GAA Lotto.
The numbers drawn in the most recent lotto draw were 18, 22, 23 and 28. There was no winner of the jackpot and the three lucky dip winners of €50 each were Valarie Carroll, Jack Kelly and Eileen O Carroll. The next draw will take place on Sunday February 26th and will have a staggering jackpot of €6050 on offer. Tickets cost just €2 or 3 for €5 and will be on sale outside Centra in Kilmeaden all day on Saturday February 25th.
80 Years Young!
I would like to send heartiest birthday wishes to a very dear friend of mine and yours Mr.Fintan Kiely who turned 80 years young recently. Fintan who is now a resident of Greenhill Nursing Home partied the day away with friends and family and I must say he was looking extremely well. His daughter Collette and grandson Jack made sure he had a brilliant day. I’m sure I speak for all his many friends in Ballyduff and Kilmeaden when I say we wish him continued good health and many more happy birthdays. Sorry about the Deise win over Kilkenny Fintan but sure you can’t have it all.
Spring Stations.
The Spring station masses are continuing this week. The mass for Stonehouse, Lacka Road and Whelansbridge will take place on Tuesday February 21st at 8pm in the home of Una and Brendan Counihan. The mass for Ardeenlone, Ballygarron, Lisahane and Shanbally will take place on Wednesday February 22nd at 7.30pm in Ballyduff church. On Thursday February 23rd it will be the turn of Blacknock, Powersknock and Carrigadustra at 7.30pm in Ballyduff church. On Friday February 24th the mass for Carrigphilip, Knockaderry and Carriganure Upper will be held in the home of Marie and John Cummins at 8pm. Tuesday February 28th will be the turn of Amberhill and Raheen in Ballyduff church at 7.30pm.
Community Alert.
The next meeting of the local community alert group will take place on Tuesday February 21st at 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. Some of the speakers on the night will be crime prevention officer Sgt. Brendan Roche, Margaret Quinn from Muintir na Tire, Peter Butler from Task and some local Gardai. The €5 annual fee for the text alert scheme is now due and will be taken up at the meeting.
It is vitally important that as many people as possible attend these meetings and please encourage your friends and neighbours to come too. The group ask nothing of you in return but a committment to help making our area safe and crime free.
Bridge News.
The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge group played their club championships on Monday February 13th and the results were as follows:
1st Session: Peggy Murphy and Margaret Power
2nd Session: Aileen Stephenson and Anne Kennedy.
Overall Result
1st: Nano Fitzgerald and Geraldine McMahon
2nd: Joan Hartery and Anne Cox.
3rd: Mary Shanahan and Fr. Michael O Byrne.
4th: Sean Hennessy and Kate Hayes.
5th: Anne Marie Brown and Mary Prendergast.
Award Shortlist.
Congratulations to all the staff and volunteers at Waterford Suir Valley Railway in Kilmeaden who have been nominated in the Waterford Chamber Business Awards. They have been shortlisted in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality section. This is a just recognition for all their hard work and committment and we wish them the very best of luck on March 3rd in Faithlegg House Hotel when the winners will be announced at a presentation dinner.
Golden Couple.
I want to take this opportunity to wish good friends of mine Peggy and Leonard O Neill in Ballybeg a very happy Golden wedding anniversary which occured on Valentines day. This loved up couple celebrated in style with their family and friends in The Woodlands Hotel and danced away to their favourite DJ John O Shea. We wish this happy couple many more years of wedded bliss and if we can be half as happy as them we’ll be doing ok.
Book Return
A reminder to you that after its sellout performance, the Kilmeaden Co Op centenary book, “Milking 100 years of Memories” is now available again at a cost of €15. You can purchase your copy in the Countrylife store in Kilmeaden.
Recent Death.
We send our sympathies to Noel O Sullivan, Matthews Cross on the recent death of his brother in law Tom Walsh, Georges Street, Portlaw. My uncle Tom was a gentleman true to the core. He was a fantastic husband to my aunty Kathleen and adored his two daughters Marian and Lisa who in return worshipped him. He was thrilled to welcome three grandchildren into his life and followed their lives and hobbies with great interest. A kind and gentle man he bore his illness with great strength and courage and the high esteem in which he was held was evident in the huge crowds who attended his removal and funeral mass. A great neighbour and friend to many he was always willing to give a helping hand. We pray that Tom is now enjoying a nice cup of tea in a comfy chair and that God will reward him for his commitment and dedication to both his family and his faith. May the soil of Portlaw rest gently on him and may his sweet soul rest in peace.