Ballyduff AFC

Ballyduff AFC have been going from strength to strength over the years and if you head to the grounds any night of the week you will find boys and girls, teenagers and adults training in the fantastic facilities. Committee members, coaches and mentors all volunteer their time and talents to encourage and support all who love the game of soccer. The club has always encouraged their members and delight in their progression.

Two young ladies who have had an outstanding season with the U12 girls and U11 boys received some very exciting news recently. Laura Carlin and Robyn Fletcher have been chosen for the Waterford U12 girls development squad. These girls have put in tremendous hard work and dedication are deserve a place on the squad. Great credit must go to their coaches who have been training these girls from the age of 6. A big well done also to their parents who ensured the girls got to their training and matches on time. We look forward to watching the girls in action and wish them the very best and of course many hours of enjoyment.

Former U16 Ballyduff schoolgirl player Mia Lenihan has also hit the headlines as she has been chosen to play with Carlow/Kilkenny in the U17 League of Ireland. Mia played for two seasons with Ballyduff U16 and also played and won two medals with the U15/16 Boys team. I have watched Mia play many times and am not one bit surprised that she has been snapped up. Mia not only has great talent but she has a true love for the game which is evident to all who watch her. We will be watching her progress with great interest.

I don’t know about you but as I was writing this piece my mind kept interrupting me with many great names associated with the club, some of these are now gone to that great pitch in the sky, others are still up in those grounds helping out or serving on committees or raising funds for the club. Wherever they are however I have no doubt that I can hear them say “I told ye this club would attract attention”!

 

---

Sing From The Rafters

Our local parish church choir would like to invite any male or female adult who would like to lend their voice to our local parish choir while enjoying learning many new pieces of music and making many new friends to come along and check out St. Nicholas’s parish church choir. If you would like to know more please contact Bridget Jordan on 087-9883720 or Eamonn O Leary on 086-8592014.

 

---

Ballyduff Youth Drama

Ballyduff Youth Drama is made up of local boys and girls from 5th and 6th classes and each year they delight us with a show full of colour, song and dance. This year is no different as they bring us a Wing and a Dare” a story featuring fairies, goblins, wizards, trolls and many other interesting creatures.

The venue for this show is Ballyduff Community Centre on Friday 7th of February at 8pm and Saturday February 8th at 8.15pm. Tickets are just €10 and are available by ringing or texting Eleanor on 087-4046904.

This group is run by a wonderful group of volunteers and so I ask you to please support their fundraising efforts as they hold a fabulous Valentines raffle. The group will be selling raffle tickets at Centra in Kilmeaden on Saturday February 1st and so hopefully you will support them as best you can,

 

---

GAA News

Our local GAA club continue to open up their grounds every Friday night from 7pm to 8.30pm in conjunction with Operation Transformation and Get Ireland Walking. All are welcome to come along and enjoy a nice walk in a safe well lit area. The committee tell me that it is wonderful to see over 50 people walking and talking and enjoying the facilities. You are all invited to drop in and enjoy some fresh air and good company with your community.

Tickets are now on sale for the National GAA raffle. Tickets are just €10 and there are fantastic prizes on offer it including a brand new Renault Clio. All the money from tickets sold here stays directly with the club. If you would like to buy a ticket please contact any committee member or Brian on 087 2486423.

The club will hold a club celebratory dinner dance on Saturday February 22nd at 7.30pm in The Granville Hotel. A 4 course meal will be followed by music and dancing from The Bottle Brothers. Tickets cost €35 and can be purchased from any committee member

Community Alert 2020

The first community alert meeting of 2020 will take place on Monday January 27th at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. Our local community alert group have really been going from strength to strength and are seen as one of the most successful groups in the county. Our text alert scheme is second to none and for just a small fee of €5 per year you can receive regular text messages when suspicious activity is noted in our areas or areas nearby, messages alerting you of road closures and adverse weather conditions. The information received from these text messages has proved invaluable to the Gardai and community and have helped in many different crimes.

At each of the community alert meetings we invite along a guest speaker and this month we are priveleged to welcome John O Connor to our meeting. We invite you all to come along to the meeting and bring a friend or neighbour along with you. The meetings are a great way to stay in touch with the happenings in your area and meet with your local Gardai who are always happy to give advice and support. After the meeting we all enjoy a nice cuppa and a biscuit and a chat. See you all there.

---

Enrolment Time

Ballyduff N.S are now open for enrolments for September 2020. The closing date for these enrolments is February 28th. For any information or details please contact the school directly on 051-384414.

 

---

GAA Lotto

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 4, 8, 24 and 27 and there was no winner of the jackpot. The three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Catherine O Neill, Noel Doyle and Breda O Donnell. The next draw will take place on January 26th and will have a fantastic jackpot of €12,500 up for grabs. Tickets cost just €2 each or three for €5 and are available from all committee members and will also be on sale at Centra on Saturday January 25th. Choose those 4 numbers carefully and you could be off on a nice spending spree.

 

---

GAA News.

It was great to see so many local people walking and talking last Friday night in our local GAA pitch. Our local club have come on board with Operation Transformation and Get Ireland Walking and are opening up their grounds every Friday night from 7pm to 8.30pm. The lights are on and the environment is safe and you can walk and chat with old friends and new. All those attending last Friday night really enjoyed it and I am told that a mens shed even popped up in the dressing room after it. It would be great to see some more people come along in the coming weeks and meet with your community, get some fresh air and get some excercise. Walking is wonderful not only for physical health but also our mental health so come along and set your body,mind and soul up for the week ahead.

The club are now selling tickets for the National draw. Tickets are on sale at €10 each and there are some fantastic prizes including a brand new Renault Clio. All money raised goes directly to your club. If you would like a ticket please contact any committee member or contact Brian on 087 2486423.

Huge thanks must go to club supporter Judy Kelly and all at RedHat for their extremely generous sponsorship to Ballyduff Lower’s LGFA club. Representatives from the teams and committee were invited along to RedHat for the presentation and wsssreceived a warm welcome and wonderful hospitality. Many thanks to Ciaran Byrne and Johnathan Johnston from RedHat who worked hard with Intosport to design the fabulous new jerseys.

---

Business Award
We send our heartiest congratulations to local lady Maria Smith and all her staff at Aura Skin and Laser Clinic on the Dunmore Road who were recently awarded an accreditation from the Allll Star Awards. This accreditation offers an industry standard quality mark signifying that it meets the highest standard of service and trust.

Proprietor Maria who has over 20 years of experience in he industry was delighted for this wonderful recognition. Aura grew from the growing trend where people were no longer looking for that quick fix for their skin. Aura is already an award winning salon with recognition four years running for their client customer service and the overall salon experience.

The All star accreditation was awarded by the All Ireland Business Foundation whose adjudication panel is chaired by Dr. Briga Hynes of the Kemmy Business School.

Aura is over 16 years in business and one of the longest running salons in the city. With new progressive treatments and options being added to the salon menu all the time it is no wonder that Aura are winning awards and going from strength to strength. We wish Maria and her staff continued success and we are sure that all the Smith and Power families are very proud of her especially Eoghan, Sadie, Billy and Mai.

Lets get Walking.

Once again this year our local GAA clubs have teamed up with Operation Transformation and Lets Get Ireland walking and are opening up their grounds to all in the community to come together and get walking in a safe well lit area. Our own local club here in Ballyduff will open up their facilities, turn on the lights and welcome all along on Friday nights from 7pm to 8.30pm. All are welcome to come along and blow off the cobwebs and walk alone or with friends in a safe and friendly environment.

---

Our Favourite Kilkenny Cat

The New Year got off to a sad start as word spread that the most famous Kilkenny cat Fintan Kiely had died. Although Fintan was born in Piltown and married a Tipperary woman and then made his home in the Deise, he remained a true Kilkenny supporter all his life. Fintan shared his home in Ballyduff with his beloved wife Mary who predeceased him in 2015 and his pride and joy his daughter Colette whom he adored. The arrival of their grandson Jack was a true delight to both Fintan and Mary and they worshiped every bone in his body. I have many happy memories of calling to their home in Ballyduff and they delighted in talking about Colette and Jack and of course we also enjoyed a great laugh and a joke and sometimes a song(once it was a Kilkenny song of course) and then I left giving the promise that I would ask my cousin John O Shea to play a request for them that night.

Fintan was indeed a man of great character, he loved his family whole heartily and made sure they were looked after always. He had a wonderful sence of humour, an ability to make everyone welcome and a strong faith which was evident to all by the way he treated those around him. Fintan will be sadly missed not only by his family but by all who knew him. We take some comfort in the knowledge that he is now reunited with his one true love Mary. We pray that they now rest in peace and that the beautiful memories they gave us will bring comfort to all who loved them. Fintan Kiely: the purrfect gentleman!

---

Community Centre

A very successful raffle was held in December which raised just over €3000 for our local community centre. Much of this money has already gone to the purchase of a new industrial oil tank to replace the old one which began to leak in December. Great thanks must go to the all the sponsors who donated 20 prizes. They will all be individually awknowledged but the organisers would particularly like to thank Donal Hickson who donated the hamper and allowed the group to use his premises to sell tickets and collect at the tills.

Thanks also to the ticket sellers who called to many housesover a few weeks. The group used that opportunity to update as many as possible on the status of the community centre and its finances. The total outstanding debt on the centre is now in the region of €92,500.

---

The results of the raffle were as follows:

1st: Finn Doyle Hotel Break

2nd:Connie Sullivan Chrismas Hamper

3rd: Isabel O Neill Set of luggage

4th: Maire Cooke car service voucher

5th: Eoghan Power trailer of firewood

6th: Paschal Brennan Moet Champagne gift set

7th: Mary Kenny Kilmeaden Takeaway voucher

8th: Mairead Carey Drinks Hamper

9th: Ron O Dea O Donnachas voucher

10th Mary Murray Christmas Decoration

11th Paul Sheehan Pharmacy Hamper

12th Dean Caulfield Glanbia Voucher

13th Sinead Ryan Frank Murphy voucher

14th Kathleen Power Milestone Gift Voucher

15th Nancy and Noel O Sullivan Knife Set.
The community centre is always available to the community for events, classes, charities etc. To book just contact any of the directors. The current board have completed 5 years of service and would very much welcome new members. If you are interested in joining up please contact 087 4487648.

---

Community Alert

Mark your diary for the very first community alert meeting of 2020. On Monday January 27th the group will meet up in Ballyduff Community Centre at 8pm. Guest speaker on the night will be John O Connor. Our community alert is one of the most successful and active groups in the South East. It is important that we all support our group. Meetings are just once a month and are a great way to keep in touch with the happenings in your community and air any worries you may have. A guest speaker is invited to each meeting and local Gardai are always in attendance. Please spread the word to your neighbours and friends.

New Year Wishes.

A brand new year has begun and many resolutions are being made and new goals being set. I personally never try giving up something but I try to do something a little better. I would like to wish each and every one of you the very best of good health, lots of happiness and the joy of friends. May we always have time for others especially those who are suffering in any way. Sometimes a smile, a hug or a friendly hello can be just what someones needs.

 

---

GAA News

The first GAA lotto draw of 2020 will take place on January 12th and there will be a fantastic jackpot of €12,500 up for grabs. Tickets are available from all committee members and will also be on sale at Centra on Saturday 11th. Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 for €5. Choose your four lucky numbers carefully and you could be starting the New Year off in style.

The club are once again on a mission this New Year to Get Ireland Walking. From Friday January 10th till Friday February 28th the club would like you to join them at their grounds from 7pm to 8.30pm. Bring a friend along or come along and make a new friend. Enjoy a nice walk in a safe environment and all for free.

---

Ballyduff AFC

We are very lucky here to have such a vibrant soccer club here in our area with many dedicated and committed volunteers mentoring and coaching our young people. If there are any over 18’s out there who feel this could be something they could help out with then please get in contact with a committee member or drop along to one of the many training sessions.

Are you thinking of joining up with a team for the new season well the club caters for all ages and I am delighted to be able to give you a list of the training times for all the different age groups so simply drop along and express your interest.
5/6 year old boys and girls-Mondays 6pm to 7pm

7/8 year old boys and girls-Tuesdays 6pm to 7pm

U10/12 Girls- Tuesdays 7pm to 8pm

U10 Boys-Wednesdays 6pm to 7pm

U11 Boys- Thursdays 6pm to 7pm

U12 Boys- Mondays 7pm to 8pm

U13/14 Boys- Wednesdays 7pm to 8pm

U15 Boys- Tuesdays 6.30pm to 8pm

U14/16 Girls- Thursdays 7pm to 8pm

U16/18 Boys- Thursdays 8pm to 9pm

 

---

Church News

A big thank you to all who helped in having our church so beautiful for Christmas especially those who put up and decorated the tree and the crib. Of course Joan Cheasty did her usual brilliant job on the flowers and a huge thank you must go to our wonderful sacristan Ann who puts so much time and effort in, not only at Christmas but every day of the year. Our Christmas masses were enhanced by the beautiful harmonies of our local parish church choir with musicians Bridget Jordan and John Stephenson. Fr. O Halloran and Fr.O Byrne have asked me to wish you all a healthy and happy New Year.

Each weekend we now produce a parish newsletter with our friends from Portlaw and it is distributed at weekend masses. If you would like something included in this newsletter please contact myself Linda Spillane by Wednesday of each week.

 

---

Contact Me.

I thank sincerely all those who contribute to these notes and I invite you all to get in touch with me if you would like to let people know about an upcoming event, tell them about an occasion or send good wishes for someones birthday, anniversary etc. I have it on good authority that a few people read my notes so why not let people know what is going on. If you have an item for me then please let me know by a Thursday night please. You can call or text me on 087-9838392 or drop me an email on spillanelinda2017@gmail.com or if you fancy dropping in the kettle is always on or if you see me out and about then just stop for a chat.

Social Dancing Success

On Sunday December 15th our local community alert group treated us all to a wonderful afternoon of music, dance and company. This free event was open to everyone to attend and it was lovely to see such a lovely crowd turn up. From 2pm to 5pm the great Teddy and Cathal Barry treated us to everything from a waltz to a jive and a quickstep to the siege of venice. During the interval we enjoyed a lovely cuppa and lovely treats. A big thank you to Donal Daly, Ann Sullivan, Paddy Kirk and Milestone Coffee House who donated lovely biscuits and cakes for everyone. A big thank you to everyone who attended this event and made it the fantastic afternoon it was.

 

---

Church News for Christmas.

A big thank you and well done to everyone who decorated our church for Christmas. As always our church looks beautiful and we are all set to welcome in the Christmas season. Our masses for Christmas are on Christmas Eve at 9pm and on Christmas morning mass will be at 10.30am.

The annual Christmas collection for the support of the priests of the parish will be taken up at all the masses during Christmas and we ask you to be as generous as possible.

---

Disco Fever
Ballyduff AFC remind you to mark Saturday January 18th in your diaries. The club will host a fundraising disco in The Sweep Bar with Dirty Dancing Disco providing the entertainment from the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s. With dancing from 9pm till late this promises to be a great night of fun and laughter so get those legwarmers and head bands ready.

 

---

Gentle Mother

We send our deepest sympathy to Mossie O Keeffe, Blacknock on the recent death of his mother Nellie. Nellie spent many happy years living in Blacknock and in the past while was a resident of the Care Choice Home in Dungarvan where she was very happy and contented. Mossie has asked me to express his gratitude to all who attended the removal and funeral mass and all who sympathised with the family. We pray that Nellie now rests in peace and hope that she now enjoys the peace and joy of heaven.

 

---

GAA News

The club are trully delighted to hear that club man Calum Lyons has been shortlisted for the Waterford player of the year awards which will be announced on January 10th. True grit, determination and personal committment saw Calum break into the Waterford team this year and he certainly took his chance with some superb performances for the Deise. Whatever happens on the 10th Calum deserves all the accolades and we look forward to watching him excel in 2020

The Get Ireland walking campaign will begin again in 2020. From Friday January 10th to Friday February 28th from 7pm to 8.30pm the club will open up their facilities so that we can all blow off the Winter blues and walk away those Christmas treats. Please spread the news and bring along your friends and remember this is an all inclusive event.

 

---

Winter Wedding.

St. Nicholas’s church was the scene of a most beautiful Winter wedding as Michelle O Donoghue and Alan Galvin said I do in front of their friends and family and of course in front of the most important guest there, the couples beautiful daughter Freya. The church was adorned with Christmas trees, flowers and candles and the couple had arranged a beautiful ceremony full of reverence, respect and love. Following the ceremony the couple travelled to the fantastic Faithlegg House Hotel to enjoy great food, drink, music and company with their guests. We wish this happy little family the very best for the future as they make their home here in Ballyduff. I’m sure that we will all make them feel very welcome and I would remind them that we have an excellent postal service here!!

 

---

Wedding Abroad

We send our heartiest congratulations to Maurice Carlin(Jnr), Ballyduff who recently married his true love Natthikarn Thanapatidolik our lovingly known as Pheung. The happy couple were married in Thailand and I was lucky enough to get a sneaky look at some photos. The bride loooked stunning with a very proud and happy bridegroom by her side. We wish the happy couple the very best in the future and a lifetime of love and happiness.

 

---

Christmas Wishes.

As we enter into the festive season and 2019 comes to a close I would like to wish each and every one of you a wonderful Christmas full of joy, peace and happiness. May 2020 bring you all happiness , good health and contentment.

I thank all who have contributed to these notes and say that I absolutely love writing them each week and hope that we will continue to work together in 2020. I thank you all for your lovely compliments and encouragements which mean an awful lot to me.

Please remember during the Christmas that the greatest present you can ever give is your presence so spend a little time with someone who may not find Christmas easy to cope with.

Mass Bookings

Bookings have now been taken for anniversary masses during the months of January, February and March so if you missed the bookings and would like to book a mass during these times then please contact Linda Spillane on 087-9838392 and she will arrange a date for you.

 

---

Christmas Church News

The new yearly pack of collection envelopes are now available in the church so please take your pack home. If you are new to the area or dont have a pack please give your name to Ann in the sacristy and she will sort a pack for you.

Special Christmas envelopes are now being distributed for the annual Christmas collection for the support of the priests of the parish. You can also use the envelope in your yearly pack or an ordinary envelope. The priests know that there are a lot of demands on you at this time but ask you to be as generous as possible as this is an important part of the priests salary.

There is a little change to the Christmas masss times this Christmas with Christmas Eve mass going ahead at 9pm and the Christmas morning mass at 10.30am.

 

---

Tradition Continues

A big thank you and well done to Arthur Curry who carries on the wonderful tradition set by his father of putting lights on a Christmas tree in the green in Ballyduff. This really looks fantastic as you pass through the village and is a very welcome enhancement to our area. I know that both of Arthurs’ parents would be very proud of him for carrying on this tradition in the parish they both loved very much.

---

Carols By Candles

On Wednesday December 11th people made their way to St. Nicholas’s church in Ballyduff for a very special night of music and song. As you arrived at the church you were greeted by the sweet aroma of freshly designed floral arrangements, the dancing flickers of candlelight and the sweet sounds of singers and musicians fine tuning their instruments. Our local choir were busy preparing for their Christmas carol service and welcoming their invited singers and musicians.

It was really wonderful to see such a large crowd attend on the night and each one of them were treated to something very special. Our own local choir under the direction of Bridget Jordan sang some beautiful well known carols and were accompanied by very talented musicians Sinead Crowley on piano, John Stephenson on guitar, Liam Daly on French Horn and Ger Dowyer on flute. Soprano trio Dulcet treated us to some beautiful classical pieces and their beautiful blend of harmonies filled the church. Some seasonal readings were also read with great dignity by Pat Murphy, Jessica O Leary, Ava Dooley, Jack Lyons and Aedin Ni Fuarthain.

During the interval collection buckets were passed around and I am delighted to tell you that a fantastic amount of €1,325 was raised for The Solas Centre. I dont have to explain to any of you about the wonderful service provided by The Solas centre not only to its patients but to their families also.

This trully was a night to remember and a huge well done must go to all who had any hand in preparing it. A big thank you must go to Sherlock and Eleanor Foley who donated all the flowers for the church and gifts on the night. They are always so kind and generous to local events. Congratulations to Joan Cheasty and Ann Nolan for having the church looking so beautiful, Jessica O Leary for the design and printing of the booklet and to all who gave their time in any way.

Following the concert everyone headed to the community centre for a lovely cuppa and some refreshments. A big thank you to all the ladies who catered for the event everything was delicious.

Booking of Masses

If you would like to book an anniversary mass for your loved one during the months of January, February or March then bookings will take place after both masses this weekend Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th. If you have a First Anniversary or Months Mind during these months then please contact Linda Spillane before the bookings so that you can get your prefered date. You can contact Linda on 087-9838392 or spillanelinda2017@gmail.com

---

Tractor Run

A big well done to all involved in the organising and running of the recent Pat Whelan Memorial Tractor Run in aid of The Mater Foundation Heart and Lung Transplant Unit. Over 170 vehicles took part on the day and many took part in the Monster raffle and auction afterwards. I know many people from our area travelled over to take part and a grand total of €11,415 was raised. This was a huge success and great praise must go to the organisers and all who took part.

 

---

Carols for Christmas

St. Nicholas’s church choir would like to invite you all to join them for a wonderful night of song and music

to welcome in the festive season. On Wednesday December 11th at 7.30pm our local choir will perform some beautiful carols and will also be joined by some fantastic guests on the night, pianist Damien O Brien, flautist Ger Dowyer, Liam Daly on French Horn and the Dulcet Vocal Trio. Admission to the event is free but during the interval a collection will be taken up in aid of The Solas Centre. I dont have to tell any of you about the wonderful work that The Solas Centre do not only for patients but for their families. The support and comfort they give to people is second to none and so we ask that you be as generous as possible.

This concert promises to be a night of beautiful music, song and harmonies. Come along and sit and relax and enjoy the festive feast of carols.

 

Community Alert News.

Our local community alert group invite you all to join them as they get ready to celebrate the Christmas season. On Sunday December 15th the talented duo Teddy and Cathal Barry will provide the music for an afternoon of social dancing in Ballyduff Community Centre from 2pm to 5pm. You are all invited to come along and please tell all your friends. This event is open to all, you don’t have to be from our area, the only requirement is that you know to have fun. Some light refreshments will be served so you can sit and enjoy a chat over a nice cuppa and some nibbles.

After a fun afternoon of dancing, our community alert group will host their final meeting of 2019 on Monday December 16th at 8pm. The group are delighted to welcome guest speaker Jamie O Keeffe along to the meeting and he will give a short presentation on local history including some wonderful photos. Jamie’s Facebook page “Butlerstown and Kilmeaden History and Photo Archive” is hugely popular and the group are delighted that Jamie can come along to the meeting and share his story. Please spread the word and encourage friends and neighbours to come along and support your local Community Alert Group. The group continue to go from strength to strength and provide great security and piece of mind within our area. It is important that we all work together to keep our area safe for all its residents and visitors.

 

---

Church News

As we approach the Christmas season we are all busy making sure we are prepared, presents are bought, cards are written and dinner is planned but are we prepared inwardly for the beautiful season of Christmas. To help us prepare spiritually a Christmas penitential service will take place during both masses on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th . Both priests will be at both masses and during the mass you simply come forward and tell the priest a fault or worry that is on your mind and receive absolution and piece of mind for Christmas. This is a beautiful ceremony and a good way to wipe the slate clean, turn back to God and enter the Christmas season with a fresh outlook.

The third Sunday of Advent is also known as Bambinelly Sunday. This is an old Italian custom which is spreading around the world and we here in our parish will honour the custom. On the weekend of Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th you are invited to bring the infant figure from your crib along to mass where the priest will give them a special blessing.

---

GAA News
The U15 Deise Og Footballers recently attended a presentation of medals and jerseys in honour of them winning the Dermot Early Plate in 2019. Beating Westmeath in the final this young team deserve great praise and of course it is a very proud moment for one local family as Jack O Donnell was a vital member of the team. His family and club are extremely proud of him.

A reminder to the many wonderful people who contributed to our development funding by opting to pay by yearly instalments that the second instalment is now due. Please contact the member you paid your first instalment to and they will sort out the second for you. The development would not have been possible without your generosity so the club would like to thank you very much.

 

---

Ballyduff AFC
Mark your diary for Friday December 20th when Ballyduff AFC will host a childrens disco in Ballyduff Community Centre from 7pm to 9pm. Entrance fee is €5 per child. Come along and join in the fun and start off the school holidays having fun with your friends.

The club would like to congratulate Sophie Power U13 and Zoe Spinks U15 who both made the Waterford Development Squads. Both girls deserve this just reward after a brilliant season with the club.

GAA Lotto.

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 8, 11, 16 and 28 and there was no winner of the jackpot. The three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Liz Lyons, Michelle Dunphy and Joyce Power. The next draw will take place on Sunday December 8th and will have a fantastic jackpot of €12,500 up for grabs. What a lovely win just before Christmas and all you have to do is buy a ticket and choose those lucky four numbers carefully.

Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 for €5 and are available from all committee members and ticket sellers will be at Centra on Saturday December 7th.

---

Wedding Bells.

We send our warmest congratulations to Carrickphilip lady Clodagh Fitzgerald who recently announced her engagement to long term boyfriend Kavan Dee. The happy couple celebrated their wonderful news with family and friends and we hope that they enjoy a lifetime of love and laughter together.

---

Called Up.

Huge congratulations to Emma Kelly, Ardeenlone who has been selected for the U16 Waterford ladies football squad. This has been a dream of Emmas for many years and through hard work and determination Emma proved that dreams can come true. Last year Emma acted as water girl for this team and this year she will take to the field of play with the team. Ballyduff girls football teams have been going from strength to strength in the past year with more county potentials coming up through the ages. The club are extremely proud of Emma and will be following her with great interest but of course there are none more proud than her parents Mick and Judy and her younger brother Jack. We wish Emma every success but most of all we hope that she enjoys every minute of it. Deise Abu!

 

---

Aladdin To The Stage

Starstruck stage school which takes place in Ballyduff Commmunity Centre will take to the stage this week with their production of Aladdin. The cast is made up of boys and girls from our local area and they have been very busy rehearsing over the past few months and look forward to your reaction. Tickets will be on sale on the door on both nights Thursday December 5th and Friday December 6th with a 7pm kick off. Tickets cost €10 per adult and €8 per child. There is also a special family ticket on offer for €30 which admits 2 adults and 2 children. Get yourself along to Ballyduff Communiy Centre and enjoy a night of fun,music and dance.

---

Another Win!

Congratulations to Shane Fitzgerald, Kilmagemogue who was once again crowned the young Dairy Farmer of the Year. Shane takes great pride in the family farm and this is a just reward for his hard work.

---

Carols For Christmas

St. Nicholas church choir under the direction of Bridget Jordan would like to invite all of you to their annual Christmas carol concert in St. Nicholas church on Wednesday December 11th at 7.30pm. The Choir will be joined by some special guests on the night including Soprano trio Dulcet, pianist Damian O Brien, flautist Ger Dowyer and Liam Daly on French Horn.

Admission is free but a collection will be taken up during the night and all money raised will be donated to The Solas Centre. This is a wonderful way to get ready for the beautiful season of Christmas and the choir would love if you would join them after the concert for some light refreshments in the Community Centre.

---

Dancing Shoes

It’s time to polish up those dancing shoes as our local community alert group will play host to an afternoon of social dancing on Sunday December 15th from 2pm to 5pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. You are all invited to come along and enjoy the music of the fantastic duo Teddy and Cathal Barry. Come along and enjoy good music, chat, dancing and light refreshments. All are welcome so please spread the word far and near.

Candle Mass
During the month of November we offer a special mass every Wednesday night for all the Holy Souls and it is hard to be believe we are now talking about the final one of these masses. This final mass is a special candle mass which is offered especially for all those who died in the past 12 months. We have automatically included all those who died in our parish during that time but we would also love to include the names of any of your family or friends who died in other areas. If you would like to add someones name you can do so by contacting myself Linda Spillane on 087-9838392.

---

Star Struck Theatre School

The boys and girls from Star Struck Theatre School are busy putting the final touches to their production of Aladdin. This group is made up of boys and girls from our local area and they are all very excited to transport you to the land of Aladdin. The group will take to the stage on Thursday December 5th and Friday December 6th at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Adult tickets cost €10 and it is €8 for children. There is also a special family ticket rate of €30 which admits 2 adults and 2 children.

---

GAA News

The Ballyduff Lower GAA club will hold their AGM on Friday November 29th at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre and all are welcome to attend. All fully paid up members will be entitled to vote and new members are very welcometo come along and help shape the future of the club. All nominations for executive committee should be emailed to the secretary by November 25th on secretary.ballydufflower.waterford@gaa.ie

Our footballers were in hard luck as they travelled to Limerick to take on Croom. The game ended on a scoreline of Ballyduff 0-6 to Croom 0-8. A big well done to the lads who gave/ us such great enterainment all year. Huge congratulations to all the supporters who travelled not only to Limerick but to all the games throughout the year.

---

Christmas Raffle

Our local community centre redevelopment committee will host a fabulous Christmas raffle with many exciting prizes up for grabs. Volunteers will be travelling around the community door to door selling tickets and we as that you be as generous as possible.

---

Birthday Boy
We send warm birthday wishes to a popular young man who recently celebrated a milestone birthday. Tommy McGrath, Ballygarron celebrated his 80th birthday with his family and friends and I know that all his neighbours and many many friends will be wishing him many more happy birthdays.

---

Award Nominations

Oor local community alert group were recently nominated for a Waterford PPN Community and Voluntary Awards. Unfortunately we were not winners on the night but were shortlisted down to the final three. It was wonderful and heartwarming to see so many voluntary groups being recognised for the work they are doing around the city and county.

Little Lady for Adamstown

Huge congratulations to Brian and Sarah Roche, Adamstown who welcomed their beautiful baby girl into the world last week. Baby Riona Roche is a first baby for the lovely couple and they are delighted to have their precious little bundle home. Sarah is of course the daughter of Dick and Siobhan Walsh who are very proud grandparents and I met a very happy Uncle Tom the other day who told me he is looking forward to taking baby Riona for walks when the weather is better. I’m sure Brian and Sarah will never be short of babysitters but they may have trouble getting Riona back. We wish this happy little family every happiness and welcome baby Riona to our community.

 

---

November Masses.

During the month of November we offer mass every Wednesday night at 7.30pm for all our Holy Souls. The final mass on Wednesday November 27th will be offered especially for all those who died in the past 12 months. All those who died within our parish will automatically be included in the mass but if you have a friend or family member who died elsewhere over the past 12 months and would like to have their name included then you are welcome to do so. To add their name you can contact myself Linda Spillane on 087-9838392 or write the persons name on the list which is in the front porch of the church.

At this special candle mass an individual candle is lit for each of the deceased and that candle is presented back to the family of the deceased as a reminder of the promise of the risen Lord. It is important therefore that a family member is present at the mass to accept the candle.

 

---

A Gent and Scholar

We were all very saddened to hear of the death of Dr. Jan, Pouldrew House, Kilmeaden. Dr. Jan was a very interesting man to meet and had a wonderful array of interests. In my Post Office days he was a regular visitor and I always enjoyed listening to the many stories he had. As an accupuncturist he excelled and his many patients had nothing but praise and admiration for him. We offer our deepest sympathies to all his family and friends.

 

---

GAA News.

The Juvenile section of the club would like to congratulate their coach Sarah and her husband Brian on the arrival of their baby daughter Riona. Sarah is a brilliant coach and like all the coaches gives up her own free time selflessly to help the kids development. The club wishes the Roche Family all the best and look forward to welcoming Sarah back to the field soon.

AGM: The Ballyduff Lower GAA club will host their AGM on Friday November 9th at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. All paid up members are welcome to vote and all prospective members are most welcome to come along and help shape the future of the club. All nominations for executive committee members should be emailed to the secretary address below by Monday November 25th secretary.ballydufflower.waterford@gaa.ie

A big well done to all who have been displaying their club colours and the winners of the recent competition are Shane O Brien, Shane Dalton and Brigid Power who decorated their houses so well.

---

Award Nomination.

Our local community alert group continue to do wonderful work in our community and I am delighted to tell you that the group have been shortlisted for an award at the Waterford PPN Community and Voluntary Awards. We are shortlisted in the Community and Civic Pride category and the group are absolutely delighted to be recognised in this manner. Some representatives of the group will attend the awards ceremony on Thursday November 21st in The Park Hotel.

---

Notes Update

If you would like me to advertise something for you through these notes then I would be delighted to do so. You can contact me on 087-9838392 or drop me an email on spillanelinda2017@gmail.com or indeed my name is Linda Spillane and its very easy to find me cause I don’t leave Kilmeaden very often.