KILLAVULLEN

SPRING CLEAN

The spring clean collection will take place on Saturday, April 6. The GAA club ask that volunteers kindly return bags filled with roadside rubbish to the GAA grounds where they will be collected on Saturday evening.

The GAA club are organising this in conjunction with Killavullen community council. Country Clean bags are to be used. Contact numbers are: John Magner 086 1591585, Marian O’Regan 085 2181887. We would really appreciate if people take the time to do their own roads. High vis jackets are advised.

COMMUNITY CAFÉ

Killavullen Community Café took place again last Tuesday.

It was a lovely sociable morning and it was lovely to see so many friendly faces attend. The next Community Café will take place on the last Tuesday of April.

TABLE QUIZ

Reams of four are invited to take part in the Killavullen parents’ association table quiz in the Haven Bar on April 14 Entry is €40. It starts at 9 p.m. There will also be a raffle on the night. All support is appreciated.

FARMER’S MARKET

Killavullen Farmer’s Market takes place again on April 6 at the Birthplace of Nano Nagle.

SCHOOL BUS

Applications for School Transports is currently being accepted for the upcoming school year 2023-2024. If your child intends to take the bus to school next year you will need to add their name to the list. buseireann.ie/ schools.

CHIROPODY DATES

Appointments with our friendly and dedicated chiropodist Patricia are now available for April 13 Please contact her at 086 3225052 to arrange an appointment.

LOTTO

Killavullen Community Council lotto takes place twice a week. The bonus ball of the National Lottery draw is the winning number each Wednesday and Saturday evening. The following people have been the most recent jackpot winners: Mary Deady and Noel Larkin. Congratulations and thank you to one and all for your support.

BOOK LAUNCH

Mai Rafferty is launching her own book of poetry called A Moment In Time on Friday, April 19, th 2024 in the Munster Room of the Hibernian Hotel in Mallow. Entertainment on the night will be provided by Uileann Ceoil. All proceeds from the book will be donated to Cancer Connect. Congratulations, Mai.

SCHOOLS ENROLLING

Killavullen and Ballygown National Schools are accepting applications for new enrolments in September 2024. Please contact the schools for further details.

SCÓR NA BPAISTÍ

Comhghairdeas mór do na páistí ó Chill a’ Mhuilinn a bhí i gcomórtas Scór na bPáistí. D’éirigh leo thar cinn.

Killavullen NS had participants in the ballad group and instrumental music section of the county.

Final last weekend. Their talented ballad group was up against three other excellent groups and were crowned County Champions at the end of the day. The instrumental group played beautifully in another highly competitive category. Congratulations to all the competitors and their families, as well as the staff for their commitment and hard work over the last few weeks.

EASTER CEREMONIES

Holy Thursday, March 28: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper Annakisha 7.30 p.m.

Good Friday, March 29: Day of Fasting and Abstinence Killavullen: Stations of the Cross: 3 p.m. (assisted by a group of this year’s Confirmation candidates) Annakisha: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion: 7.30 p.m.

Holy Saturday, March 30: Killavullen: Easter Vigil 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, day of the Lord’s Resurrection, March 31: Masses: Annakisha 10 a.m. Killavullen 11.30 a.m.

ACCESS TO ANNAKISH ACHURCH

The supervising engineer has informed the parish that the current road layout will continue for two months and improve thereafter. Approach the church through the N72 crossroads at Kilcanway or Ballygriffin or at the Gurranachole Crossroads. Follow the signs marked ‘Church’.

GAA CLUB NEWS

SCÓR NA BPÁISTÍ – Killavullen GAA are so proud of all our participants from Killavullen National School, who competed in the County Final of Scór Na bPáistí in Ovens on Saturday.

Our talented Ballad Group were up against three other excellent groups and were crowned County Champions. Well done, girls. The girls, Lauren, Aveen, Sophie, Amelia, and Ellie May sang Bright Blue Rose, a beautiful spiritual song written and composed by Jimmy McCarthy and ní na lá, and it is hard not to listen to this song without dancing, tapping your foot, or at least smiling. They clearly impressed the distinguished judges with their renditions of these. Our Instrumental Group played beautifully in another highly competitive category.

Thanks to the all our competitors and their families for their commitment and hard work over the past few weeks, and to their teacher. Ms O’Keeffe, who prepared the groups, so professionally and diligently.

Well done to all the other schools and clubs and to Scór Chorcaí for a wonderful day’s entertainment.

Tom Barry, our chairperson in acknowledging the success of the girls congratulated them on their great success and the huge honours that they brought back to Killavullen GAA club, and the well wishes flowed forward to the girls all day long.

BEN FINDS A RARE ROCK – Congratulations to our underage player, Ben O’Driscoll, who found a very rare Cotterite Quartz rock, on the farm behind his house, and has seen the event feted on the national press. Ben would certainly put all us adults to same, with his discovery and knowledge of the subject and just shows, you, that there could well be jewels among us all, just need to be diligent in looking.

So rare is the type of rock that Ben found, that none had been detected, in 150 Years. Well Done Ben.

DIVISION 1 OPENING GAME – A much-changed Killavullen team, from the last game of 2023, saw them draw with Ballyhooly on Sunday last, in rather heavy conditions in Killavullen. Considering the deluge of rain that has been dropped of late, the pitch held up well, testament to a sanding program implemented in 2023.

Killavullen started well, with points from Kian Lane, in the third minute and a converted 65 metre shot from Jamie Magner, and then a close in free conversion from Jamie, giving us a nice lead after seven minutes. Ballyhooley were inclined to spray the ball around better though, and came thundering into the game and were rewarding with the concession of frees, some rather silly, from our point of view and too many of them, to gift the lead back to Ballyhooly, by the 15th minute, 0-05 to 0-03, and all of those scores coming from placed balls.

We got a point back from another free from Jamie in the 16th minute, but Ballyhooly scored a zipper of a point from distance, from Dylan Collins, from his own half back line, and we lost Mikey O’Connor to a shoulder injury. Kian Lane scored a another point, high over the bar, from a tight situation, but Ballyhooley were to tack on three further points by the short whistle, to leave the score at the interval 0-09 to 0-05.

Renewed energy was sought of the Killavullen players in the middle third of the field, where Ballyhooley were picking up all of the loose ball, and Ballyhooley stretched out their lead further with another long range point. Killavullen responded to the demands and a rejigged forward line, saw up earn three points in quick succession, two from frees from Jamie, and the third, from play, that he had to work very hard for himself. Ballyhooly responded through, and hit successive points in the 10th and 14th minute to bring their tally to 0-12.

Killavullen earned another close free, when Séamus O’Mahony was denied a goal scoring chance in what was a clean game but Ballyhooley went further ahead with points in the 15th and 20th minute. Colm O’Mahony used his considerable size to wrestle a point over the bar and Pádraig Looney scored a point from close in on goals. We possibly spurned two goal chances in quick succession but Jamie got us within two points, with another free, earned cleverly by his brother Owen, who turned sharply away from his man.

Killavullen went ahead when another long delivery into the full back line of Ballyhooley caused consternation, but while their goal keeper did well to save the initial thrust, he was beaten with a follow up shot along the group, from Kian Lane. Ballyhooley drew parity with another long-range point, but Jamie edged us ahead with time almost up. Ballyhooly fought back though, and gained a draw with the final point of the game, 0-16 to 1-13, in a game in the which the referee, Justin Murphy used a lot of common sense, given the conditions.

Killavullen gave debuts to three minors in this game, and they acquitted themselves very well.

LOTTO – There was no winner of the lotto jackpot last Tuesday night when the jackpot on the night was, at €1,600. The numbers that were drawn were 5, 10 and 32. The draw on March 26 will be for €1,700. The winners of the lucky dips, last Tuesday evening were as follows: €50 – Anna O’Gorman (seller – Mary Mellerick; €30 – Jerry O’Donoughue (seller – Michael Linehan); €20 – Kathy O’Neill (seller – John Angland). Purchase your ticket from any committee member or from our website – Killavullengaa. com.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES – The 2024 Division 1 Football league will see Killavullen play Kilshannig on Wednesday, March 27, at 7.30.PM in Glantane.

Our Division 3 team play Doneraile in Doneraile on Easter Monday next, April 1, at 4.30 p.m. Do check our website for the best and most up to date fixture lists, as the times, and venues of matches can change, due to pitch availability.

MEMBERSHIP – With all games now up and running, it is imperative that all players have paid their 2024 membership. Remember, no membership paid, no insurance cover for you, in the event of an injury.

The club would be gracious if persons will pay the appropriate fee on the new Central GAA App – Foireann and select Cill An Mhuilinn as your club.