Community Alert.
Our local community alert group have been requested by the Gardai to have one final meeting before the Summer break up. This meeting will take place on Monday May 23rd at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. All are welcome to come along to this meeting it is a great way to meet up with neighbours and get to know those in your area. Light refreshments will be served after the meeting so hope to see you there.
Ball Drop.
The next venture planned by the fundraising committee attached to Ballyduff Community Centre is a fun ball drop. The plan is to drop 1000 balls down a hill and then give €250 to the owner of the first ball home, €100 to the second and €50 to the third. The numbered balls cost just €2.50 and you can buy as many as you like. At the moment major technical decisions are being made as to which hill in our beautiful area is the best. Practice runs are taking place so dont worry if you happen to meet a lot of balls rolling down a hill on your travels, its all perfectly explainable! Where can you buy these balls I hear you say well there are lots of individuals who have them on sale including myself Linda Spillane and may I say the ones I have are rolling particularly well, they are on an intense excercise programme and a special “make you roll faster diet” so dont say I didnt give you fair warning. Other sales people include Isabel O Neill, Claire Bowman, Marie Reade, Martha Fitzgerald, Siobhan Walsh, Mary Power and many more. Get your lucky balls fast! The ball drop takes place on Monday June 6th.
Foroige Date.
Our local Foroige Youth Club have asked me to give you a date to mark in your diary. They would like to invite you all along to their fundraising cake sale on Sunday May 22nd from 10.30am to 12.30pm in the Community centre. They are going to provide all the cakes, buns and biscuits themselves and will also be serving tea and coffee too so you can sit and have a cuppa while you decide which treats to have. They intend to use the money raised to help fund their end of year trip so come along and support our young people.
Tractor Run.
Our neighbours in Kill and especially those involved with The Swan Lodge Classic and Vintage club have been in touch with me and asked me to let you know all about The Mick Kirwan Memorial Tractor/Vehicle Run which will take place on Sunday May 15th at Gardenmorris. There will be a BBQ, music, modern silage equipment display, model and remote control display and other side shows. We all know that Mick was a great man to raise money for charity and all money raised from this event will go to Waterford Hospice so come along and do Mick proud.
Tea Day.
Thursday May 5th last was National Alzheimers Tea Day and I attended a lovely tea/coffee morning in Ballyduff Community Centre. This annual event is organised by local lady Niamh Larkin and is always well attended. As I have told you before Niamh has a way of getting some of the finest bakers in our parish to bake some treats for this and let me tell you this year was no exception. There were scones and cakes of every description , lovely warm cuppa and plenty of lovely conversation. A fantastic amount of €430 was raised and will be given to the Waterford branch of the association.
Niamh has asked me to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended and gave donations, to all who baked for the event and helped to set up and clean up and all who donated spot prizes. This is a very worthwhile cause and you should be proud of yourself for supporting this charity and the great work they do.
Bluebell Time.
One of my most favourite times of the year is when the bluebells make their appearance especially on Ballyduff Hill. They remind me of my childhood when we would spend our time picking bunches of bluebells for the May altar in school and at home. One of the nicest smells ever is the smell of bluebells the morning after a night of light rain. Take the time over the next few weeks to pick a bunch of bluebells you won’t regret it. Here is a little poem I would like to share with you:
Bells ring beneath a canopy of trees,
Each one echoing a late Spring breeze
The ethereal blue reaches far and wide
Rippling just like the oceans tide
The first signs of Summer tease
Bells ring beneath a canopy of trees
To welcome the season of the sun
The bluebells sing each and every one.
And children dream of a sandy beach
The summer fun is in their reach
Bells ring beneath a canopy of trees
These sunny days a silent reprise
Mystic rhymes to call the fae
In this wooded realm where fairies play
Enchantments brings a gentle care
Bells ring beneath a canopy of trees.