DURROW & CULLOHILL FLOWER CLUB: Durrow and Cullohill Flower Club are holding their next meeting in Cullohill Hall on Monday 13th March at 8pm. Garden talk with Hester Forde giving a virtual tour of Hester’s garden interspersed with lots of garden advice. New members welcome (€40 Annual Membership). Non-members welcome (€10 per night). Refreshments included.
DURROW TIDY TOWNS: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2023 – Durrow Tidy Towns will hold their AGM on Monday 27th February at 8.00pm in Durrow Library. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. It’s time to have your say in your community, all helps, interest, the I might or might not, what might I do, or what can I do, sure what can WE do? It can’t be done without community ideas, suggestions and planning, what do you want for your community, do you want to take a step in and get involved? –
Why not have your say?, we need your input, ideas, suggestions and inspiration – we can’t do this without YOU! – come see what we are about!
WORKSHOPS – Grafting Workshop for Irish Heritage Apples: a Grafting Workshop to preserve our older varieties of apples within the County of Laois will be held in the DDF Community Hub, Patrick Street, Durrow on Saturday 25th of February. Two workshops will be held with the first from 10am to 11.30am and the second from 12pm to 1.30pm on the day. Booking costing €5 can be completed at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/grafting-workshop-for-irish-heritage-apples-tickets-537413948587 online.
DURROW BRIDGE CLUB NEWS: Durrow Bridge Club have resumed their Bridge nights in the Castle Arms Hotel every Wednesday night at 7.30pm. All are most welcome. Recent Results – Wednesday February 1st: First (N¦S) – Tony Dooley and Jack Murphy; First (E¦W) – Theresa Phelan and Marion Sherman; Wednesday February 8th: First (N¦S) – Phil Kingston and Paddy Purcell; First (E¦W) – Marie Mahoney and Mary Dooley.
IRISH WATER – CUSTOMER NOTICE: Customers are reminded not to dispose of wet wipes in their toilets. Why should you not flush wet wipes down the toilet? A wet wipe seems like a harmless item to put down the toilet. After all, how much damage can a small sheet made up of cotton and plastic really cause? Wet wipes don’t break up properly in our sewers, but with many manufactures labelling their wipes with the word ‘flushable’, consumers think it is ok to put these products down the toilet. Around 90% of wipes contain some form of plastic, which is one of the main reasons as they don’t disintegrate like regular toilet paper does. Flushed wipes will eventually gather in your pipes which may stop your toilet from flushing correctly, potentially resulting in sewage backing up into your home or yard through your toilet or sewer lid. Following recent blockages at the end of Erkindale Drive, customers around the Durrow area are reminded not to dispose of wet wipes in their toilets. Many thanks in advance for your cooperation.
DEFIBRILLATORS IN DURROW: We are lucky to have defibrillators in Durrow – one at the Gala Grocery Store and one at The Community Playground. It is vitally important that if you or anyone you know is unfortunate enough to need to use one, you must inform Susan in the Gala Grocery Store as soon as possible afterwards, as the pads need to be replaced – NOTE: They are single use! The defibrillator needs to be ready for the next person who may need to use it – that person could be you or a loved one! Thanks for your cooperation.
DURROW COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Durrow Community Council will hold the Annual Senior Citizens Party in The Castle Arms Hotel on Saturday the 4th of March at 2pm. The invites will be going out over the next few weeks – but if anyone who does not get one but wishes to attend, please get in touch with Ethel on (087) 0665752.
CULLOHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL: Scoil Tighearnach Naofa, Cullohill is now accepting enrolments for incoming Junior Infants for September 2023. Enrolment forms are available from the school office on request, or email scoiltnaofa@gmail.com to receive a digital copy. The deadline for application is Tuesday 28th February 2023.
HOME-HELP REQUIRED: Looking for a housekeeper/home help for a few hours a day preferably or even a couple of days a week. Location: between Durrow and Cullohill. References required please: (087) 2477471.
ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE 2023 IN DURROW: It has been proposed to run the Durrow St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday 17th March at 1pm. This is our first parade since Covid and we want to make it the best one yet but we need all your help to make this the best St Patrick’s Day parade Durrow has ever seen. We need volunteers, floats, fun, music, dance, gaelic games and we need the full community to assist. Please text or phone Ian on (087) 4422654 or Pat on (087) 2814661 for further information and to partake or contact us on our social media pages.
BOOK: A book titled ‘The Poorest of the Poor’ by Durrow author Seosamh O Cuinneagain is now available. All the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated towards the education and general welfare of the street children of Kolkata. Price €20. Please phone 0868263368 for more details.
WHIST DRIVE: The Killermogh Whist Drive is held in the Parochial Hall, Cork Road, Durrow at 8pm on the ***fourth*** Thursday of every month during 2023. Please come and enjoy a lovely friendly night. The Next Whist drive is on Thursday 23rd February at 8pm.
CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE – PROGRESSIVE 25 CARD GAME – NEW EARLIER START TIME OF 8PM: Progressive 25 Card Game continues every Sunday night in Cullohill Community Centre at 8pm and all are most welcome. Winners on Sunday 12th February 2023 were: First – John Mooney and Jim Walsh; Second – Padraig and Noreen Ryan; Joint Third – Chris Fitzpatrick and Kevin Woulfe, Ger Alley and Ollie Clooney, Sean O’Shea and Gerry Kelly. The Raffle Winners on the night were: Tom Lawlor and William Carroll.
ZUMBA CLASSES: Zumba classes are held in The Parochial Hall in Rathdowney each Wednesday night from 8pm to 9pm. The weekly Fee is just €7. Keep fit the fun way while dancing to great music. No dancing experience necessary at all. Good fun guaranteed!
SET DANCING CLASSES: Set dancing classes are held every Thursday night in The Wheel Inn, Ballyouskill from 9pm. All are most Welcome.
DURROW ART CLUB: Art Classes are held in the ICA Hall, Patrick Street, Durrow. Beginners are most welcome to join. More details from Marie on (086) 3136028.
DURROW LIBRARY NEWS: All our Laois Library branches are open to the public for browsing, PC usage, printing, photocopying and studying, in addition to all the free events taking place throughout the month – see details below. You can browse the Laois Libraries online catalogue here: https://laois.spydus.ie and if needed, borrowers can reset their library PIN in order to access the catalogue – contact your local library or email library@laoiscoco.ie for assistance with this.
ONLINE BOOK CLUB – Laois Libraries Online Book Club reads one book a month chosen from the BorrowBox collection. Join us on the last Wednesday of each month when questions are posed for discussion on our Book Club Facebook page. You can join the group on: https://www.facebook.com/groups/315513126404037 online. New members are always welcome.
OPEN HOURS – Durrow Library Opening hours are Tuesdays from 11am to 7.30pm and Wednesdays from 10am to 5.30pm (closed for lunch from 1.30pm to 2pm). Phone: (057) 8736090 Email: durrowlibrary@laoiscoco.ie for further information.
LOETB ADULT ART CLASSES – Adult art classes are held every Tuesday at 3.30pm in the Library. All are most welcome. Contact Amy in the Library for more information.
LEGO CLUB – Lego Club will be held on Wednesday 22nd of February from 2pm to 4pm and all are most welcome to attend.
DURROW COMMUNITY SATURDAY MARKET: Durrow Community Market continues on Saturdays from 9am to 12 noon on the Kilkenny Road beside the Church.
LIVE LOCAL WEATHER: Visit www.laoisweather.com for live local weather data from Durrow.
DURROW FIRE AND RESCUE: Do you need a smoke alarm? Or do you know of someone who does, in the Durrow, Cullohill or Ballacolla area? Every home should have a minimum of two of the life saving devices! Durrow Fire & Rescue will provide and install smoke alarms for anyone that needs them, and there is no charge for this service. Simply email info@durrow.ie if you are interested, or if you know of a friend or neighbour that needs to have the devices installed. Please leave a contact number too.
DURROW FIRE AND RESCUE: Members of Durrow Fire Brigade are available to give fire safety talk to any interested adult groups or organisations, in the Durrow, Cullohill and Ballacolla areas. If interested please contact Station Officer David Donohue.
BIRDWATCH IRELAND: BirdWatch Ireland wishes to remind the public that, under the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, it is prohibited to cut, burn or otherwise destroy vegetation not then cultivated between Sunday 1st March to August 31st, except in the case of any of the derogations permitted under the Wildlife Act. This means that the cutting of hedgerows and the burning or gorse and other vegetation are prohibited during this period.
The restrictions on the destruction of vegetation are in place in order to allow birds to undertake their breeding cycle, a time when they are most vulnerable. All wild birds are protected under national and EU law, especially during the period when they are breeding. This period starts when birds seek out and establish territories, find a mate, begin nest-building and then lay eggs and rear their chicks.
CHILDMINDER AVAILABLE: Childminder/BabySitter available to mind children of all ages – evenings and weekends. Have experience working with children and also have work experience in a crèche. as well as childminding for families. Can also provide references – if interested feel free to contact (087) 0605392.
LOST: A gold gate bracelet has been lost in Durrow. On Saturday the 28th of January the wearer was in Durrow Castle Restaurant and later in Bob’s Bar. A reward is offered for recovery of this sentimental piece, please contact (087) 2675570 if you have located the piece or have information on it’s whereabouts.
CHURCH NEWS: Parish Office – The Parish Office at the Presentation Centre beside the Church is open from 10am to 2pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The booking of Masses, Christenings of babies, sale of Mass Cards, Booking of weddings and funeral arrangements will go through this office. All matters relating to Church business in the Parish must also go through this office. You can also call the Parish Office on (085) 2625033.
PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS – The members of the Pastoral Council are: Martin Lawlor; Mary Lawlor; James Walsh; Carmel Ruane; Mary Ryan; Vicky Murphy; Margaret Murphy; Seamus Clancy; Sr. Anita O’Leary and Fr. Martin Delaney.
TOWARDS PEACE – Safe spaces to connect with your own spirituality, with your sense of God and your journey Towards Peace. Towards Peace Coordinator Ms. Una Allen, Coordinator Phone: 01 5053028 Mobile: 086 7710533. The service is available on Monday and Tuesday from 9am – 4pm and on Wednesday from 9am -12 noon. For out of office hours, please call us on 086 7710533 and leave a message, we will respond to your call as soon as possible.
TOWARDS HEALING – Towards Healing provides face to face counselling, structured phone counselling, family counselling and a counselling helpline. Their help line is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm. Freephone 1800 303416. Hearing-impaired Text Line Number: (085) 8022859. Email: info@towardshealing.ie Website: www.towardshealing.ie Online.
NUMBER FOR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL – LAST UPDATED JULY 2021: Our new contact phone number for confidential assistance is (087) 6974792.
DURROW-CULLOHILL PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL: Durrow-Cullohill Pastoral Council are looking for people who will assist with: (1) Cleaning the Church; (2) assisting with the collection during Mass, and (3) Readers for weekend Masses and Eucharistic ministers. Please give your name to Martin Lawlor, Seamus Clancy, or any member of the Pastoral Council. Your help would be gratefully appreciated. This is for The Holy Family Church Durrow.
THE HARPS GAA CLUB NEWS: TABLE QUIZ – Come join us on Friday, February 24th in The Castle Arms Hotel at 9.30pm for our Pub Quiz with Quizmaster David Finnegan. A table of four is €40 with a raffle to be held on the night. Please come along and support us, and have some craic.
SPLIT THE BUCKET – A standing order of €8 a month gives one entry a week, €16 a month gives two entries a week and €20 a month gives three entries a week. If you would like to set up a monthly standing order please contact Tom Ryan on (087) 6159226 or Shane Brophy on (087) 2034035. Thanks to everyone who supports our weekly Split the Bucket draw.
LADIES FOOTBALL: Congratulations to all the winners in the 2022 LGFA Volunteer of the Year Award winners and huge congratulations to The Overall Volunteer of the Year, Domo Murtagh, who will receive the Lulu Carroll award. The LGFA scheme, in its sixth year, recognises winners from 2022 across ten categories, and they are as follows:
Young Volunteer of the Year – Erika Long (Milltown, Kildare); PRO of the Year – Seamus McGuire (Longford); Local Journalist of the Year – Tara Byrne (KFM, Kildare); School Coach of the Year – joint award for Emma Galligan and Laura Brogan (Mount Saint Michael Secondary School, Claremorris, Mayo); Coach of the Year – Noel Treacy (RIP) (Kildress, Tyrone); Club Committee Officer of the Year – Aislinn Nugent Reid (Valleymount, Wicklow); County/Provincial Committee Officer of the Year – Monica Callinan (Clare LGFA); International Volunteer of the Year – Colin Dixon (Na Fianna, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam); Volunteer Hall of Fame – Mary Power O’Shea (Mullinahone, Tipperary); Overall Volunteer of the Year (Lulu Carroll award) – Domo Murtagh (Navan O’Mahonys, Meath). The Overall Volunteer of the Year, Domo Murtagh, will receive the Lulu Carroll award, named after the late Lulu Carroll, who was a 2001 All-Ireland senior medallist with Laois. Lulu, who passed away in 2007, was a committed servant to Ladies Football at club and county levels, and one of the game’s most popular and well-known figures. Lulu, a former All-Star recipient, also won eight Leinster titles with Laois, along with six county senior titles and a provincial crown at club level with Timahoe. Domo has been involved with LGFA for 20 years and has served in almost every role possible. He has been a coach or selector with the Navan O’Mahonys adult team for two decades, winning numerous competitions. Domo has been involved in the county board for a similar length of time, undertaking a number of roles including club delegate, member of the fixtures committee and delegate to Leinster Council. He has also served Navan O’Mahonys in an administration role, serving first as vice-chairperson before progressing to Chairperson, a role which he held in 2019 when they won the Leinster Junior club title. Well done to everyone involved.
ATHLETICS: It’s been a busy couple of weeks for athlete Avril Deegan. Avril ran the European Club Championships in Spain on 5th February running with Dublin City Harriers. A fantastic experience to represent Ireland with a strong Club performance against world class athletes. Last weekend (February 11th and 12th) in Gowran, Co. Kilkenny Avril claimed Gold in the 5,000m Senior Ladies All Ireland Intermediate Cross Country in what was a comprehensive win. It was a great day for Laois women’s athletics with Kate McDonald of Ballyroan/Abbeyleix and District also taking silver in the race. Well done to all!
THE LIONS AFC CLUB: FOR HIRE – Astro Pitch Hire, suitable for 7-a-side soccer social groups, casual bookings and team activities. For all enquiries or to make a booking please contact lionsafc@gmail.com or call (085) 7088511.
LADIES LEAGUE RESULT – Kilkenny League: Lions 1 V 3 Thomastown. Scorer: Leah Kelly. Hard luck to our ladies team who were beaten by table toppers Thomastown recently. Great work is being done with this team as they continue to improve week by week.
U11 David Doran Shield Result – Lions AFC 1 V 2 Evergreen Dym. Scorer: Billy Moore. Hard luck boys.
U11 David Doran Cup Result – Lions AFC 2 V 1 Spa United. Scorers: Frankie Carroll and Harry Phelan. Well done to the boys who served up a nail-biting finish to this fixture in Dereen recently.
U13 League Result – Division 1: River Rangers 1 V 2 Lions. Scorers: Danny Campion and Paddy Cleary. Well done boys, a great result.
U16 League Result – Girls Division 1: Stoneyford 1 V 1 Lions. Scorer: Lucy Kelly.
U15 Boys League Result – Lions 4 V 0 Deen Celtic. Scorers: Conor Dempsey, Eoin Delaney, Joey Dempsey and Liam Townsend. Super result lads!
DURROW AND CULLOHILL DISTRICT ANGLERS: The club are always looking for more Juvenile and Senior members to join up. Why not consider it – a great way to get outside to a new hobby!
ANGLER OF THE YEAR 2022 ANNOUNCED – To say this is not a easy award to achieve is an understatement! With the time and commitment involved with winning the club’s award of fishing man of the year… three anglers were down to the last competition of the 2022 season shows how close this could have gone. Freddie Townsend, David Walsh, and Shane Donohue all were within a point of each other on winning this… But there was only one winner: Shane Donohue – Congratulations on winning this award and well done. Thanks to Freddie and David for all your great fishing during the last year, fair play lads – and to all anglers, next season is coming up fast!
CULLOHILL HANDBALL CLUB: Our Under 13 boys took a trip to Nenagh recently for some practice matches. A big thank you to Nenagh Handball Club for hosting the lads and well done to all the boys!
BEST OF LUCK – Best of luck to Aoife Brophy who travels to the USA in February to take part in the 70th USHA Handball Collegiates Nationals in Tucson, Arizona. Aoife will be representing the University of Galway.
TRIDENT FITNESS CLUB – KETTLEBELL SPORTS AND FITNESS CLASSES: Learn to use kettlebells safely and effectively from one of Ireland’s top ranked and most experienced professional kettlebell sports and fitness instructors with over 10 years of experience in kettlebell sport and fitness. Included in the classes are bodyweight exercises as well as posture correction and strengthening techniques. Together with proper kettlebell instruction you can learn to prevent and remedy a wide range of joint and mobility issues and injuries. Class schedule: Tuesday 6.30pm; Thursday 6.30pm; Saturday 11am. Venue: Durrow Community Hall CYMS. Call David or email for further information. Also available for personal training. Tel: (087) 3833258 or email: tridentfitnessclub@yahoo.ie or borukettlebellclub@yahoo.com for more information.