Bridge News.
Our local bridge club played their latest bridge game for some lovely Easter eggs and the results were:
1st: Michael O Donovan and Peggy Murphy.
2nd: Noreen Tubbritt and Monica Sullivan.
3rd: Kathleen Collins and Celia Nugent.
4th: Geraldine McMahon and Ann Kennedy.
Tidy Towns
Our local Tidy Towns Group have asked me to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported their recent Easter Hamper raffle. They would also like to thank all who donated items for the hamper and all who spent time at Centra selling tickets. The lucky winner of the raffle was John Fitzgerald, Carrickphilip and we hope John enjoys his prize.
The next Tidy Towns meeting will take place on Wednesday April 12th from 7.30pm in the Community Centre. All are welcome to attend this meeting.
Dr.Martin Centre
Our neighbours over in the Doctor Martin Day Care Centre in Portlaw have asked me to ask you all to think about volunteering some time to come along to the centre and help play games, sing, simply have a chat. If you feel like sharing your hobbies or talents please come along to a volunteer information evening in the centre on Wednesday April 12th from 7pm to 8pm. Refreshments will be served.
Commemoration.
An Easter Commemoration will take place after 10am mass on Easter Sunday at the monument opposite the church to honour the anniversary of the 1916 Rising. The Proclamation will be read and Ballyduff choir will sing the National Anthem as our Irish flag is raised. All are invited to come along and share this moment.
Fashion Show Success.
On Saturday April 1st the Ballyduff Community Centre Fundraising committee staged their Belles and Beaus Fashion Show in the school hall of Ballyduff N.S and what a night it was. The hall was transformed into a glamorous,elegant room which would leave the fashion centres of Milan and Paris green with envy. Our comperes for the night were the gorgeous Sarah Walsh and Claire Bowman and they kept the audience informed and entertained. Our models who all volunteered their time did a fantastic job and some of them looked very professional indeed. The committee would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported the fashion show by buying tickets, sponsoring tables or spot prizes, modelled, helped out backstage. A big thanks to all at Ballyduff N.S who loaned us their hall and to Frankie Carlin for his invaluable help and to all the wonderful shops who allowed us to show off their wear. A huge thank you must go to Andrew and Mary in Kilmeaden Pharmacy who supplied beautiful goody bags for everyone. A fantastic amount of over €2500 was raised and the committee are extremely grateful.
Golden Couple
We send many congratulations and good wishes to a lovely couple Ned and Eily Mears in Kilmacthomas who recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. Eily is of course formerly O Leary from the High Road and she and Ned lived for many years in Gortaclode. They celebrated their anniversary by having a beautiful mass in Newtown church and then it was on to Kierseys in Kilmac for some delicious food and a dance or two. We wish this popular couple continued good health and happiness.
Skillfull Guys.
A big well done to Michael O Connor, A.J Bowman and Alex Reade who represented Ballyduff Lower N.S in the schools county hurling skills in Carriganore recently. The lads scored a very impressive 94 points making them runners up to the winners who scored 96 points so it was very close. The 3 lads received a Waterford jersey each and should all be very proud of themselves. They have certainly made their school and parish proud.
Easter Ceremonies.
As we enter Holy Week and Easter weekend here is a list of the times of the ceremonies in the church.
Holy Thursday- Mass of the Last Supper and washing of the feet at 7.30pm
Good Friday- Reading of the Passion, Holy Communion and Veneration of the Cross at 3pm
Stations of the Cross at 7.30pm
Holy Saturday- Blessing of Easter fire and water, lighting of new Paschal candle, renewal of baptismal promises at 9pm
Easter Sunday- 10am morning mass.