Monthly Archives: January 2019

School Application, Happy Couple and Birthday Boy

GAA Lotto

The first lotto draw of 2019 has taken place and the numbers drawn were 9, 12, 13 and 23. There was no winner of the jackpot but the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Anne Atkins, Joe White and Sean Atkins. The next draw will take place on January 27th and will have a whopping jackpot of €12,500 up for grabs. Tickets cost just €2 or three for €5 and are on sale from all committee members and will be on sale at Centra on Saturday January 26th. Choose your four lucky numbers carefully and you could be in with a chance of winning that brilliant jackpot.

Bridge News.

The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club meet every Monday night and the results of the game played on 14th of January are as follows:

1st: Ann Tobin and William Tobin.

2nd: Anne Kennedy and Mary Kennedy.

3rd: Mary O Brien and Kathleen Collins.

4th/5th: Kate Hayes and Deirdre Phelan.

Geraldine McMahon and Nano Fitzgerald.

School Application.

Applications are now being accepted for enrolment in Ballyduff N.S for September 2019. The closing dates for applications is February 28th. For applications or more information you can contact the school office on 051-384414 from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm.

 

Happy Couple.

We wish every happiness to Aidan Millea and Shauna Mullally who recently announced their engagement. You have heard many times about all the wonderful things found under the tree at Spar but Aidan knew he had found the number one prize as he popped the question under the tree at The Gleneagle. We wish the happy couple every happiness as they plan their special day. I know of a very special set of grandparents looking down from above with pride as they think of their grandson walking down the aisle of the church that they served so well all their lives.

 

Community Alert.

The next meeting of our local community alert group will take place on Tuesday January 22nd at 7.30pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. Guest speaker on the night will be Mr. John Lonergan, former governor of Mount Joy. This promises to be a very interesting speech and an open invitation is extended to you all to come along and listen.

The community alert group operate a very successful text alert scheme which has proved very helpful in aiding the Gardai to prevent possible crimes. You will be alerted about any suspicious vehicles or activities in your area and its surrounds. It is also used to warn of road closures, road works, bad weather conditions etc. The cost of this for the year is just €5 and will be due for payment at the February meeting. If you are not on this text alert scheme already you are very welcome to join. You can give your name, mobile number and €5 to myself Linda Spillane or to Albert Kearns or MJ Healy.

Walk Together.

A reminder to you all that our local GAA club has joined forces with Operation Transformation and Getirelandwalking.ie and have registered themselves as part of the Ireland Lights Up programme. The club will open up their facilities every Thursday night from 7pm to 9pm from January 17th to February 21st. You are all invited to come along and join others for a healthy and safe walk under lights and you may even manage to get yourself on telly.

Dawn Players.

Local drama group Dawn Players are now putting the final touches to their show The Canaries. This is an hilarious comedy full of laughter and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. The Canaries will run nightly in Ballyduff N.S school hall from Wednesday January 30th to Saturday February 2nd at 8pm sharp. Tickets cost €12 and booking is now open on 087 6051309 or through the Dawn Players facebook page. Pre booking is highly recommended as there was disappointment last year when shows were sold out.

Knitting and Crochet.

Our local knitting and crochet group meet every Tuesday morning at 10am in Ballyduff Community Centre. This group is for all levels, so whether you can make a scarf for your goldfish or a designer coat for your poodle, you are welcome to come along and join in. If you would like some more information you can contact Jeni on 086-8163101.

Birthday Boy.
I want to send very special birthday wishes to a good friend of mine Mr. Frankie McGrath, Ballygarron who celebrated his birthday during the week. I know Frankie and his lovely wife Sheila are keen readers of these notes and I thank them for that. I have no doubt that Frankie was given a lovely birthday by Sheila, Majella and Trevor and all the extended family. I wish Frankie every good wish for good health and happiness for many years to come.

Drop Me A Line!

These notes are all about you and your community so if you would like something included please contact me Linda Spillane on 087-9838392 or spillanelinda2017@gmail.com by a Thursday night of each week. I do also operate the old method of paper and pen so always stop me if you see me out and about and I will jot the details down.

Off to the Canaries, Community Alert and Church News

Bridge News.

The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club have returned back after their Christmas break and the results of their latest game are as follows:
1st: Ann Marie Brown and Mary Prendergast.

2nd: Kathleen Collins and Patsy Roche.

3rd: Sean Hennessy and Nano Fitzgerald.

4th: Anna Harney and Aileen Stephenson.

Off To The Canaries

Our local Dawn Players drama group are very busy rehearsing for their upcoming production of “The Canaries”. The group first staged this play ten years ago and I can still remember laughing myself silly through the whole play. I highly recommend that you treat yourself to a ticket this time around if you are looking for a night of fun and laughter.

The play will run in the school hall of Ballyduff N.S from Wednesday 30th of January to Saturday February 2nd. Tickets will go on sale soon so keep an eye out in these notes and on the Dawn Players Facebook page for further details. Proceeds from the play will once again be shared between Ballyduff NS parents council, Ballyduff Hall Redevelopment Fund and Dawn Players so please show your support while enjoying a great night out.

New School Year.
Ballyduff NS are now accepting applications for enrolment for September 2019 and the closing date for these applications is February 28th. The school office can be contacted any day from Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm on 051-384414.

GAA News.

The club would like to congratulate Aoibhe Shankey and Aleisha Conte who lined out for Waterford recently. This is a great achievement and honour for the girls and the club. Their hard work and that of their teamates and coaches has certainly paid off.

Excitement is certainly building for Thursday January 17th when Ballyduff GAA club will open up their newly developed grounds as part of the Ireland Lights Up campaign. The club has joined forces with Operation Transformation to promote health and well being in their community. This venture is open to all every Thursday night from January 17th to February 21st from 7pm to 9pm. Registration will take place at 6.30pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to have a nice safe walk in a well lit area with plenty of company and there is also the possible opportunity of getting yourself on the telly. Break out that new lycra gear Santa brought to you and take those shiny runners out of the box and get yourself working towards that healthy body and mind. The club would like to say a big thank you to Jason King of Get Ireland Walking and Katherine Thomas from Operation Transformation, the word on the street is that you may see one of them on Thursday January 17th. Which one will it be I wonder??

Please consider sharing lifts with your friends and neighbours to get to the pitch as parking is limited.

Community Alert.
The next meeting of our local community alert group will take place on Tuesday January 22nd at 7.30pm. Our local group are very successful and active and are a vital asset in our area. We urge as many residents, business owners and organisations to come along to the monthly meetings. You are asked for nothing in return for your presence. We are all very proud of our community and we must all work together to ensure that it remains a safe and secure place for everyone living and working here and all those visiting it too.

The group are delighted to be welcoming a very popular and interesting speaker to the next meeting on Tuesday January 22nd at 7.30pm. Mr. John Lonergan former Governor of Mount Joy will be in attendance and always gives a very interesting speech. This is open to everyone and we hope to see a large crowd attend. Please spread the word to your friends and neighbours and maybe offer a lift to someone you know who may like to attend but needs transport. This is a great opportunity to hear his recollections and we are delighted that he has agreed to join us.

Church News

Fr. Mick and Fr.Richard have expressed a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to the recent priests collection at Christmas. They were truly honoured and thankful to receive such support and will include you all in their prayers.

A reminder that Holy Communion Day in Ballyduff this year will be Saturday May 11th. The children will soon begin their special Do This In Memory masses and will join with their community and take part in different aspects of the mass. We wish them well in their preparations.

Brides to be, Dawn Players and Get Walking

New Year Wishes

As we head in to another year I would like to wish each and every one of you the very best of health and happiness for the coming year. I am very grateful to all who have contributed to these notes and I hope that it will continue throughout 2019. Our local notes are an important way of getting news of events and occasions to the people of our community and beyond. If you have anything you would like me to include you can contact me on 051 399925, 087 9838392 or spillanelinda2017@gmail.com.

Recent Death

We extend our deepest sympathy to Pat Daly, Carrickphilip on the recent death of his mother. Mrs. Sarah Daly lived in their beautiful home at Orchardstown, Butlerstown. Sarahs funeral mass and burial took place in St. Nicholas’s church in Ballyduff. We extend our sincerest sympathy to all the Daly family and pray that Sarah now rests in peace.

 

Brides To Be!

Two local ladies have announced their engagements over the Christmas season and we wish them the very best of happiness.

Rachael Butler, Gortaclode said yes to her boyfriend Paul Wall and I know Rachaels mam Eleanor and brother Darren are delighted with the happy news.

Joyce Power, Lacka Road also said yes to that all important question from her boyfriend Peter Keane who hails from the beautiful county of Roscommon. I’m sure Joyces parents Pat and Peg and brothers Colman and Brian will be ready and willing to help with wedding plans.

 

Knitting and Crochet Group

Our local knitting and crochet group meet every Tuesday morning at 10am in Ballyduff Community Centre. This group is open to all and for all levels whether you are a real beginner or an expert on the needles. I’ve seen first hand some of the fantastic items this class has produced and I must say I was very impressed.

If you would like to learn the art of crochet, a 6 week class takes place on Monday evenings from 7pm to 8pm. If you are interested or would like any more information please contact Jeni on 086 8163101.

 

Dawn Players

Our local Dawn Players Drama Group are busy rehearsing for their next production which is the hilarious comedy “The Canaries”. Their production will run from Wednesday January 30th to Saturday February 2nd and I promise you that you will thoroughly enjoy it. Keep an eye on these notes weekly and I will give you the very latest on the cast and crew.

Community Alert

Our local community alert group will hold their next meeting on Tuesday January 22nd at 7.30pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. The group are delighted to announce that the special guest at the meeting will be former govenor of Mount Joy Mr. John Lonergan. You may have heard Mr. Lonergan speak many times on the television and radio and know that he is a very interesting speaker. The group would love to see a large crowd attend this meeting and ask that you spread the word to your neighbours and friends. Your local community group is exactly what it suggests it is a group for you and your community and it is important that this group is supported and kept going. Our group is known as one of the most successful community alert groups in the area and our text alert scheme has helped the Guards on many occasions.

Get Walking.

Now that all the Christmas treats have been eaten you may be thinking of taking up some excercise for the New Year. Unfortunately sometimes we can be put off by the dark evenings and the safety of walking the roads. Well there is no need to worry because our local GAA club have joined forces with Operation Transformation and Getirelandwalking.ie and will open up their facilities to all on Thursday nights from January 17th to February 21st from 7pm to 9pm. You are all invited to come along and enjoy a safe healthy walk in a well lit up area. Brush the worries of the day off while enjoying some great company and join in with your community as they come together for Ireland Lights Up 2019.