LUCKY DIP DRAW: Durrow Development Forum have launched a Lucky Dip Draw for €7,000 in prizes. You can purchase a ticket from 1 cent to €20 to win: First Prize €5,000; Second Prize €1,000; Third Prize €500 and ten prizes of €50. The draw will be held on The Green in Durrow on March 17th 2010 at 4.00pm. Tickets are limited to 2,000 and are available from any Forum member. As funding is needed to continue with the very successful Festivals during 2010 we ask for your support of this draw.

FLOOD APPEAL: A two day collection will place in Cullohill Community Centre on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th December, in aid of the victims of the recent bad flooding. The Centre will be open from 10.00am until 12.00 noon and from 3.00pm until 5.00pm both days. Cullohill St Vincent De Paul has made a very generous donation to the cause but in addition to this we also need the help of the public. The following new items are required: Bed linen, Quilt covers, Pillows, Clothing. Cash donations are also very welcome. All enquiries to Lorna (087) 2813238.

VANDALISM IN OLD BOY’S SCHOOL: Following the article in the Parish Newsletter of 8th November it has now come to attention that one of the lights at the rear of the school was broken on Wednesday evening of this week. It is known that this was not caused by teenagers this time but by persons in their twenties. All details have been passed on to the Gardai and they are dealing with the matter. All residents in the area are asked to keep a lookout when passing by the school and to report anything suspicious to the Gardai. Phone (057) 8736113.

DURROW COMMUNITY COUNCIL: The Defibulator for the Community will be presented to Michael Dunphy, Chairman of Durrow Community Council on this Saturday 5th December at 7.45pm. The defibulator which the Durrow Ladies raised money for by doing the Mini Marathon will be erected on the wall at the Copper Kettle by kind permission of Ger & Patricia Alley.

THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE: The mobile unit will be in Durrow on Thursday December 10th from 4.30pm to 8.30pm at the Castle Arms Hotel. Your donation could and will save lives. With the Christmas season coming the demand for blood increases and it is vital that the Durrow clinic has a huge attendance, so keep an hour free on Thursday 10th December to give blood.

BROADBAND IN DURROW: Eircom are offering broadband speeds of up to 7.6mb in the Durrow Area. Telephone numbers beginning with (057) 8736xxx or 8740xxx should qualify for this service which depends upon line condition and distance from the exchange on Mill Road.

DURROW ACTIVE OVER 50’S GROUP: The Over 50’s Group continues weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 7.30pm in the Boy’s School. New members welcome to join.

PILATE CLASSES: Pilate classes are held from 7.30pm to 8.30pm each Friday in Cullohill Community Centre. All are welcome.

SATURDAY NIGHT SINGSONG: A Singsong will be held every Saturday Night in The Castle Arms Hotel commencing on Saturday December 12th at 9.30pm. Come along and enjoy the Craic, sing a few songs, play a tune, clap your hands, throw a few shapes on the dancefloor! Music provided by Andrew Walsh. Everyone is most welcome.

DURROW LIBRARY NEWS: Opening Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 1.00pm to 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm. Fridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Saturdays from 11.00am to 1.00pm. Drop into the new library at the Cultural Centre and see the great selection of fiction and non-fiction books for both adults and children. Audio, Large Print, Reference Books and much much more. Internet access and photocopying service available.

Sympathy is extended to Brigid Jordan and family, Tinweir on their recent bereavement.
Sympathy is extended to the Vaugh family, Tinweir, Durrow on their recent bereavement.
Sympathy is extended to the Dunphy family, St. Fintan’s Terrace on their recent bereavement.

IFA: Durrow/Cullohill IFA will hold their annual general meeting in Cullohill Community Centre on 15th December at 8.00pm. All members are asked to attend. Voting for the next president of IFA will take place at this meeting. The county Dinner Dance will be held on 19th December in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise. Tickets available from the committee.

THANK YOU: A Sincere thanks to the person who delivered my bag to my home safely. Your kind act is appreciated very much.

CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PARTY: A Children’s Christmas Party will be held in Cullohill Community Centre on Sunday 6th December from 2.30pm to 5pm. Music, games, cake sale and visit from Santa!. Admission is €3 per child or €9 per family. This event is being organised by St. Tighearnach’s National School Parents Council.

LIVE WEATHER DATA: To view up-to-date current conditions and past weather data you can visit www.laoisweather.com – The live weather data page is updated automatically every five minutes containing latest temperature, wind speed and direction and lots lots more.

SATURDAY MARKET: The weekly market is held in the IT Centre, beside the Catholic Church from 9.30am to 1pm. Bargains galore.

DURROW PARISH LOTTO: The Christmas raffle will be held on Monday 14th December in Peadar’s Bar. The last Lotto draw of 2009 will take place on 21st December in Lennon’s Bar and the first draw of 2010 will be held on Monday 11th January in the Durrow Inn.
Monday 23rd November 2009: There was no jackpot winner of €6,850. The Numbers drawn were: 02, 03, 20 and 24. The small draw winners were: €30: Margaret Shortall, Mill Road, Durrow, Laois; €25: John Bowe, Derry Road, Durrow, Co. Laois; €20: Caroline Dunne, c/o The Castle Arms Hotel.
Monday 30th November 2009: There was one jackpot winner of €7,000. The Numbers drawn were: 03, 06, 12 and 19. The winner was: €7000 – Alan Newman, Patrick Street, Durrow, Co. Laois.

STARS IN YOUR EYES DVD: A DVD of the Stars in your Eyes show held recently is available from Pat Farrell Photography. Contact (087) 2814661 or (056) 8833443. The cost is €12 per DVD.

HARPS CAMOGIE CLUB: The Harps Camogie Club Would like to thank the Woodenbridge Paddlers for their very generous donation following the recent Raft Race on the River Erkina. They also wish to thank everyone who entered Rafts in the race, all of the Businesses and individuals who gave so generously to this event. Your support is very gratefully welcomed.

DINNER DANCE: The Harps Dinner Dance will be held in the Castle Arms Hotel on Saturday, the 16th of January.

THANK YOU: The Harps also wish to thank all of their loyal supporters, who have been there for the club in the last 4 glorious years. Even when the Junior Team were knocked out in the All-Ireland Semi Final, the standing ovation from the supporters in the stand of O’Moore Park was amazing and showed how gracious and loyal the supporters are to the team. For this the Harps Camogie Club thank each and every supporter.

HARPS CAMOGIE CLUB: Go online and visit: www.harpscamogie.com for more information, pictures, videos and news from the club.

THE HARPS GAA CLUB AGM: The Harps AGM will take place at 8.00pm on Friday 11th December in Durrow Dressing Rooms. All members or intending members are welcome to attend. A Mass for Deceased members of the Club will be held in Cullohill Church at 11.00am on Sunday 13th December.

CHRISTMAS FUN FOR CHILDREN: An Cnoc Ban, Spink, Co. Laois is the venue for lots of Christmas fun on Saturday 5th December with fun activities daily for 5 to 12 year olds. The morning Arts and Crafts Session including creating seasonal cards and crafts and much more will run from 10.30am until 1.00pm. Children can take part in a Christmas Baking Session, where they will bake some edible items to bring home or give as gifts, from 1.30pm to 4.00pm.
The cost is € 15 per workshop or € 35 per day, including lunch. Pre-booking is essential as numbers are limited. For further details and booking contact John or Mary at (057) 8700054 or (086) 2779668 or contact ancnocban@ireland.com by email.

DURROW PARISH NEWSLETTER: We would like to wish all our readers and sellers of the Parish Newsletter a very happy and holy Christmas and a happy New Year.