6th / 7th December 1997.          Price 30p

 

DURROW PARISH NEWSLETTER

COMPILED BY THE DURROW SCOUTS

CHRISTMAS CHARITY

It is good that once a year we have to think of giving. Christmas turns our thoughts away from mere self-centred living. It makes us think of other people and of what they need. And offers us a golden chance to do a kindly deed. To think of those outside the circle of the family. All God’s children have a claim upon our charity. Let your Christmas giving go beyond your own small fold, remembering the lonely ones, the sick, the poor, the old.

DURROW BADMINTON CLUB

The Annual Christmas Bazaar will be held on Sunday 14th December in the Badminton Hall, Durrow. Santa will arrive at 2.30 p.m.
We ask all members to bring along cakes to the Cake Stall and for Juvenile members to bring a bottle for the Bottle Stall.
Tickets are on sale from members for the Raffle. Prizes as follows: 1st – £100, 2nd – A Turkey, 3rd – Bottle of Whiskey.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the Bazaar on the 14th.

We also wish to thank the FAS Workers for their work in the hall. The kitchen and toilets have been painted and tiled recently and doors and locks have been replaced.
Once again the hall is in tip-top shape. Go raibh mile maith agaibh.

DURROW CARNIVAL COMMITTEE

The A.G.M. of the Durrow Carnival Committee was held recently.

Elected for 1998 were: Chairman – Gabriel Irwin, Secretary – Martin Walsh, Treasurer – Declan Phelan, P.R.O. – Imelda Foyle.

An important follow-up meeting to the A.G>M. is being held on Tuesday, 9th December. The venue is the Small C.Y.M.S. Hall (Old Boys’ School), at 9.00 p.m. sharp.

This meeting will discuss the programme etc. for next year’s event and is open to all interested parties. We are very keen to have young people represented, so if you think you have something to contribute, please come along and express your views, as to the content you would like to see for next year. All clubs and organisations please send a representative.

CULLOHILL I.C.A.

Cullohill I.C.A. meeting was held in the Community Centre. Votes of sympathy were passed with relatives of Dolly Rafter and Rory O’Moore. national President’s address was read and report from the very enjoyable Group Meeting in I.C.A. Hall, Durrow. 16 members and their friends will attend the Federation Christmas Party at the Montague Hotel.

Raffle winners: Mary Walsh, Sheila Delaney and Mary Quinn.

There will be no Guild meeting in January and we will meet again on February 7th 1998.

SYMPATHY is extended to the O’Moore fammily, Cannonswood, Cullohill, on their recent bereavement.

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LAOIS HOSPICE FOUNDATION

Laois Hospice Foundation are hosting a Choral Celebration of Christmas, in St. Peter & Paul’s Church, Portlaoise, on Sunday 14th December at 7.30 p.m.
Featuring Portlaoise Singers, conductor Brendan McNamara, Tallagh Choral Society, conductor Graine Gormley, Lassu Scholars, conductor Ita O Donovan, Soloist Imelda Drumm, mezzo soprano, Franzita Whelan, soprano and pianist Alison Young.

Tickets £10 including souviner programme. Tickets available from Mary Donohue, 36536 or Lawlor’s Newsagent, 36235.

DURROW DEVELOPMENT FORUM

On Saturday 13th December the Christmas lighting will be turned on, on the trees in The Square, Tae Lane, and St. Fintan’s Terrace will be lit for the first time, along with the Christmas Tree in The Square.
To mark the occasion the Durrow Parish Choir will sing Christmas Carols in The Square from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

On Friday 28th November a Business Booklet, aptly named “Minding Our Own Business” was launched at a gathering of members of the business community in Durrow and surrounding district, in the Castle Arms Hotel.
The booklet was compiled by the Survey Group of Durrow Development Forum. A copy has been delivered to all households in Durrow and the surrounding areas.
Great credit is due to the Survey Group, Angela Drennan, Margaret Tobin and Kathleen Flynn, for a job well done.

DURROW PARISH LOTTO RESULTS

Monday 24th November: No Jackpot winner. Nos. 1 – 19 – 28.
£20 Eamon Brennan, Cullohill. £20 Sean Delaney, Cullohill and £10 Edel Ryan, Cullohill.

Monday 1st December: No Jackpot winner. Nos. 10 – 13 – 14.
£20 Eileen Sheppard, St. Fintan’s Terrace, Durrow. £20 Liam Campion, Watercastle and £10 Terence Jacob, Newtown, Durrow.

Next draw on Monday 8th December in The Castle Arms Hotel. Jackpot £2,250.

NWRO – VISION

Mountrath Road, Abbeyleix.
Phone 0502 – 31440

In Stock: HiFi’s, Radio, Personal Stereos. Video Tapes and Video Cleaners etc.
Video Rentals: A large selection of new releases and children’s videos.
Opening hours: Weekdays 4.00 pm to 9.30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday – 12 noon to 9.30 p.m.

LIONS SOCCER CLUB

A vote of sympathy was extended to Eamon Rafter on the death of his wife at a special meeting on Sunday last.

The Lions B team defeated St. Canices, 2-1, in the League. Scorers: Philip Monnelly and Karol Lawlor.

The Youths team drew, 3-3, in Dean Celtic, in the League. Scorers S. Phelan, G Kells and D. Hogan.

The second draw in the 7th South East Draw will take place on Friday, December 12th in Kildare. Only tickets paid for by Monday 8th will be included in this draw.

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DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES – FAS 7

The Annual Parish Dance will be held on Friday 30th january, in the Castle Arms Hotel. Music by LARGO. Club Personality of the Year Awards will be presented on the night. Admission £6. Dancing 10 – 2:00. Spots Galore. Do come along to what is always a very enjoyable night. Your support is needed to help with the running costs of the FAS Scheme. Tickets are available from committee members and clubs.

Cullohill – Thanks to FAS workers doing a top class job on sports field wall. The village and R.C. Church area will be cleaned next week and after Christmas it is hoped to continue the painting inside the Community Centre, if the weather is not suitable for building. The community wish you and your supervisor a very happy Christmas & New Year.

Durrow – Many thanks to the FAS team for recent work carried out in Badminton, C.Y.M.S. Hall and Presentation Centre. Work on wall around Hurling Field continues when weather permits. Next week they will erect the Christmas Tree in The Square and assist at the lighting of trees around the town. The town and Church areas will also be cleaned.

A Resource Centre is being set up in the Boys School, Durrow by FAS within the next few weeks. When it is in operation it will mean that registering with FAS and interviews will be done there. This will save people having to travel to Portlaoise. A list of job vacancies will be available there at all times.

CULLOHILL MACRA NA FEIRME

The County Finals of the Beef & Sheep Stock judging competition was held recently. Pat Dunne won the Sheep U/21 class and Eamon Kavanagh coming 2nd and 3rd respectively in the U/23 Beef Section.

Nine members went go-carting in Castlecomer on the 20th November and a great night was had by all.

On Thursday 11th December the club will hold a Table Quiz in O’Connell’s Lounge. A table of four for £10. Your support will be appreciated.

On the following night we have planned to go to the County Christmas Party in the Hazel Hotel, Monasterevan.

The club will hold their Annual Cabaret on St. Stephen’s Night. There will be a draw on the night with large Hamper for first prize and other prizes of seasonal interest. Tickets are on sale from macra members and also in O’Connell’s, Cullohill.

HOLLY WREATHS – Order your Holly Wreaths now for Christmas. Price: £3 and £4. Phone Geraldine at 0502 – 33531.

SCOUT NEWS

All Leaders please note that an important meeting of all Leaders of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, will be held in Presentation Centre on this Tuesday, 9th December, at 8.00 p.m All Leaders please attend.

On Sunday 21st December all Beavers and Cubs will go on an outing to the Cinema in Portlaoise, where they will attend the afternoon Matinee.

CONGRATULATIONS to Marie Mullins, Tinweir, Durrow and Ger Cardigan, Limerick, on their recent engagement.

SYMPATHY is extended to Eamon Rafter, Knockanoran, Durrow, on the death of his wife Dolly.

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CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE

Art Classes every Tuesday night, 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. All welcome. Qualified Art teacher.

Theatre workshops being organised for children of all ages. Cabrini Cahill of Laois Theatre workshop, will give classes which will involve Acting, Movement, Voice, Song, Dance, Rhythm, Percussion and Introduction to Theatre. These classes will be starting in early January 1998. Those interested should contact Bernie Brennan at 37270 as soon as possible.

The handball and Squash leagues are taking place at the moment with a good number of games already played. Both leagues have been extended by one week with all games now to be played by December 14th. The two top teams in each league will contest a final the following week with the winning teams each receiving a ‘Cullohill Community Centre’ T-shirt.

Progressive 25

November 26th: Dick Brennan & Pat Bowden (11 Games). Kieran McNeill & Paddy Sullivan (10 Games).
Raffle: 1st Bridie Bergin, Attanagh, 2nd lar Archer, Ballyragget.

December 3rd – Monster Game
Joint Winners – £40 each: Martin Mahony & Peader Duggan – Margaret Delaney & Anthony Phelan – Peter Carey & Ml Drennan.
Money Back Games: Pierce kavanagh & Henry O’Grady, Rita mcEvoy & Molly Dollard, Paddy dunphy & Sean Delaney.

Cards on 10th and 17th December at 8.30 p.m. Thanks to all who sponsor prizes for the Monster Game.

HARPS GAA CLUB

The Harps Annual General meeting will be held on Friday 19th December at 8.00 p.m in Cullohill Community Centre. All members and supporters are asked to attend.

DURROW & DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB

The two main photographic events in the Senior & Junior Branch of the club take place on Monday 15th December. These events are:

Senior Branch – “Photographer of the Year” for the Joe Brophy memorial Cup, and “Print of the Year” for the Civil Defence Shield.

Competitors for the Photographer of the Year must submit 5 prints (10″ x 8″) mounted, and the best collection wins this coveted prize.

The single best print wins the Print of the Year award.

Junior Branch – “Photographer of the Year” & “Print of the Year”, kindly sponsored by John Freeman to encourage photography among the youth of the district. Rules as Senior Branch.

Prints must be in the club at 8.00 p.m. on the night.

Sean O’Brien Marble & Stone Works, Derry Road, Durrow – Quality Memorials in Limestone, Marble & Granite. Headstones cleaned and lettered. Tel: 0502-36557 or 088-2656657

Durrow Community Council wish to thank all those who supported the Church Gate Collection for the Christmas Tree last weekend.