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.
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).
OPEN DAY: The Abbeyleix House and Farm Annual Family Day will take place on Saturday June 3rd 2023 from 11am until 5pm. Gather your family and friends and make your way to Abbeyleix! Let’s have a great time together doing a power of good as 100% of the proceeds go directly to our charities.
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 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 22nd June 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
U15s: Congratulations to our U15 hurling team that won the Division 1 plate final against Clough-Ballacolla in Ballacolla last Wednesday night. Well done to all.
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.
U11s: The Harps Under 11s attended the Piltown U11 Hurling tournament last Sunday 21st May. The Harps played Moguegeen of Wexford, De La Sale of Waterford, Piltown of Kilkenny. The Harps won 2 matches and drew 1 game in the group stage. They then got to the Cup final and played against Piltown. After full-time it was a draw match, so it went to extra time and Piltown came out winners. An excellent performance by all Harps Under 11 players, well done!
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.
CONGRATULATIONS – Well done to our Harps girls Alison Curran (captain) Eimear Murphy, Sive O’Reilly, Caitlin Ince and Lily Dunne on a super win in the Leinster Schools Final with Heywood last Tuesday 23rd May.
LAOIS CAMOGIE U15s: Well done to Ava, Alison, Kate, Robyn and Sive who represented their club last Sunday 21st May at the U15 development blitz in James Stephen’s Club Kilkenny.
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.
GREAT NEWS! We are delighted to announce that the club have been awarded €24,300 from The Community Recognition Fund to extend our car park on the Cork Road. This fund was set up to support the development of community facilities in recognition of the contribution being made in welcoming significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries. These works will allow us to create a larger and safer car park at the club grounds which will be required to meet our increased parking needs once the two new pitches have been completed. We acknowledge the assistance of Laois County Council in securing this funding.
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!
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.