COMMUNITY WETLANDS FORUM CONFERENCE IN MANOR HOTEL ABBEYLEIX: The Community Wetlands Forum would like to extend invitation to all to attend a one day conference entitled “Community led peatland restoration – exploring finance and governance models” being organised by the Community Wetlands Forum in Abbeyleix Manor Hotel on Thursday 8th June. The increasing interest in peatland restoration by private finance presents new challenges and opportunities. We in the Community Wetlands Forum have been exploring what this means for communities and community led projects. Please join us as we continue to explore finance and governance models for community led peatland restoration and how communities can be leaders in this space. On the day there will be presentations from academics, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Peatland Finance Ireland, social finance providers, community led restoration projects, the Irish Environmental Network, Wild Atlantic Nature and more…
At lunchtime, have a walk on Abbeyleix Bog and see first-hand the success of a community led peatland restoration project, which has had significant social, climate, biodiversity and wellbeing benefits for the community of Abbeyleix and further afield. There will be ample time for questions and discussion after presentations, in what will be a two way discussion and exploration of the important topics of finance and governance. If you plan to attend, please register on Eventbrite and please do feel free to pass on the details to your colleagues or contacts who you think might be interested. Visit www.eventbrite.ie and search “community wetlands forum” to find the event. Tickets are free.
DURROW SCARECROW FESTIVAL 2023: Scarecrow Making: Would you like to get involved? Please join us on Mondays and Tuesdays from 7.30pm until 9pm and help us prepare for this year’s festival in the ICA hall, Patrick Street. If you’ve not made a scarecrow before, do come along, everyone has a skill or idea and we can all learn from each other.
CLOTHING AND TEXTILE COLLECTION: A Clothing and Textile collection will take place at Our Lady’s Meadow primary school in Durrow on Thursday 8th June. Bags to be left at school gate before 9.30am please.
OVER 55s SURVEY: Older people (age 55+) are invited to complete an online active travel survey to document their experiences of walking, cycling and wheeling (wheelchair or mobility scooter). This research is commissioned by Transport Infrastructure Ireland with the objective of making active travel safer for older age groups. It is being carried out by Sustrans and CFE Research.
Active travel means making journeys by walking, cycling, and wheeling. These modes of travel are generally for purposeful reasons, include going to the shops, getting to work, running errands or visiting friends and family, but can also include journeys for the purpose of recreation, fitness or fresh air. In this study, wheeling includes those who use a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Cycling can also include those who use adapted cycles (such as tricycles and hand-bikes) and e-bikes.
The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. The survey also asks if you would be interested in taking part in follow-up interview – this is optional. If you select yes to this option they will ask for your name and either email address or telephone number so they can contact you to arrange this. Please visit https://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/9/p295032882309.aspx online.
RATHDOWNEY COMMUNITY GARDEN OPENING: Come and enjoy an Afternoon of Ceol, Craic agus Caint to celebrate the Official Opening of the Rathdowney Community Garden at Main Street, Rathdowney on Wednesday 28th June 2023. Festivities will begin at 2pm with local artists providing some wonderful music. The Garden will be blessed by the Catholic and Church Of Ireland Bishops Of Ossory Niall Coll and Adrian Wilkinson at approx. 2.30pm after which the official opening will be performed by our special guests Daniel and Majella O’Donnell. What happens next is anyone’s guess and will be dependent on the weather! If you need your gas boiler serviced, a loaf of Gallagher’s bread or a hearing aid, Daniel may be able to help! All are most Welcome.
DURROW AND DISTRICT PIPE BAND: We’re always looking for new members, so why not come along to a practice? Get in touch with our Facebook page if you’re interested in learning the pipes or drums, all levels catered for. See https://www.facebook.com/DurrowPipeBand or search Facebook for “Durrow & District Pipe Band” to find us online.
DOG WALKERS! A reminder to clean up after your dog. We have Mutt Mitt dispensers and instructions on how to clean up after your dog, throughout Durrow. Dog fouling is a serious health risk and children can easily not see it and bring indoors on bikes, shoes, buggies and it’s a particular hazard to wheelchair users. If you’d like to become a green dog walker we have information in the Post Office and Library regarding the initiative. Please be responsible and clean up after your pet!
DURROW TIDY TOWNS: Tidy Towns work nights continue on Wednesdays from 7.00pm, all assistance is needed for weeding, planting and tidying up. If Wednesday’s don’t suit, please do take on a hidden hour to work at a time to suit you or consider adopting an area to maintain with some friends, we are happy to assist. Message us on social media or contact Fred on (087) 6892323.
CULLOHILL COMHALTAS: We are delighted to announce that there will be a Cullohill Comhaltas group starting in September 2023. This will be open and available to all members of our community (adults and children).
DURROW BRIDGE CLUB NEWS: Durrow Bridge Club continue their Bridge nights in the Castle Arms Hotel every Wednesday night at 7.30pm. All are most welcome.
DURROW POST OFFICE: We here at Durrow Post Office do both AIB and Bank of Ireland Lodgements and withdrawals. We provide a quick and professional service for all your personal and business banking. We are here to help you and make banking easier.
AIB CUSTOMERS – You can do * Cash lodgements with bank debit card or lodgement slips; * Cash withdrawals with bank debit card; * Cheque lodgements with a personalised lodgement slip.
BANK OF IRELAND CUSTOMERS – You can do * Cash lodgements with bank debit card or lodgement slips; * Cash withdrawals with bank debit card; * Cheque lodgements with a personalised lodgement slip.
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.
WHIST DRIVE: The Killermogh Whist Drive is held in the Parochial Hall, Cork Road, Durrow. Please come and enjoy a lovely friendly night. The Next Whist drive is on Thursday 28th September at 8pm. Results from the whist drive on the 25th May last: Top Score – Paddy Purcell; First Lady – Patsy Moran; Second Lady – Willie Wallace; First Gent – Henry Parr; Second Gent – Tom Dunne; Low score – Frankie Keenan; Qrts – Seamus Hennessy, Enid Wallace, Henry Martyn and Elizabeth Cooper. The Raffle winners were – Cissie Collier (2), Johanna McCartney, Patsy Moran and Henry Martyn. The next whist drive won’t be until after the summer holidays in September!
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 21st May 2023 were: First – Canice Sweeney and Willie Dunphy; Joint Second – Anne and Joe Cass, Sean and Anna Burke. The Raffle Winners on the night were: Larry Dunne, Michael Kells and John Farrell.
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 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.
ADULT ART GROUP – A self-led art group meets weekly every Tuesday at 2:30pm. Call or email the library for more details.
IRISH CIRCLE — The Irish Circle group meets in the library on Tuesdays at 6.10pm. Beidh fåilte röimh cupån tae a 61 agus cüpla focail Gaeilge a labhairt no a canadh.
CROCHET WORKSHOP – Ukrainian workshops taking place on Wednesday 31st at 11am. Call or email the library for more details.
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.
JOHNSTOWN KILKENNY: Johnstown Family Festival is back again for 2023 – save the date: 25th June 2023 in the Johnstown Sports Field. Live Music; The Dog Show; Hurling and Soccer Tournaments; Family Fun Games; Demonstrations; Mega Raffle; Craft Stalls and Food Market plus loads more fun! Hanging Tough is back! And this year we will be looking for “Johnstown’s Fittest Family”. Keep an eye out on the Facebook Page: Johnstown Kilkenny Community Town Team for further details – but you might want to start training for it now!
CHURCH NEWS: Parish Office – The Parish Office at the Presentation Centre beside the Church is open from 9.30am to 2pm on Weekdays. 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.
REVISED MASS HOURS: Effective from 9th September 2023 – Durrow and Rathdowney Parish Mass Times will be revised as follows: Saturday Evening – 6pm Vigil Mass in Rathdowney; 7.30pm Vigil Mass in Cullohill and 7.30pm Vigil Mass in Durrow (This Mass in Durrow only celebrated when Canon O’Doherty is available to celebrate it); Sunday Morning – 10am Mass in Errill; 11.15am Mass in Durrow.
ADORATION: There will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Cullohill Church every Thursday morning from 8.50am until 9.50am.
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.
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.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: The Financial Statement for 2022 is available for your information in the Church porch. If you have any questions please ask in Parish Office.
CEMETERY MASSES 2023: Cullohill – Saturday 5th August at 7pm; Durrow – Sunday 27th August at 12 noon; Aughmacart – Friday 11th August at 7pm.
ANNUAL BUS TO KNOCK SHRINE – The National Mary’s Meals Annual Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine takes place on Saturday 1st July. Bus will leave Roscrea at 9am. To book a seat (€20), please contact Angela on (089) 4339592.
BAPTISM – We welcome into our Parish Community Phoebe James O’Gorman who was baptised last weekend.
NUMBER FOR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL – LAST UPDATED JULY 2021: Our new contact phone number for confidential assistance is (087) 6974792.
THE HARPS GAA CLUB NEWS: 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.
JUVENILE CAMP 2023: This year The Harps will be running our own Juvenile camp with our own coaches in conjunction with our games development officer. Save the Date: Monday 21st August to Friday 25th August. More details and information to follow.
THE HARPS CAMOGIE CLUB: FUNDRAISER – Save the Date! The Harps Camogie Club will again this year run its very successful 24hr Cyclathon starting on the 17th of June which is a major fundraiser for the club. All funds donated will go towards much needed resources and equipment which will benefit each age group across juvenile and adult players. You can donate through https://gofund.me/506d040c online or on the day. All support greatly appreciated and more details to follow.
LAOIS CAMOGIE U15s: Well done to Kate, Sive, Ava, Alison and Robyn who represented their club with the Laois U15 development team in Wicklow recently.
CULLOHILL HANDBALL CLUB: You can contact the club on cullohillhandballclub@yahoo.ie by email.
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.
SUMMER CAMP 2023 – The club will be hosting an FAI soccer camp this summer. If any club members or players are interested in being a coach at the camp, contact Brian on 085 7088511.
IMPORTANT NOTICE – Due to a flooding incident in the Ballroom of the The Castle Arms Hotel we have had to reschedule the Abbaesque Night from Saturday April 29th to Friday June 30th. All Tickets Purchased for April 29th are valid for June 30th. Tickets are still in High Demand so don’t leave it till last minute to purchase your tickets. If you wish to purchase tickets you can do so at the same link www.eventbrite.ie/e/abbaesque-tickets-539292687947 online.
U15 Seamus Fahy Memorial Cup Final Result – Lions AFC 0 v 3 Evergreen.
U15 South East Subway Cup Result – Lions 5 v 3 Dungarvan. Scorers – Eoin Delaney X 4 and James Walsh X 1.
Congratulations to the Lions u15s who were crowned South East SFAI CUP Champions in Carlow last week. The Lions started the game at blistering pace showing great composure on the ball and passing the ball at speed. Their efforts were rewarded when Eoin Delaney netted after 5 minutes after a brilliant pass from Tony Mahoney. The Lions were well on top and Delaney was denied moment’s later after a fantastic full stretch save from the Dungarvan keeper. Ciaran, Conor, Joey and John were all close as the Lions were dominant however with 14 minutes gone a harmless ball over the top was finished somehow by the Dungarvan centre forward. The game was turned on its head when Dungarvan scored straight from the tip off. Lions were 2-1 down after playing all the football. A much needed water break stopped the Waterford teams momentum. The Lions were on the back foot as Dungarvan looked for number three. Just before half time substitute Sean Dempseys rocket came back off the cross bar, Delaney on hand to head it into the net. Two all at the break.
Dungarvan came roaring out of the blocks at the start of the second half but Eoin H., Ronan, Ben, Tony and the very impressive Liam Townsend kept cool heads under pressure. On the 45th minute Rob Mcevoy glided through midfield and found Delaney again on the edge of the box. With the form he was in only one result. 3 to 2 Lions. Pressure off… the Lions grew in confidence again as they played some lovely football and James Walsh coverted a beauty to make it 4-2. Dungarvan to their credit kept going and pulled a goal back. Game on again. The Lions rallied and Delaney gave the Lions breathing space as he made it 5-3 after some brilliant individual play. The Lions saw out the last ten minutes to record a memorable and an historic victory. All of the boys involved today and all making valuable contributions. Well done to this very talented bunch of players who continue to make history and do the club proud.
DURROW AND CULLOHILL DISTRICT ANGLERS: APPEAL – Durrow Cullohill District Anglers want to offer our support to Sean Dunphy and Mairead Brennan for their Memorial Run for Pat and Elaine. Pat Dunphy was a long serving Member in our Club and is sadly missed. We as a Club can only promote this worthy cause as Pat gave endless commitment to the running of the Fishing Club. So please visit www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-run-for-pat-elaine-50km-for-5k online and any donation would be greatly appreciated.
JOIN US – The club is 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! All fishing membership cards can be bought in The Gala Shop Durrow, Lawlors Flower Shop Durrow, and in Fran’s Fishing Shop Mountrath. All day tickets and full membership cards are available. There are court appointed water keepers overseeing the club’s waters and you could be asked for membership. Please ensure all membership and tickets are valid and please adhere to club rules listed on the membership cards. Happy Fishing!
CON GAUGHAN CUP – PIKE COMPETITION RESULTS: Well done to all involved – the winners were: First – Shane Donohue; Second – Ian Drennan; Third – Tommy Coffey.
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.