Bridge News
The results from the last game played by Ballyduff/Portlaw Bridge club on Monday March 9th
1st: Peggy Murphy and Elizabeth Mooney.
2nd: Joan Hartery and Anne Kennedy.
3rd: Anne Marie Brown and Chris Pragnell.
New members are always welcome, please contact Anne Marie Brown on 087 6722482.
The club recently held their annual charity fundraiser night in aid of Daffodil Day for The Irish Cancer Society. The club’s players were joined by players from other clubs and €700 was raised for this very worthy cause. The club would like to thank all who attended and donated and made it such an enjoyable and successful night.
Smart Phone and Device Classes.
Kilmeaden Community Network Group will join with WWETB to offer some free Smart Phone and other devices classes. These classes will look at online activity, email, WhatsApp, messaging, using apps and much more. The classes will take place in Ballyduff Community Centre and dates will be decided once interest is gauged. To express your interest please contact Tricia Shannon on 087 2979332, email kilmeadencommunitynetwork@outlook.ie or contact any of the community network committee.
Ballyduff AFC
The club are on the lookout for a grounds person for the club, so if you qualify under the TUS or CE schemes, please send a direct message to the club on their Facebook page or contact a member of the committee.
The Ballyduff branch of the Man Utd supporters club are planning a trip to the Red Devils last home game on Sunday May 17th. If you are interested, please contact the club.
The club have released dates and details about their Easter and Summer Camps so check out details on their Facebook page.
The Football for All group at Ballyduff AFC is hugely popular and a very important part of the club’s weekly activities. Training will begin in late March, and the club are looking for a volunteer coach to help. If you are interested in hearing more, please contact Mike Masterson (Football for All Coordinator) on 087 6910091
Church News
Some important dates coming up in our church are Saturday May 2nd when the young boys and girl of our parish will make their First HolYour Notesy Communion and on Tuesday June 2nd our young men and women will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Trocaire boxes are still available in the church and you are asked to take one home and be as generous as possible. Holy Week will begin on Monday March 30th with Easter Sunday falling on April 5th.
Choir practice takes place every Wednesday evening at 8pm in the church and new members are always welcome.
The St. Nicholas Church Renovation committee launched phase 2 of their renovation plans on Wednesday March 4th in Ballyduff Community Centre. The committee are to be congratulated on all the wonderful work they have already completed with a special mention to Maurice Doyle who has given many hours of labour and materials voluntarilYour Notesy. It is now time to begin the task of painting inside and outside. All areas will need to be thoroughly washed down, repairs to plaster work, hire of height equipment and of course paint and labour.
The need to raise more funds is great and the committee are eager to get the word out there that they are very grateful to all who have already donated and sincerely ask those we may wish to donate to please do so. All donations are very welcome and can be paid through Bank Transfer, given to a committee or simply placed in the weekly offertory basket in an envelope marked Church Renovation Fund. We all understand that there are huge demands on everyone these days but would be delighted if you had something spare to see our beautiful church restored to its full glory. Our church has stood proudly watching over us all for over 200 years and has paid a huge role in our lives, the lives of our ancestors and will continue for the future generations. It is a place of worship, reflection, celebrations, quiet thought, a place of comfort and most importantly a place where community comes together in prayer and support of each other.
A huge thank you to local artist Lupita De Bhail who has donated a beautiful painting for auction, with all funds going directly to the Church Renovation Fund.
GAA News
Ballyduff Lower GAA, LGFA and Camogie is a club for all players and non-players, young and old. Club membership details and rates are now available with plans to suit all needs. Register now on www.foireann.ie Registration deadline is March 31st.
If anyone has any spare hurleys or helmets at home and would like to donate them to the club, please contact Jack Kennedy 087 9206373. These items will be put to great use by the club.
The club’s Well! Kids program began on Saturday March 7th in Tom Cheasty Park at 10am. This fun introduction to GAA for boys and girls aged 4-6 will run every Saturday morning and is a fun and inviting way for these young kids to learn basic skills, movement and coordination while making new friends and building their confidence. For more information, please contact Jack on 087-9206373. If you register before March 31st, you will receive a free hurley from Dylan Reade Hurleys.
Camogie training has now returned on Monday nights and the times for each age group are available on the club Facebook page. The club are looking for coaches to help with the U6/8’s group. If you are interested, please contact the secretary on 0868944780
St. Patrick’s Day.
Hopefully everyone has enjoyed a very happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day and have enjoyed the festivities. During his wonderful years as our Parish Priest, Fr. Mick O Byrne christened my Dad Noel O Sullivan as the Minister of Shamrock. Daddy sets out on his tour of the parish each year to find the best of the shamrock to provide for the priest and parishioners. This year was no exception, and he found a rather large spray of shamrock. Fr. Francis will need an extension on his vestments to wear this spray.
Quote for the Week.
When you choose to see the good in others
You end up finding the good in yourself.
Your Notes
If you would like to include any news in these notes please get in contact by Thursday at lunchtime. The email to contact is spillanelinda2017@gmail.com