GAA LOTTO.

The latest numbers drawn in the Ballyduff Lower GAA lotto draw were 10, 14, 21 and 24. There was no lucky winner of the jackpot but the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Peg Power, Marian Kenneally and Jimmy King. The next draw will take place on November 26th and there will be a fantastic jackpot of €11,750 up for grabs.
Tickets cost just €2 each or three for €5 and can be purchased from any club member, online or you can get your ticket on Saturday November 25th from the ticket sellers at Centra, Kilmeaden. The only thing you need to think about is which four numbers will be the lucky ones.
This fortnightly lotto is a very important fundraiser for the club, and they are very grateful to all who contribute to it.

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BRIDGE NEWS

The Ballyduff/Portlaw Bridge club meet for their weekly game of bridge every Monday night in Ballyduff Community Centre. The results of the game played on Monday November 13th are as follows:
1st: Anne and William Tobin.
2nd: Geraldine McMahon and Kathleen Collins.
3rd: Peggy Murphy and Elizabeth Mooney.
4th: Kate Hayes and Nano Fitzgerald.

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DEATH OF MOSSIE POWER.

Our community was deeply saddened by the recent death of Mossie Power, Ballyduff West. Mossie was indeed a true gentleman who lived his life in a quiet and dignified fashion. He was a true community man who gave many years working on different projects and committees for the good of his area. His dedication and devotion to our church and parish was exemplary. An honest, caring, trustworthy man, he was an excellent family man who loved to tell you about his family and grandchildren. Our parish is most definitely a much poorer place without him, and he will never be forgotten by all those who knew him. We extend our deepest sympathies to his sons Gerard, Philip and Declan, his daughter Imelda, his grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends. We pray that his sweet gentle soul now rests in peace and that he has taken his rightful place at the Lords table. Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam.

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CHURCH NEWS.

During the month of November, we remember our holy souls in a special way. There will be nine days of consecutive Novena masses with the dates and times listed in the church porch.
On Wednesday November 29th there will be a special candle mass for all those who have died since last November. The names of those whose funeral took place in Ballyduff will automatically be added but if you would like to add the name of a family member or friend who died elsewhere then please drop the person’s name and your contact details into the Sacristan Ann or you can contact Linda Spillane on 087 9838392.

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CAMOGIE AGM

On Wednesday November 22nd the Ballyduff Lower Camogie club will host their AGM in Ballyduff Community Centre at 7.30pm. The club has been going from strength to strength with membership rising every year. Drop along to the AGM and listen to the plans for the future of the club.

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GAA CLUB AGM.

On Friday November 24th Ballyduff Lower GAA Club will hold their AGM at 7pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. The local GAA club is at the heart of every area and is always open to welcoming new members and volunteers.

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CANDLE LIT CONCERT.

Our neighbours in Portlaw will play hosts to a beautiful Christmas candle lit concert in St. Patrick’s Church, Portlaw on Sunday December 17th. Described as an evening of song, faith, hope and love, it will feature some excellent artists such as Philomena Begley, Dana, Chrissy Mac, Sandy Kelly, Louise Morrissey and Dominic Kirwan. Tickets cost €30 and can be purchased by contacting one of the following Kathleen Stone 0876081144, Jackie Kearns 0872025659 or Margaret Power 0834097469. Start your Christmas season in a relaxed, beautiful setting and allow yourself to be captured by the joy and hope of the season.

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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Drench yourself in words unspoken.
Live your life with arms wide open.
Today is where your book begins.
The rest is still unwritten.

BRIDGE NEWS

The Ballyduff/ Portlaw Bridge club meet every Monday night in Ballyduff Community Centre to enjoy a nice friendly game of bridge. The results from the game played on Monday November 6th are as follows:
1st: Anne-Marie Brown and Mary Prendergast.
2nd: Ann Cox and Peggy Murphy.
3rd: The Mooneys.
Joint 4th: Joan Hartery and Mary O Brien
and
Sean Hennessy and Kate Hayes.

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RECENT DEATH

We send our deepest sympathies to John Carroll, Johnstown on the recent death of his mother. Mary (Maisie) Carroll was a resident of Havenwood Retirement Village in Ballygunner and formerly of Bishopsfield and Bishopscourt, Grantstown. She will be deeply missed by her daughters Denise and Deirdre, sons John and Tony, daughters-in-law Valarie and Joanne, her grandchildren, her brother Thomas, sister Rose, extended family and many friends.
Maisie’s funeral mass was celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Ballygunner and she was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.
We pray that she now rests in peace and that her family will draw comfort from their lovely memories.

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CHURCH NEWS.

During the month of November, we remember our holy souls in a special way. There will be nine days of consecutive Novena masses with the dates listed in the church porch. On Wednesday November 29th there will be a special candle mass for all those who have died since last November. The names of those whose funeral took place in Ballyduff will automatically be added but if you would like to add the name of a family member or friend who died elsewhere then please drop the person’s name and your contact details into the Sacristan Ann or you can contact Linda Spillane on 087 9838392.

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RECENT DEATH

We extend our condolences to the family of Pat Keating, Knockroe, Passage East who died recently. Pat was originally from the Lacka Road, Kilmeaden. He will be sadly missed by his sons John and Eoin, daughters-in-law Amy and Nicole, brothers Paul and Tony, extended family, neighbours, and friends. Pat’s funeral mass was celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church, Crooke followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. We pray that Pat now rests in peace.

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AGM TIME

It’s that time of the year again when many clubs hold their AGM’s so if you would like to get involved with a local club or perhaps a couple, then head along to the meeting and see what is involved.
On Wednesday November 22nd the Ballyduff Lower Camogie club will host their AGM in Ballyduff Community Centre at 7.30pm. The club has been going from strength to strength with membership rising every year. Drop along to the AGM and listen to the plans for the future of the club.
On Friday November 24th Ballyduff Lower GAA Club will hold their AGM at 7pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. The local GAA club is at the heart of every area and is always open to welcoming new members and volunteers.

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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Without ambition one starts nothing.
Without work, one finishes nothing.
The prize will not be sent to you.
You have to win it.

NEW BUSINESS

We send warm wishes and congratulations to Rachael Wall (nee Butler) formerly of Gortaclode, Kilmeaden who has opened her new beauty salon in Kilmeaden in recent days. Radiance by RB is situated in the Centra Kilmeaden complex, and Rachael is looking forward to welcoming former and present clients along with some new customers. This bright and beautifully designed salon has lots of free carpark spaces outside and nice easy access to the building.
Rachael has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the beauty trade and her salon will be a very welcome addition to the area. We all need a little pampering in our lives so drop into Rachael where you can sit back, relax and allow her to work her magic.
We wish Rachael the very best for the future and thank her for seeing the wonderful potential that is in our area.

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GAA LOTTO.

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 8, 17, 18 and 20 and there was no jackpot winner. The jackpot now climbs to €11,600 and is just waiting to be won. What a lovely early Christmas present it would make.
The three lucky dip winners of €50 each on the night were Ann O Brien, Francis Walsh and Michael Fitzpatrick. The next draw will take place on November 12th. Tickets cost just €2 each or three for €5 and are available from all club members, online and will be on sale at Centra in Kilmeaden on Saturday November 11th. Get your ticket early and choose those four numbers carefully.

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MICHAEL GAHAN RIP.
Our community and neighbouring parishes were all very saddened to hear of the death of Michael Gahan, late of Carriganure, Kilmeaden. Michael was a hard-working man who devoted his life to providing and caring for his family. He also enjoyed the company of friends and loved to meet for a chat and a laugh. He fought his battle with illness with great courage and strength. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife Paula, sons Keith and Garreth, daughters Sarah, Michelle and Colette, his grandchildren, brothers, sisters, extended family, wonderful neighbours, and many friends.
Michael’s funeral mass took place in St. Nicholas’ Church, Ballyduff and following mass Michael was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery. We pray that he now rests in peace where there is no more pain or discomfort. May his gentle soul rest in the peace and love of Christ.

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CAMOGIE AGM

Ballyduff Lower Camogie Club will hold their AGM on Wednesday November 22nd 2023 at 7.30pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. The camogie club has been going from strength to strength with membership up in all age levels. Why not get involved with your local club by heading along to the AGM and seeing what it is all about.

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NOTICE OF AGM

It’s that time of the year for AGM’s and Ballyduff Lower GAA Club will hold theirs on Friday November 10th at 7.30pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. Anyone who is interested in hearing about the club are welcome to attend and the club are always open to welcoming new members.

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SPOOKY HALLOWEEN

Congratulations and well done to all at Waterford Suir Valley Railway who put on a fantastic display for Halloween. A great time was had by all who visited with ghosts and ghouls around every corner. Some of the fairies from the Fairy Woods headed off for a little mini break until all the scary characters had left the area.
A little bird has told me that there have already been a couple of discussions with Santa and his elves about his visit to Kilmeaden this year. The volunteers are very excited about preparing the railway for Santa’s visit and of course his beautiful warm cosy cabin will be ready for lots of little visitors and a few not so little visitors. If you haven’t booked your visit yet, please do soon by calling 051 384058.

BRIDGE NEWS

The Ballyduff/Portlaw Bridge club played their latest game on Monday October 16th and the results were as follows:
1st: Anne Marie Brown and Mary Prendergast.
2nd: Sean Hennessy and Nano Fitzgerald.
3rd: Peggy Murphy and Elizabeth Mooney.
4th: Kathleen Collins and Patsy Roche.
5th: John Fitzpatrick and William Tobin.

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SCHOOL QUIZ

The Ballyduff N.S Parents Council held a very successful pub quiz in The Sweep Bar on Friday October 20th. A large crowd attended, and a great night was had by all. Teams comprised of 4 members and 23 teams took up the challenge. John Carey played the role of Quizmaster to perfection and the teams were tested with questions from all different topics. The Parents Council would like to thank all who supported the event and all those who purchased raffle tickets, the staff at The Sweep Bar for ensuring everyone was well looked after, those who sponsored prizes, parents who helped on the night, John Carey for doing an excellent job as quizmaster and Ricky O Brien for kindly supplying and setting up the microphone and speaker. The aim of the quiz was to raise funds to buy additional ipads for the school and other school facilities and they were delighted to raise a fantastic amount of €3,485. A big well done to all the organisers for such a successful event.

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CHURCH NEWS

It is hard to believe we are heading into the month of November already. On November 1st mass will take place at 10am to celebrate All Saints Day and for All Souls Day on November 2nd mass will take place on the previous night at 7pm and on the day at 10am.
If you would like to read at mass please give your name and contact number into the sacristy.
The Parish Choir meet every Wednesday night at 8pm and are always very welcoming to new members.

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CAMOGIE PROGRAM

The inaugural “Leading Provincial Females Program” which will take place in Connacht, Munster, Leinster and Ulster. 104 participants have been selected to represent 28 different counties in this 12-month program. Ballyduff Lower Camogie Club are elighted to announce that they will be represented by proud club lady Michelle Galvin. Michelle works tirelessly along with other club members to develop camogie within the club.
This program has been secured through the support of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport fund and will run from October 2023 to July 2024. It is designed for ladies over 18 (so Michelle just about qualifies) who are interested in personal development and potentially leading teams. It is a blended course with face-to-face sessions, online webinars and there are many benefits. Participants get to mix with like minded future leaders in Gaelic games. This course is aimed at females who wish to develop their leadership skills while furthering their development as a coach, match official, administrator or any volunteer roles within Gaelic games .we wish Michelle the very best with this course and look forward to her advice and suggestions for our club.

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LET’S COOK

Are you looking for something fun and interesting for your child to do, then why not send them along to Ballyduff Community Centre from Wednesday November 1st to Friday November 3rd to enjoy a fun cookery camp. The camp will run from 10am to 1pm daily for children aged 6 to 12 years. For prices and further information, you can contact Siobhan on 087-9027425.

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WSVRAILWAY

Drop along to the Waterford Suir Valley Railway over the mid-term break and enjoy The Spooky Express. Many spooky creatures move into the railway station for the week and like to roam around the area, some of the fairies even head off on holiday to make room for the ghosts and ghoulies. Trains operate on the hour from 11am with the last departure at 3pm. Booking is highly advisable on 051 384058

GAA LOTTO

The latest lotto GAA draw took place on Sunday October 15th and the numbers drawn were 4,8, 10 and 12. There was no jackpot winner and the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Margaret O Leary, Jack c/o The Sweep and Helen Millea. The next draw will take place on October 29th and there will be a jackpot of €11,450 on offer. Tickets cost just €2 each or 3 for €5 and are available from all club members, online or there will be ticket sellers at Centra, Kilmeaden on Saturday October 28th.

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BRIDGE NEWS

The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club held their latest game on Monday October 16th in Ballyduff Community Centre. The results are as follows:
1st: Peggy Murphy and Mary Kennedy
2nd: Iris Graham and Peggy Barron
3rd: Mary Prendergast and Joan Hartery
4th: Kathleen Collins and Patsy Roche.

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BEAUTIFUL WEDDING

On Saturday October 14th, St. Nicholas Church, Ballyduff was the setting for a great Kilmeaden and Dunhill union. Niamh Kennedy from Stonehouse, Kilmeaden exchanged vows with proud Dunhill man Eamonn Murphy. Niamh was simply stunning and elegant as she arrived at the church with her bridesmaids Aoife O Sullivan and Louise Walsh. She was walked up the aisle by her very proud Dad Pat and every step was watched by her mother Maura and her brother Paul. Her groom Eamonn smiled from ear to ear when he saw his gorgeous bride and was supported greatly by his groomsmen and brothers Noel and Richard. Proud parents Milo and Kitty watched on as their son greeted his bride to be. The ceremony was celebrated by Ballyduff native and friend of the family Fr. John Harris. He kept the couple at ease throughout and said some beautiful words. The music and singing during the mass were simply beautiful and performed to perfection by Tara Heffernan and Jonathan Kelly.
Following the ceremony, the bridal party headed to the picturesque gardens of Mount Congreve for some photographs of their special day. It was then on to the Newpark Hotel for a delicious meal. The all-important rugby match was not forgotten as the big screen arrived into the room. Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted, spirits were still high as the bridal party and their guests danced the night away. A beautiful day was had by all, and we wish this lovely couple every happiness for the future.

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JUNIOR CERT RESULTS

Congratulations to all the young men and women in our area who received their Junior Cert results recently. They had a long wait for their results, so I’m sure there was great relief for them all. We hope they enjoyed their celebrations, and we wish them continued success in their studies.

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BIRTHDAY THANKS

As the writer of these notes, I am going to take advantage of the platform and take the opportunity to thank everyone who sent me lovely birthday wishes. I turned 50 on October 16th and I was overwhelmed by all the lovely messages I received. People keep asking me how I feel about being 50, but to me it’s just a number and I am very happy to have made it this far unscathed. A big thank you to whoever sent in the lovely letter about me to Damien Tiernan’s show on WLR. It was a very emotional moment for me when I heard what was said. I deeply appreciate the very kind words and thank the person for taking the time to write them. I hear that the 50’s club is very exciting and that great things lie ahead, so I am ready! Watch out world here I come!

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GAA WELLBEING

Waterford GAA Health and Wellbeing Conference will take place at the SETU Arena, Carriganore on Monday November 6th from 7.30pm to 9.30pm with a networking and refreshment section from 6.30 to 7.30pm. There will be some inspiring guest speakers, a performance by the Mount Sion Choir and performance and networking with healthy GAA clubs. Pop onto the Ballyduff GAA Facebook page to get details of how to register.

BRIDGE NEWS.

The Ballyduff and Portlaw bridge club played their most recent game on Monday October 9th in Ballyduff Community Centre and the results are as follows:
1st: Patsy Roche and Anne Kennedy
2nd: Kathleen Collins and Geraldine McMahon
3rd: Peggy Murphy and Elizabeth Mooney.
4th: Kate Hayes and Nano Fitzgerald.

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ALABAMA BOUND

Bon Voyage and best wishes to Emma Carlin, Ballyduff West who heads off to Alabama, USA to take part in the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy Space Camp. Emma is a 5th year student in St. Declan’s Community College, Kilmacthomas and this is a fabulous achievement. We hope that Emma enjoys every minute of this incredible experience and look forward to hearing about her adventures.

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CAMOGIE NEWS

Congratulations to Ballyduff Lower Camogie Club players Ava Dooley and Aisling Counihan who represented their club at the U13 Waterford Camogie skills competition recently. Congratulations to Aisling who won 2nd place in the competition. The club are very proud of these two young ladies who represented their club with great pride.

The club are thrilled to have benefitted from the new Camogie Association initiative. The Association launched their investment of €250,000 which will help over 600 clubs around the country. This will serve as a tangible way to support and strengthen clubs. Ballyduff Lower were delighted to receive their training equipment pack which they will make great use of in their training sessions.

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AWARD WINNER

The Gala Retail awards were announced recently and our local Gala in Kilmeaden were once again among the winners. A special mention to Gala Kilmeaden’s manager Stephanie Sweeney who picked up the Manager of the Year award. What a fantastic achievement for Stephanie who has worked in the store for nine years and it is a just award for all her hard work and commitment. Congratulations to Damien, Majella and all their staff in Kilmeaden who also came away with a Gala Excellence award and we wish them continued success.

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QUIZ TIME

The Parents Council in Ballyduff N.S will host a pub quiz to raise funds for the school. The quiz will take place on Friday October 20th at 8pm in The Sweep Bar. Teams of four will cost €40 and there will prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. There will also be many lovely raffle prizes on offer and tickets can be purchased through the Ballyduff Parents Council Facebook Page. Quizmaster on the night will be the one and only John Carey and a great night is guaranteed.

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GET IN TOUCH

If you would like to include anything in these community notes please contact Linda on 087 9838392 or spillanelinda2017@gmail.com

BRIDGE NEWS.

The Ballyduff and Portlaw Bridge Club played their latest bridge game on Monday October 2nd and the results are as follows:
1st: Nano Fitzgerald and Geraldine McMahon.
2nd: Mary O Brien and Elizabeth Mooney.
3rd: John Fitzpatrick and Peggy Murphy.
4th: Kate Hayes and Sean Hennessy.

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GAA LOTTO.

Ballyduff Lower held their latest lotto draw on Sunday October 1st and the numbers drawn were 1, 14, 22, and 24. There was no lucky winner of the jackpot and the 3 lucky dip winners of €50 each were JP Tierney, Aidan McNamara and Finbar Tynan. The next draw will take place on October 15th and there will be a jackpot of €11,300 on offer. Tickets cost just €2 or 3 for €5 and are available from all committee members, online and will also be on sale at Centra in Kilmeaden on Saturday October 14th. What a fantastic jackpot, so make sure that you choose those four lucky numbers very carefully.

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DEATH OF ANNA NOLAN

Our community deeply mourns the loss of Anna Nolan, late of Ballyduff Hill who died recently. A gentle, quiet woman, she loved spending time with her family and enjoyed chats with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed knitting and doing puzzles and was a lady whose faith was very important to her. During periods of ill health in recent years it was of great comfort to her that she could remain at home with her family, and they ensured that she was very well taken care of. She will be sadly missed by her daughters Noeleen and Maria, her grandchildren Siobhan and her husband John, Josh and his partner Romina and Niamh, her brothers JJ and Sean, sisters May White and Kitty Stone, her great grandchildren Kasey, Emmie, Ayla, Jack and Robyn, her extended family, neighbours and friends. Anna’s funeral mass took place in her parish church, St. Nicholas’ church, Ballyduff and she was laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard. We pray that she now rests in gentle peace and is reunited with her beloved husband Ted. May she rest in peace.

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RECENT DEATHS

We extend our deepest sympathy to Eleanor Foley, Ballyduff on the recent death of her beloved father. Seamus O Neill, Slieverue will be sadly missed by his wife Maureen, his children Eleanor, Alison and Nigel, his grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends. Seamus’s funeral mass took place in The Sacred Heart Church, Ferrybank will burial in the adjoining graveyard. May he now rest in peace and may his family draw comfort from all their wonderful memories.
We offer our condolences to Rory Phelan on the recent death of his father Maurice Phelan, late of Grantstown. Maurice will be remembered and loved always by his wife Betty, daughters Tara and Lisa, sons Muiris, Niall and Rory, grandchildren, sisters, brother, daughter-in-law Maura, sons-in-law Michael and Adrian, extended family, neighbours and friends. Maurice’s funeral mass was celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Ballygunner and he was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery. May he now beat peace in God’s heavenly kingdom.

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CHURCH NEWS.

The annual Autumn station masses will be held in St. Nicholas’s Church on Wednesday October 11th and 18th at 7.30pm. This is a lovely opportunity for neighbours and parishioners to come together and offer prayers for all the people living in their community. These two masses will cover all the townlands of the parish and your annual Autumn dues collection envelopes are available in your yearly pack or you can use any envelope and mark it Autmn collection. We all lead such fast and busy lives; it is nice to come together and pray for blessings on the health and wellbeing of our neighbours and friends.

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GOLDEN COUPLE.

We send warm congratulations to John and Minnie McGrath, Kildermody who recently celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss. Still smiling and enjoying each other’s company as much as ever, they are most certainly an example to all of a happy marriage. Always willing to support and help their family, friends and neighbours, it was lovely to hear that they were treated to a beautiful meal in The Sweep with their family. We wish this happy, popular couple every best wish for the future and many more years of happy marriage.

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BIRTHDAY GIRL

We send congratulations and best wishes to a very popular lady, Ann Dunphy, Lisahane who recently celebrated her 80th birthday. Ann enjoyed her special day at her son Seamus’s house where her family ensured that her birthday was marked with great celebrations. She enjoyed good food, drink and lots of laughs with her family and maybe there was a dance or two around the kitchen. Ann always has a wonderful smile to greet everyone, and we hope that she enjoyed her birthday celebrations and wish her many more happy birthdays.

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BALLYDUFF LOWER GAA.

Busy times at Ballyduff Lower GAA club with lots of different groups competing and enjoying games. The Portlaw/Ballyduff LGFA U8’s and U10’s had a busy couple of weeks in some very unpleasant weather conditions at times. They began by travelling to Kilmacthomas on September 23rd to take part in a blitz and showed great strength of character as they worked hard during heavy rain. Thursday September 28th was the final training session for this group and once again the weather was against them. It did not stop the fun though as the U8’s were presented with certificates and the U10’s/U11’s took part in an in-house tournament. Cork, Waterford, Tipperary and Kerry took to the pitch in the hope of winning the LGFA trophy and medals. Tipperary and Waterford progressed to the final with Tipperary coming out on top in an exciting game. The U10’s travelled to Lemybrien the following day to take part in their final outing of the year. Great fun was had as they met with teams from Kilrossanty Brickey’s, St. Pat’s, Stradbally and Kilmacthonmas. The club would like to thank all the girls, their coaches and their parents for their commitment and looks forward to next season.
The U9 hurlers travelled to De La Salle to take part in their Festival of Hurling. There were teams from Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, and Cork. It was a wonderful sight to see all the teams walk behind the pipe band around the pitch. A big thanks to De La Salle for organizing this event and providing refreshments and treat bags for all the participants.
The U8 and U10 camogie girls took part in the County Camogie Blitz in the SETU Arena on Sunday October 1st. The U8 team played Butlerstown, Ferrybank, Brickey Rangers and Gailltir while the U10’s took on Gailltir and two Mount Sion teams. This was a great opportunity for the girls and showed how much they are improving every day.
A big well done to the U15 Portlaw/Ballyduff hurlers who beat Passage to win the U15 Hurling Plate Final. They have enjoyed a great year, and this is a just reward for their hard work. Congratulations to all the team, their coaches and parents for their dedication.

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BALLYDUFF AFC

Ballyduff AFC are always improving their facilities and they have now opened a coffee shop on their grounds. You can enjoy teas, coffee, and sweet treats when you visit the grounds. This is a great addition to the club, and we wish them the very best.
The club are asking for your support as they take part in the Circle K/ FAI Club Mark competition where your club could win up to €30,000. Just download the Circle K app, select Ballyduff AFC and then upload your Circle K receipts. The more entries the club gets the more chance they have of winning.
Congratulations to the U11 girls who took on a very skillful Southend team. Ballyduff’s panel of 17 showed some great skill scoring three great goals in the second half but it wasn’t enough to win over Southend. The girls put on a brilliant display showing great promise for the future.

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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

If life was a book, every day would be new page,
Every month would be a new chapter.
And every year would be a new series.

BRIDGE NEWS

The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club meet on Monday nights in Ballyduff Community Centre and new members are always welcome. The results of their latest game played on Monday September 25th are as follows:
1st: Mary Prendergast and Peggy Murphy.
2nd: Mary Kennedy and Elizabeth Mooney
3rd: Sean Hennessy and Ann Marie Brown.
4th: William and Ann Tobin.

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RUGBY SUCCESS

Congratulations to Carriganure man Alan Phelan who has been selected to play on the Munster Rugby U16 squad. Alan is a 4th year student at St. Declan’s Community College, Kilmacthomas and a very active member of the school rugby team. Alan also plays for Waterford City Rugby Club. He shares this great interest and love for rugby with his father John and I’m sure both he and Mam Siobhan are extremely proud of Alan. We look forward to watching Alan progressing and we wish him the very best in his training.

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PARISH CHOIR.

Our parish choir enhance every mass that they perform at. The beautiful range of music and hymns bring great joy to all who attend. You don’t have to be a world class singer to be a member just someone who enjoys singing and enjoys being a member of a lovely group of people who also value each member and great friendships are formed. Rehearsals take place each Wednesday night at 8pm in St. Nicholas Church, Ballyduff so why not drop along and see if this is for you. Remember it is said that when you sing at mass, you pray twice. Having a little extra in the bank can only help in the long run!

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BALLYDUFF AFC

Our local soccer club is going from strength to strength and are always big supporters of extra activities which enhance the opportunities of their players. Goalkeepers Anonymous will visit 5 counties in 5 days with their goalkeepers’ clinic. They will travel to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kerry and Waterford. The Waterford clinic will take place at the Ballyduff AFC grounds on October 30th from 10am to 2pm. This is open to all boys and girls aged 10 to 16 years. During these four hours of quality goalkeeper training with league of Ireland goalkeepers you will learn about handling, shotstopping, footwork, reactions, distribution, and communication. There will also be a pop-up shop after the session to view gloves and products. Places for this clinic are very limited so get your name down quickly. You can check out details on the Ballyduff AFC Facebook page.

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CHURCH NEWS

Bookings for weekend anniversary masses during the months of October, November and December can now be taken by contacting Linda Spillane on 087 9838392.
The annual Sacristan collection has been taken up over the past couple of weeks but if you were away or forgot, you can still contribute by placing your offering in an envelope marked Sacristan Collection and place it in the weekly collection basket or by putting it through the post box on the sacristy door inside the church.

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21st CELEBRATIONS

Congratulations and best wishes to Ava Spillane, Matthews Cross, Kilmeaden who celebrated her 21st birthday on Monday October 1st. Ava is a hairdresser at the very popular Shades Hair Salon in Ferrybank and really enjoys her work. I have no doubt that Ava will celebrate in style over the coming weeks, and we wish her a wonderful time with her family and friends.

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DEISE WINNER

Ballyduff Lower GAA Club were delighted to have a winner in this months Deise draw. Congratulations to Mike Masterson and his family who won €500. We hope they enjoy this lovely win.
The club would like to thank everyone for supporting the draw as it is a huge fundraiser for the GAA clubs around Waterford and enables them to improve and enhance their facilities.

GAA LOTTO

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 9, 14, 19 and 25. There was no lucky winner of the jackpot and the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Helena Power, Tony Larkin and Marie Morrissey. The next draw will take place on October 7th and there will be a fantastic jackpot of €11,150 up for grabs. Tickets cost just €2 each or three for €5 and can be purchased from any committee member, online or tickets can be bought at Centra Kilmeaden on Saturday October 6th. Choose your four lucky numbers and you could be heading off on a shopping spree.

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BRIDGE NEWS

The Ballyduff/ Portlaw bridge club held their AGM recently and the following officers were elected:
Incoming President: Joan Hartery.
Vice President: Anne Kennedy.
Honorary Secretary: Kathleen Collins.
Honorary Treasurer: Breda Murphy.
Congratulations and well done to Outgoing President Elizabeth Mooney and her team for all their work.
Following the election of officers, it was down to the Monday night game of bridge and the results were as follows:
Joint First: William and Ann Tobin and Nano Fitzgerald and Geraldine McMahon.
3rd: Peggy Murphy and Elizabeth Mooney.
4th: Monica Sullivan and Breda Murphy.
The Bridge Club meet every Monday night at Ballyduff Community Centre and are always very welcoming to new members.

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COMMUNITY ALERT

Our local community alert held their AGM last Tuesday night. Jay Dowdall retained his position as Chairperson and MJ Healy kept his position as Treasurer. Linda Spillane announced her intention to step down as Secretary due to work and other commitments. She will continue to support the group and act as their PRO. Chris Pragnell will take on the position of Secretary and we wish him the very best in his new position.
Following the AGM business, the meeting heard a very interesting presentation from Ann Marie Veale who is the advisor to the HSE for the Alzheimer’s Society. Everyone agreed that Anne Marie was an excellent communicator, and her talk was very interesting and informative. The group also heard from Garda Sharon Ryan who asked people to mindful of leaving valuables in their cars and to remember to secure their property when going away during the day or on holidays. She also encouraged people to contact the guards if they see anything suspicious in their area.
The group will continue to engage with some more speakers for their coming meetings and are looking forward to more members attending the meetings as it is important that everyone works together within the community.

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COMMUNITY GARDEN

If you have passed by the community garden in recent days, you will notice that pathways have been marked out and stone has been laid on footpaths and at the entrance. Plans are now underway to begin planting some trees and shrubs and everyone is welcome to come along and get involved. Donations to the garden are very much appreciated and the group are delighted with the support they have received from businesses and individuals. This garden will benefit all and will provide a beautiful place for people to relax, meet people, enjoy the beauty of nature and be involved in their community.

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CHURCH NEWS

The annual sacristan’s collection will continue this weekend. There is an envelope included in your yearly pack, but any envelope will do, just mark it for the sacristan’s collection. Our sacristan Ann Nolan does a fabulous job keeping our church is tip top condition and she is so welcoming and friendly to all who visit the church and graveyard. Our church community are very lucky to have her, and we ask you to be as generous as possible.
Choir practice takes place in the church on Wednesday evenings at 8pm and new members are always welcome.

COMMUNITY ALERT.

Our local community alert group will hold their next meeting on Tuesday September 19th at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. This will be the AGM for the group, and it is hoped as many as possible will attend. There will also be a very interesting presentation by Ann Marie Veale who is a consultant for the HSE for the Alzheimers Society. The community alert group is a very important part of the community, and their text alert scheme provides a vital service. All are welcome to attend this meeting.

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BRIDGE NEWS.

The Ballyduff and Kilmeaden Bridge club have returned and on Monday September 11th in Ballyduff Community Centre the members gathered after their summer recess. The results of the game were as follows:
1st: Joan Hartery and Nano Fitzgerald
2nd: Kathleen Collins and Patsy Roche
3rd: Anne Marie Brown and John Fitzpatrick.
Joint 4th Winners: Mary Prendergast and Geraldine McMahon
and Peggy Murphy and Ann Cox.
The club held its AGM on Monday September 18th, and the club would like to wish new President Joan Hartery and her committee the very best for the coming year and thank outgoing President Elizabeth Mooney for all her hard work and commitment.

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DIAMOND COUPLE.

Best wishes and congratulations to Tom and May McGrath, Ballygarron who recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. Tom and May are a very popular couple who always enjoy a chat with all they meet. Their love for each other is very evident to all as they enjoy their days together in their beautiful home and garden. They enjoy the company of their son Paul living next door and of course they adore visits from their grandson Jack. We wish this lovely couple every best wish for the future and many more happy years of marriage.

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CHURCH NEWS

If you would like to book a weekend anniversary mass for your loved one during the coming months, please contact Linda Spillane on 087 9838392.
The parish choir have now returned from their summer break, and it is wonderful to hear them at our masses again. Rehearsals take place on Wednesday nights in the church and new members are always welcome.
The annual Sacristan’s collection will be taken up at all masses over the weekends of September 26th and 27th and September 30th and October 1st. There is an envelope in your yearly pack for this but don’t worry as any envelope will do, just mark it Sacristan’s collection. St. Nicholas’s Church in Ballyduff is very lucky to have a very hardworking and dedicated Sacristan. Ann Nolan is truly committed to ensuring things run like clockwork and our church is kept in immaculate condition. Any visitor to the church receives a warm and friendly welcome. Please be as generous as you possibly can to show Ann the appreciation she truly deserves.

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RECENT DEATHS

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the late Mary O Callaghan, Hackettstown, Portlaw who died recently. Mary will be sadly missed by her mother Peggy, brothers Liam and Pat, sister Siobhan, extended family and her carers and friends in the Brothers of Charity Services.
We also send our condolences to the Davidson family, Gortaclode on the recent death of Moira. She will be fondly remembered by all and sadly missed by her husband Tom, her daughters Morag and Fiona, son Douglas, grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends.
We pray that they now rest in peace.

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COMMUNITY MEETING

A recent meeting held in Ballyduff Community Centre was attended by many individuals and representatives from numerous groups in the parish. Our community is growing rapidly with many one-off houses as well as new housing estates. While everyone agreed that is wonderful to see so many people choosing our area to live in, they also agreed that amenities and facilities are needed to cater for all age groups. Attending the meeting were Richie Walsh from Waterford City and County Council and Jimmy Taafe from Waterford Leader Partnership and both gave valuable information to the meeting. They stressed the fact that to get your ideas and wishes across you need to form a strong dedicated development group who are positive and proactive. Advice and funding are available for groups who show how dedicated they are. The group would put forward the ideas and thoughts they have as to what is needed in the area to ensure that all are catered for. The next step is to form this group and so another meeting will take place in Ballyduff Community Centre on Thursday September 21st at 7.30pm. There will be a speaker attending who will direct how to move forward and set out a strategic plan. Community groups are driven by community members coming together for the good of their community. All are welcome to drop along to the meeting and find out what is involved.