Station Masses.
The Autumn station masses are now underway and Fr. O Byrne is delighted to see so many people attending. On Wednesday October 14th it will be the turn of Blacknock, Powersknock and Carrigadustra and mass will be in the home of Renee and Jamsie Power at 8pm. On Friday October 16th mass for Cullinagh, Gortaclode and Newtown will be in the home of Carmel Ryan at 8pm.
Centra Walk.
The management and staff of our local Centra shop will host a walk in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland. This 5 mile walk will leave Centra at 12 noon on Saturday October 17th. It is not a race and so open to all capabilities and I’m sure there’ll be a laugh or two along the way too. There will be some nice refreshments at Centra on your return. Let us all join together and support this very worthy cause.
Bridge News.
The Portlaw/Ballyduff Bridge Club meet every Monday night in The Village Centre and enjoy a nice game of bridge. The results of the game played on Monday October 5th were as follows:
1st: Noreen Tubbritt and Mary Prendergast.
2nd: Fr. Michael O Byrne and John Fitzpatrick.
3rd: Monica Sullivan and Breda Murphy.
4th:Michael O Donovan and Kate Hayes.
Tidy Towns.
I am sure that you will agree that our local Tidy Towns committee are doing a fabulous job around our area but remember these people are just volunteers who want to make our area litter free and looking nice. Therefore it is up to each one of us to play our part in this. We dont need anyones permission to pick up rubbish or tidy up an area. The state of roads or problems like that still need to addressed to your local councillors or by contacting council offices. The Tidy Towns is simply likeminded people coming together to make their area clean and beautiful for all who live it and visit it.
The group will meet at The Sweep on Saturday October 17th at 10am and we have a special request this time for some nice strong men to lend a hand.
Parent and Toddler.
Our local Parent and Toddler Group meet every Friday from 9.30am to 12 noon in Ballyduff Community Centre and all are welcome to call in. You can stay an hour, two hours, whatever suits you. It is a perfect opportunity for parents to meet each other while the babies and toddlers have plenty to keep them amused. A nice cup of tea or coffee, chat with friends and the children happy sounds like bliss doesn’t it!!
Ballyduff AFC
Congratulations to all at Ballyduff Soccer club who recently received the fantastic news that they are to receive €16,000 under the Sports Capital Programme Grants. This is a brilliant boost for the club and we look forward to seeing what improvements they make to the brilliant facilities which are already in place.
Movie Time.
A shout out to all the senior people in our parish, Monday is movie day in Ballyduff Community Centre and it is hoped that as many as possible will show up to see a classic movie or musical with a nice cuppa and a biscuit. This kicks off at 2.30pm and if you need a lift transport can be arranged. If you have an idea of another activity that you would like to see run for our seniors then please come along and voice your opinion.
Clothes Collection.
Ballyduff Soccer Club will host a clothes collection week beginning on November 2nd. This fundraiser is for the new girls teams who have entered the league this year. The clothes can be dropped off at the club grounds every night from November 2nd to 6th from 6pm to 8pm. This is a great opportunity to get rid of those unwanted reusable clothes, bed linen, towels, curtains, shoes, bags, belts and soft toys. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Autumn.
Although I really don’t like the evenings getting dark so early I have to admit that I really do like the Autumn. The vibrant colours in the trees and landscapes make me wish I had the talent to paint or at least take a half decent photograph. As I dropped the children to school the other morning I watched the children gathering up bundles of leaves and throwing them at each other I was reminded of my childhood when my dad would send us out to rake up the leaves which we do into a big bundle and then proceed to jump into the bundle and so start the process over again several times but it gave us great amusement. I was reminded of this lovely little poem:
They’re coming down in showers
The leaves all gold and red
Thy’re covering the little flowers
And tucking them in bed
They’ve spread a fairy carpet
All up and down the street
And when we skip along to school
They rustle ‘neath our feet.