Bridge News.

The results of the bridge game played on June 13th are as follows:
1st: Michael O Donovan and Nano Fitzgerald.
2nd:Geraldine McMahon and Bertha O Connor.
3rd:Peggy Murphy and Margaret Power.
4th: Mary Prendergast and Mary Cummins.

A Precious Boy.

We send our heartiest congratulations to Eoin and Eileen Mackey on the birth of their second child. They welcomed their son Andrew Mackey safely into the world and he now settles into family life with mammy and daddy and his big sister Alice. We hope this lovely little family enjoy many years of love, happiness and good health.

Gluten Free.

Fr. O Byrne has asked me to remind you that we now offer the option of receiving gluten free communion in Ballyduff at all masses. If you would like to receive this please just knock at the sacristy door before mass and inform the sacristan and she will make sure you are included.

Mass Bookings.

We have now taken the bookings for weekend anniversary masses for the months of July, August and September but if you were away or missed them for some reason please just contact me Linda Spillane on 087-9838392 and I will look after you.

Graveyard Mass.

Our annual graveyard mass in Ballyduff will take place on Wednesday July 13th at 7.30pm. Please spread the word to people you know in other areas who have relatives or friends buried in our graveyard. After the mass there will be a cup of tea and some light refreshments served in the community centre. This is always a lovely chance for people to meet up and have a chat and a catch up. If you fancy providing some home baking or refreshments for this please contact myself Linda Spillane on 087-9838392 and I will put your name down.

Sports Day.

After all the beautiful sunny weather we have had it was a pity that the rain arrived during the annual school sports evening. The children didnt mind of course and a lot of their races were run off before the rain arrived. The novelty races were held the next day in school. Despite the awful weather people were still very generous and supported the barbeque, cake stall, plant stall, raffle, teas and coffee etc and so there was still over €1000 profit made.
The school would like to say a huge thank you to their sponsors, McDonalds, The Book Centre,Centra Kilmeaden, Living Colours Flowers, Kilmeaden Pharmacy, Frank Murphy Hurley Maker, Deirdre Giani face painting, Clem Jacob Hire and Lloyds Pharmacy Clonmel. A big thank you to all who supported the event and last but not least a big thank you to that dedicated bunch of sports who organise the evening each year, this is no easy task and they are to be thanked for their dedication and hard work.

School Tours.

The pupils of Ballyduff NS are being treated to their class school tours at the moment and they are all very lucky indeed to be heading off to exciting places around the country. The staff and pupils are looking forward to getting their school holidays on Tuesday June 28th so lets hope we get some nice Summer weather or there may be a parent or two tearing their hair out!!
As the school breaks up we thank all the staff of the school for their kindness and dedication throughout the year and we wish them all a safe and happy Summer. We wish the very best of luck to our 6th class gentlemen and ladies who will head off to their chosen secondary school in September. We hope that they have fond memories of their days in Ballyduff and will represent us with great pride.

Soccer Camp.

Ballyduff AFC will host their Summer Soccer Activity Camp from July 4th to July 8th from 10am to 2pm daily. This camp is open to boys and girls aged 6 to 14 years. The cost is €45 per child, €35 for the second child and the third child is free. If you would like some more information please contact Paddy Kirk on 087-2764883.

Golf Classic.

Do you fancy a game of golf and a fun day out with friends? Ballyduff AFC have decided to get involved in the Waterford Sports Clubs Golf Classic. This will take place on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th of July in Waterford Golf Club. A team of 4 costs €120 which includes a meal. The maximum golf handicap is Mens 24 and Ladies 36. If you are interested give Paddy Kirk a call.

GAA Lotto.

There was no winner of the latest lotto draw and the numbers drawn were 8, 23, 25 and 27. The three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Orla O Conor, Ned Cullinane and Catherine Banks. The next draw will take place on Sunday June 19th in O Donnachas and there will be a fantastic jackpot of €3,650 on offer. Tickets cost just €2 or three for €5 and will be on sale all day Saturday June 18th outside Centra in Kilmeaden.

Mass Bookings.

If you would like to book a weekend annivesary mass for a loved one during the months of July, August and September then you can do so after both weekend masses on Saturday June 18th and Sunday June 19th. As you know there is a high demand for weekend masses and so it is necessary to share dates but if you do not want to share you will need to be present at the bookings to try get the date you want. Please inform the person taking the bookings if you don’t want to share. First anniversary masses and months mind get preference of course and are automatically given a mass on their own so if you have one of these within these months please contact me Linda Spillane before the bookings on 087-9838392 and I will sort the date for you.

Coffee Morning.

You are all invited along to a coffee morning on Saturday June 18th from 10.30am to 12 noon at O Donnachas. Local lady Gerri O Brien is trying to raise funds for her to trip to Uganda with Nurture Africa. Gerri will make this trip to work in the medical centre which is badly needed to save the lives of the poor children. Please drop along for a cuppa and a chat while supporting a great cause.

Birthday Boy

We send big birthday wishes to local Tipp FM DJ Shay Searson in Gortaclode who recently celebrated his half century birthday. I know he celebrated in style with wife Edel, daughter Amber and son Scott and there was lots of delicious cake on offer but we only got to see the photos of it we weren’t offered any. Cake or no cake Shay I still wish you a very happy birthday and hope that all those wishes you made come true although I’ve a funny feeling that life is already just how you like it!!

Ball Drop.

There was great excitement on Bank Holiday Monday as we set up our equipment for the first ever Ballyduff Ball Drop. The venue was Amberhill just below the home of Roger and Sheila Shanahan who we thank for putting up with us crazy people. The sides were all blocked off so no ball could escape and at the bottom of the hill was that all important pipe for the winning balls to go through. Technical experts Jack and Jill were unavailable on the day due to some accident concerning a hill and a bucket so they sent along their top men Dick Walsh, Jimmy Power and Eamonn Reade who made sure everything was just right.
Some of the local children provided the countdown as local man Michael Power released the 1000 coloured balls from the bucket of his digger and the race was on. The scene was like a load of M&M’s running down a hill. Joan Stephenson was waiting at the back of the funnel to catch those first three balls through. The winner receiving €250 was Aoife Kearns from Tigroe, second was Peggy O Shea, Ballyduff Hill who received €100 and third home was Marie O Sullivan(nee Shannon) formerly of Adamstown. What great fun we had in the sun.Thank you very much to everyone who supported this fundraiser for the hall and to all who took the time to sell the lines. Thank you also to Michael Power for taking time out of his busy schedule to operate the digger for us.

Bridge News.

The results of the bridge game played on June 7th were:

1st: Fr. O Byrne and Ann Marie Brown.
2nd:Kate Hayes and Nano Fitzgerald.
3rd: Nan Murphy and Aileen Stephenson.
4th: Margaret Power and John Fitzpatrick.

Soccer Camp.
The school holidays are fast approaching and it’s time to consider Summer camps. Ballyduff AFC will hold their Summer Soccer Activity Camp from July 4th to July 8th from 10am to 2pm each day. The camp is open to boys and girls aged 6 to 14 years and the cost is €45 per child, €35 for second child and free for the third child. To receive more details please contact Paddy Kirk on 087-2764883.

Golf Classic.

Ballyduff AFC realise that there are some rather gifted golfers in our parish and so are getting their club involved in the Waterford Sports Club Golf Classic which will take place at Waterford Golf Club on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th of July. A team of 4 costs €120 which includes a meal. Maximum Golf Handicap is Mens 24 and Ladies 36. 2 to score on every hole, nearest pin 16th and longest drive 18th.

Bridge News.
The winners of the last couple of Bridge games were as follows:

23-05-2016
1st: Nano Fitzgerald and Geraldine McMahon.
2nd: John Fitzpatrick and Mary Prendergast.
3rd: Peggy Murphy and Margaret Power.
4th: Eileen Kirwan and Mary Cummins.

30-05-2016
1st:Peggy Murphy and Breda Cowman.
2nd: Kate Hayes and Sean Hennessy.
3rd: Margaret Power and Pauline Fanning.
4th: Nano Fitzgerald and Monica Sullivan.

Sincere Thanks.

The collectors for the IHCPT and Down Syndrome Ireland contacted me about the recent church gate colections they held in Saint Nicholas church in Ballyduff. They would like to thank all who contributed for their generosity and support.

Cemetery Mass.

Our annual graveyard mass in Ballyduff will take place on Wednesday July 13th at 7.30pm. This is always a very well attended event and if you could please help spread the word that it is coming up to people outside the parish who may have relatives or friends buried here.
If you are visiting our graveyard to tidy up your grave or replace flowers etc we would ask that you would please bring a rubbish bag and bring home your dead flowers and plants. All this helps to keep our graveyard neat and tidy.

Co.Op Centenary.

The Kilmeaden Co.Op centenary committee are very busy organising their centenary events. They are issuing an appeal to anyone who may have old photographs or historical information relating to the Co.op to get in contact with Pat Coady or Gabrielle Power in Kilmeaden Co.op.

Exam Wishes.

We wish the very best of luck to all those young people who will sit the Junior Cert and Leaving Cert next week. We hope that they will all be happy and content with the papers and that all their dreams come true.

GAA Academy.

Our U7’s and our U8’s took part in blitz competitions lately and did themselves and their club proud. The U8’s faced tough opposition in Clonea as well as some long grass but they acquitted themselves well in some low scoring games. Our U7’s hosted a blitz in Kildermody and their performance was breathtaking winning 4 of their 6 games topped off with a draw and a narrow loss also. Both these teams are from the same pool of players and are progressing nicely and the enjoyment they are providing should be bottled. A big thanks also to the three young whistlers who kept the proceedings moving. Training continues on Wednesday evenings at 6pm and will soon be held on Saturday mornings at 10.30am also.

The Music Man

We were all plunged into shock last week when we learnt of the sudden death of Michael Harris, formerly of Amberhill. Michael had been living in the Holy Ghost houses for the past few years where he was extremely happy but to all who knew him Amberhill was his home. He spent many happy years there with his wife Mary and their three beloved sons Ger, Kevin and Dermot. Michael worked hard all his life with Roadstone and it can honestly be said that he gave 120% every day he was there. What little spare time he had was spent in his shed tinkering away with tractors and engines and of course the other great love in his life was music. I can honestly say that I have never met a finer mouth organ player, I’d swear he could make it talk. I had the honour of spending many a Sunday over at their house in Amberhill while we would gather to practice for Scor. Practice was planned for an hour but I would always end up staying all evening as a session would break out. Poor Mary or Kathleen next door would end up feeding us before the evening was out. Michael passed on his great love of music to his children and as his son Dermot played the box at the graveside I knew Michaels heart would be bursting with pride. Michael and Mary had to suffer immense sorrow a few years ago when they suffered the loss of their son Kevin who was a very talented dancer, his legs moved so fast they didn’t seem to touch the ground at all.
Eldest son Ger, a gifted hurler spoke during Michaels funeral mass with great dignity, love and passion about his dad and had everyone smiling with stories of his dads escapades. I must congratulate Fr. John Harris who officiated at the funeral mass of his uncle which cannot have been easy but I can imagine how comforting it was to the family.
Michael was indeed a quiet, unassuming optomistic man who w as happy when his family was happy. He was delighted with the arrival of grandchildren and I’m sure they have lots of lovely memories of time spent with grandad. In the hard days ahead I hope the family can draw comfort from these memories. I now picture Michael resting on a cloud playing the mouth organ instructing Kevin to get a group together for one more set dance. Our deepest sympathy to all Michaels immediate family including his brothers and sisters who were a huge part of his life. May he now rest in peace and keep an ear out because that mouth organ was never quiet for long!!

Perfect Day.

St.Nicholas church, Ballyduff was the setting for a most beautiful wedding last week as local girl Louise Mackey exchanged vows with the love of her life Ian Doogue. The bride looked absolutely stunning in her wedding gown as she walked up the aisle on the arm of her very proud father John. I hear tales back of a very enjoyable wedding day and reception and I’m sure the celebrations continued into the following days too. We wish this happy couple many happy, healthy years together.

GAA Lotto

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 4,7,17 and 23 and there was no winner of the jackpot. The three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Martin Murray, Fergus Dunne and Rob Power. The next draw will take place on June 5th and will have a fantastic jackpot of €3500. Tickets cost just €2 or three for €5 and will be on sale all day Saturday June 4th outside Centra.

Confirmation Day.

Congratulations to the 45 young men and women from 5th and 6th classes in Ballyduff N.S who made their Confirmation on Thursday May 26th. Thankfully the weather was very kind to them and they did themselves,their families and their school proud.

Ball Drop.

The time is nearly here when we will set those balls free. At this time of going to press a definite decision had not been finalised as to which hill will be used. Jack and Jill are on the job as I speak and as you can imagine it is a very technical decision so thats why the experts have to be brought in. There may still be a chance to buy some of the numbered balls which are priced at €2.50 each and if your ball rolls home first you will receive €250, second gets €100 and third gets €50.

Foroige News.

Our local Foroige group would like to say a big thank you to all who supported their recent cake sale. I must say well done to them for the fine array of cakes and buns they had for sale . We were really spoilt for choice. Well done to Alanna O Neill who was the winner of the fabulous big cake they had in the raffle. What a great way for Alanna to begin her Confirmation week celebrations. I hear they came from as far as Donegal to taste the cake.

Notes Contact.

If you would like me to include an item in these notes for you then please contact me by a Thursday evening of each week. You can ring or text me on 087-9838392 or drop me an email on spillanelinda@eircom.net or indeed you can go the very old fashioned way of speaking to me, I’m very approachable!!

A Little Princess.

We send our warmest congratulations to John and Laura O Leary, Ballyduff on the recent birth of their beautiful baby girl Aimee. I hear that she is doing very well and that she is getting an abundance of love and attention from big brother Leon and big sister Emma. I’m sure they will teach her the tricks of the trade in no time at all. We wish this lovely little family every joy and happiness.

Bridge News.
The results of the latest bridge game played on Monday May 16th are as follows:
1st:Peggy Murphy and Ann Cox.
2nd:Margaret Power and Sean Hennessy.
3rd:Kathleen Collins and Mary Cummins.
4th:Nan Murphy and Anna Harney.

Confirmation Day.

We wish all the boys and girls of 5th and 6th classes in Ballyduff N.S the very best of luck for their Confirmation Day on Thursday May 26th. The ceremony will begin at 11am and all are invited to attend. The children have prepared well and I’m sure the Bishop will be impressed. We hope they all enjoy a memorable day with their friends and family.

GAA Academy.

It is wonderful to see such great crowds on Wednesday nights for academy training. These 4 to 8 year old children are really enjoying themselves and are learning lots of new skills. Training continues every Wednesday evening at 6pm for the month of May and then it is hoped to introduce some extra training on Saturdays in June. New members are always very welcome and if you would like to find out some more information then please contact Brian on 087-2486423 or Rory on 086-6012394.

GAA Cul Camp.

Can you believe that it is nearly that time of year again when we start to think of Summer camps. The GAA Cul Camp will run this year from July 25th to July 29th inclusive in Ballyduff GAA grounds. You can get all the details you need from the Cul Camp website. This is always a very enjoyable week with the children receiving instruction in hurling, football, camogie and rounders. All coaches involved are fully qualified and garda vetted.

Cemetery Mass.
Our annual graveyard mass in Ballyduff will take place on Wednesday July 13th at 7.30pm. This is always a very popular mass so I ask you to spread the word to all those people living in other parishes who have relatives and friends buried in our graveyard. As in other years we will have some tea and refreshments in our local community centre after the mass giving people a chance to meet up for a chat.

Can You Help?

I have been contacted by the organising committee of the centenary celebrations at Kilmeaden Co-Op. They are trying to gather as much historical information and old photographs about the Co-Op as they can and would love to hear from you if you have any. If you think you can help then please contact Pat Coady or Gabrielle Power at Glanbia, Kilmeaden.

Ball Drop
Well I must say that excitement is really building for the planned ball drop on Monday June 6th. This event is being organised by the fundraising committee for Ballyduff Community Centre. The plan is to drop 1000 balls from the bucket of a digger down a hill and watch out for the first three balls home. First ball home gets €250, second gets €100 and third gets €50.
How do I get my hands on some balls I hear you ask well they are on sale for just €2.50 and you can buy as many as you like. Many individuals are selling the balls and I have heard that people from all over the country have been trying to get their hands on some. I told you some weeks ago that I myself am selling some and like I told you(just you and nobody else) I have had mine on a very strict diet and excercise programme. This programme has gone very well and they are now rearing to go. Don’t say I haven’t let you know in time, give me a shout!

Our Sympathy.

We offer our sincere condolences to Damian Hennessy, owner og Gala in Kilmeaden on the recent death of his father Gerry. Gerry lived in Marshmeadows in New Ross and is survived by his wife Catherine, his sons Damian and Ger and daughters Emma and , Nicola and his extended family ad large circle of friends. He was laid to rest after his funeral mass in The Church of the Assumption in Rosbercon. We offer our deepset sympathy to Damian and Majella and all their family. May his soul now rest in peace.

GAA Lotto

There was no winner of the latest lotto draw and the numbers drawn were 11,12,25 and 26. The three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Mary Power, Roisin Ni Fhuartain and Denise Roche. The next draw will take place on May 22nd and will have a fantastic jackpot of €3,350. Tickets cost €2 or you can get three tickets for €5. Tickets will be sale all day on Saturday May 21st outside Centra.

Bridge News.

The results of the last couple of bridge games played by the Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club are as follows:

May 3rd

1st:Mary Kennedy and Breda Cowman.
2nd:Kate Hayes and Michael O Donovan
3rd:Breda O Donnell and Pauline Fanning.
4th:Eileen Kirwan and Mary Shanahan.

May 9th

1st:Mary Prendergast and Patsy Roche.
2nd:Mary O Brien and Anna Harney.
3rd:Geraldine McMahon and Bertha O Connor.
4th:Mary Kennedy and Breda Cowman.

Bake Sale.

If you fancy some tasty homebaked treats while supporting our local young people then get yourself along to Ballyduff Community Centre on Sunday May 22nd between 10.30am and 12.30pm where Ballyduff Foroige Club will host a cake sale to help raise funds for their end of year trip. Tea and coffee will also be served so come and relax with a cuppa, a bun and a chat.

Final Meeting

A reminder that our local community alert group will hold a final meeting before the Summer break in Ballyduff Community Centre on Monday May 23rd at 8pm. All are welcome to attend this meeting and there will be light refreshments served after the meeting so this is a lovely way to meet your neighbours and fellow parishioners.

Ball Drop.

Balls are selling like hot cakes for the exciting ball drop which is being organised in aid of our local community centre. Major technical work is underway at present as to which hill will be used. Decisions will have to be made soon, it may be time to bring in the big guns like Jack and Jill who know about their hills!!!
1000 numbered balls will be dropped down the chosen hill and first one home receives €250, second gets €100 and third gets €50. As I have told you all before there are a number of people selling these balls so just ask those usual poor souls who are usually asking you for your money. This ball drop on Monday June 6th should be an exciting and fun day so join in the fun.

Lourdes Winner

The organising committee of the annual Lourdes Talent show would like to thank everyone who supported this event. Congratulations to Terry Stephenson who was the winner on the night of the Jimmy Fox Memorial Cup. If you would like to donate to the local Loudes Fund which sends two people each year in the invalid section of the Waterford/Lismore Diocesan Pilgrimage you can still give your donation to any of the following Noel O Sullivan, Eugene Power, John O Leary or Donal Daly.

Blacknocks Finest.

Our hearts were heavy last week as we awoke to the news that Betty O Keeffe had passed away. Betty spent her married life living in her beloved Blacknock and she and her devoted husband Mossie reared their family with care in a house full of family love. She cared for not only her own family but took in other family members when they needed and reared them with the same affection she had for own. These are the traits of a selfless, dedicated, caring woman and all Betty asked for in return was to see their happiness and hear their laughter. Her greatest love was for family, Mossie, their children and their grandchildren. She was very proud of them all and loved to tell you about them when she met you. She loved to meet up with friends, neighbours, people from her native Co.Tipperary for a good chat and a laugh. She loved her garden, her dogs and of course music. I can still see her being whisked around the floor of O Donnachas or The Sweep for a good old waltz. Betty will be missed greatly but the legacy of love and care she leaves behind will never be forgotten. I personally feel if I can be half the mother she was I wont be doing too bad.
I met with Bettys husband in recent days and he was anxious for me to say a few thank yous for him and his children. Mossie was genuinely humbled by the support and help they received from family, friends and neighbours, people calling to the house, bringing food and supplies and all those who attended both the wake and the funeral mass especially all those who travelled from Bettys native place of Emly in Co. Tipperary. He would like to thank Fr.Gerry Condon who came to the house to offer prayers and to Fr. Richard O Halloran for the beautiful funeral mass. He would also like to thank the choir and musicians who added so nicely to the mass. Thank you also to the undertakers Michael and Dolores Kinsella who Mossie told me were a great support to the family and went over and above the call of duty to make sure the family got to give Betty the send off she deserved. He would also like to thank the grave diggers Tom and Dod Whelan. I think I have covered everyone Mossie asked me to and I’m sure all these people would say that it was a pleasure to help out for such a sweet, unassuming lady like Betty. May her gentle soul now rest in peace.

Community Alert.

Our local community alert group have been requested by the Gardai to have one final meeting before the Summer break up. This meeting will take place on Monday May 23rd at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. All are welcome to come along to this meeting it is a great way to meet up with neighbours and get to know those in your area. Light refreshments will be served after the meeting so hope to see you there.

Ball Drop.

The next venture planned by the fundraising committee attached to Ballyduff Community Centre is a fun ball drop. The plan is to drop 1000 balls down a hill and then give €250 to the owner of the first ball home, €100 to the second and €50 to the third. The numbered balls cost just €2.50 and you can buy as many as you like. At the moment major technical decisions are being made as to which hill in our beautiful area is the best. Practice runs are taking place so dont worry if you happen to meet a lot of balls rolling down a hill on your travels, its all perfectly explainable! Where can you buy these balls I hear you say well there are lots of individuals who have them on sale including myself Linda Spillane and may I say the ones I have are rolling particularly well, they are on an intense excercise programme and a special “make you roll faster diet” so dont say I didnt give you fair warning. Other sales people include Isabel O Neill, Claire Bowman, Marie Reade, Martha Fitzgerald, Siobhan Walsh, Mary Power and many more. Get your lucky balls fast! The ball drop takes place on Monday June 6th.

Foroige Date.

Our local Foroige Youth Club have asked me to give you a date to mark in your diary. They would like to invite you all along to their fundraising cake sale on Sunday May 22nd from 10.30am to 12.30pm in the Community centre. They are going to provide all the cakes, buns and biscuits themselves and will also be serving tea and coffee too so you can sit and have a cuppa while you decide which treats to have. They intend to use the money raised to help fund their end of year trip so come along and support our young people.

Tractor Run.

Our neighbours in Kill and especially those involved with The Swan Lodge Classic and Vintage club have been in touch with me and asked me to let you know all about The Mick Kirwan Memorial Tractor/Vehicle Run which will take place on Sunday May 15th at Gardenmorris. There will be a BBQ, music, modern silage equipment display, model and remote control display and other side shows. We all know that Mick was a great man to raise money for charity and all money raised from this event will go to Waterford Hospice so come along and do Mick proud.

Tea Day.

Thursday May 5th last was National Alzheimers Tea Day and I attended a lovely tea/coffee morning in Ballyduff Community Centre. This annual event is organised by local lady Niamh Larkin and is always well attended. As I have told you before Niamh has a way of getting some of the finest bakers in our parish to bake some treats for this and let me tell you this year was no exception. There were scones and cakes of every description , lovely warm cuppa and plenty of lovely conversation. A fantastic amount of €430 was raised and will be given to the Waterford branch of the association.
Niamh has asked me to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended and gave donations, to all who baked for the event and helped to set up and clean up and all who donated spot prizes. This is a very worthwhile cause and you should be proud of yourself for supporting this charity and the great work they do.

Bluebell Time.

One of my most favourite times of the year is when the bluebells make their appearance especially on Ballyduff Hill. They remind me of my childhood when we would spend our time picking bunches of bluebells for the May altar in school and at home. One of the nicest smells ever is the smell of bluebells the morning after a night of light rain. Take the time over the next few weeks to pick a bunch of bluebells you won’t regret it. Here is a little poem I would like to share with you:

Bells ring beneath a canopy of trees,
Each one echoing a late Spring breeze
The ethereal blue reaches far and wide
Rippling just like the oceans tide
The first signs of Summer tease
Bells ring beneath a canopy of trees
To welcome the season of the sun
The bluebells sing each and every one.
And children dream of a sandy beach
The summer fun is in their reach
Bells ring beneath a canopy of trees
These sunny days a silent reprise
Mystic rhymes to call the fae
In this wooded realm where fairies play
Enchantments brings a gentle care
Bells ring beneath a canopy of trees.

Special Wishes.

On Saturday May 7th at 11am the boys and girls from 2nd class in Ballyduff N.S will come to Saint Nicholas’s church in Ballyduff to make their First Holy Communion. We hope that they will all have a wonderful day. I know they have put a lot of work into preparing for their big day and that their teacher Mrs.Brennan is very proud of them. We pray that the Lord will send some of his wonderful sunshine on the day and that beautiful memories are made.

Community Alert.

A huge crowd gathered for the final community alert meeting before the Summer break. Everyone at the meeting were delighted to hear the guards say that we are now one of the safest areas to live in. This is largely due to our text alert system which operates in our area.Within minutes of a suspicious sighting or activity everyone signed up to the text alert system has received a text alerting them. This is a wonderful facility to have and helps to put peoples minds at ease too.

Tea Day.

Thursday May 5th is National Alzheimers Day and it is up to all of us to do what we can to support this very worthy cause. Unfortunately Alzheimers can touch every family and we all know how it effects the whole family. It is important therefore that we continue to support the services needed for both the patients and their families.
On Thursday May 5th in Ballyduff Community Centre from 9.30am to 12 noon a coffee/tea morning will take place and all money raised will stay in Waterford. Local lady Niamh Larkin arranges this every year and I don’t know how she manages to but she always gets some of the best bakers in our area to bring homemade buns and cakes. Imagine all we have to do is sit and have a cuppa and a chat and pop a donation in the box to help. Now I dont want to hear that you havent got time to stop for a cuppa or that you are too busy. Life is busy but sometimes we can become all about the clock. Take a little time out, maybe encourage a friend or two to meet you there and come along on Thursday enjoy a cuppa, a little treat or two and a chat and know that you are helping someone who deserves it. See you there!

GAA Lotto

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 12, 13, 15 and 24 and there was no jackpot winner. The three lucky dip winners of €50 each were John Keating, Carol Kiely and Noel Kavanagh. The next draw will take place on Sunday May 8th and will have a jackpot of €3,200.

GAA Academy.
Ballyduffs’ U-8 fotballers were in action in Carriganore recently where they faced strong opposition coming out well with a defeat to a very strong Gaultier side, a narrow defeat to Ballinacourty and a superb win against Na Gaeil. There were some fantastic performances with each player giving their all to the team. It was great fun to watch these matches and a big thank you to all the supporters who cheered the team on.

La Na gClubana.

All in Ballyduff GAA club would like to invite all the people of the parish and all the surrounding areas to come along and join them for La Na gClubana which takes place on May 8th at 2pm in Kildermody. This is a fun day organised to celebrate the club, the people and the community. There will be lots of fun games for the children as well as a novelty hurling match for the adults. Free entry to all so come and join in the fun.

Bridge News

The results of the bridge game played on April 18th are as follows:
1st: Mary Kennedy and Breda Cowman
2nd:Teresa Phelan and Noreen Tubbritt.
3rd: Joan Whelan and Michael O Donovan.
4th: Kate Hayes and Nano Fitzgerald.

Pearl Anniversary.

We send our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to popular local couple Claudio and Deirdre Giani of Carriganure who celebrated 30 years of wedded bliss recently. A special hello from all their little friends at Jellytots and of course their children Liza, Virginia, Claudio and Ali. Of course nobody would have been able to top the present they received earlier this year when their baby grandson Marco arrived into their lives. We wish this happy couple every happiness in the future and many more wonderful years together.

Cemetery Mass.

A date to mark in your diary is Wednesday July 13th at 7.30pm, that is when our annual cemetery mass will take place in Ballyduff. This is always well attended with many people from outside the area attending as they have friends or relatives buried here. Please spread word of the date to those people you may know. As always we will have some refreshments in the community hall after it where everyone can meet for a chat.

Angelus Time.

At the moment RTE are presenting the Peoples Angelus on Fridays. The series is on its third rotation. On Friday April 29th the Angelus created by Mellina van der valk will be shown. Mellina is the youngest daughter of T.J and Rosemary van der valk in Ballyduff. Mellina is a final year student in Limerick college of art and design. She is studying fine art and specialising in sculpture and multi media. Last week Mellina was involved with the Eva International festival which was held in Limerick. In June she will travel as part of the Tracey Rose team to Art Basel festival which will take place in Switzerland.

GAA Academy.

I am hearing great reports back from some of my little friends about the Ballyduff GAA academy which is now back in full swing and its never too late to join.If any of you boys or girls aged between 4 and 8 are interested then come along to Kildermody any Saturday morning at 10.30am for some healthy excercise and great fun. If you would like to find out more then please contact Brian on 087-2486423 or Rory on 086-6012394.

Tea/Coffee Date

Thursday May 5th is National Alzheimers Tea Day and I know I dont have to tell any of you about what a worthy charity this is. This is an illness which touches a lot of families and while the patient themselves gets plenty of support, the family are often left feeling helpless and scared. So how can we show our support? All we have to do is relax with a cuppa, a treat or two and have a chat. Please come along to Ballyduff Community Centre on Thursday May 5th from 9.30am to 12 noon and support this very worthy cause. There will be a raffle on the day too with some fantastic prizes on offer. When you think about what these people go through every day and all we have to do to help is sit and have a cuppa with a few friends. Meet you there for the chat.

Ball Drop.

Don’t forget that I mentioned to you last week about a fun ball drop that will take place on June 6th in aid of the Ballyduff Community Centre Redevelopment Fund. The plan is to drop 1000 numbered balls down a hill and the first one home will receive €250, second home gets €100 and third home gets €50. Balls cost €2.50 and you can purchase as many as you like.They can be purchased from many different people around the parish including Siobhan Walsh, Isabel O Neill, Linda Spillane. Marie Reade to name just a few.

Notes.

If you would like anything included in these notes then please contact myself Linda Spillane on 087-9838392 or spillanelinda@eircom.net . If your group or organisation are holding an event then this is the way to let people know. If there has been a celebration or achievement in your family then let me know. We all love to read a bit of good news for a change. Please try get your piece to me by a Thursday of each week. All I need is the general details and I will flower it up a bit or as my friends say I have a degree in bullology!!

A Little Princess.

We send our warmest congratulations to Aisling Kelly formerly of Amberhill and her husband Seamus Prendergast on the birth of their precious little girl Emily. I’m sure big brother Jamie is delighted to welcome his new little sister. We hope this lovely little family enjoy many years of good health and happiness.

GAA Lotto.

There was no winner of the latest GAA lotto draw. The three lucky dip winners of €50 were Breda Aulsberry, Sally Whelan and Kathleen Browne. The next draw will take place on April 24th and there will be a jackpot of €3,050 on offer. Tickets cost just €2 or 3 for €5. Pick your lucky 4 numbers and you could be the lucky one.Tickets will be on sale outside Centra all day on Saturday April 23rd.

Talent Galore.

As you know our local Lourdes fundraising committee like to raise funds each year to send two people to Lourdes as part of the Waterford/Lismore Diocesan Pilgrimage. A local talent show will take place in O Donnachas on Saturday April 23rd in aid of this fund. Music will be provided by Mick Humphries and contestants will compete for the “Jimmy Fox Cup”. Come along and enjoy a night of great talent while supporting a very worthwhile cause.

Date For Your Diary.

The National Alzheimers Tea Day will take place this year on Thursday May 5th. Here in our community we will have a chance to support this very worthy cause by attending a tea/coffee morning in Ballyduff Community Centre on May 5th from 9.30am to 12 noon. This is always a wonderful morning with cakes and buns from some of the finest bakers in the parish on offer and lots of friendly chat and laughs. There is also a raffle with some fantastic prizes to win.
Unfortunately nearly every family is now visited by the cruel disease which is Alzheimers and so we must all do our bit to make sure services remain in place and that vital research is continued. I hope to see you all at the coffee morning for a chat and a cuppa.

GAA Academy

Ballyduffs GAA academy is now back in full swing in Kildermody at 10.30am on Saturday mornings. All boys and girls aged 4 to 8 are welcome to come along and have fun. All coaches are fully qualified and are Garda vetted. If you would like some more information please contact Brian on 087-2486423 or Rory on 086-6012394.

Have A Ball.

Ballyduff Community Centre Redevelopment group have come up with another fun way to raise funds. On Monday June 6th a ball drop will take place. The plan is to sell numbered balls for €2.50 each and then to drop up to 1000 balls down a hill and the owner of the first ball will win €250, the second €100 and third €50. There will be a few people selling these balls so I will give you few different names each week and you will surely know one of them Siobhan Walsh, Isabel O Neill, Linda Spillane, Marie Reade and Mary Power. This should be a great fun event so get your balls.

Bridge News.

The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge club recently held their Presidents day at Viking Hotel and here are the list of winners:
1st: Nano Fitzgerald and Monica Sullivan.
2nd: Mary Kennedy and Mary Prendergast.
3rd: William Tobin and Mary O Brien.
4th: Anna Harney and Joan Hartery.
5th: John Fitzgerald and Kate Hayes.

Community Alert.

Due to unforeseen circumstances the recently arranged community alert meeting had to be cancelled. It has been rescheduled for Monday April 25th at 8pm in the community centre. Remember to bring along your €5 annual fee for the text alert scheme as this will be the final meeting before the Summer break.

Holy Communion.

Congratulations to the boys and girls of 2nd class who have now finished their Do This In Memory special programme masses in preparation for their big day on Saturday May 7th. It has been lovely watching them over the past few months taking part in the different aspects of the mass and I know their parents are very proud of them and that their First Holy Communion Day is going to be a wonderful and happy event.