Bridge News.
The results of the latest bridge game are as follows:
1st: Geraldine McMahon and Joan Hartery.
2nd: Patsy Roche and John Fitzpatrick.
3rd: Peggy Murphy and Ann Marie Brown
4th: Pauline Fanning and Ian Granden.
Tractor Run.
The Kilmeaden Vintage Tractor club will host their annual tractor run on Sunday July 17th. They will depart from Haughtons at 1pm sharp and take in the beautiful scenery of our area. If you would like to get some more information on this event then please contact Pat Fitzgerald on 087-1647266. All proceeds on the day go to The Solas Centre.
Cemetery Mass.
The annual graveyard mass in Ballyduff will take place on Wednesday July 13th at 7.30pm and we would ask that you would spread this information to people in neighbouring parishes and beyond who have relatives or friends buried in our graveyard. We make a special plea to you all if you are tidying up your graves then please bring a rubbish bag and bring home any old wreaths or flowers you may have to dispose of. This all helps to keep our graveyard looking clean and tidy and I think that you will all agree that’s what our loved ones deserve.
After the mass we will serve some tea and light refreshments in the community centre. This is a lovely opportunity for people to get together for a chat. If you would like to donate some home baking etc then please contact me Linda Spillane and we would be very grateful.
School’s Out.
Ballyduff NS have now broken up for their annual Summer holidays and we wish all the pupils and staff a very safe and happy Summer. I had the pleasure of attending their final assembly on the day they got their holidays. It was lovely to see pupils receive their medals of participation in hurling, football and basketball. Many students also received full attendance certificates. I was actually disappointed not to receive one myself for being there every day myself but I suppose you have to go further than the carpark. A special framed attendance cert was presented to 6th class student Sean O Rourke who hadn’t missed a day during his 8 years in primary school. What dedication and commitment that takes, traits which will stand to him throughout his life. I know his parents Gavin and Nicola are very proud of him and what a fine example he is showing his sisters Lexi and Ciara and I can say that there are some very proud grandparents too!!
Sacristans Collection.
As you all know by now we have a new church sacristan with a number of months and what a wonderful job she is doing. Ann Nolan who lives in the shadow of the church in Ballyduff Village has taken to the role as a duck to water and to me personally that is no surprise. Ann has a warm and welcoming nature and takes her work very seriously and gives great attention to detail. Speaking to Ann recently she told me that she is really enjoying the role and loves meeting all the different people. We all know that this by no means an easy job, it takes great commitment and there is a lot to remember. We can show our appreciation by contributing to the annual sacristans collection which will be taken up by means of a second collection at the weekend masses on Saturday July 9th and Sunday July 10th. We trust that you will be as generous as possible.
All Ireland.
We have another All Ireland winner in our parish. Billy Flanagan from Amberhill took home the title recently with his All Ireland winning pigeons. I happened to see some of these pigeons in action one day when I came across Billy releasing them for a practice run. I was amazed when he told me about the distances then can travel and then simply arrive home to Amberhill.Of course there is a lot of training and commitment needed to excel in this sport and that hard work reaps the awards. Billy will soon represent his country in the World Championships and we wish him the very best of luck.
GAA Academy
Our local U8 footballers recently hosted a blitz in Tom Cheasty Park competing against four teams. This squad of players once again gave a fantastic evening of entertainment winning two of their games. This is brilliant when you remember that most of the squad are U7 and half of them are U6. Well done to their fan club who cheered them on from the sideline and provided a great atmosphere..Thank you to Chloe and Ross for their assistance with refereeing on the night.
100 years.
Kilmeaden Co-op will celebrate its centenary with a great day of celebrations at Countrylife in Kilmeaden next Friday July 8th. The centenary committee have been working hard to organise this celebration and have been putting together as much information and photgraphs that they could get their hands on and will have them on display. There will be plenty of offers and discounts in store, a free bbq, tea ,sandwiches, bouncy castle and face painting. WLR will broadcast from the store from 12 noon to 3pm. The committee hope to see old customers and new, former workers and colleagues. Come along and help celebrate 100 years of the great institution which was and is the Co-op.