SLIEVE BLOOM WALKS: The following walks will take place throughout December… Sunday 7th December – Glennbarrow Trail: Grade B. 10km. Meet at Glennbarrow car park at 11am. Leader Susan Lawlor. Proper hillwalking gear essential.
Sunday 21st December – Arderin. Grade A. 12km. Meet at Castle Mart, Mountrath at 11am. Leader Susan Lawlor. Proper hillwalking gear essential.
St Stephens Day Walk – Durrow Leafy Loop. 10km. Meet at the Castle Arms at 11am. Donation to local charities.

CHRISTMAS FAIR: A Christmas Market in collaboration with Sunday School, Portlaoise and Dance Collective, Longford will be held in the Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow on Saturday December 6th from 12pm to 5pm. There will be loads of homemade produce and hand crafted gifts – ideal for Christmas presents. Admission is just €1 and every second ticket sold will be donated to charity. After 7pm there will be a dance and fun until late and all are welcome. Admission to the dance is €10 by ticket or €15 on the night.

BALLYOUSKILL SALE OF WORK: The Annual Sale of Work in aid of Parochial Funds will take place on Sunday 7th December from 2pm onwards. There will be a timber auction, raffle, bottle stall, cake stall, lucky dip for the children and much more. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

LAOIS HUNT CHRISTMAS FAIR: The Annual Laois Hunt Christmas Fair will take place Sunday 7th December from 2pm to 6pm in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Admission is €3 at the door with kids free when accompanied by an adult. Complimentary mulled wine and mince pies on arrival. The day will include a fashion show, lots of stalls with local produce and crafts for great gift ideas, raffle table with prizes, used equestrian items for sale, lots for auction including: firewood and horse feed, also – most importantly Santa will appear! Please support. There are one or two slots for stall holders still available, so if any Crafts-people are interested they can contact Barry on (086) 0871935.

BAT BOXES COMING TO ABBEYLEIX BOG: Kildare Bat Group will lead a mini workshop and the placing of bat boxes on Abbeyleix Bog on Sunday, 7 December. Participants to meet at the entrance of the bog at 10.30 and finish at 1 pm. Interested in attending? – book a spot by sending an email to info@abbeyleixbog.ie as soon as possible.

BLOOD DONATIONS: Why not give the perfect Christmas Gift by giving blood. Your blood donation will give” the gift of life” to some person very ill and in need of blood transfusions. The mobile Unit of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service will be in the Castle Arms Hotel on Thursday December 11th from 4.30pm to 8pm. Please come along and donate. New or Lapsed donors are always very welcome.

TAE LANE MEMORIAL WALL: Anyone who wishes to have a name inscribed on the Tae Lane Memorial Wall to remember those from Durrow who emigrated and are now interred abroad should contact Mary Walsh on (057) 8736327 or (086) 3055157 or Evelyn Clancy on (087) 9194428.

DURROW BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS: Nov 5th – First: Teresa Phelan and Paddy Purcell; Second: Ella Walshe and Mairead Woods; Third: Theresa Muldowney and Jimmy Ryan. Nov 12th – First: Theresa Muldowney and Jimmy Ryan; Second: Nuala Molumby and Shem Mulhall; Third: Alice and Johnny Bowe.

CHURCH NOTES: Readers: Sunday Mornings: December 7th: Kevin Kelly; December 14th and 21st: Michael Conroy. Saturday Evenings: December 6th: Seosamh Murphy; December 13th and 20th: Mary Lawlor.
Ministers of the Eucharist: December – Sunday Mornings: John Kelly and Maura Fitzpatrick; Saturday Evenings: Rose Woods and Sean Phelan.
December Church Cleaning Rota: Teresa Dunphy, Mary Lawlor, Margaret Donaghue & Brigid Conroy.

CHURCH GATE COLLECTION: The annual church gate collection for epilepsy Ireland takes place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December. This collection is taken up by members of The Harps GAA Club and your support would be most appreciated.

PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES AND SHRINES OF FRANCE 2015: In place of the usual five night pilgrimage to Lourdes there will be a seven-day pilgrimage in July next year. It will include visits for one night to Lisieux. Rue-de-Bac (Paris), Nevers (where the body of St. Bernadette lies), Rocamadour concluding with three nights in Lourdes. This is a once-off opportunity as we will revert to the usual pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2016. Find out more from JWT on (01) 2410800.

AWARE: The Aware Support Group for people experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and other mood related conditions meets every Tuesday at 7.30pm in St.Peter and Paul’s Parish Centre, Portlaoise. This service is free of charge, no referral is required and you do not need to book. If you require further information contact (01) 6617211 or www.aware.ie or the LoCall Helpline 1890 303302.

COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY AWARDS 2014: Laois Community & Voluntary Awards 2014 will take place on 15th January 2015. If you know of any group or individual who could be nominated for an award please contact Geraldine Delaney, The Community and Enterprise Section at Laois County Council on (057) 8664107 or email gdelaney@laoiscoco.ie – the closing date is now Friday 12th December 2014.

THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS: Uniforms: If anyone out there has old scout uniforms can they please pass them back to Angela Drennan 14 Erkindale Drive, Durrow, Co. Laois and we will try and sell them for you as some of our new Youth members are actively look for some.

LITTLE OAKS PARENT AND TODDLER PLAYGROUP: The Little Oaks Parent and Toddler Playgroup continues meetings on Tuesdays at 10am in the Presentation Centre. All are most welcome. All enquiries to Teresa on (086) 3914725.

TAEKWONDO CLASSES: World taekwondo association classes are held in Durrow Community Centre every Monday and Wednesday from 7.45pm to 8.30pm (both nights). Classes are open to men, women and children. For more information, contact (086) 8359333 or visit www.world-taekwondo.com online.
Note: Adult classes have commenced and there are places available, please contact above number.

SATURDAY MARKET: Durrow Saturday market is open every Saturday from 9am to 12.30pm in the Computer Centre beside the RC Church on the Kilkenny Rd. Potato’s and Fresh Veg are available, to book your favourites please ring Marie on (087) 7742506. Home Baking from Bernie Brennan is also now available with a selection of fresh breads, scones, tarts and cakes. You can also book cakes for parties etc. with Bernie. Do come along, great value on offer!

TIME TO GET THE KETTLE ON!: Classes have commenced in Durrow Community Centre every Tuesday and Thursday evening, PLUS! SATURDAY MORNINGS from 11am to Noon. First class free for everyone joining at any time. Contact David on (087) 3833258 or tridentfitnessclub@yahoo.ie by email.

OUR LADY’S MEADOW: Buy a Brick for only €10 and have your name immortalised as part of our school’s building fund! Contact the School on (057) 8736329 for further information.

One-Way System: We ask that parents be mindful of the one-way system in operation during school hours. Parents are asked to enter the green area via the Castledurrow entrance and exit via The Stores Daybreak. Many thanks for your co-operation as it will help keep the area safer for children going to and from the School.

DURROW LIBRARY OPENING HOURS: Monday – Closed; Tuesday – 1pm to 5.30pm; Wednesday – 1.30pm to 5.30pm and 6pm to 7.30pm; Friday – 10.30am to 12.30pm; Saturday – 11am to 1pm. Phone: (057) 8736090.

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION – by Andrew Walsh in The Copper Kettle Restaurant: Large choice of framed pictures and photos on canvass are on display. All welcome to drop in, have a look and maybe find a picture you would like.

NEXT NEWSLETTER: The next newsletter will be on sale weekending December 13th and 14th. NOTICE: The deadline for inclusion of notes is Thursday, December 11th at 7pm to info@durrow.ie and ALL ADVERTS MUST BE BOOKED WITH ANGELA DRENNAN (087) 1928522 OR MARY WALSH (086) 3055157.