22nd/23rd July, 1995                                                                                                                                Price 30p

DURROW PARISH NEWSLETTER

COMPILED BY THE DURROW SCOUTS

LIFE

Life is an opportunity – benifit from it.
Life is beauty – admire it.
Life is bliss – taste it.
Life is a dream – realize it.
Life is a duty – complete it
Life is a game – play it.
Life is costly – care for it.
Life is wealth – reap it.
Life is love – enjoy it.
Life is mystery – know it.
Life is a promise – fulfill it.
Life is sorrow – overcome it.
Life is a struggle – accept it.
Life is tragedy – confront it.
Life is an adventure – desire it.
Life is to precious – do not destroy it.
Life is life – fight for it.

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RORY O’MOORE PIPE BAND

The Pipe Band Contest has been cancelled due to the lack of sponsorship. Therefore the Draw for the Rory O’Moore Pipe Band which was to be held on that day has been postponed until 20th August, and will be held at The Bridge Bar on Sunday 20th August at 10.00 p.m. Please support the Draw. Tickets £1 each are available from all committee members.

PRIZES: 1st – £100, 2nd – £50, and five prizes of £10 each.

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DURROW PARISH LOTTO

Monday 10th July: Jackpot of £850 was won by Marie Lalor, Derry Road, Durrow.

Monday 17th July: Jackpot of £250 was won by Martha Dunphy, 13 St. Fintan’s Tce. Durrow.

Next draw on Monday 24th July, in Phelan’s Lounge. Jackpot £250.

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HEYWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Heywood Community School presents the daniel O’Donnell Show with special guest Mary Duff on Wednesday 26th July at 8.00 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Doors open at 7.00 p.m.

Durrow Civil Defense will be on duty from early in the evening to help with parking. The Order of Malta will be in attendance. Refreshments will be available.

Raffle Prizes: 1st prize – Weekend for two in the Daniel O’Donnell Hotel, Kincasslagh.
2nd prize – Weekend for two in any Ryan’s Hotel of your choice in Ireland.
3rd prize – £50.

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DURROW TIDY TOWNS COMMITTEE meeting will be held on Tuesday 25th July at 8.30 p.m. in the Castle Arms Hotel. All members please attend.

The Student Job Scheme is in full swing and the students are doing a good job keeping the town clean and litter free, and keeping grass cut.

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PAGE 2

BEAVER & CUB NEWS

 On Wednesday 5th July a group of 47 Cubs and Beavers and eight Leaders set off on our Annual Day Trip. The outing this year was to Dublin with Fort Lucan being our main destination. Our first stop was to the Phoenix Park where we had our picnic lunch at the site of the Pope’s Cross. Having satisfied our hunger we made the short trip to the adventure playground in Fort Lucan. The children enjoyed three hours of fun-filled activity under the supervision of the Fort Lucan staff, while the Leaders enjoyed a cup of tea.

At 4.30 p.m. the tired but happy children boarded the bus and we headed for Supermac’s in Portlaoise. The hungry group enjoyed burgers, sausages, chips etc. and were delighted when the staff gave each child a party balloon. We arrived back in Durrow at 7.30 p.m. approx. and everyone agreed it was a very enjoyable day and ended our year on a positive note.

Cubs Annual Sizzle Up

On Saturday 24th June the Cub Scouts held their Annual Sizzle Up and Investiture in Bishop’s Wood. Held on one of the hottest days of the year the coolness and shade of the wood was welcomed by all. After our activities i.e. trekking trail, trail compass work etc. we lit our fire and cooked sausages for hot dogs which were enjoyed with refreshments by all.

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POETRY COMPETITION

The Poetry Competition has been judged and we have winners in all categories. We wish to thank Mrs B. Alley who judged the competition and all those who entered poems. Mrs Alley found it a hard task, as there were many very good poems entered. Over the next months we will publish some of the poems.

The winners were as follows: Under 10 – Claire Phelan, Under 14 – Joint winners were Rita McCann and Muireann Phelan. Under 18 – Kathleen Bowe, Adult – Mrs. E. Morrissey.

The Under 10 winner;

The Big Armchair By The Fireside
by Claire Phelan, aged 7 years

I sat on my armchair
And had a pizza and coke
it was a windy night
I had the fire lighting
So then I had something to poke.

The Under 14 winners were;

Ozone Layer
by Rita McCann aged 11 years

Join our team the new green scheme
We are very clean.
Don’t be bitter, tidy the litter
And all the waste, that’s good taste!

The rain is falling from the air,
The wind is blowing litter everywhere,
Tidy the world with great care,
And look after the ozone layer.

Use the right petrol,
That is essential
so don’t pollute the air
It affects the ozone layer.

Mrs Brophy’s Garden
by Muireann Phelan aged 11 years

At the back of my garden,
Far to the left
There is a garden,
Which has crept.

Tall sycamore trees,
Big honey bees,
Loads and loads,
Of tiny fleas.

Big bushy bushes,
Tall rushes,
Foxes do roam
In her garden just like their home.

Birds they scamper
But in the trees they pamper
All this beauty
Happens, happens, happens

At the back of my garden
Far to the left
There is Mrs Brophy’s garden
So neat and well kept.

We will publish more winning poems in our next issue. Prizes will be presented to the winners on Sunday 30th July in the Presentation Centre after 11.00 a.m. Mass.

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G.A.A. SUMMER CAMP ’95

Camp No.s 2 and 3 were held in Stradbally and Portlaoise and both camps were attended by large numbers of children. This is the second year that the Summer Camps have been run in the county and they have proven to be a tremendous success.

Run in conjunction with Laois G.A.A. and the Leinster Council. they are organised by coaches Siobhan Reynolds and Noel Delaney. A number of coaches are employed on the Summer Camps. All the children who take part receive a Summer Camp T-Shirt and baseball cap, along with a pen and folder.

The Summer Camp certainly provides a valuable alternative to coaching young children the skills of G.A.A. The emphasis is always on participation and fun. Prizes are on offer for the best in the penalty kicks and other such games, and everyone goes home a winner.

The continued success of the Camps has now ensured that it will become an annual event, and it is just what the county needs to ensure that the youth of today stay playing and enjoying gaelic games.

Camp No. 4 is being held in Abbeyleix from Tuesday 25th to Friday 28th July incl. (Hurling, Camoige & Football).

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LIONS SOCCER CLUB

The Annual General Meeting of the Lions Soccer Club was held in the C.Y.M.S. Hall on Saturday 15th July. The officers elected are;

President: Eugene O’Halloran. Vice President: Harold Lawlor. Chairman: Ger Woods. Vice Chairman: Kevin Kelly. Secretary: Philip Monnelly. Ass. Secretary and P.R.O.: Martin Lawlor. Treasurer: Robbie Dempsey. Ass. Treasurer: Francis Campion.

Committee: Padraic Henderson, Sean O’Brien, Enda Murphy and Brian Sheppard.

Players Meeting

The Lions Soccer Club are holding a Players Meeting in the C.Y.M.S. Hall at 8.00 p.m sharp on Saturday night 22nd July. The meeting will discuss the fielding of A, B and Youth teams as well as schoolboys teams. All persons interested in playing soccer for the Lions should attend this meeting and the club will decide if the interest is shown at the meeting that a “B” team will be entered.

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CARPET  & FLOOR CLEANING OFFERS
Unique California System

Special Offer: 2 month offer only. Excellent rates for commercial work. We move the furniture. Satisfaction guaranteed. Phone now for this unbeatable offer.
Carpets: Average single room £8. 4 Rooms £32 plus hall free.
Floors: Tiles, Linoleum, P.V.C. Sealed Wood and Thermo Plastic all polished and shined. Average floor 12′ x 12′ – £8.
Special Offer never to be repeated. Telephone Joe McCormack at 056-33429 for this special offer.

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FOR SALE: Piano in perfect condition. Contact 0502-36371.

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NEWSLETTER SELLERS

This Sunday morning: Martin Walsh, Pat Walsh, Seamus Stapleton and David Dunne.

Weekend 5th/6th August

Saturday evening – Mary Brophy, Geraldine Phelan, Jason Walsh and Karen Stapleton.

Sunday morning – Mary Lawlor, Mark Donohue, Jonathan Walsh and Eoin Lalor.

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HARPS JUVENILE G.A.A. CLUB

Because of the death of Cathy Prendergast, daughter of Tom Prendergast a former member of the County and Portlaoise football teams, the U-12 football final was not played last weekend as all games were postponed as a mark of respect.

The Harps U-12 Football team will play Portlaoise this Saturday 22nd July at 3.00 p.m. in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise. a full report on this game in our next issue.

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ABBEYLEIX HOSPITAL FETE

last minute preparations are being made at the District Hospital, Abbeyleix for the first ever fund raising Garden Fete, in the grounds on this Sunday 23rd July at 2.00 p.m.

Projected as a day out for all the family, it will indeed be all that and much more and in the final analysis, gives the people of South Laois another opportunity to demonstrate their appreciation of what the Hospital means in community terms.

The matron, Miss Anne Doherty, and her overworked staff have put together a programme of events that will include all the usual stalls, stands and gimmicks, but also boasts a range of novelty associated with this type of day. Numbered among those will be pony rides, tea room, fortune telling and set dancing demonstrations.

Donations and bric-a-brac for any of the stalls will be most welcome. Proceeds go to the hospital conservatory fund.

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WELCOME is extended to Fr. Martin Tobin C.C. who has been appointed as new curate for the parish of Durrow. Fr. Tobin is wished a long and happy stay in Durrow.

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DURROW MACRA NA FEIRME

Durrow Macra Na Feirme are holding their Annual Church Gate Colleection for “We Care Ireland” World Appeal on August 5th and 6th.

As this collection is always well supported we ask you for your continued support and to give as generously as you can please.

A very important meeting of the club will be held in the Presentation Centre on Friday July 28th at 9.30 p.m. The County Training Officer, Pat Dowling, and a member of the County Executive will attend. All members are asked to attend this meeting.

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DURROW & DISTRICT ANGLING CLUB

Our last competition was for the Bill Kelly memorial Cup on 2nd July. Twenty one anglers fished the competition. Winner was Thomas Gilligan, second Shane Lawlor.

The next competition is for trout fishing on Sunday 30th July for the Paddy Holohan Cup. The stretch of river to be fished will be stewarded.

The concrete foundations for the new footbridge over the river Gully has been put in place and work is continuing.

The club has received permission from S.R.F.B. to take 22 trees out of the river at Dunmore and Coolcarbery Woods.

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