GIVE BLOOD: The Blood Transfusion Mobile Unit will visit The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow this Thursday, September 21st from 4.30pm until 8pm. We appeal to anyone who can donate blood to come to this clinic as demand for blood coming into and during the long winter months always increases. Please reserve one hour to donate blood on the day because your donation will save lives. Why not speak to a friend and ask them to donate too? Many thanks!

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

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.

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

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!

CULLOHILL-DURROW FLOWER AND GARDEN CLUB: Please note change of date for Christmas Gala with Oliver Lawlor to the 11th of December at 8pm.

DURROW HIGH NELLY CLUB – UPCOMING EVENTS: October 7th 2017: Greenway cycle from Waterford to Dungarvan. Leaving Bobs at 9am and staying overnight in Lawlor’s Hotel, Dungarvan. Booking details: Phone (058) 41122 or email olivekiely@lawlorshotel.com – the rate is €75 per person sharing and includes breakfast and dinner. Quote “High Nelly Cycle” when ringing. Book ASAP as places will fill fast.

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/DurrowLaoisCommunityAlert for regular updates and information from across the district. Please note the corrected Facebook address from last issue.

LAOIS AGE FRIENDLY INFORMATION EVENT: Laois Public Participation Network in association with Laois County Council and Laois Older People’s Forum are hosting a Laois Age Friendly information event on Tuesday 26th September at 3pm in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise. We will have exhibitors providing information about the Fair Deal Scheme, nursing homes, legal advice, financial services, personal security, fire prevention, health/fitness and well-being and much more. At 6pm on the same evening the Launch of the Age Friendly Business Recognition Scheme will take place where 50 businesses from across County Laois will be presented with an Age Friendly Charter and relevant publicity material. The afternoon is open to all to attend and refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there.

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.

NEXT NEWSLETTER: The next newsletter will be on sale the weekend of September 30th and October 1st. 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.