Monthly Archives: September 2022

Bridge Club, Tournament Champions and Cross Country Success

GAA Lotto

The lucky numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 2,14, 18 and 27. The three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Brianan Cornwell, The Sweep Gang and Eamon Kelly. The next draw will take place on October 2nd and there will be a jackpot of €7,550 up for grabs. Tickets cost just €2 each or three for €5 and are on sale from all committee members and will also be on sale on Saturday October 1st at Centra in Kilmeaden. Drop along and choose those four lucky numbers and you may be planning how to spend that jackpot.

Bridge Club.

The Ballyduff/Portlaw Bridge Club are delighted to return to their games. The club meet every Monday night at 7.30pm in Ballyduff N.S and would like to extend a warm welcome to any new members who would like to join the club and enjoy a game of bridge. It is not necessary to have a partner. If you have any queries or would like some more information, please contact Elizabeth Mooney on 087 2067920.

Community Alert

Our local community alert group will hold their AGM in Ballyduff Community Centre on Tuesday September 27th at 8pm. All are welcome to attend, and the group really look forward to meeting everyone again. The €5 text alert fee will be payable on the night and as always new members are welcome to join this scheme.

Tournament Champions

Ballyduff’s U10 camogie girls recently travelled to Mount Sion to take part in The Danny Bowe Memorial Camogie Tournament. The girls were up against three teams to qualify for the final. They played three great games against Tramore, Mount Sion 1 and Mount Sion 2 and came out on top in all three games. They met Mount Sion in the final and played very well coming out on top again. What a fantastic achievement for these girls to be crowned Tournament Champions. The club would like to thank Mount Sion for inviting them to participate in the tournament and for the reception held afterwards.

Diamond Couple

Congratulations and best wishes to local couple William and Mary Harrington, Ballyduff Hill who recently celebrated 30 years of wedded bliss. They celebrated their special day in their beautiful home on Ballyduff Hill with their children Megan, Katie and Jack and other members of their family and friends and I have no doubt that a great night was had by all. We wish this very special couple many more years of good health and happiness.

Recent Death

We extend our deepest sympathies to Miriam Daly on the recent death of her beloved mother. Mrs. Bridie Griffin (nee O Connell) was a resident of Thurles, Co. Tipperary and will be deeply missed by her sons Martin, Peter and Kieran, her daughters Pauline, Una and Miriam, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, brothers Paddy and Joe, sister Mag and all the extended family and friends. Bridie’s funeral mass took place in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Thurles, and she was laid to rest to rest in St. Patrick’s cemetery. We pray that she now rests in the peace and love of God and that her family will find comfort in the wonderful memories they have of her. Ar Dheis De go raibh si.

Local Death

We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Terence (Terry) Kinsella late of Carrickphilip and formerly of Crossabeg and Castlebridge Co. Wexford who died suddenly in recent days. Terry will be greatly missed by his loving partner Gillian Whelan, his son Cian, his mother Margaret, his brothers, sisters, extended family and his many friends. His funeral mass was celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, Crossabeg and we pray that Terry is at peace in the love of Christ in God’s heavenly home.

Wonder Woman

Our very own Wonder Woman from Fan Glas has done it again and added another title to her repertoire. Diane Behan was recently crowned winner of the European Sprint Duathlon Championships in Bilbao. Diane has had an amazing year, winning the World Duathlon Championships in her age group and the National title for sprint distance. Huge congratulations to Diane on her fantastic achievements. She is extremely dedicated to her sport and always puts 120% into her training schedule. She is now enjoying a well-deserved rest but if I know Diane, she will be already planning her next adventure!

Cross Country Success

Pupils from 2nd to 6th class in Ballyduff N.S recently took part in the Waterford city Primary Schools Cross Country Competitions in the Regional Sports Centre. It was a beautiful sunny day, and everyone enjoyed a great day of competitions and meeting new people. Hundreds of primary school pupils took part and a big well done to the pupils from Ballyduff N.S who brought home a total of 14 medals. A big thank you to Ferrybank AC who organised the event and to the very helpful staff at the RSC. A great day was had by everyone, and all the competitors did themselves and their school proud.

Beginners Yoga, Tesco Community Fund and Church News

Beginners Yoga

Are you interested in taking some yoga classes which is proven to be very beneficial for both mind and body. Beginners’ yoga will take place on Wednesdays from 7pm to 8pm. The classes will take place in The Kilmeaden Room at Ballyduff Community Centre. These classes are suitable for all levels, and all are welcome. The class will be at a slow pace which is perfect for beginners and anyone who wants to nourish and protect their body and mind and learn a safe and mindfully guided Hatha practice, focusing on body alignment, holding postures for longer and calming the mind through breath work. The class can be as challenging or relaxing as you want it to be. To book your spot or find out any other information please contact Ginni on 083 3717354.

Tesco Community Fund

Ballyduff AFC have been chosen as part of the Tesco Community Fund. For the coming weeks if you shop at Tesco Ardkeen, you will receive some blue tokens and the club ask you to please place your token in the Ballyduff AFC token box. As you are aware the volunteers and coaches at Ballyduff AFC do a fantastic job and the club offers some brilliant facilities to our community. The club caters for all age groups and is always very welcoming to new members. Check out their excellent Facebook page for details of teams and events.
The club also have a wonderful initiative called Club Boot Recycling Scheme. They realise how quickly children’s feet grow and that buying new boots can be very expensive for parents. Within this scheme players can donate their old boots which they have outgrown and can drop them off at the dressing rooms. These boots need to be in good condition when they are being donated. Other club members can then take a pair of this preowned boots free of charge. This is a brilliant scheme and a fantastic way to save money.

Community Alert

Our local Community Alert group will host their AGM on Tuesday September 27th at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. All are welcome to attend. The annual €5 text alert fee will also be payable on the night.

Church News

The annual Autumn collection for the support of the priests is being taken up at weekend masses this week. You can place your contribution in the envelope provided in your annual pack of envelopes or any envelope and place it in the collection basket at mass or it can be dropped in the letterbox on the sacristy door in the church.
Our local parish choir rehearse every Monday evening from 7.45pm to 9pm and are always happy to welcome new members. This is a lovely way to be part of your community and make new friends and remember that when you sing at mass you pray twice so that can’t do any harm.

Kilmeaden Vintage Tractor Club, Centra Kilmeaden and Date for your Diary

GAA Lotto

The numbers drawn in the latest lotto draw were 8, 17, 19 and 21. There was no winner of the jackpot but the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Bree Griffin, Anna Hearne and Catherine Power. The next draw will take place on September 18th and there will be a jackpot of €7,400 up for grabs. Tickets cost just €2 each or three for €5. Tickets are on sale from all committee members and will also be on sale on Saturday September 17th at Centra in Kilmeaden.

Kilmeaden Vintage Tractor Club

The recent charity tractor run hosted by Kilmeaden Vintage Tractor was a huge success. The 24th of July was a day of great enjoyment, and a wonderful day was had by all. There is also a serious side to this great day of fun and last weekend the club members presented representatives from this year’s chosen charity, Pieta House with a cheque for €3,795. What a wonderful amount for any charity to receive and it will be put to great work for everyone using the services. The club have raised an amazing amount of money for charities over the years and this money has helped many people. A big well done to all the organising committee and all the volunteers who help on the day and of course all the participants and donators. We are already looking forward to next year’s event.

Centra Kilmeaden

The management and staff at Centra in Kilmeaden have made a wonderful thoughtful offer to parents and students returning to school. As the dark Winter evenings approach, they are aware that many students are dropped home from school by bus or car near the store. They ask parents to tell their children that if their lift is late or they have missed their lift to please feel free to go into the store and wait out of the dark and weather and if they need to phone home, they are welcome to use the store’s phone. This is a lovely kind gesture from all at Centra and many parents will feel relieved to know that this option is there to keep their children warm and safe as the Winter months arrive. Well done to all at Centra.

Recent Death

We send our sympathies and condolences to all the O Keeffe family on the recent death of Des O Keeffe, late of High Street, Cheekpoint and formerly of Ross, Kilmeaden. Des joined the crew at Waterford Suir Valley Railway in 2017 and gave generously of his time. He had a great wisdom and loved a good laugh and a chat withal the other volunteers. The crew at the railway and The Whistlestop Café closed early so that they could attend the funeral of their friend and fellow crew member.
Des’s funeral mass and burial took place at Faithlegg church and cemetery. Des is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Aoife, son-in-law Brendan, his grandchildren Rory and Eimear, sister Phyllis, extended family, and his many friends.  We pray that he now rests in peace and that his family will find comfort in their memories of him.

Ballyduff AFC

Our local soccer club are asking for your support. They have been nominated in the Tesco Community Fund at the Tesco stores at Ardkeen. They are asking you to shop there and then add your blue tokens in the Ballyduff AFC box.
You don’t need me to tell you all how lucky we are to have such a wonderful soccer club with state-of-the-art amenities. Many young boys and girls benefit immensely from their involvement with the club and the volunteers and coaches give generously of their time and talents. The club always support and help out in all community events so now it’s our turn to help them out.

Date for your Diary

Our local community alert group will hold their first meeting following the summer break on Tuesday September 27th at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. All are welcome to attend this meeting as we all work together to keep our community safe. The annual fee for the text alert scheme will also be taken up at that meeting. Please spread the word to your neighbours.

Goalkeepers Workshop

Ballyduff GAA were very grateful to John Quinn Waterford GDA for coming along to the club and providing a goalkeeping workshop. 10 budding goalkeepers were put through their paces and learned many skills. Part 2 takes place this week, so we look forward to hearing all about that.

Leaving Cert

Congratulations to all the young men and women from our parish who received their Leaving Cert results recently. We wish them all well as they now make decisions about their future. There are many different routes and roads to take, and we hope they choose to take the one that will make them most happy. Wherever their journeys take them we wish them safe travels and exciting new adventures.

Local Wedding, Martin Centre and Back to School

Local Wedding

St. Nicholas’s Church, Ballyduff was the tranquil setting for another beautiful wedding last weekend. Local Ballyduff lady Caroline Power who grew up just around the corner from the church made her way to the church on the arm of her very proud Dad Michael Junior Power to finally wed the love of her life Jimmy Butler. This couple have had to rearrange their plans a couple of times due to Covid, but nothing was going to get in their way this time. Caroline looked simply stunning as she arrived surrounded by her beautiful bridesmaids Amy, Stephanie, Miriam and Shannon. Her groom was beaming as he laid eyes on his bride. His nerves were kept in check by his bestmen Josh and Tyrone and groomsmen Kevin, Kieran and Ronan. Mass was celebrated by the very popular Fr. Pat Fitzgerald who kept everyone at ease with his lovely calming manner. The music and singing throughout the ceremony were just breath-taking with solos from father of the bride, the bride’s sister Stephanie and of course we were treated to the beautiful voice of Sandra O Keeffe accompanied by guitar maestro Anthony Wilmott and keyboard king David Hayes. 25 years ago, this October Caroline, Stephanie, Miriam and Sandra all sang at my wedding so I must admit that my heart was bursting with pride as I watched them all.
After beautiful photos taken in Mount Congreve it was off to The Woodlands Hotel for a beautiful meal and dancing to the sounds of Brass and Co. followed by a disco. A great night was had by all, and my feet felt all the dancing the next day. The happy couple continued their celebrating the following day with music and food at the very popular Sweep Bar. We wish the very best of luck to Jimmy and Caroline in their married lives together and hope that their days are full of love, fun and laughter.

Martin Centre

Our friends in The Martin Centre, Portlaw have asked me to let you all know that they are now open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 10am to 3pm. They will hold a recruitment and registration day in the centre on Wednesday, September 7th for ETB computer courses. Mary Curtis and Margaret Howard will be at the centre to met and talk with any potential learners and explain what is available to them. Drop along to the centre and you will be given any information that you need.

Beautiful Wedding

We extend warm wishes and congratulations to local hairdresser Christine Rockett who celebrated her marriage to Paul Sheridan recently. The happy couple exchanged their vows in front of their friends and family in the lovely setting of The Tower Hotel. Christine looked stunning as she made her way to marry her handsome groom.  Following the ceremony, they were wined and dined and then it was straight to the dance floor to dance the desserts off. We wish the happy couple every happiness in their future lives together.

Back To School

We wish all the boys and girls of our parish the very best of luck as they returned to school this week. There were many happy and excited faces heading off to playschool and primary school for the very first time. Our secondary school first timers were both anxious and excited, but everything will settle down for them soon. We wish them all the best of luck and we hope that their schooldays will be full of fun and laughter.

Ballyduff Lower Camogie Club.

Ballyduff Lower Camogie Club played hosts for a camogie blitz at Tom Cheasty Park on August 27th. The day was lovely and sunny, and the girls all enjoyed themselves. A big well done and thank you must go to the parents and coaches for organising the day.

Church News
As you know our beautiful church will be 200 years old this year and to celebrate, Bishop Cullinan will celebrate the morning mass at 10am on Sunday September 11th. Everyone is invited to come along and celebrate this mass of thanksgiving

GAA Lotto, Terry Butler Cup and Wedding in the Sun

GAA Lotto

The numbers drawn in the latest GAA lotto draw were 2, 7, 16 and 23. There was no winner of the jackpot but the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Lisa Burns, Mary Crowley and Tony Kirk. The next draw will take place on September 4th and there will be a jackpot of €7,250 on offer. Tickets are available from all committee members and are just €2 each or three for €5. All you must do is choose four lucky numbers and that fantastic jackpot could be yours. Tickets will also be on sale on Saturday September 3rd at Centra in KIlmeaden.

Terry Butler Cup

Each year Ballyduff AFC host the Terry Butler Memorial Cup in memory of a man who gave so much to the club and to his native Portlaw club . Having played on both Ballyduff and Portlaw teams Terry was always a great promoter of the game and was wonderful to encourage young players coming up through the ranks.
This year Portlaw’s U11’s travelled down to take on the Ballyduff U11’s and both teams showed great heart and determination. Portlaw came out victorious on the day but both teams can be very proud of their performance, and I have no doubt that Terry would have been impressed with the level of skill on display.
Terry’s son Darren was on hand to present the cup to the Portlaw captain, and we already look forward to next years game. The club would like to thank the Butler family for their continued support and to Portlaw for always proving to be such worthy opponents.

Local Wedding

St. Nicholas’s Church in Ballyduff was the setting for the wedding of popular local couple Valarie Bagge and Stephen Bourke. The Lord was certainly beaming down on the couple as he sent his most glorious sunshine for them. The bride looked simply stunning as she arrived at the church with her bridesmaids and of course a very important flower girl. The couple’s daughter Neasa was must certainly the belle of the ball as she beamed at her Mammy and was ready to lead the way to Daddy. Valarie was walked up the aisle by her very proud Dad, the one and only Val Bagge to meet her sweetheart Stephen and become the new Mrs. Bourke.
Once all the formalities and photos were taken care of, it was off to The Minella Hotel in Clonmel to be wined and dined and then dance all the treats off for the rest of the night. I spoke to many of the guests who spoke of the wonderful day and weekend they had although I had to wait a few days before some of them could speak to me!
We wish Valarie, Stephen and Neasa every happiness for their future and hope that their lives are filled with every blessing and happiness.

Wedding in the Sun

We send warm congratulations to Dawn Roberts, Dunhill and Emmet Power, Gortaclode who travelled to Lanzarote with family and friends to celebrate their wedding day. The bride looked so beautiful as she arrived in the Lanzarote sunshine to meet her handsome groom. The happy couple were delighted to be joined by so many family and friends as they exchanged their wedding vows. A wonderful time was had by all, and the celebrations continued for many days and will continue now that they are back on home soil. We wish the happy couple every happiness in their future lives together.

Breaking News

I was delighted to be the recipient of some hot news about Ballyduff Youth Drama but am sworn to secrecy about some of the details. I can however inform you that the group are planning another fabulous show which is always eagerly awaited each year. The group have treated us to great nights of fun, colour, song, and dance over the years and continue to go from strength to strength every year.
The group will host a special open night on Monday September 5th in Ballyduff Community Centre from 7pm to 8pm. This is the perfect way to hear and see what the group gets up to and see if it is for you. If you would like to join on the open night, registration forms will be available and the yearly insurance payment of €15 will be payable. The drama will then begin on Monday September 12th and continue every Monday from 7pm to 8.30pm at a cost of €30 per month.
Ballyduff Youth Drama is open to all young boys and girls from 5th and 6th classes. This is not restricted to just 5th and 6th class students from Ballyduff, the group would like to extend a warm welcome to people from surrounding areas. The only little clue that I can give about this year’s show is that the cast will have many male and female roles so drop along and hear all about what is planned.  This is a brilliant way to make new friends and a wonderful way for our young people to become more confident and self-assured.
If you would like some more information then please contact Helen on 087 6493657 or drop her an email on milleahelen@gmail.com

Thought For the Week

Many people will walk in and out of your life
But only true friends will leave footprints in your hearts

Contact for Notes

Now that school and college days return, you or your club may want to let people know about your club activities or events. You may also want to send good wishes for a birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding, new baby or any other occasion that may be special to you. Please get in contact with me Linda Spillane and I will have pleasure in including it in these community notes. You can reach me on 087 9838392 or spillanelinda2017@gmail.com or you will find me around Kilmeaden somewhere, more than likely talking!!