Dr. Martin Centre
I received a message from the wonderful people in the Dr. Martin Day Centre in Portlaw and they would like to remind people that their services are not just for those living in the area. The centre remains open 3 days of the week but unfortunately due to Covid 19 restrictions they are unwelcome members into their building. However they would like you all to know that they are always available to offer help and support you in any way that they can and can be contacted by phone on 087-4611309. They encourage you to call if you need help and support or indeed if you are feeling lonely and just need someone to talk to. They can deliver a hot dinner to you or collect a prescription or some shopping, They are now able to deliver outside Portlaw so wherever you live help is available.
All computer classes will continue on Wednesday starting at 9.15am with Mary Curtis showing how to use the internet, how to email and the use of the smart phone. They are happy also to arrange the Emergency Response system(panic button) for you in your home. This is for anyone living alone or with health concerns. There is an excellent offer at the moment through Pobal where the first year monitoring is free and after that it is €66 per year. There is always help available at the centre so please call if you need it. A hot dinner can be delivered each day for just €7.50 but you need to ring in your order each day before 10.30am on 051 387111 or 087 4611309.
Are you interested in becoming a friend of the centre as a volunteer, if so please ring Alice Kiersey on the numbers above.
Ballyduff GAA
Our local club are looking for help from us as their local community as they strive to achieve access for all at their grounds. The club need to build a new accessible toilet unit with a baby changing area to ensure that all members of the community and visitors to the club of any age and ability can partake in excercise and utilise the facilities the club has to offer. They wish to devleop the grounds so all can share. They have opened a Go Fund me page which can be accessed through their Facebook page or indeed any committee member will help you.
A big thank you to Waterford Coaching & Co games Deise Og and especially John and Paudie for their time in coaching at the after school project over the last few weeks. It was great to see around 30 children in the field enjoying the excercise and having fun. This was a super initiative and the club were delighted to be involved. A big thank you also to all at Ballyduff NS for all their support.
The academy section of the club is really going from strength to strength with around 55 girls and boys last Saturday in the fields. Excercise and laughter under the blue skies sure what else could you ask for. The club are very grateful to all the coaches for helping out and are delighted to welcome some new faces. The Juvenile section of the club are embarking on a Winter training schedule as the season was very short this year and they have identified the need for children to participate in excercise for the good of their mental health. The days and times have been constructed so that they do not interfere in other activities children may have an interest in. The U10/11 is on Tuesdays from 6.15pm to 7.30pm, Wednesdays from 3.15pm to 4.15pm it’s the turn of the U7/8/9 and Saturdays from 10am to 11am it’s the academy section.
The club would like to express their sincere sympathy to their Juvenile Secretary Isabel O Neill on the recent death of her niece Lily May O Dwyer. Their thoughts are with both the Power and O Dwyer families.
Last Sunday evening was a very important and exciting evening for the U12 and U16 LGFA ladies. A social distancing presentation evening was held on line for these wonderful ladies who brought the County Champions title back to the club. A big thank you to RTE’s Marty Morrissey,Kevin McStay, Kerrys Colm Cooper, the 2 Johnnies and American comedian Josh Pray for giving their time to congratulate the girls. They were also joined on line by Mayo and Australian Rules footballer Cora Stauton, Dublins Siobhan Woods and Rebecca McDonnell, Waterfords Michelle Ryan, Aileen Wall, Rosie Landers, Chloe Fennell and Corks Briege Corkery for an on line panel.
The most important people on the night though were the young ladies from the LGFA section of the club who brought great pride to their club. I must say that I know a lot of these young ladies and their passion and dedication to their sport is addictive. I personally know that a lot of work and time went into giving these girls the recognition they richly deserve and a lady who will not mention her own name in any of these reports is our own Fiona Crotty Laffan. I know she had help from other individuals but Fiona gave a lot of time and work to making sure these girls had a presentation night to remember despite the restrictions of Covid 19. As an All Ireland winning footballer herself she knows all about dedication, committment but most of all she knows what its like to have real passion for a sport and so there can be no better example for these girls than the lady herself.
Recent Deaths
We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Tommy Lucas Adamstown who died recently. His funeral mass and burial took place in Butlerstown. We pray that this lovely quiet unassuming gentleman now rests in peace.
We also express our sympathy to local lady Sharon Flynn, Ardeenlone on the recent death of her father John Toms. John was a resident of Claremont, Cork Road and his funeral mass took place in St. Pauls church followed by burial in Butlerstown. Our deepest sympathy to Sharon and all her family.
Our heartfelt sympathy goes to Eugene and Siobhan Power, Ballyduff House on the recent sad passing of their beloved grandaughter. Lily May O Dwyer lived in the lovely Glenmore with her parents Una and John, her sisters Emma Kate and Marie Claire and her brother Denis. I can say that I had the absolute pleasure of knowing this young lady and the only description I can give you of her was that she was beauty personified with the soul and personality to match. At the tender age of just 19 she was far too young to go but she fought a battle with her illness like no other. She showed a strength and courage way beyond her years, she had a smile always on her face, she was reassuring people rather than the other way around. In her presence everyone felt special all people were the same to her and her great love for her family was evident to all. She had a wonderful relationship with all her cousins and when they all got together there was nothing only laughter to be heard. I have no words to give that provide any reasoning for the death of someone so young but I do believe that we all come to this earth for a reason. I think we are sent to do a job and spread as much joy and happiness as we can and maybe some get the job done faster than others. Lily May certainly knew her job and she perfected it from day one. She has left us all with great example and now if each one of us is just a little bit like her every day then wow what a world we will live in. To her heartbroken family we offer our comfort and support and hope that in the hard times ahead the wonderful memories you have will bring you some peace and comfort. Go bhfanfaidh a hanam milis anois agus go n-eitlionn si go hard leis na haingil .