A True Lady

We were all very saddened to hear of the death of Mrs. Kitty McGrath in Blacknock. Kitty was a quiet, unassuming lady who lived her life in Blacknock which she loved  dearly.  I had the pleasure of visiting her in her home on occasions and she always spoke of the wonderful neighbours she had. She was a lady of great faith and when the time came that she was unable to attend mass she enjoyed watching mass on the television. Kitty is predeceased by her beloved husband Buddy and I am sure there will be a happy reunion in heaven. We extend our deepest sympathies to her son Pat and all the extended family and also to her neighbours and friends. We pray that her  sweet gentle soul may now rest in peace and that she will enjoy the joys of heaven.

21st celebrations

We wish a very happy birthday to local lady Rachel Power in Adamstown who recently celebrated her 21st birthday. I’m sure this popular young lady took a trip down the river with her kayaking buddies to celebrate and enjoy the wonderful weather. I have no doubt that Rachel will have been spoiled by all in the Power and Keane families and rightly so. Celebrations and occasions are a speciality for her mother Mary and no doubt dad Jimmy and brother Gavin were on hand to lift and carry and follow Mary’s instructions. We hope Rachel enjoyed her special day and we wish this lovely young lady many  more  happy birthdays to come.

Birthday Girl

Another very popular local lady celebrated her birthday recently. Sara Fitzpatrick from Ballyduff West celebrated her special day by enjoying a couple of days away with her parents Michael and Mary and of course her beloved dog Riley. We hope Sara enjoyed her birthday celebrations and no doubt her parents Michael and Mary made sure everything was just perfect. We wish Sara many more happy birthdays.

Church News

Bookings are now been taken for anniversary masses for the month of August so if you would like to book a mass for a loved one please contact Linda Spillane on 0879838392 and I will look after you.
Our weekday masses take place every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10am and our weekend masses take place on Saturdays at 10am and 7.30pm and on Sunday morning at 9.30am.
A reminder that the annual sacristan’s collection is now being taken up. You can simply put your offering into an envelope and write sacristans collection on it. It can be placed in the weekly collection basket at mass or you can pop it into the post box which is on the sacristy door inside the church. As I said in these notes last week there  is no need for me to tell you about the wonderful job that is done by our sacristan Ann. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful lady taking care of our church. Our  church is always in immaculate condition and Ann treats the church like her own home. Anybody calling to the sacristy is greeted with a smile and friendly chat and we are all very grateful to Ann for  keeping our church so beautiful.

Ballyduff GAA

The club were delighted to see another great turnout for their “Come and Try”Camogie initiative in their  pitch in Kildermody. An enjoyable hour long session was enjoyed by 20 parents and girls learning the basic skills of camogie. This initiative continues every Tuesday evening from 6.10pm to 7.10pm until the end of August. Any parents who would like to come along with their children are very welcome.
A big well done to the U10 camogie girls who represented their club in Walsh Park last Saturday. They played Cappoquin in the “Go Games” during half time of the Senior game between Waterford and Down. The girls would  like to congratulate the girls on their win and wish them every success. They would also like to thank Waterford Camogie for inviting them to take part, it was a wonderful opportunity.
Over 100 children took part in this years Cul Camp which really should  have been called “Hot Camp”. In glorious weather the children took part in many different games and were very well looked after with plenty of water breaks, rests in shaded areas and lots of sun cream being applied. A big thank to Eoin, John and all the coaches for their tremendous work. They have been a huge benefit to our club over the years and the club are  delighted to be associated with them.
Lots of games have been taking place recently with some wins, defeats and  draws. Learning the skills and playing with their friends is what the club places the most
emphasis on. It is wonderful to see such happy faces enjoying themselves.

Community Centre

A date to add to your diary is Wednesday August 18th when the AGM of our local community centre committee will take place in the community centre at 8pm. All are welcome to attend this meeting and get involved in your local community.

Recent Death

We express our deepest sympathy to Carmel Lynch, Stonehouse on the recent death of her brother. William(Willie) Murphy was a resident of Newtown in Tramore. Willie is survived by his wife Marie, his children Lee and John, his grandchildren and brothers and sisters. The funeral mass took place in the Holy Cross church, Tramore followed by burial in St. Declans cemetery. We pray that he now rests in peace and that his family will find comfort in their memories.

Sacristans Collection

There is no doubt in the world that we are very lucky to have such a wonderful sacristan in our church. Ann keeps our church in wonderful condition and makes sure that everything is in perfect condition. When we visit our church it is warm, bright, clean and welcoming and this doesn’t just happen by accident. Ann gives her time and does so with a smile on her face. This year has not been normal in any way and so the normal annual collections have not been taking place. It is so important that we show our appreciation to Ann for the fantastic job she does in our church. If you would like to show your appreciation  then please put your donation in an envelope marked ” sacristans’ collection” and place it through the post box which is situated on the sacristy door inside the church or  you can drop it into the parochial house.

Ballyduff AFC

It is nearly time for Ballyduff AFC to host the FAI Summer Soccer camp and there is still time to book your place. If you are interested in finding out more information or booking your place please log onto https://bookings.summersoccerschools.ie/s/
The Waterford Womens and Schoolgirl league will commence this August. Ballyduff AFC have registered teams for U16, U17 and U19. If you are interested in joining up and playing soccer with Ballyduff AFC then please send a message to their Facebook page or contact a member of the club.

Perfect Couple

Goalkeeper supreme Kevin Burns from Ballyrobin in Kill landed the catch of his life last week when he married the love of his life, the beautiful Ciara Larkin from Powersknock, Kilmeaden. This lovely couple began on their journey 10 years ago and it  was evident to all from the very start that this was a match made in heaven. Ciara arrived at Dunhill church in style driven by her very proud grandad Noel. She looked stunning as she glided up the aisle on the arm of her dad Tony to the beautiful sound of her brother Darragh singing “She moved through the Fair”. The ceremony was beautifully arranged and was so personal. Friends read the readings and prayers and the psalm was sung by the bride’s sister Aisling.  The two mothers who both looked stunning brought forward the gifts. Throughout the ceremony beautiful music and songs were performed by friends and cousins of the bride. Following the photos it was onto the stunning Haven Hotel in Dunmore for the reception. Not to be outdone by all the performances back at the church, the bride chose to sing her wedding speech to  the tune of some well known ABBA songs. This was my first experience of being invited to a virtual wedding and it was lovely to be able to watch the ceremony and the speeches. This lovely couple are indeed very well loved and I have no doubt that there is a long road of happiness ahead. They have both come from strong respectable families and have learned from the very best. The strong tradition of sport in the Burns family can now only be enhanced by the strong musical traditions of the Larkin/Morrissey family. After all, every good match deserves a good session. . We wish Kevin and Ciara every happiness in their life together.

Mount Congreve

If you are planning some nice days out for you and your friends then check out the Mount Congreve website and facebook page. There are plenty of organised events such as yoga mornings, August twilight tours or simply just enjoy a stroll around the beautiful gardens. One upcoming event is a plant fair on Sunday July 25th from 11am to 5pm. Visitors will be given the opportunity to explore the award winning gardens while strolling around some stalls which will be providing food and will also include stalls from expert rare and special plant stall holders from all over Ireland. To book your spot for this or any other event please visit their website.

Suir Valley Railway

We are all very proud of our railway here in Kilmeaden and I am delighted to hear back so many great reports from people when I meet them. The Sunset Express is proving very popular where visitors can enjoy prosecco and strawberries on the platform while listening to some acoustic music  before departing on a beautiful scenic train journey along the banks of the River Suir. The pampering doesn’t stop there however because as you travel along you are treated to a picnic box of locally produced culinary delights from award winning Grow HQ Cafe. This is a lovely relaxing evening and has been the setting for many celebrations, by romantic couples or by friends and families catching up with one another. What a lovely idea too for a staff night out or a nice way for a company to  treat their employees. Check out their website and Facebook page for more information and booking details.

Birthday Time.

Lots of birthdays were celebrated in recent days with the beautiful Niamh Kennedy from Stonehouse celebrating her 30th birthday. John McGrath celebrated his 80th birthday with his friends and family. His wife Minnie also celebrated her birthday that week but she was only 35. The great Josephine Power from Blacknock celebrated her 60th and I am sure she was spoiled and treated very well. We had two important birthdays in my house as my husband reached the ripe old age of 49 and I can guarantee that he was spoiled just like every other day. Another very important man in my life also had a birthday and that was my nephew Harry O Sullivan who turned 5 and was very happy with all his presents and of course his trip to McDonalds .If you would like me to mention any birthdays, anniversaries etc for you please let me know.

Church News

We are now taking bookings for anniversary masses for the month of August. If you would like to book a mass please contact Linda Spillane on 087 9838392

Ballyduff GAA

In conjunction with the keep walking keep safe programme our local club have opened up their walking track during the following times, Mondays and Wednesdays 6.15pm to 7.45pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 12 noon. This is a wonderful way to enjoy some exercise and fresh air while staying safe and it is totally free. This is just another way our club show their gratitude to their community and welcomes everyone.
All of the different teams in the club are enjoying games and action every week with great competition and fun. Juvenile section, LGFA, camogie and adult results and fixtures are all available on their Facebook page so make sure to check it out and why not pop along to a game when it is safe to do so and cheer on the teams.
The time is running out for you to purchase your Deise draw ticket. The first draw will take place on July 14th. There are some super prizes up for grabs and remember that 80% of the money from tickets sold here will go to Ballyduff GAA. You can purchase your ticket from any committee member or contact Brian on 087 2486423.
Our club runs smoothly and efficiently due to the fabulous volunteers who give their time to help and the club are very grateful. As always though there is always room for more and the club will welcome any new  volunteers who may want to help out and  provide them with any necessary training needed. Drop into any of the training sessions and register your interest or you can contact Brian on the number  above and he will point you in the right direction.
As camogie now reemerges in our club it is wonderful to see so many girls involved. During the months of July and August the club will run a fun basic skills course for  both players and parents. This will take place every Tuesday evening from 6.10pm to 7.10pm. If you would like any more information please contact Tim on 087 9308555 or Dermot on 085 1635572.

A Little Princess

We send our warmest congratulations to Jack Kennedy and Tara Heffernan, Stonehouse on the birth of their beautiful baby daughter. Baby Ornaith arrived on The Summer Solstice so will no doubt have a very bright future. We look forward to meeting Ornaith and we wish this happy little family every happiness for the future.

Like Father Like Son

AJ Bowman, Carriganure is certainly turning heads on the soccer pitch as he kicks off his Blues career with the U17’s having a great win last weekend. AJ has always been a very exciting player to watch with his great passion for the game evident to all. Love of the game runs through his blood as he follows in the footsteps of his dad Jason who played as a classy midfielder for the Blues himself and also gave his time as a coach for Waterford FC. I have no doubt at all of how proud the whole family are and they have always been great supporters of the game. We wish AJ the very best  for the future and hope that he continues to enjoy the game he loves so much.

Include Items

If you have anything you would like to include in these notes then please drop me an email at  spillanelinda2017@gmail.com or call or text on 087 9838392

Recent Deaths

We extend our deepest sympathies to the Finnegan and Macklin families on the recent death of Ann Finnegan, Ballyduff .A native of the beautiful county Monaghan Ann was born Ann Macklin .Ann was a  beautiful lady in stature and nature. She loved to have a chat when she met you and even throughout her illness her concern was always for others especially those who were sick. Ann was always an active lady enjoying tennis, walking, cycling and of course in later years she became an excellent golfer. She was a lady who lived her life to the full, enjoying meeting friends, trips out and foreign holidays. Throughout her recent illness she remained upbeat and positive and her strength and  courage was a real inspiration to all around her. We as a community extend our deepest sympathies to her husband Peter, her children Elaine, Suzanne and Jason, her mother Margaret,her beloved grandchildren Alex and Lucy, her sisters and brothers and all her family and many friends. May her gentle soul now rest in peace.
We also send our sympathies to the O Keeffe family in Whitfield, Butlerstown on the recent death of Michael (Busher) O Keeffe. Known far and wide for his wonderful music .Music as we all know is good for the body and soul and Busher was at his happiest when he had his accordion. His gift was magical and he most definetley could make that accordion sing. He lived a contented life surrounded by family and his music. We express our sympathies to his children Catherine, Michael, Theresa and Thomas, his grandchildren, sisters and brothers and his many friends. We pray that Michael now rests in peace and if we listen closely enough I am sure we will hear that accordion accompany the angels.

New Bundle of Joy

We send warm congratulations to Deirdre and Mark O Gorman on the recent birth of their beautiful baby girl Ruth. Deirdre is formerly Deirdre Mackey from Ross and grandparents John and Maria are absolutely thrilled to welcome their 5th grandchild to the family. I have no doubt that Ruth will enjoy many play dates in her grandparents back garden with her cousins . We wish this happy little family every happiness for the future and look forward to meeting Ruth.

Ballyduff GAA

Lots of activity continues in Kildermody with many training sessions and matches taking place. All Covid guidelines are being followed ensuring everyones safety. If you are interested in joining the club as a member or volunteer take a look at their Facebook page for more information or simply turn up to one of the training sessions.
Deise Super Draw tickets are now on sale with lots of great prizes on offer. To get your ticket contact Brian on 087 2486423.
There was great excitement recently in the club as they launched their camogie team for the first time. It has been many years since we had our own camogie team in Ballyduff and it is wonderful to see it back again. I myself played for many years for Ballyduff and have some great memories of times spent with my team mates. We wish the girls the very best of luck and really look forward to seeing them in action.

Kilmeaden Activity

It is great to see such a buzz around the place again with businesses reopening and lots of refurbishment being carried out. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our local shops, restaurants and business premises the very best of luck and I ask you to remember that these are the places we turn to for spot prizes, donations and sponsorship for our clubs and charities events so it is now our turn to support them after a very hard year. We are really spoiled here in Kilmeaden with great choice so shop local if at all possible