CONGRATULATIONS to Michael and Muireann Curley (nee Phelan, Cork Rd) Foxford, Co. Mayo on the birth of a son, Jack.

DURROW & ABBEYLEIX SELECTED AS BoI ENTERPRISE TOWNS: Abbeyleix & Durrow have been jointly selected as Bank of Ireland ‘Enterprise Towns’. The local Business Expo will take place on Friday, 14th October from 5pm to 8pm and a Sports and Community Expo will take place on Saturday 15th October from 11am to 2pm. Both events will take place in in Scoil Mhuire National School, Abbeyleix, are free to attend and are open to both customers and non-customers of Bank of Ireland.

COMMUNITY CHOIR: We would like to invite one and all to the newly formed community choir in Durrow. Open to all, from 19 to 90 who love to sing, and have fun. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 11th of October in Durrow Library (the Old Courthouse) on Chapel St at 7.15pm. Come along even if you’re not sure, just to check us out. We look forward to hearing you. For more information call Ann on (086) 6045409.

CULLOHILL HANDBALL CLUB: An information/registration night is planned for Thursday, October 29th.

DURROW TIDY TOWNS: Durrow Tidy Towns is in much need of volunteers for the coming season, if you feel that you would like to get involved in the community, improve your living environment, have your speak on how you would like your town to improve, how you would like your town to shine and how you would like your town to excel, please keep it in mind as we will be looking for volunteers over the coming months, every little bit helps and every new idea lights a spark in a community that will enhance and improve your own living community and your own living environment, Don’t be shy, have your say and get involved! We will issue further notices in the coming weeks.

ST VINCENT de PAUL: Anyone looking for help can contact us on (087) 3476012.

MIDLAND CAKES by RITA: Midland Cakes by Rita has now joined Kyle Farm Potatoes and Fresh Veg at the Saturday Market every Saturday morning from 8.30am to 12 noon in the CAIT Centre, beside the Catholic Church in Durrow. Rita makes celebration cakes for all occasions, cupcakes, cookies, scones, breads and standard cakes and these will be available each Saturday. Christmas cake orders now taken up until October 8th. For more information, please phone Rita on (085) 8423201 or Marie on (087) 7742506. Do drop in on Saturdays!

NEED A LOAN??? At St. Canice’s Credit Union Durrow Branch our loan book is open and we have a loan to suit your needs. St. Canice’s issued over 600 loans in July so call in and see Mary and the team. We work hard to say yes to loans!

DURROW LIBRARY: The library will be open on Tuesdays from 1.30pm until 5.30pm and 6pm until 7.30pm; Wednesdays from 10am until 1.30pm and 2pm until 5.30pm; also Saturdays from 11am until 1pm. Membership to the library is free to all and provides a range of services for the community.

DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES have vacancies for general operatives and also a kitchen helper for the Meals on Wheels project. Call (057) 8736870 for information.

LAOIS WEATHER: Visit www.laoisweather.com online for the latest weather data live from Durrow.

DURROW REMINISCING GROUP: A book with 200 pages of Photographs spanning almost 100 years of Durrow and Cullohill memories including ICA, Hurling, Camogie, Soccer, School to mention but a few. Books for sale €25 each or two for €40. Please text or call Tom on (087) 2936531 or Kathleen on (086) 8263368 for further information.

FRIENDS OF CUAN MHUIRE: The weekly meetings of Friends of Cuan Mhuire will take place at 7.30pm on Friday nights at the Sue Ryder Centre, Kilminchy village in Portlaoise. If you or someone you know is suffering with alcohol, narcotics or gambling addictions we are here to support you and to listen to you with compassion. This is an opportunity to meet and talk with people who understand your issues.
If you are in recovery from addiction, struggling with addiction or need support due to someone else’s addiction we can offer a wide variety of help and support systems. Sister Consilio will give a talk at the first meeting along with her team of highly trained staff members. Everyone is welcome to come along. Light refreshments will be available on the night. More information is available from Kieran (085) 7754876, Liam (087) 8298808 or Andrew (085) 1106872.

BOOK ABOUT DURROW: Julie Thorne is a historian based in Oxfordshire, England and she has wrote a book telling the story of the Cinderella marriage in 1766 of the Second Viscount Ashbrook of CastleDurrow and an Oxfordshire fisherman’s daughter named Betty Ridge. This year is the 250th anniversary of that marriage. Betty’s elder brother William Ridge came to live in Durrow c.1772 and took charge of the Ashbrook estates until his death in 1798. Her younger brother John became a Church of Ireland minister – with two wives living, one in England and one in Ireland! His parish was at Eirke. Julie visited Durrow in 2012 to research the story, and the resulting book is called “The Water Gypsy: how a Thames fishergirl became a Viscountess”, and is available to buy from the online Amazon bookstore.

GROW – Community Mental Health Movement: The GROW Community Mental Health Movement holds regular meetings in various towns around Laois. In Portlaoise they meet every Wednesday at 7.30pm in Room 1 in the Parish Centre. The Rathdowney group meets every Wednesday at 7.30pm in 12 Cuan Bhríde, Rathdowney. The group meet every Thursday at 7pm in the Jobs Club, Oriel House, Upper Main Street, Portarlington. The Mountmellick group meetings are in recess at present and hope to resume in the coming months. Anyone who may feel anxious, isolated or depressed are invited along to join in any of the above group meetings where they can learn a practical psychology of mental health. For more details contact John on 086 803 3126, visit their website at www.grow.ie or phone their lo-call Information line on 1890 474 474.

TRIDENT FITNESS CLUB – Kettlebell and Bodyweight Training: Training with Kettlebells gives you a fantastic cardiovascular workout along with the muscle toning benefits of weight training, without an increase in muscle mass. Kettlebell training has been proven by recent ACE research as the most effective training method for burning calories. An hour long workout can burn 1200 calories! Beginners classes will continue in The Harps GAA Club, Durrow on Tuesday evenings at 8pm. Contact David to join in the classes on (087) 3833258 or email your request to tridentfitnessclub@yahoo.ie to book your place.

NNER WORLD YOGA & MEDIATION STUDIO: Offering Yoga for beginners, Yoga for men, Restorative Yoga and Sound Meditation. For more information or to book a class call Zara on (087) 1225752, Ballynevin, Cullohill.

NEXT NEWSLETTER: The next newsletter will be on sale this weekend October 22nd & 23rd. 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.