. The chairman then called on the Treasurer, Rita Casey, to give her account of the years takings. She agreed with the auditor, Mr Bardon, and also stated that assets now were £906,000 approx. Membership now stood at 1134, an increase of 100 people in the year.

The following people were re elected as directors for the coming year:

Peter Monnelly
Michael Kells
Kathleen Geoghegan
Mary walsh
Chris Bardon (re-elected)

The following people were re-elected as supervisors:

Tony Dooley
Margaret Tobin
Jack Phelan

The chairman also announced the winners of the recent poster competition:

Section 8-10 year olds:

1st: A.Saunders, Cullohill
2nd: D.Lalor, Cullohill & M.Fitzpatrick, Cullohill

Section 11-13 year olds:

1st: Shane Walsh, Durrow
2nd: A. Mahony, Cullohill & B.Bergin, Cullohill.

The winners of this competition go forward to chapter Final. Also during the year the Credit Union sponsored a stage in the Circuit of Ireland Cycle Race, which had a stage sprint outside the local Credit Union office. We also ran a successful schools Table Quiz which the winners go forward to the Chapter Finals.
As the meeting was drawing to a close Mr Liam Foley, from the floor, stood up and paid tribute to the Chairman and Directors of the Credit Union and stated that since it started 16 years ago it has gone from strength to strength and wished it further success.
The Chairman then closed the meeting and wished everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous New year. As it is now customery, we all enjoyed tea and cakes afterwards.

During the meeting the following people won prizes:
J.Bowe, V. Kelly, S. Brophy, M. Loughman, L. Foley, C. Clancy, M. Tobin, M. Thornton, M. Walsh, B. Kelly, M. Cashin, P. Dunphy, E. Kenna, M. Dwyer, T. Dooley, C. Walsh, A. Bradish, A. Conroy and M. Porter.

Following the AGM the following directors were elected:

Chairman – O. Clooney
V-Chairman – P. Monnelly
Secretary – A. Rafter,
Ass-Secretary – S. Brophy
Treasurer – R. Casey
Ass-Treasurer – M. Kells
P.R.O’s – Philip Monnelly and M. Walsh
Membership Officer – C. Clancy
Credit committee – K. Geoghegan (Sec), O. Clooney, O. Casey and Peter Monnelly.
Supervisors Committee – T. Dooley, M. Tobin and J. Phelan

The Credit Union office will be closed Christmas week, re-opening on January 2nd 1998. Opening hours: Friday morning 10.30 am to 11.30 am and Friday evening 7.30 pm to 9.15 pm

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