NoticeboardDURROW TIDY TOWNS: Clean Up Laois Week is being held from 7th to 11th April and Durrow Tidy Towns ask all residents of Durrow to make a special effort during that week to pick litter in your area. Pickers and plastic bags are available from the FAS Office on worknights (April 7th to 11th). Please help!
Durrow Tidy Towns – Derry Road: A big ‘Thank You’ to Durrow Development Forum for the donation of daffodil bulbs which the FAS kindly planted for us last November. The daffodils are now in full bloom and are being admired and enjoyed by all. Also ‘well done’ to the Derry Road residents who have kept the road almost litter free over the Winter and Spring months. When we went out picking litter on Wednesday last only half a bag of litter was found compared to last year when we picked two full bags. Keep up the good work!

DAFFODIL DAY – THANK YOU: Durrow Development Forum held a fundraising event last weekend for the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day. A total of €1,077.30c was raised. Many thanks for your support.

CULLOHILL TIDY TOWNS: Next week is Laois Clean-up week. Bags of roadside rubbish will be collected by Laois Co. Council at the weekend. We appeal for a good response to this work and we ask each area to make sure their areas are litter free and clean. No domestic rubbish please. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to our friend Teresa Delehunty.

LAOIS WEATHER: Visit www.laoisweather.com for all the latest weather information.

WHIST DRIVE: The Killermogh Parish Union held their March Whist Drive in the parochial hall on Thursday. Top Score: Mary Gowing; First Lady: Ann O’Sullivan; Second Lady: Sadie Chester; First Gent: Cillian Breen; Second Gent: Tom Gowing; Halves: Margaret Slevin and Nora Breen; Juvenile: Damian Carter; Low Score: Mai Conroy; Quarters: Des Finnamore, Kathleen Kennedy, Mary Delaney, Bridie Kennedy. Raffle: Mary Dohney, Mary McGallqagher, Mary Dohney, Nora Fitzpatrick, Joe Cass and Louise Kavanagh. The next whist drive will be on Thursday April 24th at 8.30pm.

CHURCH NOTES: Readers for April: Saturday Nights: April 5th and 26th: Catherine Freeman. Sunday Mornings: April 6th and 27th: Irene Phelan. Easter Ceremonies: April 12th Vigil Mass: Ann Vaugh and Martin Lawlor; April 13th Palm Sunday Mass: Kay Sheppard and Stephanie Phelan; April 17th Holy Thursday: Noreen Joyce and Thomas Murphy; April 18th Good Friday: Deirdre Moore and Michael Conroy; April 19th Easter Saturday: Mary Lawlor and Seosamh Murphy; April 20th Easter Sunday Mass: Bea Alley. Note: A Meeting of all Easter Ceremonies Readers will be held in the Church on Friday April 11th at 7.30pm. Please attend and collect your readings.
Church Cleaning Rota for April: Julie Lalor, Teresa Dunphy, Mary Lalor, Margaret Donoghue and Brigid Conroy.
Stations of the Cross: The Stations of the Cross will take place on Good Friday, April 18th at 12 noon in Dunmore Wood. Please assemble at 11.45am. All are most welcome.

SYMPATHY: Sympathy is extended to the Fitzpatrick Family, Ballykealy on their recent bereavement.

DURROW ARTS & CRAFTS EXHIBITION AND SALE: As part of Durrow Scarecrow Festival, which will be held from Sunday 27th July to Monday 4th August, we are reminding all local Artists and Crafts people of this year’s Exhibition & Sale takes place during the Scarecrow Festival. Now is the time to put on your thinking caps and prepare. For information please contact Kathleen Flynn on (086) 8263368 or Mary Dowling on (087) 2200199. Many thanks.

DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES: Durrow Community Services are looking for people to work as General Operatives for the scheme. Please contact the local FAS office for details as soon as possible on (057) 8736870.

REUNION APPEAL: Family photos are urgently required for Reunion Book of Gurteen and Cullohill National Schools 1920-1982. Easter is the deadline! Please send photos to barbarawalsh@eircom.net

A CHARITY DANCE: Starring TR Dallas and Johnny Carroll in aid of Laois Down-Syndrome will be held on Friday 11th April in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel. Admission €15. Doors open at 8pm. Please support.

BAGATELLE are playing in The Wheel Inn on 2nd May in aid of St Vincent dePaul, Ballyragget. Tickets €15 euro. Admission by ticket only – (limited quantity) – available from The Wheel Inn.

CONGRATULATIONS to Imelda Foyle (O’Brien) who recently graduated from Trinity College, Dublin and the Dublin Dental University with a post-graduate diploma in Clinical Dental Technology. Imelda can be contacted on (087) 7505449 or (057) 8736423 for all queries relating to dentures.
Congratulations to John Carroll and Debbie Stapleton, Seandoire, Durrow on the birth of a son Darragh.
Congratulations to Elaine Maher of E.M. Designs, Cullohill on being nominated for Best Wedding Stationery Provider in Ireland in the Mrs2Be Bridal Choice Awards 2014. You’ll find more about her at www.emdesigns.ie or www.facebook.com/emdesigns.ie online.

ST VINCENT de PAUL: Durrow – If you wish to contact your local St Vincent de Paul Society, please phone (087) 6060740 in confidence. Cullohill – If you know of anyone whom you feel needs help please contact any member of the committee and it will be handled discreetly. The contact numbers are (086) 6090378 or (087) 1310650.

DURROW COMMUNITY CENTRE – Halls for Hire: Available for Chrildrens Parties, Sports Activities etc… also – meeting room available for committee meetings etc… (086) 3055157.

GRANTSTOWN: Brochures for the Grantstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve are now available in most local business which incorporates an Angling Centre and Walking Trails. Managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, this woodland nature reserve is 58 hectares in size. As its hearth lies Grantstown Lake, one of the few natural lakes in County Laois. Fish found in the lake include Perch, Pike, Eel, Rudd, and Tench. The fishery is managed in partnership with Durrow and Cullohill Parish Anglers .For more details about this wonderful Amenity please get a brochure or contact any member of the local fishing club.

DURROW PARISH CHOIR: We extend an invitation to anyone who likes to sing (male and female) to come and join the choir. It’s very enjoyable and rewarding to sing in a choir and be part of the Church celebrations, ie., Advent, Easter, Christmas and other services throughout the year. Contacts: Vicky Murphy (086) 1000230, Ann Conroy (086) 6079069 or any choir member.

COOK SCHOOL: Cookery camp will be held in Cullohill Community Centre over the Easter holidays for aspiring chefs aged 8 to 12. Monday 14th to Wednesday 16th and Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th. Have fun, practice your cooking and eat nice food too! Contact: Caitriona (087) 7808711.

CULLOHILL SCHOOL: Scoil Tighearnach Naofa, Cullohill is now taking the names of pupils who wish to enrol in the school for September 2014. Telephone the office with details on (057) 8737281 from 9:30am to 1:30pm during school term.

ART CLASSES: Art Classes are resuming shortly and anyone interested in doing the Art Class please contact Bob’s Bar on (087) 6165484 or (086) 8263368.

NEXT NEWSLETTER: The next newsletter will be on sale weekending April 26th and 27th. NOTICE: The deadline for inclusion of notes is Thursday, April 24th at 7pm to info@durrow.ie by email – with all adverts to Mary Walsh or Angela Drennan. Phone 057 8736327.