
SECONDARY SCHOOL JOHNSTOWN – VIABILITY SURVEY: Many thanks to everyone who responded to our recent survey. We are currently collating the responses and this soon will be presented to TFI. We will keep you informed of any progress, and hopefully we can effect the change required.
THE FOLLY FESTIVAL 2024: The Folly Festival 2024 will take place on July 5th and 6th in the beautifully intimate venue, known as Nancy’s Yard, beneath the towering ruins of historic Cullohill Castle. Anticipation is already growing, following on from the huge success of the sellout Folly Festival in 2023, where acts such as Lyra, Lea Heart, Robert Grace and Chasing Abbey, along with the best up and coming talents on the Irish music scene, wowed the crowds over two glorious nights.
All proceeds from the Folly Festival are used by the organisers Cullohill Community Council for Village renewal projects along with donations to local Schools, Clubs and Societies.
The concerts will be punctuated by Saturday’s Daytime Events, with the Family Trad Event in Nancy’s Castle. Led by the fantastic Dooley Brothers who take to the Castle Stage at 2pm along with a packed schedule of children’s entertainment, Artisan Food & Craft Fayre, vintage cars, a dog show, an art exhibition and so much more. Festival tickets are not required to take part in the daytime events, and everyone is welcome to attend!
LINE-UP FOR 2024: Headlining the Folly Festival on Friday night is Darren Kiely, the Irish singer-songwriter who has accumulated three million global streams and has sold-out headline shows at Rockwood Music Hall and Mercury Lounge in NYC, while The Scratch – currently one the most talked about bands in the country signed to Sony Music and garnering a huge fan base as they tour the US and Canada – will headline Saturday.
Róisín O a firm favourite on the festival circuit, has most recently toured Ireland, the UK and Australia in the wake of her chart-topping album Courageous, and Dea Matrona, an all-female trio from Belfast who have amassed over 5.7 million views on YouTube and secured a number one on both the UK and Ireland iTunes chart will also join the lineup of Oscar Blue, Jessica Doolan, Saibh Skelly, Paddy Keys, Dooley Brothers, Cullohill Comhaltas, Garda Band and many, many more over the festival weekend.
DURROW SCARECROW FESTIVAL 2024: We’ve the last few trading spaces available for this year’s Durrow Scarecrow Festival. You will need your own insurance, gazebo and indemnity to us. Thanks to everyone who has booked so far, we’re updating to advise that we are now fully booked out for Sweets, Toys, Hot food, Jewellery, Candles, Soaps and Art. If you’ve craft or something different and would like to showcase what you have, then Durrow is the place to do so with a nationwide and international audience. You’re welcome to trade with us in Durrow! Please send us with photos of products you’d like to trade on scarecrow@durrow.ie by email.
DURROW MEALS ON WHEELS: Durrow Meals On Wheels would like to thank the Cullohill Foroige Club for their kind donation whereby they raised funds on their recent Community Walk. We are so grateful for the donation and we wish the Cullohill Foroige Club the very best of luck!
LAOIS LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE: We have some great training opportunities coming up for Laois based businesses. Contact us for more details and to book your place today. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of our supports then please do not hesitate to contact us by email localenterprise@laoiscoco.ie or by phone on (057) 866 1800.
CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE – CIRCUIT CLASSES – running in The Centre every Tuesday and Thursday at 8.00pm with instructor Richie Saunders. Further details from any committee member.
CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE – PROGRESSIVE 25 CARD GAME: Progressive 25 Card Game continues every Sunday night in Cullohill Community Centre at 8pm and all are most welcome. Winners on Sunday 12th May 2024 were: First – Sean and Anna Burke; Second: Michael and Patsy Moran; Third – Percy Phelan and Jimmy Ryan. Teresa Dollard and Margaret Buggy. The Raffle Winners on the night were: Dick Brennan and Sinead Burke.
A minutes silence was observed and sympathy extended to the Lalor and Mackey families on the death of Joan Lalor. May Joan Rest in Peace.
DURROW TIDY TOWNS: Adopt an Area – is there an area in Durrow you’d like to adopt? After our Bronze Win in 2023 and our biggest ever points jump, we need help over the coming months as we aim for a Silver Medal for Durrow in the 2024 National Tidy Towns Competition. If the volunteer days don’t suit you, would you like to adopt an area to weed, sweep, water, clean and keep tidy this year? Let us know on 087 9626350 or message our facebook page. If you would like to be added to our volunteer WhatsApp group, please text Add me to TT volunteers on 086 3657833 – many thanks!
BOG OAK SCULPTURE: A big thanks to the team in Durrow Community Services CLG for sprucing up the bog oak sculpture recently at The Pound, it looks great!
FAIRY GARDEN: A huge thanks also to Third Laois Durrow Scout group for their assistance earlier in the week cleaning the Fairy Garden, weeding and tidying. It’s such a great help to the community and the Scouts are always quick to volunteer to assist and lead projects. Well done to all!
MUSIC GENERATION LAOIS – COMMUNITY CHOIR: Music Generation Laois are launching a new Community Choir for a pilot 8-week period. The aim of the choir is to promote well-being, integration and inclusion, particularly among newer communities to Laois, who will be most welcome. Led by Nuala Kelly and James O’ Connor the choir is open to age 16+ with no upper age limit and membership is free. Rehearsals will take place in two locations, giving the option to attend either a day or evening session: Laois Music Centre, Church Avenue, Portlaoise (R32 Y074) commencing Tuesday 21st May from 7pm to 8.30pm; Portlaoise Family Resource Centre, Knockmay, Portlaoise (R32 C7DD) commencing Wednesday 29th May from 11am until 12.30pm. Visit www.musicgenerationlaois.ie online for more details.
BALLYOUSKILL 25s CARDS GAME – Ballyouskill 25s Cards continues in Ballyouskill Community Hall on the last Friday of the month at 8pm. Our next game is May 31st.
WHIST DRIVE: Club meetings have now ended for the Summer season. We will be back in September.
DURROW BRIDGE CLUB: Club meetings have now ended for the Summer season. We will be back in October.
DURROW COMMUNITY SERVICES: Durrow Community Services currently have the following vacancies: 5 positions as an Environmental Worker in Durrow; 1 position as Groundskeeper in Durrow; 1 position as an Environmental Worker in Cullohill; 1 position as Catering Assistant in Durrow; 1 position as an Environmental Worker in Ballacolla. As per the Department of Social Protection requirements, the positions are 19.5 hours per week and must be on a Social Welfare payment for a minimum of 12 months to apply. Please contact Astrid Andersson on 057 8736870 or andersson@durrowcs.com for further information.
SET DANCING CLASSES: Set Dancing continues in The Wheel Inn Ballyouskill on Thursdays at 9pm – all are most welcome to join. Contact Paddy at (085) 8607256 or Francis at (085) 7157694 for more details. An enjoyable way to socialise while helping to keep fit.
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.
GRINDS AVAILABLE: Experienced primary school teacher available for grinds. Suitable for all primary aged children. Junior Infants to 6th class. Contact (087) 1344713 for more information.
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 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 1.30pm to 7.30pm (closed for lunch from 5.30pm until 6pm) 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 – An adult 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 6pm. Beidh fáilte róimh cupán tae agus cúpla focail Gaeilge a labhairt no a canadh.
ADULT BOOK CLUB – The next meeting will be held on Tuesday the 28th of May at 6.10pm. New members welcome – call or email the library for more details.
AGE FRIENDLY IRELAND: There will be a pop up information morning in Durrow Library on the 5th of June from age friendly Ireland between the hours of 11.30am and 1pm. The pop up morning will offer information and supports for people who would like to continue independent living at home for longer.
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.
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.
NUMBER FOR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL – LAST UPDATED JULY 2023: Please note that our confidential contact helpline number for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Durrow, is (083) 4056021.
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED: For conversational English! No experience necessary. All are welcome. Location & Times: Rathdowney on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays (TBD) from 10am till 12pm. Contact Olena on (087) 9131236 for more information.
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CHURCH NEWS: Parish Office – Regular opening hours have now resumed and are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10.00am to 2.00pm. We have signed Mass cards, Baptismal candles, Communion gifts and more available to purchase. All Mass intentions, baptisms and weddings must be booked through the office on (085) 2625033, by email at durrow@ossory.ie or in person. No Private advertising in the weekly Mass Newsletter.
Mass Hours – 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.
Baptisms in Rathdowney and Durrow – Following the changes to our Mass schedule, baptisms can be booked for Saturdays at 4.30pm in either Parish and Sundays at 12 Noon in Durrow and Cullohill or 12.15 in Rathdowney and Errill.
Adoration – There will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Cullohill Church every Thursday morning from 9am until 9.30am and in Durrow directly after 8.50am Mass (finishes at 11.30 am) on Mondays, also on Fridays from 7pm until 8pm.
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.
Grásta – Preparing for Marriage? Weekend residential courses available September 20th to 22nd 2024. For more details visit www.grasta.org or contact info@grasta.org by email.
Parish Shops – Both parish shops have a new range of gifts in stock for First Communion, Christenings and other events. Candles, Rosary Bracelets, Crosses & Chains, Rosary Beads, Bibles, Grave Ornaments. Come in and have a look!
LOCAL CEMETERY MASSES: Cemetery Masses will be held on Friday 26th July at 8pm in Aughmacart; on Friday 2nd August at 8pm in Kyleogue, Cullohill (To be confirmed); on Saturday 10th August at 7.30pm in Cullohill Cemetery and on Sunday 1st September at 11.15am in Durrow Cemetery.
WELCOME! We welcomed into Durrow Parish Community Will Arthur Brophy who was being baptised last weekend.
CONGRATULATIONS to the children of Cullohill who made their First Holy Communion last Sunday May 26th and to the Children of Durrow who made theirs on Sunday May 19th last. We thank them, their parents, teachers and especially Sr Anita for their dedication to preparing for this Sacrament.
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THE HARPS GAA CLUB NEWS – SPLIT THE BUCKET – Participate in the exciting weekly chance to win instant cash with ‘Split the Bucket.’ You can join in two ways: contact Richie (087) 9294742, Tom (087) 6159226 or Shane (087) 2034035 to establish a monthly standing order. Investing €8 monthly grants one entry per week, while €20 monthly provides three entries weekly, saving you €72 annually. Alternatively, play for €2 a ticket, at local businesses hosting our buckets. Best of luck to all participants, and thank you for your continued support to the Harps GAA Club!
UNDER 7s TRAINING: Harps Under 7s training continues on Fridays from 6pm to 7pm at the Ball Wall in the Durrow Grounds. This training is open to all Junior and Senior Infants boys.
SUMMER CAMP 2024! Save the Date – The Harps Juvenile GAA Camp will be held from August 19th to August 23rd. Open to all Primary school children. Our camp will be run by our games development officer along with our coaches and a select few players. This is open to boys and girls and will cater for both codes, hurling/camogie and football.
U9s O’MOORE PARK EXPERIENCE: The Harps U9s took part in the O’Moore Park experience on Monday evening May 20th. A total of 20 boys hurled in three teams against Camross and then got to go up the steps and lift the trophy! Well done lads!
THE HARPS CAMOGIE CLUB: Our Adult Junior and Intermediate teams are back training and looking to build on the success of last year. All players young, old and new are more than welcome to join us. We are training on Wednesdays at 7:30pm in Cullohill pitch. If you want more details about joining contact The Harps Camogie Club’s Facebook page.
JUVENILE TRAINING: U6, U8 and U10 training is back on Thursdays at the Juvenile Pitch in Durrow at 6:30pm – all are most welcome.
TRAINING: U12 and U14 training continues on Thursdays at 6:30pm at the ball wall in Durrow. All new members are welcome to come along and give it a go.
SAFEGUARDING COURSE: The Camogie Club are putting on a safeguarding course on Tuesday the 28th of May in Cullohill Community Centre at 7pm. We would really appreciate if as many parents as possible could attend. We have huge numbers at underage which is amazing, but we really need to be able to call on parents to help out when we are short coaches. It does not mean you will have to commit to a team, it is just in case we need to ask you to step in and help out with a drill, injury, toilet break etc… If you are free to complete the course, text 087 6805402 to book a spot. We would be very grateful if you could help us out.
COLAISTE MHUIRE JOHNSTOWN: Well done to our Harps girls who won the Leinster Minor B final last Tuesday with Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown.
CULLOHILL HANDBALL CLUB – WELL DONE! Well Done to Orla Brophy who made the move to the Big Alley this week and had a fantastic tiebreaker victory over Holly Byrne from Clogh, Kilkenny in the Ladies Minor 60 x 30 championship in Clogh. After losing the first game 13-21 Orla got to grips with the bigger Alley and reversed the second game 21-11 to take it to a tiebreaker which Orla came into her own and took the match convincingly.
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.
U16s – Brendan Lonergan Cup Semi Final Result: Lions AFC 3 V 3 Freebooters. Scorers: James Walsh, Eoin Delaney and Ronan Comerford. Final Score after Extra Time: Lions win 5-4 on penalties. Well done lads!
JUNIOR TEAM: Junior Division 1 Cup Semi Final Result: Lions AFC 1 V 2 Freshford Town. Scorer: Cillian Keane. Hard luck lads.
LADIES TEAM: Women’s Junior Cup Quarter Final Result: Lions AFC 1 V 1 East End United. Result AET: Lions win 4-2 on penalties. Well done to the Lions Women’s Junior team on a great win last Sunday against a very strong East End United. What a cracking game of football it was with both teams going at it with attacking football, end to end stuff. The Lions went behind against the run of play but stuck to their guns and pulled one back after the break. Full time and the sides could not be separated. Onto extra time and both sides were getting weary on a gloriously hot sunny day. The game stayed at 1 a piece after extra time. Onto penalties it went with the Lions winning 4-2 and are through to cup semi final in Thomastown. Congratulations to both teams for a very entertaining game of football, played in a very sporting manner.
DURROW AND CULLOHILL DISTRICT ANGLERS: 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!
LAOIS KAYAK AND CANOE CLUB: Our sumer adult kayaking beginner’s course is now open for booking through Eventbrite. This fun weekend event will take place at our clubhouse in Durrow on the 22nd and the 23rd of June. The programme includes both Laois Kayak and Canoeing Ireland membership for 2024 and a level two kayaking skills award assessment. Places are limited. Link to booking: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/905273977837 – You can contact us on info@laoiskayak.com by email.
WELL DONE: Congratulations to Cathal and Rian taking the gold in Canadian doubles at the Junior Liffey Descent recently. Thanks to Canoeing Ireland for a weekend of great racing.