Family Birthdays
We send happy birthday wishes to Frankie McGrath, Ballygarron on his recent birthday and also to his daughter Majella who also celebrated her birthday during the same week. We hope that they both enjoyed their special days and wish them both many more happy birthdays.
All Star Success
We congratulate our local hurler supreme Calum Lyons on his All Star nomination. This is so well deserved after the wonderful performances he gave to his Waterford team throughout the season. It was a much different year for hurling this year and Calum adapted well and gave 100% commitment and dedication to the management and coaching staff as well as to his team. This news of this nomination must have been a wonderful proud moment for Calum and his family who have always been a huge support to him.
Collection Continues
Our local soccer club are at present hosting a fundraising clothes collection. If you are having a good clear out of your presses and wardrobes while locked down at home and are wondering where to brings those items to to izryekg which are no longer of use, a little too tight or too loose if you are lucky or items which are a bit tired looking and need replacing. Ballyduff AFC will accept clothes,towels, blankets, bed linen, curtains, soft toys, shoes and handbags. Please place items in bags and drop to the dressing rooms at Ballyduff AFC any day between the hours of 11am and 4pm. This collection will run until around Valentines weekend so make room ladies because you know how our men will want to spoil us for Valentines. If you have some bags for the collection but do not have transport or are unable to be out and about please contact myself Linda Spillane on 087 9838392 and I will arrange for them to be collected.
Waterford Business Awards
Waterford Chambers have once again partnered with WLR and Dungarvan and West Waterford to present the Waterford Business Awards. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase wonderful businesses especially after such a difficult year for all those in my retail and hospitality. Each of the ten categories have now been shortlisted and I am delighted to see two local connections in those shortlists.
Shortlisted in the Tourism Activity/ Attraction of the Year Category is Waterford and Suir Valley Railway. I spoke to Maria Kyte about being shortlisted and she said “The Waterford Suir Valley railway crew are honoured and delighted to be short listed for the Waterford Business Awards. 2020 was challenging for everyone. The work place was very different. We were very fortunate to be able to operate for the Summer months as many enjoyed the railway experience and many more stopped at Kilmeaden station on Waterford Greenway. This app tis an acknowledgment of the effort put in by the whole crew to ensure all visitors to Kilmeaden aa station were in a safe sanitised environment.
Shortlisted in the Customer Service Excellence Category is the Fresh Food Courtyard in Dungarvan m which is owned mob popular Portlaw man Jimmy Burrows. I spoke to Jimmy and he said “We are delighted and honoured to be shortlisted in the Customer Service category of the Waterford Business awards. It is a great achievement for myself and the team at Fresh Food Courtyard ”
The winners will be announced
during a live virtual event on February 26th which will be live-streamed. The winners of each of the ten categories will then go head to head to claim the overall Waterford Business of the Year Award. This year there is a special entrepreneur of the year award sponsored by the Faithlegg Hotel. The winner of this award will be chosen by the judging panel and will only be revealed during the live-stream.
Message from Fr. Richard
” Dear Friends,
As our Christmas season ends for another year, on behalf of Fr. Mick and I extend to all our Parishioners and friends our sincere thanks for your support and generosity over Christmas.
Due to the ongoing pandemic Christmas was very different this year compared to any other. We asked you to consider celebrating Christmas mass over a number of days, not just Christmas Eve and Day. While this may have been very strange and not quite the same everyone still responded wholeheartedly and understood what we were trying to do in our effort to keep people safe and healthy.
Families made decisions to observe their faith celebrations for the good of all the community and as a family of Faith , we did celebrate safely and beautifully, the Mystery of the word made flesh the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Everyone who wanted to observe Christmas within their parish churches were able to do so and no one had to be turned away. This was made possible by the care and responsibility we showed one another and the great work of our sacristans and stewards. Added to this, many gave their time to care, prepare and cleanse our churches making them safe and beautiful as always for our celebrations. To all who who made this possible we are very thankful to you.
As always the Christmas collection for the support of the priests of the Parish and Diocese was taken up and you did not leave us down. Thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness which you show us in many ways. On behalf of Fr. Mick and I and all our colleagues in the diocese we want to say how grateful we are.
We continue to face the challenge and worry of COVID 19 but we shall rise as always to that challenge. We shall continue to care and watch out for each other and trust in the presence and love of God in our lives. He will not leave us down. May we all trust in the love of God for the New Year ahead.
Fr. Richard