CHOIR PRACTICE.
Our local parish choir have enjoyed a little time off for the Summer but are now delighted to be returning. Practice will resume on Wednesday nights from 8pm to 9pm in the church. The choir add greatly to our weekend masses and we look forward to hearing their beautiful collection of hymns again and I know there are always some new ones ready to be added to their repertoire. New members are always welcome to join the choir so drop along to rehearsal, and you will be made very welcome.
SACRISTAN COLLECTION
We are very lucky in St. Nicholas’s Church, Ballyduff to have such a dedicated and loyal sacristan. Ann always goes above and beyond the call of duty and is a friendly welcoming face to all who visit the church. She keeps our church in immaculate condition and ensures everything is in place for all occasions. The annual sacristan’s collection will be taken up at all weekend masses over the next couple of weekends. There is an assigned envelope in your yearly pack, but you can also use any envelope and simply mark it for the Sacristan collection.
TIME TO SHINE
Is your inner diva waiting to escape or were you born to strut your stuff on stage. Ballyduff Lower LGFA will hold a lip sync battle on Saturday October 5th at The Sweep Bar. Choose your partner, family members, friends to give the performance of a lifetime. Choose your song and wow us all with your outfit and then practice moving those lips to perfection. Will you choose a power ballad, rock classic or will you add some serious choreography, the choice is yours.
I have seen a few signs around the parish that rehearsals are under way. I spotted a pair of blue suede shoes through the fence of a garden, glitzy satin flares blowing on a clothesline and my daughter who is a hairdresser has been asked if she can do a beehive? Sounds like it’s going to be a great night. For more information, please contact Anita on 087 6776544.
TIME FOR CARDS.
The very popular game of 30’s will resume on Thursday nights at 7.30pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. This is open to individuals and teams of three and proved very popular before they took a little summer break. This is a lovely way to spend a few hours during the Autumn and Winter months and a great way to meet people.
GET COOKING
Are you thinking ahead and trying to think of some new skills you would like to learn. Ballyduff Community Centre will be the venue for some adult cookery classes in October. They will take place on Tuesday nights from 7pm to 9pm from October 1st to October 22nd and will cost €100. The cost includes all ingredients, equipment, recipes and aprons. If you would like some further information, please contact Chef Siobhan on 0879027425 or drop an email to siobhanfinan04@gmail.com
YOGA TIME
Ballyduff Community Centre will be the venue for Dynamic Yoga Flow beginning on September 21st. The four-week block lessons will run on Saturday mornings at 9.30am at a cost of €45 or PAYG 13. For more information log on to www.yogawithginni.com
TESCO COMMUNITY FUND
Ballyduff Lower Camogie Club are delighted to have been chosen yet again for the Tesco Blue Token Community Fund. This time it was launched in the Tesco Poleberry store on August 26th and will run for 16 weeks. This money will benefit the entire club so please encourage your family and friends to drop along to Tesco Poleberry and drop their blue token into the Ballyduff Lower slot.
RECENT DEATH
We extend our deepest sympathy to the Kinsella family on the recent death of Tony Kinsella, Cullinagh, Kilmeaden. Tony will be deeply missed by his sons Michael, Tommy and John, daughters-in-law Dolores and Michelle, his grandchildren Niall, David, Rebecca, Muireann and Maitiu, great grandchildren Alex, Evie and Lily and all his extended family and many friends. We take comfort in knowing that he is reunited with his beloved wife Kathleen and they are relaxing with a nice cuppa and a chat. May his gentle soul now rest in the peace and love of Christ.
BALLYDUFF LEGEND
Ballyduff, Kilmeaden and the surrounding areas were all united in grief as we learned of the sad passing of one of our best-known parishioners Dermot (Dod) Whelan. Dod was a lovable character who loved nothing more than a good chat with all he met. He enjoyed a good sociable night out with family and friends and was always ready to cheer people up with a humorous story or two. He made good friends wherever he went and could always be counted on if someone needed help or assistance.
Family was of utmost importance to Dod and he was so happy in his beautiful home in Ballyduff Village with his wife Anne. It was a home where everyone was welcome to drop in for a chat and perhaps a lemonade. Of course, his other great love was GAA and he was a staunch Ballyduff Lower Club man and supported them at all times. The club will miss his great contribution but I’m sure he will be putting in a good word above for a few wins and titles. Dod will be greatly missed in our community but has left us all with some everlasting memories.
When Dod was faced with illness, he bore it with great strength and courage and fought with every breath in his body. He made the best of things and encouraged his nearest and dearest to be strong also. His faith was strong, and he was a regular visitor to St. Nicholas’s Church which shadowed his house.
He will be sadly missed by his wife Anne, his daughters Shanice and Chloe, granddaughters Lexi and Jana, stepchildren Kieran and Michelle, his brothers Dick, Tom and Anthony, sisters-in-law Bridget, Maggie and Paula and all his extended family and his many friends. We hope that they will all be able to draw comfort from all their wonderful memories and I like to think of Dod now sitting back with a large coffee watching over us all. May his gentle soul now be at peace.
MILES FOR MIMI
Local lady Margaret (Mimi) Laffan is fighting and winning her battle with Myeloma cancer. Her soul aim is to spread the word about this form of cancer. Her strength and attitude are exceptional, and she wants to raise awareness and encourage more research into treatments. A fundraising campaign was launched by Multiple Myeloma Ireland for the month of September where we are all encouraged to clock up the miles by walking, running, cycling, hiking, skipping or whatever takes your fancy. The Laffan family are behind this campaign 100% and have set up a Facebook page encouraging all to join with them and to donate to the cause by clicking onto https://register.idonate.ie/fundraiser/MimiLaffan763
On Sunday September 22nd at 12 noon, you are invited to come along to Ballyduff Village and take part in a walk which will take in the sights around the stunning Knockaderry Lake. There is bound to be a laugh or two along the way while we raise awareness and support research to develop new treatments and improvements in clinical practice.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK.
The question isn’t who is going to let me.
It’s who is going to stop me.
ITEMS FOR NOTES.
If you would like me to include any items in these notes for you please contact me Linda Spillane on 087 9838392 or spillanelinda2017@gmail.com It is a wonderful way to keep in touch with what is going on in the local community and to inform people about things happening within your club or organisation.