CULLOHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE – Cullohill Community Centre / Handball Committee – Auction: The recent auction was a great success once again. With lots of items for sale and numerous vouchers as well as farm produce and firewood on sale, there was something for everyone. Many thanks to all including a wide cross section of businesses for their support through the various donations and to the crowd on the day who no doubt got some bargains! Thanks also to auctioneer David O’Connell.
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 28th January 2024 were: Joint First – Padraig and Noreen Ryan, Sean and Anna Burke; Joint Second – John and Kitty Farrell, Willie and Liam Dunphy. The Raffle Winners on the night were: Percy Phelan and Kevin Wolfe. A minutes silence was observed and condolences sent to Paddy Lalor and his family on the death of his wife Philomena.
May she Rest in Peace.
BALLYOUSKILL 25s CARDS GAME – Ballyouskill 25s Cards continues in Ballyouskill Community Hall on the last Friday of the month at 8pm. Usual prizes and a raffle on the night. The next game will be held on Friday the 23rd of February 2024 at 8pm sharp. All are welcome.
Results of monthly card game in Ballyouskill held on January 26th last: First – (14 games) Jim Brophy and Mick o Connor; Second – Jim Mooney and Helen Holland; Third – Vera Brennan and Margaret Doheny; Fourth – Joe Brennan and Eugene Murphy.
WHIST DRIVE: The Killermogh Whist Drive is held in the Parochial Hall, Cork Road, Durrow. The Next Whist drive is on Thursday 22nd February 2024 at 8pm. All are most welcome.
DURROW BRIDGE CLUB: Club meetings continue on Wednesdays at 7.30pm in the Castle Arms Hotel. All are most welcome.
COON HALL KILKENNY: Kilquan Players present Separate Beds by Sam Cree. Shows held on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th February at 8pm each night in Coon Hall, Co. Kilkenny R93 EC89. €10 Entry (no pre-booking). Raffles and Refreshments each night.
OSSORY CYCLING CLUB: Club spins from now to the end of February! New members and some old members can come along, all welcome to join us. We leave the square in Rathdowney every Sunday morning around 9:50am.
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 an Office Administrator 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 minimum of 12 months to apply. Please contact Astrid Andersson on 057 8736870 or andersson@durrowcs.com for further information.
AVAILABLE: Cleaner available around Durrow to do house cleans – with experience and has Garda Vetting. Phone 083 0261990 for more information.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Farm worker required in the Cullohill-Rathdowney area for a Dairy and Beef Farm (Dairy 150+ herd with a 12 unit double-up parlour including auto-wash). Duties to include milking, calf rearing, tractor work and general farm activities. Call (087) 2394015 for more information.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Casual Farm Worker required for a Sheep Farm in Cullohill. Experience of Lambing would be an advantage. Please contact Louise on (085) 7202367 for more information.
DURROW TIDY TOWNS: Thanks to everyone who supported our fundraising for planting this year by purchasing our Durrow Calendar.
If you still need a calendar, we’ve a limited few calendars for 2024 left and they have been reduced to €5, available in local shops or online so grab yourself a bargain and enjoy photos of Durrow all year round. Visit durrowscarecrowfestival.com/community-shop online.
CULLOHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL: Scoil Tighearnach Naofa, Cullohill is now accepting enrolments for incoming Junior Infants for September 2024. Enrolment forms are available from the school office on request, email scoiltnaofa@gmail.com. The deadline for application is Thursday, 29th February.
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 and dispel the winter evening blues 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.
THIRD LAOIS DURROW SCOUTS – Our Beaver and Cub Scout sections are currently at capacity for leader Ratios. If you are considering volunteering, love the outdoors and learning new skills then please consider joining the scout group. Email gldurrow@gmail.com with any questions or to put your name forward.
SPACES: Beaver (6-8 yrs) and Cubs (9-11yrs) have limited spaces available. Please email gldurrow@gmail.com to register.
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 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.
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 – 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 fáilte róimh cupán tae agus cúpla focail Gaeilge a labhairt no a canadh.
LEGO FREE PLAY – Lego Free Play will continue in the library every Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm. Children are welcome with parent/guardian supervision.
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.
——-
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 4.30 pm 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.
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 from April 26th to 28th and September 20th to 22nd 2024. For more details visit www.grasta.org or contact info@grasta.org by email.
The Priory Institute – Study Theology Online, is this for you? We provide online Theology courses to degree level. Attend Saturday lectures in Tallaght or from the comfort of your own home. Register before February 14th. Find out more on our website: www.prioryinstitute.com online.
——-
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, has been changed to (083) 4056021 as of July 14th 2023.
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!
CONGRATULATIONS to Ciaran Flynn, Bobby Murphy, Rory Dunne, Eoghan Murphy, Cody Comerford and Mark Downey who all are part of this year’s Laois U20 Hurling Panel. Best wishes to the lads and all the Laois U20 Team and management for the year ahead.
THE HARPS CAMOGIE CLUB: Follow all the latest news from the club at https://www.facebook.com/HarpsCamogie online.
THIRTY YEARS ANNIVERSARY: The Harps Camogie Club wishes to invite all past and present players and committee members to our 30 year Anniversary Dinner Dance and medal presentation. A great night guaranteed where we will be looking back on all our achievements over the last 30 years whilst presenting medals for our most recent success. On the night medals will be presented to our 2023 Junior County Final Winners, Junior Leinster Final Runners up Medals and 2023 Leinster League winners. More details to follow soon in relation to tickets. The event will be held in The Castle Arms Hotel on February 17th. Music by Sweet Freedom on the night.
APPEAL – We are looking for your Harps Camogie Club photos from the last 30 years so that we can display them at our Dinner Dance. If you have any photos of the teams throughout the past 30 years please get in contact with the Harps Camogie Club Facebook page.
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.
KILKENNY U14s: Well done to Kilkenny U14s who beat WWEC 5 – 1 on Sunday. All four Lions players involved as they continue preparations for the Kennedy Cup. Rian in goals, Danny in defence, Fionn in midfield and Alex in attack. Keep up the good work lads.
LADIES – WE WANT YOUR INPUT: Calling All Female Players, Past and Present: The FAI are currently investigating the reasons why females drop out of soccer within the Midlands Region, so they can provide a better pathway for females to play and stay in the game. If you are a past or current female player or female that did not play the sport, please complete the short survey at https://forms.gle/DEUvCw6JN4HVffrKA online.
RESULT: Pat Maher Shield Quater Final – Lions AFC 2 V 3 Ormonde Villa. Scorers: Darragh Kelly and Jim O’Connor.
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!
RIVER SUCK TRIP RESULTS: First – Shane Donohue with 9lb 14oz; Second – Tommy Coffey with 9lb 10oz; Third – Seamus Coffey with 7lb 6oz.
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.