Lorrha Notes
Presentations were made to the outgoing officers on the North Tipperary Ploughing committee during the recent Christmas celebrations night out. Seated from left are the former committee officers Denis Cahalan, Eamon Murphy and Tom Duffy while at the back are present officers Eddie Flynn (Treasurer), Ray Clancy (Chairman) and Laura McKenna (Secretary).
2019 Lorrha Parish Calendar.
The 2019 Lorrha & Dorrha Parish calendar is on sale and our thanks to the following for their help and support to the committee in bringing this, the 17thedition of the parish calendar, to you. Lorrha: Friar’s Tavern, Colettes Hair Salon, Pat Hough’s Pub, Shop, Flynns of Carrigahorig, Ferry Service Station, Ferry Inn. Borrisokane: P.J. Heenans, Portumna: O’Meara’s Super Valu, Lorraine’s Hair Salon, Salmons Newsagents, Boathouse. Birr: Buckley’s Super Valu. As usual the calendar is packed from cover to cover with photographs from the past and the present. A lovely present for those living away or just a treasured keepsake.
Lorrha Development/Tidy Towns members would like to thank everyone for their support through the years and wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
Church News.
Please Note that all details of Mass times, dates and contact numbers are detailed on the parish web site www.lorrhadorrha.ie under local info and Churches.
Vigil Mass in Lorrha Church on Saturday Dec 22nd. at 6.30pm. where the pupils from Lorrha National School will perform the Nativity play.
Nativity Play.
Lorrha NS will be holding their Nativity Play in Lorrha Church on Saturday night 22nd Dec. at 6.30pm. Musicians and singers are very welcome to join in on the night. All are welcome. All in Lorrha N.S. would like to extend a Happy and Peaceful Christmas to everyone and many Blessings throughout 2019.
Christmas Mass Times.
Christmas Masses in our Cluster of Lorrha , Borrisokane, Terryglass/ Kilbarron:
Christmas Eve: Monday 24th December – Lorrha at 7:30 Christmas Day: Rathcabbin at 11.00 am ( Please note time change) Christmas Eve: Kilbarron at 6.00pm, Terryglss at 9.00pm. Christmas Day: Terryglass at 9.30am, Christmas Eve: Borrisokane at 7.00pm, Aglish at 9.00pm. Christmas Day: Borrisokane at 11.am
St. Pio Mass.
St Padre Pio Mass will be celebrated in St. Brendan’s Church Birr on Thursday night December 20th. Rosary at 7.00pm and Mass at 7.30pm. All welcome.
Santa Visits Rathcabbin.
Anyone who has been in Rathcabbin lately is delighted by the beautiful display of Christmas lights, donated by Lorrha Rathcabbin Energy Team. These lights will be officially lit next Sunday 23rd December at 6pm and everyone is invited. There will be tea, mulled wine, Christmas carols and most importantly, a visit from Santa with just sweet treats for the children – the big presents are coming on Christmas Eve.
Scam emails warning
Gardaí have issued a warning to Tipperary people over emails being sent from scammer impersonating a Garda member. It has come to the attention of the Gardaí that persons are receiving unsolicited emails from an individual claiming to be an “Inspector Andrew Cullen” of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. “No such Garda member exists, these emails are not official and appear to be part of a rental scam to deceive people into handing over deposits on properties,” a Garda spokesperson said. “If you have any concerns about unsolicited emails or other correspondence received from An Garda Síochána, please contact your local Garda Station to verify the authenticity of same.” “It is important to note that An Garda Síochána will never ask you for any personal or banking information through email or over the phone,” they concluded.
Recent Wedding.
Congratulations and good wishes is extended to James (Jimmy) Dunne, Portland, Lorrha and Noreen (Nonnie) Cronin Listowel, Co. Kerry who were married on Saturday last Dec. 15th in Listowel. Jimmy and Nonnie are wished all the best for the future and many happy years together.
Christmas Special
Progressive 25 Christmas special card drive in Rathcabbin Hall on Friday 28th December at 8.30pm. Admission €10 with good prize money and great craic. Please support.
Fundraising Raffle.
Rathcabbin Community Hall Ltd. are holding a raffle to raise funds to keep the hall open into the future. Locals will be selling tickets (€5) over the coming weeks and the draw will take place on Sun 3rd Feb. in the hall.
Please support this wonderful community resource in our parish. Tickets can also be purchased by contacting Muireann Brophy.
Thank you to our generous prize sponsors, 1st Prize: Eoin Smyth, T&T Contractors, 2nd Prize: Keith Naylor, Naytar, 3rd Prize: Ciaran Young, Hire Agri.
Grants Available.
Deep Retrofit grants are available for houses built before 2007. Names and details are now been compiled for the 2019 round of works in the parish. Anyone interested call Jackie Hogan on (087) 6319890.
Local Link New Bus Service
Serving Lorrha to Birr on Fridays. This new service will also cover the following areas to Birr every Friday, Lorrha, Moatfield, Redwood, Rathcabbin, Killeen(Riverstown), Birr.
First pick up in Lorrha at 10am & drop off 11am. Departing Birr at 2pm (times are approximate). This is a demand responsive & door to door service which means passengers wishing to travel can register with us & book their trip. Please contact us on 076-106-6140 to register or to receive more information about this service or existing services in your area.
Easter 2019 Pilgrimage.
St. Pio Easter Pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo and Benevento from April 22nd for 4 nights €649 per person sharing and included Airport transfers with guide assistance. One night in Benevento, 3 nights in San Giovanni Rotondo full board. For bookings or enquiries call group leader Michael O’Connor on (087) 2677656.
Charity Golf Outing.
Rags golfing society are organizing a charity golf outing on Saturday December 29th in Portumna Golf club. Tee off at 10.00am and all are welcome so come along and support a worthy cause. For further details contact Donie Brady on (087) 2225516.
Diary Date.
Rathcabbin Players will perform their 2019 production which is a three act comedy, on the last week-end in January and the first week-end in February. Watch this space for further details. Happy Christmas and New Year greetings to everyone.
Thank You.
We would like to sincerely thank all those who came to our Christmas Variety Show last week. It was a hugely enjoyable evening and well deserved congratulations must go to all the children on their fantastic performances. Thank you also to Fr. Tom and Fr. Michael for the use of Redwood Church. Many thanks to all those who supported our Christmas raffle in O’Meara’s Supervalu Portumna, The Boathouse Gift Shop Portumna, through the parents and also on the night of the show. Congratulations to the hamper winners – 1st Anne Marie Darcy, 2nd Riain Lane and 3rd Gearóid Duggan. Many thanks also to Patrice Murray Heagney for donating two gift vouchers for Speech & Drama lessons and well done to the many spot prize winners on the evening. A massive thank you to all our parents for organising and running the raffle and for providing refreshments for everyone after the show. We would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year from all in Redwood N.S.
De-Clutter.
When cleaning out your wardrobe to make room for the new collection, please remember Lorrha Development/Tidy Towns who continue to collect unwanted clothes throughout the year. Items of clothing must be clean and dry and in good condition please and we can supply bags if you want. We can also collect to make it easy for you, just call (086) 8647166, (086) 8493595 or (087) 2601413 with your name and details. Please note we cannot accept Duvets, bedding, household linen, pillows, cushions, carpets, rugs and mats including bath toilet and shower mats soiled or wet clothing but good quality unwanted clothing for re-use (not recycling). All money raised from all fundraising ventures is used for the ongoing work around Lorrha Village. Many thanks for your continued support.
Portumna Arts Group Annual Celebration – 6th January
The PAG & Shorelines Arts Festival would like to wish all our friends, sponsors, performers, volunteers and audiences a very Happy Christmas! And on the 12th night as is customary, the annual Arts Dinner will once again take place in The Ferry Inn Restaurant on at 6.30 pm. An ideal way to celebrate the last day of Christmas. 2 Courses €20 / 3 Courses €24 January 6th (vegetarian option). Booking is essential: drop your €20/€24 (in an envelope with your name on it please) to Noelle in Hayes & Hayes Pharmacy or Jackie in the Beehive by 31st December. Any questions — M: 085-1925466.
Pieta House Wren Run
Given the wonderful support and large participation numbers the ‘Pieta House Wren Run’ has received since 2016 from communities both locally and from surrounding counties, the event will again take place this year at 11:00am on St. Stephen’s Day, in Woodford, Co. Galway. Registration is now available online through Primo Events or the Pieta House Wren Run Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages (@pietahousewrenrun) or alternatively you can register on the day itself from 9:30am.
The event which encourages some exercise after the indulgences of Christmas offers 3km & 6km options which you can either: walk, jog or run and is suitable for all ages and abilities. The entry fee is €5 for children, €10 for adults with a discounted family entry fee of €20.
There is also a ‘Team / Group Entry’ rate for groups of up to seven people (friends, family or team mates). This entry entitles you to a discounted early bird fee of €50 (€70 on the day) and automatically enters you into a special draw to win a set of jerseys for your school or club team. All proceeds raised will be split 50:50 between Pieta House and the Wren Run’s other beneficiaries Tommy Larkins GAA & Davitts Camogie Club (25% each) who will use their proceeds to promote wellbeing initiatives in their clubs.
You can register to support or participate in the ‘Pieta House Wren Run’, as all registered entrants are automatically entered into a monster raffle which includes prizes such as a consultation with celebrity architect Dermot Bannon, Dinner at Neven Maguires, €350 Clean Cut Meals Voucher, hotel getaways for The Armada Hotel, Spanish Point & Strand Hotel Limerick and a set of Intosport jerseys. Check out ‘The Pieta House Wren Run’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for further updates. Arrive early for a day of fun, entertainment and some exercise. Tea & refreshments will also be served before and after the race.
For the month of December, if you get a haircut in any Fat Tony’s Barbershop, they will make a donation to the Wren Run in aid of Pieta House
Pieta House provide 24/7 support – if you are suicidal or self-harming you can contact Pieta House via the free phone helpline on 1800 247 247, you can also text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply).
Pictured at the recent launch of the Fat Tonys Barbershop Pieta House Wren Run initiative were, left to right: Kevin McHugo – Wren Run Group, John McGuire Fat Tony’s Barbershop, Joe Burke Pieta House, David Burke, Damien Comer, Jason Flynn – Galway GAA, Bundee Aki – Connacht & Irish Rugby, Cathal O’Byrne – Wren Run Group. Kneeling: Daire Curley- Fitness Athlete
Anna May – Banríon An Plough Christmas Day on TG4 at 9.25pm
The National Ploughing Championships have captured the hearts and imaginations of the nation, particularly in recent years. Staged in the early Autumn, the event has grown from a mere 40 entries at the 1931 inaugural competition to become Europe’s largest outdoor exhibition and trade show. Held over three days, it has long ceased to be solely an agricultural event, mirroring the State Fairs of the U.S. Attracting annual crowds of almost 300,000, two thirds of whom are not involved in agriculture, the Championships are a national phenomenon.
Presiding over the growth and success of the event is Anna May McHugh, the tireless Co. Laois native who has worked with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) for 67 years, almost 50 of which have been at the helm. Now 84 and, up to recently, the only woman in a man’s world, this Managing Director shows no sign of retiring from the organisation, as she embarks on putting together yet another annual event. To many she is a national treasure. But what does it take to organise an event of this scale? What is the personal toll on those involved? And, at a time when there are fewer farmers than ever in the fields and farm incomes are at an all time low, what is the significance of the event to those who participate in and attend the National Ploughing Championships?
Anna May – Banríon An Plough is a one-hour observational documentary following Anna May over the course of four months, in the build up and staging of the eventful 2018 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co. Offaly. Through Anna May we get an insight into the current event, as well as her deep historical knowledge, going back to the 1940s. Incorporating footage from this year’s ill-fated Championships, along with archive footage from previous decades, this is a compelling account of what the Championship organisers had to do when faced with the devastating winds of Storm Ali. For only the second time in it’s 87 year history, the event was forced to close it’s doors to the public.
Her story, in her words, the documentary is an intimate insight in to Anna May’s life, and that of her family, as it finds what continues to push her to the limit to make this profitable event better, year on year. With no intention of retiring just yet, she has become as much a part of the event as the ploughing itself.
GAA News
Senior AGM: The Annual General Meeting took place on Tuesday 18th December with a good attendance. Chairman William Harding provided over a good meeting with plenty of issues discussed. Secretary Michael Kennedy and Assistant Treasurer Declan O’Meara compiled excellent reports, with on the financial side, the club continuing to meet its commitments but more support is needed for the club lotto but the complimented all for the increase in Tipp Draw members over the past year.
Barney Naughnane (manager), JP Houlihan (selector), and one other selector were confirmed as senior hurling management, with Kevin Quinlan on board as S&C coach. Jimmy Dunne (manager), James O’Meara, Graham Houlihan and Davy Dunne were ratified as junior hurling management, with under 21 and minor managements to be confirmed in the New Year following discussions with Shannon Rovers Gaels.
3 motions were all the clar, top of which was to rename the GAA Centre & Club grounds in honour of the late Tony Reddin and this was passed, as was the decision to create an Officer role to monitor player injuries to ensure all treatments and paperwork are done.
Vice-Chairman David Broderick, secretary Michael Kennedy, treasurer Graham Houlihan and development officer Tommy Cahalan did not seek re-election to their roles and the club thanks them for all they have done in the past years.
The following officers were elected: President – Michael O’Meara (The Hill); Vice Presidents – Phil McIntyre + one other to be confirmed; Chairman – William Harding; Vice-Chairman – Pat Kennedy; Secretary – Vacant; Treasurer – Vacant; Assistant Secretary – Vacant, Assistant Treasurer – Declan O’Meara; PRO – Shane Brophy; Registrar – Louise Mannion; Players Representatives – to be chosen by senior & junior hurling managements; County Board Delegate – Joe Dolan; Coaching Officer – JP Houlihan; Development Officers – Tony Coen & Declan O’Meara; Health & Wellbeing Officer – to be confirmed; Schools Officer – Caroline O’Brien; Children’s Officer – Michael Needham (to be appointed at club executive); Child Protection Officer – Michelle Hogan (to be appointed at club executive); Cultural Officer – Barry Moran.
Christmas Party: The Club will be hosting a Christmas Party fundraiser in the GAA Centre on Thursday 27th December, with music by Tradstone and DJ Sean O’Meara. Tickets €20, with part of the funds going to Seamus Hennessy’s Running for Josie project supporting Pieta House and Tipperary Living Links. A great night is promised and the ideal event for those home for the Christmas period.
Auction: Our annual Auction has been fixed for Sunday 27th January 2019.
Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw: Thanks to all our subscribers and we hope for better luck in the New Year. All promoters are asked to bring their accounts up to date.
Lotto: The jackpot is €8,550 with a Match 3 pot of €100. You can play online at www.locallotto.ie. The next draw will be on St Stephen’s Night, Wednesday 26th December with the subsequent draw reverting to Monday night, 31st December, New Years Eve.
Social Dancing: in the GAA Centre on Friday 21st December to the music of Footloose and Friday 28th December with John Molloy. Dancing 9.30pm to 12.30am.
Sympathy: Lorrha GAA Club would like to sympathise with the O’Brien family on the death of Mary O’Brien, Cullagh who passed away recently. May she rest in peace.
Lorrha & Dorrha GAA Club would like to with all our players, supporters and members and very Merry Christmas