Summer Concert, A True Character and Halley on Fire

GAA Lotto

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 3, 19, 20 and 27. There was no winner of the jackpot but the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Rose, Susan and Kathleen O Toole, Renee Power and Michael Power. The next draw will take place on July 28th and there will be a fantastic jackpot of €12,500 up for grabs.

Tickets cost just €2 each or three for €5 and are on sale from all committee members and will also be on sale at Centra on Saturday July 27th. Choose those four lucky numbers carefully and you could be planning your shopping spree.

Newcastle Graveyard Mass

The annual graveyard mass at Newcastle cemetery takes place on Wednesday July 24th at 7.30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for us all to remember our ancestors and pray for all those buried in the graveyard, some of them in unmarked graves. Of course our ancestors would have always walked to mass so in their memory a faith walk will leave Ballyduff church at 6.30pm and make its way to Newcastle cemetery for the 7.30pm mass.

Summer Concert

On Saturday August 10th Fairbrook House will host their yearly concert in the garden or in the museum in case of rain. The organisers are delighted to welcome international performing cellist,singer and composer Vincent de Lange. Based in Amsterdam he will perform a selection of music from Neapolitan songs, parts of Bach suites, some of his own compositions and two Irish songs, accompanying himself on cello.

During the interval you are invited to enjoy a stroll in the garden, a view in the museum and some bubbles and nibbles.

The second half of the show will see Lithuanian/Israeli singer Raimonda Masiulyte perform a wonderful blend of music that transcends the boundaries of Jazz, Soul and Gospel. Now based in Dublin her voice enchants and has taken her all over the world. Accompanying her on guitar will be Hugh Buckley.

There will be two chances on the day for you to enjoy this concert, the first from 1pm to 3pm and the second from 5pm to 7pm. For more information please call 051-384657 or email artmastenbroek@gmail.com or visit www.fairbrook-house.com

GAA News

The U10’s put in a great performance in the league as they defeated Ferrybank 5-2 to 1-2. There were some superb performances and a big thanks to all their coaches for the time they put in.

The U16 County Football panel saw some great club men taking part in the Munster Tournament. A big well done to Cian Bolger, Aaron Cheasty, Devin Keogh and Keith Millea who are a credit to their parents and their coaches.

A great morning of fun was had by the boys and girls from the academy section as they welcomed Kilmacow for a blitz. It is amazing to see the way this young group are developing their skills every week. A big thank you to all who provided the wonderful selection of cakes and refreshments.

Our Junior Footballers had two impressive wins last week beating St. Mollerans 4-14 to 3-9 and Dunhill 5-5 to 1-7. This team are looking good for the final stages and hopefully they will bring home some more silverware.

How wonderful to see almost 90 children in Kildermody last week enjoying the annual Cul Camp. What a wonderful experience for them all to enjoy the freedom to run around having fun with their friends, making new friends and learning the skills of the games. I must say I have been dropping and collecting two little friends of mine from it and they are full of praise and compliments and had an absolute ball everyday. I have to say also that the gear and bags that they received looked brilliant.

Quiz Time Beckons!

I have met many of you during the week who are busy getting ready for the Quiz Night which is fast approaching. Of course some of you didn’t even see me because you had your heads stuck in a book. The Juvenile section of our local GAA club will host this quiz in the hope of raising some money to purchase some equipment. The Sweep Bar and Restaurant is the venue on Friday July 26th with a start time of 8pm. A team of four will cost €20 and there will be prizes on the night and of course the customary raffle. Quizmaster will be Gavin Whelan and this promises to be a brilliant night for club and community.

Halley On Fire

I’m sure as you are out and about you will have often met Ballyshunnock man Eamon Halley out cycling. Mind you if you did happen to blink as he was approaching you probably hadn’t a hope of seeing him.

As well as being a proud member of the Portlaw Village Wheelers Cycling Club, he is also a member of the Waterford Racing Club. Last week he headed off to Golden for the Willie Slattery Memorial series of races hosted by Tipp Wheelers. I am delighted to report back that Eamonn had a great race and returned home in 4th position. A big well done to Eamonn who puts a lot of work into his training. We wish him continued success.

A True Character

We were all saddened this week to hear of the death of Arthur Curry Snr, Ballyduff. Arthur was definetely a character and a half never afraid to speak his mind and always ready with a story to tell. Hailing from Liverpool he was always proud of his roots. However once coming to Ireland and meeting the love of his life Cait there was no going back for him and it was here in Ballyduff that they would make their home and raise their children Arthur and Elizabeth and in later years enjoy the company of grandchildren Jordan, Emily and Ali.

Arthur spent his working life as an electrician and spent many years working in Kilmeaden Cheese Factory which of course was a great employer here for many years. Arthur when in good health loved to socialise with friends and enjoyed nothing better than a good pint and a chat.

Arthur of course is predeceased by his wonderful wife Cait and we hope that the family will draw comfort from knowing that the two will now be reunited once again. We pray that they both now rest in peace where pain and suffering is no more and they will enjoy the peace and comfort of heaven.

Memorial Fun Run/Walk

The annual Liz(Eilis) Hayes Memorial Fun Run/Walk is now getting close and the training is stepping up. On Friday August 9th the walkers will leave Ballyduff Village at 6.45pm while the runners will take off at 7.30pm. Entry is €10 and €5 for the walkers. All money raised will go to Ballyduff Community Centre Redevelopment fund and Focus Ireland. Timings will be kindly taken care of by the West Waterord Athletic Club and refreshments will be served after the race in the community centre. Prizegiving will also take place in the community centre with lots of prizes up for grabs. This is always a wonderful community event in memory of a lady who not only was a great athlete herself but also a true community spirited person who always put others needs in front of her own. Come along and join in the fun.

All Ireland Final

A reminder that Waterfords U16 lady footballers will take on Longford in the All Ireland final on Wednesday July 24th at 7pm in St. Brendans Park, Birr, Co. Offaly. We wish the very best of luck to all the girls, their coaches and background team with a special mention to their mentor Fiona Crotty Laffan. We will be cheering you all on

Tractor Run, Keep up the Training and All Ireland Awaits

New Appointment.

We send our warmest congratulations to Fr. Richard O Halloran who has been appointed as Parish Priest of Ballyduff/Portlaw. This is a just reward for Fr. Richard who gives such committment and dedication to the people of the parish. This is not to say that he has pushed Fr. Mick out of his position, Fr. Mick is absolutely thrilled to have gotten his wish to become an AP (assissting priest) which will mean he will still be saying masses etc but can take a step back from the book work and running of the parish. He and Fr. Richard have built up a very good working relaionship and friendship so Fr. Mick is happy to hand over the reins and take a back seat. Both priests will remain living in their present houses and we wish them both every happiness. We are very thankful that we get to keep them both and look forward to their continued ministery.

Tractor Run.

The countdown is on to the annual Kilmeaden Vintage Tractor Club’s tractor run in aid of The Solas Centre. These fine vehicles are getting their final touches, crankshafts are being oiled up, bumpers polished and the overalls and peaked hats are being freshly washed. At 1pm on Sunday July 21st this fine selection of vehicles will take off from Haughtons and travel a lovely scenic route around the Kilmeaden area. On their return the barbeque will be fired up and Gerry and Margaret have promised to have a few cold bottles of lemonade ready for the thirsty travellers. If you feel a bit bloated after the burgers and lemonade then don’t worry as John O Shea will be on hand to get you dancing the night away. What a great way to spend your Sunday with great entertainment, chats and laughs. This is always a wonderful day with a great atmosphere from start to finish. The extra added bonus is of course that you are supporting a fabulous charity. The Solas Centre give unbelievable support to both patients and their families. Please come along and support this very worthy event.

Newcastle Mass.

The annual graveyard mass at the old cemetery in Newcastle will take place on Wednesday July 24th at 7.30pm. Buried in this graveyard are many of our ancestors many in unmarked graves. It is important that we remember these people who played such a huge part in our history. Of course all these people would have walked to mass each week and so in remembrance of them a faith walk will leave Ballyduff Church at 6.30pm and will make its way to Newcastle in time for mass. The chalice which will be used on the night is over 100 years old and would have been used at the Newcastle masses.

Thinking Caps.

The Juvenile section of our local GAA club will host a table quiz on Friday July 26th at 8pm in The Sweep Bar and Restaurant.The entry fee is €20 for a table of 4 and Quizmaster on the night will be Gavin Whelan. All are welcome to come along and join the fun. You still have a bit of time to head to the library and study but remember to choose your team carefully cause you dont want someone saying the capital of France is F.

Recent Deaths.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Al Bowman, Stonehouse on the recent death of his sister Joan Flynn of Mount Sion Avenue. Joans funeral mass took place in Ballybricken and she was laid to rest in St. Otterans cemetery. May she rest in peace.

We also send our sympathy to Paul Millea, Newtown on the death of his uncle Seamus Flynn who lived in Mallow. Seamus was a retired Garda and his funeral mass took place in the Church of the Ressurection, Mallow followed by cremation to the Island Crematorium, Ringaskiddy. Ar Dheis De Go Raibh Se

Our sympathies go to the family and friends of Michael(Mixie) O Brien of Raheen. Michael was a native of Mooncoin but has lived this side of the river for many a year. His funeral mass took place in the Church of he Sacred Heart, Dunhill with burial in the adjoining graveyard. May he rest in peace.

Keep up the Training.

The Liz(Eilis) Hayes Memorial Fun Run/Walk will take place on Friday August 9th leaving from Ballyduff Lower Village and travelling 5 miles around the beautiful scenic Knockaderry Lake.It is hard to believe that this is the 8th year of this event and we are very grateful to se2 who have once again come on as sponsors.

Entry is €10 and €5 for those wishing to walk the route. All money raised goes to the Ballyduff Community Centre and Focus Ireland. There will be cash prizes for the first three males and females home along with the first over 40’s and 50’s males/females. The frst junior home will also receive a prize and there will be lots of spot prizes sponsored by local businesses along the way also. Come along and join in this wonderful atmosphere.

All Ireland Awaits

Waterfords U16 lady footballers headed to Offaly on Wednesday July 10th to take on the Connacht champions Roscommon in the U16 All Ireland semi final. Twelve clubs from across Waterford are represented on this panel . One of their mentors is our own Fiona Crotty Laffan who herself is an All Ireland winner in ladies football. Fiona praises these girls for their tremendous work ethic and dedication to their sport. They have a great team of people around them and when talking to Fiona she was very hopeful that this group of girls would make it through to the final. Well that’s exactly what they did. The girls were one point down heading in at half time but came back out on a mission to win. Even when they were reduced down to 14 after their mid fielder was sin binned for 10 minutes they kept fighting and were rewarded with two goals ,one from Hayley Phelan from a free on the 21 yard line and Maeve Sheridan sent in another goal during injury time and secured their place in the final. The final scoreline was Roscommon 1-11 Waterford 5-06.

This is a fabulous achievement for these girls and now look forward to their All Ireland meeting with Athlone on Wednesday July 24th. If at all possible I urge you to get out and support these girls. Best of luck to all the girls and Fiona and all the fabulous support team they have around them

Graveyard Mass, Wedding Bells and Pretty little Girl

GAA Lotto

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 11, 20, 22 and 24 and there was no winner of the jackpot. The three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Michelle Dunphy, Eleanor O Brien and Miriam Daly. The next draw will take place on July 14th and the fantastic jackpot of €12,500 will be up for grabs.

Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 for €5 and are on sale from all committee members and will be on sale outside Centra on Saturday July 13th. The biggest job you have to do is to choose those four lucky numbers and then decide how you will spend your winnings.

More Success

Congratulations to Kilmeaden man Matteo Mary who has been selected to represent the Irish School Athletic Association Team at the upcoming SIAB Track and Field Championships which will take place on Saturday July 20th in Swansea, Wales. Matteo will compete in the 1500m representing his school, St. Declans Community College, Kilmacthomas.

Matteo has always given great committment and dedication to his sport and so it wonderful to see it being rewarded. We will all be wishing Matteo the very best as he heads for Wales and hope that he enjoys the experience.

Graveyard Mass

We were certainly blessed with glorious weather for our annual graveyard mass in Ballyduf last Wednesday. Beautiful rays of sunshine beamed down on our extremely well kept graveyard. During the mass in fact Fr. O Byrne asked those attending to give a round of applause to the wonderful Michael Junior Power who looks after the graveyard grounds and keeps them in such fine order. Junior always puts 110% into every job he takes on and carries out his work with a warm hello for everyone and a song to accompany the whistling birds. Also during his sermon Fr. Mick reminded people to bring home old flowers and wreaths in a rubbish bag as there are no dumping facilities in the graveyard.

Concelebrating mass with Fr. Mick was our very own Fr. John Harris and it was lovely to have him on home ground for the evening. The mass was beautiful and was enhanced greatly by the singing from St. Nicholas church choir.

Once mass was over it was back to the community centre for some tea and light refreshments. I would personally like to thank all those who dropped in some home baking and donated cakes, biscuits etc. A big thank you to all who helped me serve and wash up also. I am very grateful to Christine, Aisling, Siobhan, Ava and Adam. This is always a lovely evening and nice for people to meet up after mass for a cuppa and a chat.

A Real Character

There was only one heading I could have chosen when writing about this gentleman as he was most definetely a real character. Last week we all mourned the loss of Jack(Jackie) Connolly from Knockaderry. Jackies family were employed by Waterford County Council as caretakers of Knockaderry Lake. He met the love of his life Joanie and they married in 1954. They lived and raised their children by the scenic Knockaderry Lake and Jackie cared for the lake with great pride and care just as his father and grandfather had done before him.

My first meetings with Jackie were in my childhood years when he would call to my own father regularly and even though I was young I could spot a rogue and knew I had met a messer and a joker. Following on a few years I spent many a happy time when I worked in the shop and Post Office laughing and joking with the “bold” Jackie as I called him. He had a rogues eye and one of the most contagious laughs you’ll ever hear.

Following the death of his beloved Joanie he moved to Ballyvalican and was very happy sharing a home with Elizabeth and her family. Jackie loved his family dearly and was always on hand to help with anything they needed. He was most certainly a peoples person loving a chat and a laugh with all he met. He also loved a good game of cards and of course never cheated!! He told me that himself so it must be true !! His other great loves were his dogs who were always his companion so I thought it was very fitting on the morning of his funeral mass that a little terrier came into the church for a little walk around, he also joined us down in the graveyard for the burial.If that’s not a sign I don’t know what is.

Our deepest sympathy to Jackies daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren, brothers, sisters and all his family and many friends. We pray that Jackie is now reunited with his beloved Joanie and will enjoy the peace and happiness of Gods heavenly kingdom. Ar Dheis De Go Raibh Se

Tractor Run.

The Kilmeaden Vintage Tractor Club will host their annual tractor run on Sunday July 21st. The run will leave from Haughtons at 1pm and will head out and about through our beautiful scenic surroundings. This is always a great day out with some fine machines on show. There is always a brilliant atmosphere and something for all ages to enjoy. On returning back to Haughtons, Gerry and Margaret will have the barbeque fired up and a few cold lemonades on ice. Of course if that wasn’t spoiling you enough, our very own DJ supreme John O Shea will be on hand to have you up and dancing round your Massey. Of course all money raised on the day goes to The Solas Centre in Waterford. Nobody reading this needs me to tell you about the wonderful work this charity not only for patients but for their whole family. Buckets will be passed around on the day and I ask that you be as generous as possible. If you would like any further information about the Tractor Run please contact Pat on 087-2216589.

 

Newcastle Mass

The annual cemetery mass in the old graveyard in Newcastle will take place on Wednesday July 24th at 7.30pm. Many of our ancestors are buried in Newcastle and many in unmarked graves. In honour of our ancestors whose only way to get to mass was to walk, a faith walk will leave at 6.30pm from Ballyduff and walk to Newcastle cemetery. All are welcome to join in.

 

Wedding Bells
I was thrilled and delighted this week to hear of the engagement of Ciara Larkin, Powersknock to the love of her life Kevin Burns. Kevin is of course is very well known in sporting circles but this is most definetely the match of his life and he is a winner from the very beginning. This lovely couple have been dating for 8 years and it was on this 8th anniversary that Kevin decided to pop the all important question and thankfully she said yes.

This happy couple really are a match made in heaven and we wish them both all the happiness in the world.

Memorial Run/Walk

The 8th annual Liz (Eilis) Hayes Memorial Fun Run/Walk will take place on Friday August 9th. Entry to this event is €10 for the race and €5 for the walkers. This 5 mile race takes off from Ballyduff Community Centre and takes you around the stunning Knockaderry Lake. There are prizes for the first three males and females and also prizes for the first over 40 and over 50 male and female and a prize for the first junior.

There is always a great atmosphere at this event and all are welcome to join in. Walkers will head off at 6.45pm while the runners will go at 7.30pm. All money raised will go to the Ballyduff Community Centre Redevelopment fund and Focus Ireland. The good people from the West Waterford Athletics club will once again take care of the timings etc. All are welcome to come along and join in the fun and I will have more details in the coming weeks so stay tuned.

Pretty Little Girl
We send warm congratulations to Gavin and Nicola O Rourke, Ballygarron on the recent birth of their beautiful daughter Emma. Emma is a very lucky girl to have big brother Sean and big sisters Lexi and Ciara ready to teach her the ways of the world. We wish this happy little family the very best of health and happiness.

Kilmeaden Beauty, Fantastic Achievement and Graduation Day

Kilmeaden Beauty

Heartiest congratulations to Kilmeadens own Katie Keogh who last week won the title of Miss Waterford. Katie was persuaded to enter the competition as a representative of Coach House Coffee in Kilmacthomas and did so thinking it would be good fun and a good experience. She was in shock when she was announced as the overall winner. I have known Katie for a number of years and to me she radiates beauty both inside and out.I know her parents and brothers and sisters are very proud of her and of course her gorgeous niece Erica will be able to give lots of tips for hair and make up as I met her the other day sporting some great blue hair extensions. We wish Katie the very best for the future and hope that she enjoys the whole experience and adventure.

Graveyard Mass.

Our annual graveyard mass in Ballyduff cemetery will take place on Wednesday July 3rd at 7.30pm. This always draws a large crowd and we ask you to please let those outside the parish who have relatives or friends buried here know about the mass. If you are visiting your loved ones grave in the coming days to perhaps freshen up flowers etc please bring along a bin bag or box with you so you can take home any rotten flowers, wreaths etc. We do not have bins at our graveyard and work hard to keep it looking clean and tidy.

Tractor Run.

Our local Kilmeaden Vintage Tractor Club are pleased to announce that they will hold their annual tractor run on Sunday July 21st. This is always one of favourite days out in the year and it always draws a crowd. The run will leave from Haughtons at 1pm and will then follow a beautiful scenic route. Following their arrival back two Haughtons, the barbeque will be on the go and there will be lots of chat going and maybe a lemonade or two. All proceeds every year goes to The Solas Centre and we are all aware of the wonderful work they do every day of the year. If you would like any other information about the run please call 087-2216589.

Running Shoes.

A big well done to all from our locality who took part in Viking Marathon, half marathon and quarter marathon last weekend. We also had locals who headed off to Cork to take part in the Iron Man. Well done also to my own husband Brian and his teamates from The Village Wheelerswho took part in The Tour of the Burren cycle.

 

Fantastic Achievement!

A big well done to local boy Charlie Laffan who travelled to Bratislava last week to take part in the WUKF World Karate championships. Charlie is a member of the Pat Rockett Karate and Kickboxing academy and he competed brilliantly in his age group. There were 38 competitors n his group and Charlie emerged as 5th in the world in his group. This really is a fantastic achievement at the tender age of just 12 and we congratulate Charlie.

The Pat Rockett academy returmed home with 9 Gold,2 Silver and 15 bronze World medals which is just fantastic. Well done again Charlie we are all so proud of you.

GAA News.
In the Intermediate hurling championship Ballyduff had a good win over St. Saviours on a scoreline of 2-24 to 2-10. There was a great display of hurling with some fantastic scores. A big thank you to all the supporters who cheered them on . They remain unbeaten at this stage.

It has been a busy time in the Juvenile Section with the U8’s playing a couple of blitz competitions and have done very well and have had lots of fun. The U11’s continue to battle through a difficult league. The U10 hurlers were defeated by Portlaw but were missing some players. The U14 girls put in a stellar performance and narrowly missed out on the County Final.

There was a great day in Ballyduff N.S last Wednesday with a visit from the great Kevin Moran. Kevin dropped into present the victorious U11 hurlers with their medals and also to the boys and girls who were winners and runners up in the lunchtime league. The club would like to acknowledge the work put in during the year by Mr. Stapleton, Mr. Carey and Ms. Sinnott and Ms. Power for facilitating this. The relationship between the club and school is very strong and that can only benefit the school, club and kids. Mr. Carey took lots of photos so there will be plenty available to have a look at.

Bundle of Joy

We send our warmest congratulations to Ballyduff N.S teacher Karen Power and her husband John Paul Browne on the recent birth of their beautiful baby daughter Mia. We welcome Mia into the world and look forward to meeting her. We wish the happy little family every happiness for the future.

Graduation Day

As I write these notes I am just home from the 6th class graduation mass and celebration. It was a very emotional night and a wonderful night of memories. My own son Adam was one of the students graduating and it is my own time to finish with primary school.

The night began with a beautiful mass celebrated by Fr. O Byrne and each of the students played a part in the mass. The St. Nicholas’s church choir joined the students and sang beautifully throughout the mass. Their principal Ms. Power spoke to the students and congratulated them on being such a great class and such a good example to the younger students. Each student was presented with a lovely certificate and then it was back to their school hall to enjoy some lovely refreshments thanks to the parents and the wonderful Parents Council. A big thank you to all who baked and donated cakes and a special thank you to Martina in Milestone Coffee House who donated some lovely cakes. The students then received a new red hoodie with their fellow classmates names on them and I must say they looked fantastic. Mr. Carey really got the emotions going when he showed a video collection of photos from the last 8 years. It really was a wonderful night for a great bunch of kids. A big thank to Mr. Carey who made their last year so special and to all the school staff who have made their time in primary school comfortable and hassle free. As a former pupil of Ballyduff NS I have always said that we are very lucky to have such a brilliant school with lots of opportunities and great facilities. It has been an honour to send my two children to Ballyduff NS and I hope that all the students of 2018/2019 go on to have more wonderful years in secondary school. Thank you Ballyduff NS for all the memories and friendship and for giving our children the best possible start in life.

Our Sympathies, Tractor Run and Pink for Cancer Research

Bridge News.

The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club played their latest game on Monday June 17th and the results were:
1st: Nano Fitzgerald and Kate Hayes.

2nd: Theresa Phelan and Ann Marie Brown.

3rd: Elizabeth Phelan and Iris Graham.

4th: Joan Hartrey and Patsy Roche.

GAA Lotto.
The numbers drawn in the latest GAA lotto draw were 7, 12, 26 and 27. There was no winner of the jackpot but the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Alice O Brien, Eoin Cummins and Catriona Dunphy. The next draw will take place on Sunday June 30th and there will be a fantastic jackpot of €12,500 up for grabs. Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 for €5 and are available from all committee members and will also be on sale at Centra on Saturday June 29th. All is left for you to do now is to choose those four lucky numbers and then plan your spending spree.

Our Sympathies.

We extend our sympathies to Michael Connolly of Cullinagh on the recent death of his brother Maurice. Maurice was of course a native of this parish but died at his home in Foulksmills, Co. Wexford. He was a gifted author and playwright and also spent some years as an auctioneer with his brother Michael. We send our condolences to all the Connolly family on their sad loss.

We also send our heartfelt sympathies to Jenny Doyle, Ballyduff West on the recent death of her mother Anna Hennessy. Anna lived in Borris, Co. Carlow and I can say that I had the great pleasure of meeting her many times. I can honestly say that she was without doubt a real lady who was always happy to meet you and have a chat and absolutely adored her family. Her and her husband Peter were constant companions and made many visits to Ballyduff West. We pray that Anna now enjoys the peace of heaven and that her husband Peter, children Jenny and Austin, son in law Noel and beloved grandchildren Hannah and Finn will find comfort in their memories. May her sweet gentle soul rest in peace.

Mass Bookings

Anniversary mass bookings for the months of July, August and September have now been taken but don’t worry there are still dates available. If you would like to book a mass for a loved one during those months please contact myself Linda Spillane on 087-9838392 and I will try to accomodate you.

Tractor Run.

The date for the popular annual tractor run hosted by Kilmeaden Vintage Tractor has been announced. Mark your diary for Sunday July 21st when at 1pm the convoy of tractors will leave Haughtons and take on a scenic route around the area. This is always a much looked forward to event and is always a great day out. Following the run its back to Haughtons for a tasty barbeque and a few lemonades. All of the proceeds from this day goes to The Solas Centre so please support by coming along and enjoying a great event. I will be reminding you of this date in the coming weeks so stay tuned for more details. In the meantime if you want any further information please contact Pat on 087-2216589.

New Wheels

We send warm congratulations to Mrs. Carmel Nugent, Matthews Cross who recently won a Toyota Yaris Hybrid in the St.Dominics Credit Union monthly members car draw. We wish Carmel the very best and congratulate her on this fantastic win.

 

Little Princess.

Heartiest congratulations to Mark Scannell and Aoife Kearns on the recent birth of their beautiful baby girl. Baby Cara arrived into the world happy and healthy and ready for action and that she better be as big sister Erina is ready and willing to show her new sister just how to get on in this world. This happy couple are truly blessed with two beautiful girls and we wish the happy little family a lifetime of health and happiness.

 

Pink For Cancer Research

Silage season is well and truly underway and while driving around different parts of the county I am delighted to see so many fields full of beautifully wrapped pink bales. For the fifth year Glanbia Agribusiness have joined with Breast Cancer Ireland to raise funds for this very worthy charity. For every single roll of limited edition pink Mastercrop Agristretch purchased across all Glanbia Agribusiness and Glanbia Countrylife branches a donation will be made to Breast Cancer Ireland.

It is heartwarming to see so many farmers embracing this worthy cause and I was delighted this week to see my good neighbour and friend Michael Power pledging his support by wrapping his bales in pink. Hopefully the good people in the papers have included a photo of these bales that I have sent in with these notes. Well done to Michael and the Power family who are always such great supporters of charity and thank you on behalf of all who benefit from the services of this charity.

Graveyard Mass.

The annual graveyard mass in Ballyduff will take place on Wednesday July 3rd at 7.30pm. This is always very well attended so please spread the word to all those who may have friends or relatives buried in our graveyard. We are very proud of the beautiful way our graveyard is kept and so we ask that if you are replacing flowers etc on your loved ones grave please bring a bag for the old flowers and rubbish as we do not have any bins on site.

Following the mass we will have a cuppa and some light refreshments in the community centre. If you would like to offer some homebaking or bought items we would be very grateful. You can let me know or I will be in the hall on the night of the mass from 6.30pm.

GAA News.

A big well done to all the LGFA U8 girls who competed in a football blitz and came out as winners in all their matches. With some great performances a great mornings fun was had by all.

The U14 ladies had a great win over Ballysaggart which brought them through to the County Final. Hopefully I will have some good news about that next week.

The U8 hurlers hosted a blitz last week with some great individual performances on display. A big thank you to the three young whistlers who helped out on the night, Cathal, Keith and Aaron and also to the coaches for all the time and effort they put in.

The club would like to thank everyone who came along to their funday which incorporated the Tom Cheasty Cup, Derek Ryan Memorial Cup and official opening of the clubs ball wall. The new ball wall is dedicated to the late great Ollie Harris , a man who gave his life and soul to the club. The Ballyduff U11’s took the Tom Cheasty Cup defeating Carrigeen and Modeligo captured the Derek Ryan memorial cup defeating the Ballyduff intermediates. The club would like to thank everyone who attended and all those who brought food and helped out. A special word of thanks to the Cheasty, Ryan and Harris families without whom the day would not have been possible.

Mass Bookings, School Sports and Warm Welcome

Mass Bookings.
If you would like to book an anniversary mass for the months of July, August and September then bookings will take place after both masses next weekend June 22nd and 23rd. If you need to book a Months Mind or First Anniversary mass during these months then please contact Linda Spillane on 087-9838392 before the bookings so that you can get your prefered date. Months Mind or First Anniversary masses are given a mass on their own where at all possible but other masses may need to be shared depending on demand.

Wedding Bells.

St. Nicholas Church, Ballyduff was the setting for a most beautiful wedding on Saturday June 7th. Local lady Sarah Crowley from Adamstown arrived to the church in beautiful sunshine and glowed with happiness. By her side as always was her sister and best friend Joanne who took her job as bridesmaid very seriously. Her pretty flowergirls and her bridesmaid then lead the way up the church aisle where her groom Noel O Connor awaited his beautiful bride. Family friend and former priest of this parish Fr. Joe Flynn made sure that all formalities were dealt with and the happy couple left the church as man and wife in glorious sunshine once again. The celebrations then moved on to the stunning Waterford Castle where the wedding party were wined and dined and then danced the night away. We wish this lovely couple every happiness in their future lives together.

Bridge News

The results of the bridge game played by the Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club on Monday June 10th were as follows:

1st: Aileen Stephenson and Breda F Murphy.

2nd:Nano Fitzgerald and Geraldine McMahon.

3rd: Anne Kennedy and Breda Murphy.

4th:Anna Harney and John Fitzpatrick.

School Sports.

Ballyduff NS held their annual sports evening on Tuesday June 11th. Thankfully the weather was kind so there was no sliding and slipping in muddy puddles. There were some great sprinters on show with some possible olympians emerging. However my favourite races are the sack races, three legged races and the egg(sorry potato) and spoon races where you hear the children laughing as they fall over each other or drop the potato just before the line. A big well done to all the parents council and their helpers who put such terrific work into this each year. There were fabulous raffle prizes up for grabs. Nobody was allowed to go hungry with burgers and sausages sizzling on the barbeques. I’m delighted to say a fantastic amount of €1450 was raised on the night for school resources and activities next year.

I have been asked to give a special mention and thank you to all the prize sponsors on the night, Hicksons Centra Kilmeaden, Boots Pharmacy,Tramore, Kilmeaden Pharmacy, The Book Centre, Alfie Hale Sports, Mountain View Chinese Restaurant, Mulligans Pharmacy, Glanbia Countrylife Kilmeaden, Frank Murphy Hurleys, Living Colours and Ross Kavanagh Ltd for the barbeques and loudspeakers.

Our Sympathy

We extend our deepest sympathy to Mrs. Eileen Kirwan, Amberhill on the recent death of her brother Larry Walshe. We pray that Larry now rests in peace and that his family and friends may find comfort through the power of our prayers.

Church News

A reminder that Adoration of the Blessed Eucharist takes place in the church every Tuesday from 12 noon to 5pm. Please drop in and spend a few minutes or an hour whatever suits you in the presence of the Lord. Let me tell you it is lovely to switch off and sit in the peace and tranquilty with just your own thoughts.

Dates to keep marked in your diaries are Wednesday July 3rd when our annual graveyard mass will take place at 7.30pm. This is a lovely opportunity to pray for all our family and friends who are buried in our graveyard. Please if you are tidying up your family grave in the coming weeks please remember to bring a rubbish bag with you and bring away any dead flowers etc as there are no dumping facilities in the graveyard. Wednesday July 24th is the date set for the annual graveyard mass at Newcastle. There will be a faith walk leaving from Ballyduff at 6.30pm and mass at Newcastle will begin at 7.30pm.

We send warm wishes to Fr. O Byrne who celebrated 52 years in the priesthood last week. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless him in his ministry.

Warm Welcome.

It is great to see another new business open up in our area. The Milestone Coffee House has opened its doors in the Kilmeaden Village Centre and we wish all involved the very best of luck. This is another great amenity to have and hopefully you will all have an opportunity to drop in and support and give the owners our warm Kilmeaden welcome.

Marathon Marvels, Wedded Bliss and All Ireland Champion

GAA Lotto.

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 14, 18, 26 and 27. There was no jackpot winner but the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Mary Kinsella, Johnny Keane and Stephen Torpey. The next draw will take place on Sunday June 16th and there will be a fantastic jackpot of €12,500 on offer. Tickets cost just €2 or three for €5 and will be on sale outside Centra on Saturday June 15th or from all committee members.

Our Sympathy
We extend our deepest sympathies to Breda Counihan, Ballyduff West on the recent death of her beloved brother James Ryan. Although I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing this man personally I was able to tell from speaking to Breda that he was a strong hardworking man who had farmed all his life and had a great sence of family values.

We pray that James now rests in peace and that his family will find comfort in their memories of him.

Marathon Marvels
Huge congratulations to all the men and women from our area who took part in both the Cork and Dublin marathons last weekend. I don’t want to start naming names because I will most certainly leave someone out. Many of these people had run marathons before and for some it was their first time. Each one of them should be very proud of their own special achievement.

Wedded Bliss

We send warm congratulations to Michael and Mary Fitzpatrick, Ballyduf West as they recently celebrated 30 years of wedded bliss. Only mere children of course when they married back in 1989 I’m sure those 30 years have gone by in the blink of an eye. I’m sure their daughter Sara helped them to celebrate this great occasion in style. We wish them both many more happy and healthy years together.

All Ireland Champion

Another All Ireland Champion returned back home to Kilmeaden in the last week or so. Representing his school, St. Declans Community College in Kilmacthomas Matteo Mary from Ballygarron ran the race of his life in the Inter boys 1500m. Matteo stayed patiently behind the leaders for the first 3 laps before kicking for home with 250m to go. He also managed to run a lifetime best of 4.05 so it really was a weekend to remember for Matteo This is a fantastic achievement for Matteo and a just reward for all the hard work and committment he gives to his sport.

Church News

Some dates for you to mark in your diary are our annual graveyard mass which will take place on Wednesday July 3rd at 7.30pm. Please spread the word around to people you know who are living in other areas but have relatives and friends buried in our cemetery.

The annual graveyard mass in the old cemetery in Newcastle will take place on Wednesday July 24th at 7.30pm and there will be the usual faith walk from Ballyduff beforehand.

Memorial Fun Run.

Another date for your diary is Friday August 9th. Se2 will very kindly once again sponsor the Liz (Eilis) Hayes Memorial Fun Run. It is hard to believe that is the 8th year of this run. Walkers will set off at 6.45pm and the runners will make their way around at 7.30pm. This fun run takes in the beautiful scenery around Knockaderry Lake. I will have more details in the coming weeks so stay tuned.

Beauty and The Beast

Starstruck Theatre School staged their production of Beauty and the Beast over two nights in Ballyduff Community Centre. The show was full of colour dance and song and the smiles of the children were highly infectious. Each child played their individual parts well and kept the audience entertained. Well done to all the cast and crew and all the helpers. We look forward to the next production.

Our Sympathy, Confirmation Time and Aviva Dreams

Bridge News

The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club meet in Ballyduff NS every Monday night and the results of their game played on Monday May 27th are:
1st: Sean Hennessy and Kate Hayes.

2nd: Geraldine McMahon and Nano Fitzgerald.

3rd: Mary Cummins and Mary Prendergast.

4th: Beth Spollen and John Fitzpatrick.
This very generous group invited Dermot Dooley from the Touching Hearts charity to their meeting where they presented him with a cheque for €500 which is greatly appreciated.

Our Sympathy

We extend our deepest sympathy to JJ and Mary White, Gortaclode on the death of their beloved daughter Breda. Breda Quigley was living in Kilhile, Arthurstown and her funeral mass took place in St. James Church, Ramsgrange followed by burial in the new cemetery. We offer our sympathies to all of Bredas family especially her parents JJ and Mary, her sister Helen, her husband Joe and daughters Nicols and Lisa. We pray that Breda now rests in peace and that her heartbroken family and friends may find comfort in their memories of her.

Beautiful Baby Boy.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Ms. Lorraine Ryan and her husband James who recently welcomed their baby son Luke into the world. Ms. Ryan is part of the teaching staff in Ballyduff N.S and we send heartiest congratulations from all the staff, students and parents. We hope baby Luke will come to meet us all soon and we wish him and his parents every good health and happiness.

Confirmation Time

On Thursday May 30th Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan confirmed the 5th and 6th classes from Portlaw National School and we wish each and every one of them the very best and hope that they all enjoyeda wonderful day with their family and friends. We pray that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and protect these young people in their futures.

 

Free CPR Training

Yes you did read that right, our local GAA club have very kindly organised free CPR training for the club and community. This training will take place on Friday June 7th in Ballyduff Community Centre. The times arranged are 5pm, 6.30pm and 8pm. If you are over 18 and are interested in taking part in this life saving opportunity please call Brian on 087-2486423 to register. Places are filling fast so please ring today.

 

GAA News

As always our local GAA club is a hive of activity with all the different age groups taking part in games both at home and away. Congratulations to the U14 LGFA team who beat Abbeyside 7-09 to 4-04 in a very exciting game at home. This win brings them through to a county semi final and we wish them the very best of luck.

The academy section of the club had a fantastic day out to Butlerstown recently with 53 children from the club taking part in lots of matches against the host club. They all enjoyed the games and abig thank you to all the parents.

The U12 lady footballers had a great win in the first round of the championship against Erins Own. A big well done to the girls for all their great work and also to their coaches and parents for their brilliant support.

In the U9 hurling league Ballyduff bounced back with an entertaining win over Clonea on a score line of 3-2 to 1-2. There was some brilliant play all over the field especially against the wind in the second half. The great support from the sideline also helped greatly.

Aviva Dreams!

I was delighted when I heard that a group of young ladies from our local soccer club were off to The Aviva and wanted to make sure that I gave you an accurate account of the days happening so I sought the help of a young expert friend of mine Laura Carlin. Laura and her sister Emma were part of the group who headed off and of course they have soccer running through their blood and the piece that Laura put together for me was full of such passion and enthusiasm I decided that I should just include it exactly as written so please enjoy:

During the Easter holidays Ballyduff AFC held a camp called the Aviva Soccer Sisters. Lots of clubs throughout the country held this camp too. Every club that held the camp was entered into a draw to take part in the Aviva soccer sister dream camp at the Aviva Stadium. Three teams from Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Connacht were picked out of a hat and fortunately Ballyduff was picked to go. We organised a bus to bring us to and from Dublin.

Finally the 29th of May arrived. Everyone met at the Ballyduff school park at 1.30pm. The 10 children and 7 adults were soon on the bus and on their way to Dublin. Near the Aviva stadium the team stopped for a quick snack and then it was on to the stadium. The girls were shocked to see such a huge stadium and the cameras were straight out for the photos. We got to the stadium and registered and the FAI gave every team a mentor and Ballyduff’s mentor was called Mia. Mia plays for Bohs ladies in Dublin at the momntedent. Mia brought the girls to the dressing room that the Irish Soccer and rugby teams use. They were so big they even had two jacuzzis in them. The girls got changed and made their way out onto the pitch. The games were 15 minutes long. We drew our first game but won the other three. After the fourth match the teams were presented with medals and a club plaque and there was a chance of a group photo with Cara the school girl mascot and then it was time to head back to Ballyduff. The girls all had a brilliant time and will treasure the memories forever.

I thank Laura very much for this informative account of their day and I know that all in Ballyduff AFC are very proud of the fine representation made by these girls on behalf of their club and coaches. I am also quiet certain that from the heavens above a very proud Frankie Carlin beamed down with tremendous satifaction as both a grandad and a proud Ballyduff AFC man.

Star Struck Production.

Star Struck Theatre school who hold classes in Ballyduff Community Centre are ready to bring their production to the stage. Consisting of boys and girls from our community their production of Beauty and the Beast promises to delight the audience. They will take to the stage on Wednesday June 5th and Thursday June 6th at 7pm. Tickets will be on sale at the door at the following prices, adults €10, children €8 and a family ticket(2 adults and 2 children)for €30. Come along and treat yourself to a night of fun and song.

Writing Workshop, Hospice Heros and Exam Time.

Bridge News.

The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club meet in Ballyduff every Monday night to play a game of bridge and the results of the game played on Monday May 20th:

1st: Mary/Brenda Cummins.

2nd: Elizabeth Mooney/Peggy Murphy.

3rd: Ann Marie Brown/Theresa Phelan.

4th: Fr. Michael O Byrne/Kathleen Collins.

 

GAA Lotto Results

The numbers drawn in the latest GAA lotto draw were 5,9,14 and 26. There was no winner of the jackpot but the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Liz Lyons, John O Donnell and John O Dowd. The next draw will take place on Monday June 3rd and there will be a fantastic jackpot of €12,500 up for grabs.

Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 for €5 and are available from committee members and will also be on sale at Centra on Saturday June 1st. Four little numbers stand between you and that jackpot so choose wisely and you could be having a wonderful bank holiday weekend.

Church News.

A reminder that Eucharistic adoration takes place every Tuesday afternoon from 12 noon in our church. You are invited to call in and spend some peaceful time in the presence of the Lord. You can stay for a few minutes or an hour or two it is your choice but treat yourself to a little quiet time out of your day and be alone with your thoughts.

Our annual graveyard mass will take place on Wednesday July 3rd at 7.30pm. Please spread the word about this mass to people you know living in other areas but have family or friends buried in our graveyard.

The annual graveyard mass in the old grounds of Newcastle cemetery will be on Wednesday July 24th at 7.30pm.

Choir practice takes place every Monday night from 8pm to 9pm. All adults are invited to come along and lend their voices.

 

Writing Workshops.

We are all very proud of our own local Irish Times bestselling author Karen Power who has shown that through hard work, committment and dedication to your craft, great things can be achieved. Karen delighted readers with her Butterfly Barn series and now hopes to impart some ideas and tips to other budding writers. In association with The Book Centre Karen will hold three seperate one day creative writing workshop days in the beautiful setting of Curraghmore House Estate, Portlaw. The €120 fee also includes your lunch and a private tour of Curraghmore House. You can choose from one of three dates, Saturday June 15th, Friday July 12th or Sunday August 11th. Places are limited so if you are interested please contact Karen at karenpowerauthor@gmail.com or on 083-3214134

Let your creative juices flow and there is no better place to let that happen than amongst the beauty and splendour of Curraghmore House. You will find no better inspiration than in the sights and sounds around you. And remember I expect to be invited to your book launch!

Heart Children Ireland

When I heard that local lady Sharon Flynn plans to run the VHI Mini Marathon for Heart Children Ireland I knew straight away that it was going to be a roaring success. Sharon takes these challenges on with nothing less than 100% committment. In 2018 when Sharons grand nephew was born with a heart disorder Sharon saw first hand the great work being done by Heart Children Ireland and wanted to lend her support.

To kick off her fundraising Sharon opened up her home on Saturday May 18th and offered teas and coffee and delicious treats for all in exchange for a donation to the cause. This was an absolute wonderful success and Sharon raised a whopping €1035 that morning. Sharon would like to thank all who attended, donated, baked and washed up and on your behalf I say a big well done to Sharon and wish her continued success with her training.

 

Hospice Heroes

The Hospice Hero special ceremony took place recently in St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Along side 25 others two Ballyduff men were named Hospice Heroes ahead of Hospice Sunflower Day 2019. Mary Kennedy, Broadcaster and Hospice Sunflower Ambassador presented the plaques to father and son duo Arthur and Jordan Curry who took on a tremendous physical and mental challenge to raise money for The Hospice. Their Home To Rome challenge saw them cycle over 3000km from their home in Ballyduff to Italy, travelling through 12 countries and meeting many different challenges along the way. This dedicated duo were driven by the wonderful memories of their beloved mother and grandmother Cait who received such wonderful care from the hospice team before her death. They truly deserve the title of Hospice Heroes as they raised over €20,000 for this much deserving charity. A reminder that Sunflower day will take place on Friday June 7th and Saturday June 8th so please support any colectors you may see out and about.

Congratulations to both Arthur and Jordan who never set out for any recognition or awards but I’m sure they greatly appreciate the sentiment.

Tidy Towns

Our local Tidy Towns group have been in touch and have asked me to let you all know about the litter pick which will take place on Wednesday May 29th starting at Centra at 6.30pm. All are welcome to come along and join in. It is up to all of us to help try to keep our area clean and tidy.

The group would like to thank the local businessman and his wife who donated the flowers and the baskets for Ballyduff Green and a big thank you to Christy and Vera O Keeffe who planted them all up. The group are delighted to see their Treasurer Michael Fitzpatrick out and about again and wish him continued good health.

GAA News

The U10 hurlers put in a superb performance in Tom Cheasty Park where they defeated Tramore 6-3 to 1-1. There were some great displays and a brilliant team effort and this team is now becoming known for these great performances.

The U13 hurling semi final saw us missing some first team players through injury and illness. This game against Clonea was always going to be a hard task but the lads really got stuck in and were holding their own when one of their best players was injured and couldn’t continue which is sad to see at this age. The team played their hearts out and have been a great group to work with. Well done to them all and to Mr. Carey for all his efforts.

Ballyduff/Portlaw were up against Tramore in the U15 County Football final and were defeated by just 4 points.We didn’t take the chances we could have playing with the breeze in the first half and so this made life difficult in the second half. Although the team were disappointed they can be proud of the effort they put in and the fantastic football they played on the road to the final

Following some great pressure from Fenor at the start of the game Ballyduff ran out winners on a scoreline of 10-1 to 0-4 in the U11 scchool cup final. This team worked their socks off from start to finish to realise a fantastic achievement for their school and parish. A special mention to Mr. Stapleton and Miss Sinnott for all their efforts this year.

Our U10 girls played host to a football blitz in Tom Cheasty Park and they won all three of their games. The girls had a super time and a big thank you to the coaches and parents and those who looked after the refreshments.

 

Exam Time

We think of all the young men and women of our parish who are preparing for exams at the moments . We hope that their study plan is going well and that they are remembering to drink plenty of water, eat well and get a good nights sleep. A little bit of down time is also needed to keep your body, soul and mind well. Take some time out to go for a walk, go to the cinema, meet with friends or whatever relaxes you.

Holy Communion Day, Lourdes Night and CPR Training

Holy Communion Day.

On Saturday May 11th the boys and girls from 2nd class gathered at St. Nicholas’s church, Ballyduff to receive their First Holy Communion. The Lord was kind to them and sent some lovely sunshine and as they entered the church with their family and friends their little faces beamed with happiness.

I was delighted to be able to attend the mass and see all the wonderful preparations and work they had put in. Their class teacher Miss Sprice had mose certainly worked hard and the children certainly did her proud. The children took part in the readings,prayers of the faithful, offertory gifts and the actions to the Our Father. They were joined by their schoolmates from the older classes who sang beautiful hymns throughout the mass. It was so nice to see so many of the teaching staff attend the mass and show their support to the children and Miss Sprice. Of course Miss Sprice will walk up the aisle herself in a few weeks so I’m sure she was picking up some tips from the girls in their white dresses.

After the mass and some photographs there was the customary cup of tea and cake in the hall. This is a lovely tradition and it was great to see so many go back. A big well done to the Parents Association and the volunteer parents who took care of this on the day. We wish all the boys and girls continued blessings and hope that they all enjoyed their special day.

Fundraising Thanks
The collectors for the IHCPTgroup who held a church gate on Easter weekend have asked me to say a big thank you to all who contributed. They were delighted to collect €238 and this will help the group greatly in their work.

Bridge News.

The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club are going from strength to strength and meet every Monday night for their weekly game. The results from Monday 13th are as follows:

1st: Anne Kennedy and Peggy Murphy

2nd:Kathleen Collins and Patsy Roche

3rd: Geraldine McMahon and Nano Fitzgerald

4th: Fr. Michael O Byrnre and Mary Shanahan.

 

Lourdes Night

Our local Lourdes committee have asked me to say a huge thank you to all who bought raffle tickets and gave donations to their recent fundraising night in O Donnachas. Throughout the day raffle tickets were sold at Centra with lovely hampers and many other prizes up for grabs. The lucky winners of the two hampers were Angela Ryan, Kilmagemogue and Jim O Brien , Ballyduff.

It was on then to O Donnachas for the talent competition. There was lots of fine talent on display but lifting the Jimmy Fox Memorial cup was Billy Flanagan. The committee are delighted to inform you that they will be sending two people as part of the invaild section of the Waterford/Lismore Diocesan Pilgrimage and will also send a young helper. The total raised between the raffle and the talent show was €930 and your generosity is deeply appreciated.

 

GAA News

There have been many hurling and football games recently. The Ballyduff NS teams were out in force, The U13’s had two games winning one against Glor Na Mara by a big margin and going down valiantly to Killea with a depleted team they head into the semi final. The U11’s won all three games very impressively against Fenor, Newtown and Faithlegg with some outstanding displays and are now through to the Cup Final in the competition. A big thanks to the teachers in the school who coached these lads, the club is grateful for the great relationship with the school.

There was a disappointing result in the U9 hurling league with a final score of Passage 3-6 to Ballyduff 1-3. After a very slow start in the first half they came back stronger in the second half but it was a bit too late..

The U8 footballers performed well at their blitz against Ballyduff Upper, Gaultier and St. Olivers. Players are improving every week and there were some lovely goals and points scored and some brilliant defending. As usual the support from the sideline.

There was a great performance from the U15’s in the County Division 2 Football Eastern Final with some outstanding fielding and an excellent first half. With a final score of Ballyduff/Portlaw 4-9 to Dungarvan 2-3 they march on in to the County Final.

The U11 hurlers gave a brilliant performance against De La Salle and were unlucky to be beaten. This team showed great character and a big thank you to all the supporters who cheered them on.

CPR Training.

Ballyduff GAA club is endeavoring to organise free CPR training for the club and community. The confirmed date is June 7th in Ballyduff Community Centre. Classes will be at 5pm, 6.30pm and 8pm. If you are interested you need to book your spot asap by contacting Brian on 087-2486423. This is open to all over 18’s and places are filling fast.

Ballyduff AFC

Huge congratulations to our U15 team who recently won the Roy Power Cup. In a very entertaining game they beat Dungarvan 3-1. Dylan Mooney settled the nerves when he finished Ryan Hennessys pass in the first minute and then Ryan made it 2-0 after 10 minutes and Michael O Connor gave us our third goal. Captain Nathan Bagge collected the cup and it was a very proud moment for all the players their parents and families. It was however also a proud moment for the club and for the two coaches who put in such hard work all season. The guys are very lucky to have two such dedicated men helping them and willing them on. I’m sure Jason Kings vast knowledge of nutrition and training has been invaluable to the guys while they have also been lucky to learn from one of the finest soccer players around Jimmy Power . His great love for the sport is really infectious.

In the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore in the southeast of Ireland, Ballyduff and Kilmeaden are about 23 miles from Dungarvan and 5 miles from Waterford.