CONGRATULATIONS to Bowe’s Café and Foodhall who were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor recently.

NATIONAL TIDY TOWNS COMPETITION 2018: Judging is underway and we are asking all homes, premises and residents to keep the village clean and tidy, please sweep and clean up outside of your premises and make sure there is no litter around our beautiful village. With the busy tourist season now underway and the upcoming festivals in the Parish we ask everyone to play their part! Many thanks!

THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS: Join Us: If you are interested in joining us? Please contact Delphine Lawlor on (086) 3655178 for further details.

LAOIS COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY AWARDS 2018: Laois County Council in participation with Laois Public Participation Network wishes to celebrate the major contribution made by Community/Voluntary Organisations in County Laois. Nomination Forms are available in the following Categories:
* Arts, Culture & Heritage; * Healthy & Active Community; * Children & Youth; * Environment; * Social Inclusion; * Age Friendly; * Unsung Hero.
You can also make an individual nomination for an Unsung Hero Award for outstanding contribution by one person to community/voluntary life in their local area and/or the wider community in Co. Laois. Nomination forms and further information on terms & conditions are also available by contacting Community Development Section, Laois County Council on (057) 8664150 or to dce@laoiscoco.ie by email. The closing date is Friday 24th August at 5pm.

USED CLOTHES COLLECTION IN AID OF DURROW COMMUNITY CENTRE: The Hall committee are holding a used clothes collection which will be collected from the Community Hall on July 20thth. Bags of used clothes, footwear and hadbags can be left into the Hall each morning from 9am to 1pm. No duvets, pillows or cushions to be included as they will not be accepted. This is an opportunity to do a clean-out of used clothes and by doing so, you will be supporting the Community Centre and The National Council for the Blind – this would be very much appreciated! Most of your donations help in stocking the network of NCBI charity shops with the remainder sent for recycling. Service is provided by the NCBI to 18,000 people every year and it is estimated that 224,0000 people in Ireland experience severe problems with their eye-sight. Your continued support will be appreciated.

DURROW COMMUNITY COUNCIL—ANNUAL SENIOR CITIZENS TRIP: The annual trip will be held on Saturday 11th August. A bus will leave the Church Carpark at 1.30pm heading for Holycross Abbey and then on to Cashel where we will spend some time before going to Bru Boru for dinner and afterwards taking in the Show in the Bru Boru Theatre. A great show of Irish music, song and dance, an excellent evening’s entertainment. The after show extends into the kitchen where we will be entertained by the musicians from the Show. If you are interested in going then names and money, amount €30, to be in by the middle of July to have a seat on the bus. Please contact Ethel on (087) 0665752 to book your seat.

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

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

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.

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.

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!

THE FOLLY @ CULLOHILL CASTLE (July 20th & 21st): Excitement is really starting to build in Cullohill as we prepare for the forthcoming festival. We have a jam packed programme of events which kicks off on Friday night 20th with a concert in Cullohill Castle. Headliners, The Lost Brothers are supported by Holly Macve, Molly Sterling and Laois’s young star Curtis Walsh. Events kick off early on Sat morning with an 8.30am guided walk up Cullohill Mountain with breakfast being supplied by Paddy O’ Cereals (€5). Back down the mountain we will come to see RTE’s Marty Morrissey interview the ‘Paddy O’s Irish Porridge Making Championships’ contestants followed by a parade to the Community Centre for the start of the competition. An art and photographic exhibition will also take place in the centre.
Meanwhile on the Fair Green from 10.30am, there will be a farmer’s market and a vintage tea room. It will be back to the stage in Cullohill Castle around 11.50am when Marty Morrissey will present medals to the Cumann na mBunscol winners, Under 14 Feile Winners and the Handball winners. Following this presentation, Nancy the owner of Cullahill Castle will be interviewed by Marty. ‘Wild Food Mary’ will lead 2 foraging walks (€5) at 1pm and 3pm.
We will have Family Fun at Nancy’s Yard from 12.30pm to 4pm. A jam packed afternoon of family entertainment including Clown Jeca, Face Painting, Mad Professor Science Shows (1pm and 3pm), Little Angel’s Fort, Bouncing Castles, Balloons, Outdoor games and much more. Bring a picnic and relax while your children have the time of their lives! Last admission 4pm. Entry is €5 per child and includes all activities within this area. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
There will also be a handball exhibition match on that afternoon as well as Pony Riding, Yoga and a fun dog show (2pm). The winners of the Irish Porridge Making Championships will be announced in Cullohill Castle at 4pm with Rachel Allen. The festival will conclude on Saturday night at 8pm with a Comedy show headlined by Sharon Mannion supported by Ashlee Bentley, Kevin McGahern, Grace Mulvey, Ronan Grace, Niamh Marron, Mark McConnell and MC Eddie Mullarkey.
Cullohill Community Council are delighted to confirm that all costs associated with the have now been covered by sponsorship which means that 100% of the ticket price will go towards the cost of refurbishing the Community Centre. Cullohill Community Council greatly acknowledge the support and sponsorship of Electric Picnic, Diageo, FBD Insurance and Laois Partnership Company.
Weekend tickets are €40 and include both shows, the Mountain Walk and the Foraging Walk. Day tickets for the music and comedy shows are €25 each. Tickets are not required for children under 12 but they must be accompanied by an adult (max 2 children per ticket paying adult). Parental discretion is advised in relation to the suitability of the Comedy Night for children.
Tickets are not required for the day time events.
Tickets are available online at www.thefolly.ie with weekend tickets also available in Bergin’s Gala, Cullohill and O’Connell’s pub. Visit www.thefolly.ie for full details!

WATER SHORTAGES: For anybody concerned about DDF/Tidy Towns watering the flowers around Durrow, please be advised that the committee undertook a project over last winter and spring collecting rainwater in our ‘Don’t Drain the Rain’ project. Over this period, rain water was collected from points around the Village. These rain water containers are being used to water our flowers. We are very much aware of the importance of water conservation and would also encourage everybody to follow the guidelines surrounding hosepipe bans and conservation. For up-to-date information on rainfall and temperature visit www.laoisweather.com online.

LAOIS KAYAK AND CANOE CLUB: Scarecrow Festival: LKCC are again delighted to get involved with the years Scarecrow Festival with our Kayaking Teen Zone and our Members assisting with the Mouse Racing, its always great for our club members to become involved in volunteering within our community and we look forward to assisting again at this years festival
Summer Paddling: Please look at our Facebook page for each kayaking paddle or skills event or message us for any upcoming courses.

LAOIS PPN: Would like to invite all members groups to attend a “Poster FREE Zone” debate. When: Wednesday 18th July; Where: The Maldron Hotel, Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise; Time: 8:00pm. Two guest speakers will debate on the night, one in favour of making Laois a Poster Free Zone and the other against. After this a vote will take place as to whether Laois PPN will make a submission to the Draft Litter Management Plan 2018-2020. (currently on display). Please note that only registered groups can vote with each group having 1 vote only.

NEXT NEWSLETTER: The next newsletter will be on sale the weekend of July 28th and 29th – 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.