BRIDGE NEWS.
The Ballyduff and Portlaw Bridge Club played their latest game on Monday February 12th and the results were as follows: 1st: Nano Fitzgerald and Geraldine McMahon, 2nd: Peggy Murphy and Ann Cox, 3rd: Anne and William Tobin and 4th: Mary Prendergast and Anne- Marie Brown.
CHURCH NEWS
If you would like to book a weekend anniversary mass for your loved one, please contact Linda Spillane on 087 9838392 with your preferred date. Saturday evening masses take place at 7.30pm and Sunday morning masses are at 10am.
There are still some boxes of weekend collection envelopes available in the church, so please pick up a box whenever you are passing.
Choir practice takes place on Monday nights at 8pm in the church and new members are always welcome. The choir enhance our masses beautifully with their gorgeous selection of hymns and it is lovely to look around and see so many singing along with them.
SCRAP COLLECTION
Ballyduff AFC are hosting a scrap collection at their grounds in Ballyduff Lower. Items can be dropped to the grounds any day between 10am and 8pm. Please do not bring any dishwashers or items with glass. This is a fundraiser for the club who have great plans for further development of the club and its grounds. Please support by having a tidy up of that yard or shed you have been promising to do and drop your items off at Ballyduff AFC. You’ll earn great brownie points for tidying up and supporting your local club.
GAME OF CARDS?
Do you fancy a game of cards in a nice relaxing environment? A weekly card game began on Thursday February 1st at 7.30pm in Ballyduff Community Centre and I hear that a great crowd have dropped along to enjoy a friendly game and share a bit of a chat and a laugh together. New players are welcome to drop along and enjoy a game of Progressive 30’s. The cost is €15 for a team of 3 and this is a fantastic way to meet up with others and enjoy a game and a chat. If you would like any further information, please call Tricia on 0872979332.
EASTER CAMP
Ballyduff AFC will host their annual Easter Camp from March 25th to March 29th from 10am to 1.30pm daily. The camp is for boys and girls aged 5 years to 12 years. The price for the first child is €60, €45 for the second and your third child goes free. Check out the Ballyduff AFC Facebook Page for details.
DAFFODIL DAY
Friday March 22nd will be National Daffodil Day in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. Each year in Kilmeaden, a group of volunteers set up at Centra to raise funds and this year it is hoped to set up also at Gala. If you feel you may have an hour or two to spare and would like to help out please contact Elizabeth Mooney on 087 2067920. Elizabeth and her group of volunteers are very grateful to the management of Centra and Gala for offering the use of their premises.
MATILDA THE BOOKWORM
Ballyduff Youth Drama are very busy rehearsing for their production of Matilda the Bookworm. The show will take place on Thursday February 22nd and Friday February 23rd at 7.30pm and on Saturday February 24th at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. Tickets are €10 and can be purchased every Monday between 7pm and 8.30pm at the community centre or by call or text to 087 4046904.
Rehearsals are going very well with lots of activity at the Community Centre on rehearsal nights. Costumes are being fitted, dance routines perfected and beautiful music and song can be heard raising the rafters.
Ballyduff Youth Drama stage a fantastic show each year full of vibrance and colour and lots of dancing and singing. The young performers from 5th and 6th classes give 100% to the show every year and the audience is treated to a wonderful night.
PRECIOUS BABY BOY
We send our heartiest congratulations to Ciara Laffan, Ballyduff West and her partner David O Grady on the birth of a beautiful baby boy. Baby Oisin started off the new year perfectly for everyone and his arrival was eagerly awaited by grandparents and great grandparents alike, so I have no doubt that there will never be a shortage of babysitters. We welcome Oisin to the world and we look forward to seeing him grow up.
ATHLETIC SUCCESS.
Congratulations to local ladies Roisin Cleary and Nancy Maher who are members of the WAC U16 girls Cross Country team who took first place and brought home gold from the All Ireland Cross Country Championship which took place in Dundalk last weekend.
GAELIC FOOTBALL
Ballyduff Ladies Gaelic Football club are on the lookout for any girls 6 years upwards to come along and join the club to enjoy some great fun and learn new skills. The group meet every Thursday evening at 6.30pm and are open to new members. All abilities are welcome to join and learn skills and ball techniques, footwork exercises, strategy and teamwork exercises, fun games and trial matches. It is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and make many memories.
CAPTAIN TIME
Congratulations to local lady Makayla Laffan who will captain the U16 County WLGFA team in the Sharon O Keeffe Tournament for the coming season. Makayla will lead her team with great encouragement and support. She knows the importance of teamwork and communication and interaction with your teammates. Her great love for the game is infectious and we wish her and her teammates the very best of luck for the season.
RECENT DEATH.
We extend our deepest sympathy to the Larkin family on the recent death of Breda Larkin, Amberhill. Breda was a kind and gentle lady who loved to chat with people and enjoyed keeping in touch with family. She enjoyed her beautiful home and garden in Amberhill. She will be sadly missed by her brothers Noel and Dixie, her sisters-in-law Maureen, Mamie and Sheila, nephews, nieces, extended family and her many friends. Breda’s funeral mass took place in St. Nicholas’s Church, Ballyduff followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. May her gentle soul now rest in peace and may the Lord reward her for all her kindly deeds.
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK.
Ask not what tomorrow may bring,
But count as a blessing every day that fate allows you.