DURROW LIBRARY NEWS: Durrow’s Irish Conversation Group continues to meet at the library on Monday evenings at 8pm. All ages and levels of Irish are welcome.
Slime and Slime making will be taking over the library at some point in April. If anyone is interested please contact the library. As this is an activity which is suitable and interesting to the very young as well as young adults and adults alike, a few sessions might be organised (Parent and Pre-schoolers, Primary School, Young Adult etc…) Contact the Library during opening hours at (057) 8736090 or send an email to Lmoriarty@laoiscoco.ie or just call in for a chat!
Membership: Library membership is free and your library card now allows you access to all libraries in Ireland. Access to free ebooks, audiobooks, online magazines and online learning courses are also part of your membership. Call in if you want to find out more about Borrowbox or Universal Classes.
Opening Hours: The Library is open on Tuesdays from 1.30pm to 5.30pm and 6pm to 7.30pm; on Wednesdays from 10am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm; and on Saturdays from 11am to 1pm. For more information on any of the above contact Lmoriarty@laoiscoco.ie by email or phone (057) 8736090.

LAOIS ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY: The Social Club will be on tour on Thursday 12th April from 2.30pm until 4.30pm in Oakdale Nursing Home, Portarlington. Pop in for a cuppa and a chat! (Venue yet to be confirmed – see durrow.ie for updates) The Society Support Group will next meet on Wednesday 18th April from 7.30pm until 9pm in the Old Parochial House, Portlaoise. The support group provides a great opportunity to meet others in a similar situation, to access information and practical advice in supportive environment. Free to family members affected by dementia and memory issues.
The Social Club will also meet on Thursday 26th April from 2.30pm until 4.30pm in the Parish Centre, Portlaoise. Pop in for a cuppa and a chat! Finally, Save the date: 3rd of May – Tea Day for the Laois Alzheimer’s Society! Further details will follow. For any further information on dementia please contact Ann Munnelly on (057) 8663398 or (086) 8372168. Homecare Coordinator, Old Parochial House, Dublin Rd, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Email laois.branch@alzheimer.ie

ST VINCENT de PAUL DURROW: Contact us, in strict confidence on (087) 1917813 (new number).

ZUMBA CLASSES: Great news! Zumba Dance Class is now available in Durrow! I would like to welcome you all to my Zumba Dance Class every Thursday from 8pm until 9pm in Durrow’s Community Centre – regardless of age, gender or fitness level. Grab a friend and come join me for an exciting and fun workout like no other! Don’t forget to bring along with you plenty of water and a towel as you’ll need these. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t tried Zumba yet, this class is for you! So come give it a try and get ready to party! Class fee: €5 per person per class. Children go free of charge! See you soon. Karens Zumba Divas!

PRESENTATION CENTRE: The Presentation Centre beside the Catholic Church is available for hire. For further information please contact Angela on (087) 1928522.

BLUEWAY WALK 2018: The RTE Ear to the Ground presenter Helen Carroll will do the honours by leading this year’s Woodenbridge Community Alert 7K Blueway Walk on Sunday 22nd April to support the CCTV Project. The start time at the Woodenbridge will be 2pm. Refreshments and a Raffle will follow in Newtown Mill. Everyone welcome. For more information contact Michael on (087) 2395357.

SCARECROW MAKING is planned to continue each Wednesday from 8pm in the old ICA hall (DDF New Headquarters) All are welcome!

JUNIOR TIDY TOWNS: If anybody is interested in setting up a Junior Tidy Towns Group can they please get in contact with Evelyn Clancy on (087) 9194428, Gearòid Ryan on (086) 8125383 or Emer O’Brien on (087) 9626350. Children in the community play a big part in the tidy towns competition and your input can make a huge improvement in what you want for your village!

LOCAL WEATHER: For up-to-the-minute weather data from Durrow, please visit www.laoisweather.com

DURROW TOWN PLAN: The Durrow Development Forum will announce a new launch date in the coming weeks. If you require any further information on the plan, please contact Sean at (087) 9873489 or send a message to seanjdcrowley@gmail.com by email.

ANGLING: Membership is available at Lawlor’s Gala, Daybreak and Lawlor’s Flower Shop.

VHI MINI-MARATHON: This year’s VHI Mini-Marathon takes place on Sunday June 3rd and entries are open for anyone who wishes to take part. You can enter by getting the official form in the Evening Herald newspaper on Wednesdays or Saturdays or on the internet at www.vhiminimarathon.ie online. Entries close on May 18th or before if the allowed quota of runners have been reached. So don’t be disappointed and enter now. The entry fee is just €23.

CULLOHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL: Any parents wishing to enrol their child in our school for September 2018, please do so as soon as possible. Enrolment forms are available in the School Office.

ATTENTION! FARMERS – St. Canice’s Credit Union has a new Agri Loan product available for farmers in the area. We have a very competitive interest rate and lots of added benefits. For more information drop into the Credit Union Branch in Durrow or call Tom on (087) 6466280.

DURROW BRIDGE CLUB: The club continues on Wednesday evenings in the Presentation Centre at 7.45pm.

PIPE BAND: The Durrow and District Pipe Band which is back open and running are seeking a few new members. Age is of no importance, anywhere between 9 and 90, male or female will be warmly welcomed. For more details contact John Sheeran, Bandmaster on (087) 2493749.

PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP: The group meets in the Presentation Hall, Durrow on Tuesdays from 9.30am. Any parents, carers, childminders etc… interested in attending with their little people, suitable from baby stage up to pre-school for a play, chat, cuppa and cake are most welcome to attend. For more information contact (086) 3914725.

SET DANCING: Set Dancing classes are held on Monday evenings at 8.30pm in The Castle Arms Hotel. All are most welcome. For more information please contact Declan Doocey on (087) 2168680.

CULLOHILL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: If anyone was unable to attend the last meeting but would like to contribute please contact Marian on (086) 8390266. The next meeting will be advertised in due course – so keep an eye out in local newsletters, newspapers and online.

FREE TO GOOD HOME: Cats are available for free to a good home. All are neutered. If interested or for further information please contact (086) 8232393. Durrow Area.

SENIOR ALERT SCHEME: The Woodenbridge Community Alert are the local authorised Personal Alarm (Senior Alert Scheme) suppliers for the Durrow, Cullohill, Ballacolla and Rathdowney areas. The new programme states that (1) eligible persons (65 years and over) no longer have to be living alone; and (2) there will be free monitoring of alarm service for one year for all new participants after November 1st 2017. For more information contact Michael G Phelan (087) 2395357.

MUSIC TEACHER WANTED: A music teacher is wanted to teach keyboards as an after-school activity on Monday’s in Durrow. Immediate start. Please send a message to “Durrow Laois Ireland” on Facebook.

CULLOHILL WALKING CLUB: Why not stay active and walk in the safety and the company of others. Walking continues every Monday and Friday evening leaving Cullohill Community centre at 7.30 pm sharp. Free activity. All are most welcome.

DURROW COMMUNITY ALERT: Please keep vigilant for suspicious activity in our community. Keep an eye on the Community Alert’s new Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/DurrowLaoisCommunityAlert for regular updates and information from across the district.

DURROW MEALS ON WHEELS SERVICE: New volunteers are always welcome, it can be for one day at a time or more. If you would like to help with this worthy service you can do so by contacting Marie Clooney on (087) 7742506 or Mary Walsh at (086) 3055157.

DEFRIBILLATOR IN GURTEEN – CULLOHILL: The Leinster Sports Clinic have purchased a defibrillator and is on site at the clinic in the case of an emergency in Gurteen or the surrounding local rural area. Please let everyone know to help raise awareness.

DEFIBRILLATORS IN DURROW: Durrow now has three defibrillators across the town with one in Our Lady’s Meadow National School, one outside on the wall between Lawlor’s Gala and Sheppard’s Auctioneers and one at the reception in the Castle Arms Hotel.

CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE: The Progressive 25 Card Games are held in the hall every Sunday night at 8.30pm sharp followed by tea and sandwiches. Please support!

NEXT NEWSLETTER: The next newsletter will be on sale the weekend of April 21st and 22nd – weather permitting. All adverts must be booked with Angela Drennan (087) 1928522 or Mary Walsh (086) 3055157. Advertisements cost €2 per issue of Durrow Parish Newsletter and must be paid for in advance.