Bridge News.
The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge group played their latest game on Monday January 30th and the results were as follows:
1st: Patsy Roche and Kathleen Collins.
2nd: Mary Prendergast and Margaret Power.
3rd: Geraldine McMahon and Breda O Donnell.
4th: Anne Cox and Peggy Murphy.
GAA Lotto
The numbers drawn in the latest GAA lotto draw were 5, 9, 12 and 23 but there was no winner of the jackpot. The three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Richard Cullinane, Fergus Dunne and Joyce Cullinane. The next draw will take place on February 12th and will have a jackpot of €5900. Tickets are just €2 or 3 for €5 and are available from committee members and will be on sale outside Centra on Saturday February 11th. What a fantastic jackpot up for grabs and all you have to do is choose those four lucky numbers!
A True Lady.
Our parish is most definetly a much poorer place following the death of Cait Curry from Ballyduff. A gentle, private, kind and courageous lady she went about her business quietly and drew great strength and comfort from her faith, a faith which was of utmost importance to her. She was indeed a fantastic parishioner and worked very hard volunteering to help with many community projects and the day to day running of a parish. She dedicated many years of her life to being the very popular secretary in our local national school. We shall all miss her smiling face, her encouraging word, her contagious optimisim. We extend our deepest sympathy to her husband Arthur, her son Arthur Jnr and his wife Karen, her daughter Elizabeth and her beloved grandchildren Jordan, Emily and Ali and also to all her extended family and her many many friends. We pray that her sweet gentle soul is now at rest and that the Lord will reward her for all her hard work and dedication.
Dawn Players
The curtain has now come down on Dawn Players production of “The Real McCoy”. Booked out shows and standing ovations were on the cards for the four nights and audiences were treated to an hilarious comedy. Each actor and actress excelled in their roles and when I say I laughed from start to finish I am not exaggerating. Congratulations to all the cast and crew on another fantastic production and thank you for brightening up our January.
Grandparents Honoured.
The pupils of Ballyduff N.S extended a lovely invitation to their grandparents on Wednesday February 1st when they invited them to a special mass in their honour in Ballyduff church and then back to their school hall for some tea and biscuits. The grandparents were shown the childrens classrooms and some lovely artwork the children had done especially for the occasion. It really was a lovely morning and the children loved showing their grandparents around.
Panto Time.
Our friends in Portlaw Musical Society are getting ready to lift the curtain on this years panto, Alibaba and the 40 Thieves. Running from Thursday February 9th to Sunday February12th this is always a great nights entertainment. Booking of tickets can be done by contacting 086-0519210. Of course flown in at great expense from Kilmeaden we have sent our own brother and sister duo of Darren and Rachael Butler, Gortaclode to take on the parts of Alibaba and Princess Mediora and of course the parents and pupils of Ballyduff N.S will recognise thief no.39 as staff member Stephaine McGuire. Go along and support this long running group who always give audiences a night to remember.
Grease Time.
The T-Birds and Pink Ladies are busy getting ready for Ballyduff Youth Dramas production of Grease which will take place in Ballyduff Community Centre on Friday February 17th and Saturday February 18th at 8pm and on Sunday February 19th at 3.30pm. Tickets cost just €10 and are available by phoning or texting Helen on 087-6493657. Treat yourself to a great night of music and song.
Springtime.
You would be forgiven the past few nights for thinking it was indeed Winter as we listened to wind howling and rain lashing but the arrival of Spring brings hope of new growth and new birth. I have my first two daffodils dancing at the bottom of the garden and hear tales of calves etc entering the world. I listened to Shane Fitzgerald speak on radio about the arrival of healthy triplet calves a few weeks back on the family farm on the High Road. These are all lovely little signs that Spring is on the way with nice long bright evenings and the promise of new beginnings.
The sun is so warm and nice
There is cheer everywhere cause
Spring has sprung
one more time and Winter
so cold is gone.
The robins have returned
and the hibiscus and the roses
bloom again.
To my delight, now I see
butterflies dance.