Beautiful Wedding, Junior Cert Results and Birthday Thanks.

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.


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.


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.


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.


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!


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.

Alabama Bound, Award Winner and Quiz Time

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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


GET IN TOUCH

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

GAA Lotto, Birthday Girl and Golden Couple

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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.

Rugby Success, Parish Choir and 21st Celebrations

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.


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.


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!


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.


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.


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.


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.