The Priory Institute: Study Theology from home. Students attend occasional study days and use on-line support from academic tutors which leads to a certificate or honours degree. For more information, contact 01 4048124 or www.prioryinstitute.com.
Samaritans: Samaritans are looking for new volunteers to assist in their service. An open night will be held on September 5th at 7.30pm in their centre on Barrington’s St., Limerick (which is at the top of O’Connell St.). All are welcome.
The Lifelong Learning Centre: Adults, do you need to improve your spelling, reading, writing or beginners computing? Classes will be held, free of charge, in all areas of North Tipperary in September. Call Mary or Liz in confidence, at the Lifelong Learning Centre, North Tipperary VEC on 067 31845.
Friday Church Services in Ballina: After 10am Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed until 5pm. Prayer of the Church and Benediction at 1.05pm. Why not come along and pray awhile with us? Friday next is the First Friday of September. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in Boher Church after 7.30pm Mass. Communion Calls to the sick and housebound will be made on Friday.
Ballina Tidy Towns: Thanks to all who donated recently to the Church Gate Collection for Tidy Towns which amounted to €555.95. Closing date for our local environment awards is Wednesday, August 31st. Entry forms are available in Supervalu, Killaloe
Recently Baptised: We welcome into God’s family: Ava Kelly Carey, Grange, daughter of Fiona and Christy and also Tara Eileen Moloney, Scragg, daughter of Andre and Majella who were baptized recently.
Annual Grandparents Pilgrimage: This pilgrimage in Knock Shrine will be on Sunday, September 11th. It will be lead by Dr. Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam and begins at 2.30pm, including Blessings of the Sick, Mass and the Rosary. All are welcome.
Midwives for Haiti: Mary Bolger and Martina McKeogh, two local midwives in the Regional Maternity Hospital, Limerick are travelling to Haiti on September 9th with the above charity. This charity has worked in Haiti since 2004, assisting in the education and training of midwives and the village women to improve basic maternity care and reduce the high maternal and infant mortality rates. A church gate collection will be held next weekend in our parish and this money will go directly to help the people of this impoverished nation.
Tipperary County Board: The County Board have launched a New Double Draw Bonanza in aid of the training fund for the county hurling and football teams. The prizes include a trip for two to Australia for the compromise rules games in October and a holiday for two to San Francisco with the All Stars in late
November. Tickets cost €10 each and can be obtained from any club officer.
Boru Barbecue: This event which was held in Flanagan’s on the Quay proved to be a big success. Both Ballina and Smith O Brien’s GAA clubs participated. The club would like to thank Flanagans for their sponsorship of this event and the volunteers from both clubs for helping to make it such an enjoyable day.
All Ireland Hurling Final: The club would like to wish the Tipperary team the best of luck in their attempt to retain the All Ireland senior hurling championship for the first time since 1965. We hope everyone has an enjoyable trip to Croke Park and that we bring home the first part of the double.
