CONGRATULATIONS: to Justin and Lisa Brophy, Carrigan St, Durrow on the birth of their son Ben.

SPINK COMHALTAS: The closing date for Adult Music Classes is on 9th October. If you want to sign up, you need to come to Spink Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 9th October. We had a very successful initial registration night on 2nd October, and there are a limited number of places left in our beginner class as well as our intermediate/advanced class. So, if you’re looking for a project over the winter, want to keep up with your own kids as they learn music, learned music as a child but want to come out of retirement and dust down the cobwebs, or never had a chance to learn to play music but always wanted to… then Spink Comhaltas is a great place to learn!
We have a really experienced teacher, and the classes are set in the fabulous surroundings of Abbeyleix Heritage House, in a central location in Abbeyleix. A wide range of instruments is taught, including tin whistle, flute, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, concertina and button accordion. Annual membership fee with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is €12 for an adult (if you have children taking lessons with us, ask about our family membership), and classes are 45 mins each. The first term runs up to 18th December, and classes are €10 per night, payable one term in advance.

UP THE HILL FOR JACK AND JILL: Please join our ‘Up the Hill for Jack and Jill’ walk on the Ballagh which is one of a nationwide set of public walks taking place on Saturday 7th of October at 11am. Meet in The Square, Durrow to walk up the Ballagh and back to The Square again (5km approx.) Please register in advance online at www.jackandjill.ie/upthehill or for further infomation please contact Ann Lanigan on (087) 7749281. Jack and Jill provides home nursing care and respite to 300 families nationwide caring for children up to age 4 with severe disabilities as a result of brain damage, as well as end of life care where needed. All funds raised locally will be used locally.

CULLOHILL AND DURROW FLOWER & GARDENING CLUB: Cullahill and Durrow flower club meet on Monday 10th October at 8pm in The Community Centre Cullahill. This month we have Eva Holmes well known AOI FA demonstrator doing floral arrangements.
Please note change of date for Christmas Gala with Oliver Lawlor to the 11th of December at 8pm.

LADIES NIGHT OUT: A “Style, Eat, Drink, Mingle and Laugh” Themed Ladies Night Out in aid of Ballyroan Ladies Football Club will be held in Whelan’s Lounge, Ballyroan on Saturday, 7th of October from 8pm unitl late. With Prosecco on arrival, a Fashion Show, Health & Beauty advice and a Door Prize raffle included in the €15 admission it sure promises to be a great night out! Tickets are available from: Ladybelle Botique in Abbeyleix, Ryan’s Gala and Whelan’s Lounge in Ballyroan and of course from any of the organising committee. Please come along and support and why not bring a friend!

DURROW LIBRARY: Durrow Library will be restarting the ever-popular Lego club at some point in October. Places are limited so drop in a book a place as soon as possible. The next meeting of the Irish conversation group will be at the library on the 9th of October at 8pm. All are welcome. This group welcomes all abilities for some Irish conversation in a relaxed environment. Huge congratulations to all who completed the Summer Stars Reading Challenge, and special thanks to Evelyn Clancy for presenting the children with their hard earned medals and certificates. There is also a three week genealogy workshop being planned for the library. The time proposed at the moment is Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm until 7.30pm. If you have an interest in family history please book your place at the library as soon as possible so final arrangements can be made!
Library Opening Times: The open times are as follows: Tuesdays: 1.30pm to 5.30pm and 6pm to 7.30pm; Wednesdays: 10am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm; Saturdays 11am to 1pm. Phone: (057) 8736090 or e-mail: Lmoriarty@laoiscoco.ie for information on any of the above.

ARTHRITIS IRELAND KILKENNY – Weekly Coffee: The Arthritis Ireland Kilkenny branch hold their local coffee chat every Saturday morning from 11am until 12 noon in the fantastic Ossory Park Community Centre. Do you live with Fibromyalgia or Arthritis? Don’t suffer alone! Come for a chat, get out of the house, make new friends and know you’re not alone – Looking forward to meeting you, we’ll have the kettle on! To find out more information you can call or text (087) 1491767.
National Arthritis Awareness: To mark the start of National Arthritis Awareness Week your local Kilkenny Branch will host a FREE talk by Colin Phillips of Compass Physio. Colin will share advice and tips on how to manage pain in our lives with a questions and answers session for your own queries to Colin. When: Monday 9th October, Time: 7.30pm, Where: Ossory Park Community Centre, Kilkenny city. Places are limited so reserve your seat here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/chronic-pain-management-tickets-37879500606 or text the Kilkenny line on (087) 1491767.

BANK OF IRELAND ENTERPRISE TOWN AWARDS 2017: Our presentation will be given to the judges on Monday 9th October in Castle Durrow at 2pm after which they will take an 80 minute walk around the town and interact with business people and local group representatives. We invite all local groups, club and businesses to give their input and also to come on the day. Please contact any member of Durrow Development Forum for more information.

GARDA CHARITY EVENT: This Sunday 8th October at 12noon Laois-Offaly Garda Division will host a 4K Family Walk, 6K Run and 60K Cycle at the stunning DeVesci Estate in Abbeyleix in aid of the Cara Curley Fund and for the benefit of Garda Adrian Kelly (Rathdowney Garda Station). Registration for Walkers and Runners at DeVesci Estate from 10.30am. Registration for Cyclists at Manor Hotel Abbeyleix from 10.30am. €20 Registration Fee or completed Sponsorship Card. Children go Free. Refreshments and Entertainment afterwards in the Manor Hotel Abbeyleix. Parking available at both venue. All welcome and your support for this cause would be much appreciated

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

BRIDGE CLUB: Durrow Bridge Club continues for the winter season on Wednesday evenings in the Presentation Centre at 7.45pm. All are most welcome.

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.

IRISH DANCING CLASSES: Irish Dancing for boys and girls of all ages are held in Cullohill Community Centre every Thursday from 5.00pm and Johnstown every Tuesday from 3.30pm. For further information contact Anne Flood on (087) 9049644.

THE BEGADON FORGE: The Historical Heritage Visit Booklet can now be bought in locally in Lawlor’s Gala, Daybreak and Bob’s Bar. Price €2 each or three for €5.

SCOIL RINCE KATRINA: Irish Dance Classes continue in Ballyouskill Parish Hall on Mondays with beginners classes from 5.30pm to 6.30pm and advanced classes from 6.00pm to 7.15pm. All ages are most welcome. For more details please contact Katrina Sheeran on (085) 7606866.

LIVE WEATHER DATA: Up-to-the-minute local weather conditions for Durrow are available online at www.laoisweather.com which includes day-to-day records going back to 2008.

LSCPA RESCUE – URGENT APPEAL: We desperately need Dog Fosterers, we are full beyond our limit and cannot take in anymore dogs, unless we get more fosterers. We supply everything and cover all veterinary costs. If you can help, contact our Dog coordinator on (086)4169559.

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

DURROW CHOIR REHEARSALS: Durrow choir, ‘Vocem Daru’ are continuing their rehearsals and music making on Tuesdays in the Presentation Centre from 7.30pm until 9.30pm. We are always looking for new members. Do you love music, and enjoy singing, and would like to be part of a mixed voice choir, singing everything from ballads to pop, traditional to classical? Then drop in any Tuesday evening, or for further information phone Ann on (086) 6045409.

DURROW COMMUNITY ALERT: With the evenings getting shorter now as we approach the Autumn and Winter seasons, keep vigilant for suspicious activity in our community. Keep an eye on the Community Alert’s new Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/DurrowLaoisCommunityAlertfor regular updates and information from across the district.

VARIETY CONCERT DVD: The official DVD of the Variety Concert is available to purchase at a cost of €10 and it is well worth having as the concert was excellent. Many thanks to Pat Farrell who filmed the show and then edited and produced the finished product. The DVD is available from Mick Dunphy, Mary Walsh and Pat Farrell.

MARKET: The Cottage Market Mountrath brings you all things home-made, home-grown and hand-crafted. Located at The Macra Hall, Main St. Mountrath – from 10am to 2pm on the first Saturday of each month. Contact Anne or Lucy on (089) 2048089 for more details.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Hidden – But Still Among Us. Would you like to Volunteer in the ‘Guild of St. Philip’? Prisoners are easy to forget, locked in institutions, they seem to disappear from society?s sight, but prisoners still belong to society that incarnates them. Most will eventually be released and the experience they have in prison will greatly affect their ability to adjust to life ‘outside’ as law abiding citizens. That experience can be influences for the better through the action of concerned, informed citizens. If you wish to be involved please text (086) 0462405 or email judy.p@hotmail.com

CASTLEWOOD FARMSHOP: Now re-opened. Organic meat, apple juice, eggs and other produce. Farmshop and tearoom open Fridays and Saturdays 10am – 5pm; Sunday 11am – 5pm. Enquiries to Dominic (087)9694070.

APPEAL: This year, 2017 is the 100th anniversary of the O’Brien’s starting their Headstone business in Durrow. If anyone has any old pictures of the Quarry on the Derry Road, Sean would be delighted to hear from you. You can email them to seanobrien1957@eircom.net or phone Sean on (086) 2656657 if you have them in paper form. Any additional details such as the names and date of the picture would be greatly appreciated.

LIONS AFC: The Lions Soccer Academy will continue on Sundays at Noon. The Academy caters for boys and girls with the emphasis on learning in a fun atmosphere. Any questions or queries to Robbie Dempsey on (087) 4115971.

NEXT NEWSLETTER: The next newsletter will be on sale this weekend of October 21th and 22th. 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.