HIGH NELLY GATHERING 2013: Durrow High Nelly Club will hold a Group Cycle and massive all day Treasure Hunt for families and those on High Nellies this Sunday October 20th at 1.30pm. (Registration from 11.30am) Music at Bob’s afterwards by “Feedback” from 4pm. Come in Period Costume for lots of music, fun and craic.

THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUT GROUP: Welcome: The Scouts would like to welcome all the new members who recently joined our group, also we would like to wish good luck to all who moved on to the next stage of their Journey in Cubs and Scouts.
Cub Camp: Last weekend Friday the 9th to Sunday 11th our two Cub Sections took part in an indoor camp in Sahran Scout Centre up in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. A convoy of cars made the way up the mountains, arriving at approx 8pm. All our cubs were excited and filled up the siting area no bother as we had 34 youth members with us.
After everyone settled in and got their bearings, they were lead on a night hike followed by supper and then the task of settling everyone down for a night sleep which is never easy the first night out! Breakfast was served on Saturday at 9pm followed by a hike and some exploring the area whereby all gathered firewood for our campfire. This brought us up to lunch time with lovely sandwiches, after which the kids had some free time. This was followed by the kids taking part in the newly built assault course, which was great fun and competitive.
Dinner then followed by washup and clean up. After dinner we had a table quiz, including general knowledge, sports, music, and scouting questions etc.. well done to the winning team!
We then lit a campfire and the singing of campfire songs was great – making it one of the best campfires of recent times! Well done to all for keeping it going and after the singing stopped we did some backwoods cooking with egg and orange and egg and onion cooked in the embers of the fire. This was followed by a DVD then as the film drew to and end we had our boys nodding off to sleep.
On Sunday we woke and had breakfast at 9pm followed by a big clean up. Then it was time to go home, worn out, but a great weekend had by all. Thank you to all the parents who provided transport and of course to our scouters who gave up their time. Looking forward to many more activities with our County Track and Trails, which we won the last two years in a row and went on to represent The Slieve Bloom County at National level.

HALLOWEEN FANCY DRESS: A Halloween Fancy Dress cabaret will be held in O’Connell’s Bar, Cullohill on Saturday October 26th. Prizes for best costume and several spot prizes. All proceeds will all go to Cullohill Tidy Towns. The DJ on the night will be Alan Doran. Admission only €5. Please support this event, as a great night is guaranteed!

CHURCH NOTES: Church Cleaning Rota for November: Mary Kennedy and Ann Kealy.
Rota for opening Toilets: Eoin Casey and Ken Creegan.
Special Ministers of the Eucharist for October: Saturday Evenings: Miriam Connolly and Seamus Clancy. Sunday Mornings: Sheila Finnegan and Padraig Walshe.

SYMPATHY: is extended to the Bergin Family, Grennan, Attanagh on their recent bereavement.
Sympathy is also extended to the Whitford Family, Attanagh on their recent bereavement.

DURROW COMMUNITY HALL: Tackwondo & Hapkido – for fitness, tone up muscles, build confidence, feel strong and self defence. Classes held every Monday and Wednesday in Durrow Community Hall from 7.45pm to 8.45pm. Start any time – call (086) 8359333.

BOOT CAMP: An eight week Circuit Training Boot Camp with a qualified fitness instructor (suitable for all ages and fitness levels). Sign up for either the Tuesday 22nd October class at 10am or the Thursday 24th October class at 7pm in the Durrow Community Centre. Cost: €50 for the eight weeks or €10 per class. For more information please contact Ross (087) 9302152.

SET DANCING: Set Dancing is held every Wednesday night at 9pm in Bob’s Bar for beginners and improvers. All are welcome.

PILATE CLASSES: Classes commence on Monday 21st October in Cullohill Community Centre from 6.45pm to 7.45pm for six weeks. Be there on the night for enrolment.

DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES: Durrow Community Services are looking for people to work as General Operatives and in Meals on Wheels. Please contact the local FAS office for details as soon as possible. DCS are looking for an Administrative Assistant/Secretary for the scheme. Anyone interested contact the local office for details

OUR LADY’S MEADOW PRIMARY SCHOOL: One-Way System: Could we please ask parents to be mindful of the one-way traffic system that is in use during school hours. We would ask that you approach the school for drop-off/collection by entering the green via the CastleDurrow entrance and exit via The Stores.
Zebra Crossing: Please keep the zebra crossings clear at ALL times and we encourage all parents and children to cross safely at the zebra crossing.

SESSION IN d’HOUSE: “Session in d’House” your weekly Trad event that is now held in Heritage House Abbeyleix. New players and musicians are always welcome. In fact they are positively encouraged! The music is getting better with some top quality performances to date form all who have taken part. Let’s make it your session where you enjoy your music.

DURROW CREDIT UNION: Revised Opening Hours since Tuesday 1st October. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. Fridays 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm. Please Note the Credit Union will now close at 6pm on Fridays.

REUNION OF CULLOHILL and GURTEEN SCHOOLS from 1920 to 1982: Anyone who can help with information or old photos from this era please contact: Kathleen (087) 9391345, Nuala (057) 8831317 or Ann (086) 8678961. The reunion will be held over September 20th and 21st next year 2014. Please help spread the word.

DURROW PARISH LOTTO RESULTS: Monday 7th October 2013: There was no jackpot winner of €10,700. The Numbers drawn were: 03, 16, 18 and 28. The small draw winners were: €30: Ronan Delahunty, Cullohill, County Laois; €25: Joe Hyland c/o The Harps GAA Club, Laois; €20: Kathleen Dwyer, Cork Road, Durrow, Laois.
Monday 14th October 2013: There was no jackpot winner of €10,850. The Numbers drawn were: 04, 13, 19 and 27. The small draw winners were: €30: Kayla Dwyer, Cork Road, Durrow, Co. Laois; €25: Larry Mahony, Chapel St., Durrow, Co. Laois; €20: David Kelly, Carrigan St., Durrow, Co. Laois.

UNISLIM: Unislim classes will be held at Abbeyleix Manor Hotel every Tuesday from 10am to 11am and 7.00pm to 8.30pm. Rejoin €10 for month of August. Contact: Nicola (087) 6234291.

THE HARPS GAA: Website: The Harps GAA Club can be accessed by visiting www.theharpsgaa.com – also our facebook page is at: www.facebook.com/TheHarpsGAA

Clancy Hurls: Hurls, any size, any style. Contact: Brian Clancy on (086) 8894166.
Harps Gaels U21s fall at the first Hurdle: A young Harps Gaels U21 hurling team lost out to a more experienced and stronger Abbeyleix/Ballypickas team in the recent first round clash in Rathdowney. Trailing by two points at half time, The Harps Gaels finished the wrong side of a 2-18 to 1-14 final scoreline. There was a great effort made on the day with good displays by Eoin Clancy, Liam Lawlor, Charles Dwyer and Kieran Freeman.
The Harps Gaels win Minor Hurling Final: A mild sunny evening with barely a breeze greeted these two teams to Portlaoise on Saturday evening in the replay of the Minor Hurling Championship Final following their 2-12 V 0-18 drawn game from two weeks earlier. Borris Kilcotton started the game on a strong note quickly establishing the first score of the game. The Harps soon settled and added one of their own. These exchanges of scores set the tempo of the game from there on with fine points being landed in quick succession.
The scoreline read BK 0-03 V 0-02 HG when Owen Sullivan made a great run along the endline and managed to squeeze in a goal with little room to spare between the BK goalkeeper and the upright. Indeed, many in the crowd waited until the green flag was raised before cheering on the score – as it appeared that the side netting was struck. BK responded quickly though and the teams were level. The Harps added another point but then disaster struck when the goal scorer – Owen Sullivan picked up a nasty injury enroute to what looked a likely goal.
BK and The Harps traded scores once more before the Harps went a point ahead. Fine midfield play and good passing found Conor Deegan in a bit of space who burst through and blasted goal number two for the Harps. 2-05 to 0-07, however yet again BK refused to let the goals set them back and rallied with two more fine points in quick succession. The Harps were determined though and responded with two points once more to go in at half time with the score-line reading The Harps Gaels 2-07 v 0-09 Borris Kilcotton.
The second half continued with the pace and excitement of the first half with further exchanges of points traded, though BK were the more industrial in their efforts as with almost 50 minutes played, the scoreline read The Harps Gaels 2-10 v 0-15 Borris Kilcotton. The next attempt by BK was to level the game once more, however indecisions by the umpires saw the referee run in to consult with the men in white. The referee ordered a crossing of the flags to signal that the score would not count much to the delight of the Harps supporters in O’Moore Park.
The Harps ran back down the field and grabbed another point which seemed to power them through the last ten minutes. Two points with one reply left the score-line at 2-12 to 0-16 with only a few minutes to go, victory was close – but seemed still far away as the dreaded two point lead spurned BK on a goal quest in the dying minutes. Their gallant efforts turned out to be fruitless and when the Harps counter attacked, it was Conor Deegan once more who flicked the ball past the advancing BK keeper into the net. The match was won, even though the referee allowed another two minutes of play to go on before blowing the full-time whistle.
The pitch on O’Moore Park was a sea of red and amber as young and old took to the sod to congratulate their heroes. Borris Kilcotton’s stranglehold over the Harry Grey trophy had been broken – BK have been champions for the past 4 years – indeed since the new cup was presented in 2009. But in 2013 there is a new name on the cup – The Harps Gaels. Such were the outpourings of joy and celebrations that it took some twenty minutes before the gallant Harps boys took to the stand to accept the cup.
Full Time: The Harps Gaels 3-12 v 0-16 Borris-Kilcotton. The Harps: Peter Walsh, Aaron Dunne, Gavin Dunne, Liam Lalor, Ciaran Costigan, Richie Saunders, Shane Fitzpatrick, Paul Simms, Ronan Delahunty, Kieran Freeman, James Lapin, Greg Aylward, Shane Tyrell, Owen Sullivan. Subs: Johnny Doyle, Sean Downey, Michael Moran, Donnacha Quinn, David Doheny, Joe Ryan, Cathal Phelan, Shane Keown, Jack McEvoy, Tadgh Fitzpatrick, Brian O’Neill, James McDonald, Niall Mullins, Calvin O’Brien.

LIONS FC NEWS: U14s: Under 14 boys training has been moved back to their old spot on a Monday night from 7pm to 8.15pm.
Results: Lions A 1 v 5 Crettyard; U12 SFAI – Bohemians 4 Lions 0; U13 – Lions 1 Stoneyford 2 (Ciarán Shortall); U14 – Lions 3 Thomastown 0 (Adam Kenna x2, Fionn Whelan).

LAST YEAR OF STARS IN YOUR EYES: This year marks the final in the annual Stars in Your Eyes show. We are hoping to go out with a bang! If you would like to participate in making this years show the biggest and best one yet, then please consider attending rehearsals every Thursday night at 8.30pm in the Library Courthouse on Chapel Street. For further information please contact Evelyn on (087) 9194428. This year’s show will take place on Saturday, November 23rd – please note the change of date from previous advertisement.

DUNMORE COMMUNITY ALERT: A Fancy Dress Night in aid of Meals-on-Wheels and Senior Citizens party will be held on Friday 25th October in Bobs Bar. A draw on the Night for an Overnight Stay plus Evening Meal for Two in Castledurrow Hotel, sponsored by: Peter Stokes. Music by Billy White and admission is just €5. A great night is assured. Please support.

TIDY TOWNS REPORT 2013 – LITTER CONTROL: The committee is to be congratulated for its work in making the community aware of the importance of keeping the village and its environs litter free. Most important of all is the involvement of the local community in all areas of the village and full marks to those involved in the weekly clean up nights. Congratulations to the Durrow chapter of the 3rd Laois Scouts on achieving a Merit Award part of which was for involvement in anti-litter work. There were one or two places that some litter was seen but the committee is aware of these and there is no need for further comment. All in all a good performance as the village is up to a very acceptable standard in the control of litter – do keep up the very good work.
More from the Tidy Towns Report in the Next Issue…