Local Notes: Soccer news, courthouse regeneration, GAA news, martial arts and more
A brilliant recently for the Portlaw United FC U9 team who competed in the schools league with a trip to Abbeyside
As many of you know, we have been working for several years on a redevelopment plan for the village core. Last November we were awarded Stage 2 funding to appoint a design team to progress the plan to the next stage. This stage is now complete and we are preparing for an application for funding to turn the plan into reality.
There are three core parts to the plan: 1. Transform the derelict former Courthouse into a multifunction Community Hub to cater for the needs of the entire community; 2. Upgrade and redesign Factory Road; 3. Redesign of Malcomson Square (‘The Square’) to include pedestrianisation and relocation of the fountain to its original position.
Many of you will have already engaged with the process either through surveys or events like the one we had in the Library in January. Please take some time to review the plans as there are some significant changes in the proposal for The Square and Georges St.
You can then make a free submission with your opinion on the plans and this will be taken into consideration when making a final planning decision. Your opinion counts.
The Waterford News & Star Green Room Nominations are in and Portlaw Musical Society have received not one, not two, but three nominations this year! Best Stage Management, Fred Kelly – Best Male Comic and Dervla Walsh – Best Female Comic.
We are absolutely thrilled and so incredibly proud of everyone involved.
What a fantastic recognition of all the hard work, talent, and panto magic that went into 'Jack & The Beanstalk'.
Huge congratulations as well to all the nominees across the societies and groups throughout Waterford — the talent in this county is simply amazing. Now the countdown begins as we look ahead to the awards announcement during the weekend of March 13 to 15. Keep everything crossed for us.
Tae Kwon Do Classes are starting next Tuesday and every Tuesday, from 6pm to 7pm in the Community Hall. From beginners to improvers, all ages are welcome. Have some fun while building stamina, confidence and fitness levels.
We would again like to thank everyone who signed up for the Club Supporters Development Syndicate to date. In the latest draw the lucky winners were: 1st prize - €100 - Megan Walsh; 2nd prize - €50 -D Power, George’s St; 3rd prize - €25 - Bernie Sexton. If anyone would like to join the syndicate to improve the club facilities contact any member of the committee or the club Facebook page directly.
A brilliant first day out in the U9 schools league recently with a trip to Abbeyside. Best performance of the year and some great goals on both sides.
The boys and girls are improving every week and were unlucky not to score a few more goals between hitting posts and crossbars etc. Scorers were Ellie Grace and Ellie White.
Big thanks to Abbeyside for hosting and we look forward to seeing them in Portlaw in a few weeks. U15 soccer: Portlaw 1-1 St. Joseph’s.
Team Sponsor Jimmy's Takeaway. Portlaw. Our final home game of the season and a very entertaining game it was, that saw action from the first to the very last minute. We took the lead early on when Will Saunderson sent a tantalising cross in the box, with Mark Murphy finishing neatly to the corner.
We defended well when needed, and Daniel O’Brien was unlucky not to put us further ahead, but the visiting keeper saved smartly, tipping the ball out for a corner.
The second half was a tight affair with Evan Murphy pulling off an excellent save to maintain our lead. We pushed for the second goal to see out the game, but a combination of the visiting keeper and the post denied us.
Then, as the clock drifted into added time, the referee judged there was a foul in the area and awarded a penalty against us, which was duly dispatched to the back of the net. An excellent all round team performance from the lads. We could have asked no more from them.
Congratulations to Ríona Shankey and the Scoil Mhuire, Greenhill, Carrick on Suir, Senior Camogie Team who secured a win in the Post-Primary School All Ireland Senior B Camogie Final in SETU, Carlow. Full time score was: Greenhill 0-13 v 2-4 Pres Wexford.
A brilliant achievement for all the girls involved. It’s fantastic to see girls from all the different clubs come together and be successful together in Camogie. Memories made for life. Enjoy the celebrations.
Portlaw GAA are absolutely delighted to confirm that planning permission has now been granted for a new 200-seat spectator stand at Portlaw GAA field.
The proposal for the stand was made to us in 2025 by our own Philly Hennebry – a former Portlaw player who emigrated to the USA in the 80's but never forgot the blue and gold he proudly wore growing up in the village.
Philly, who now runs his own successful Pest Solutions business in New Jersey, generously offered to donate the stand in memory of his late brother Jimmy Hennebry, also a decorated former player of our club.
This is an incredibly generous gesture from Philly and the entire Hennebry family, and we are truly grateful for their continued support of Portlaw GAA. With planning now approved, we look forward to working closely with Philly and the contractors in the months ahead to bring this project to life — and all going well, we hope to have the stand in place for games this summer.
The new stand will complement the extensive development work completed in recent years at Páirc de Hindeberg, including our clubhouse, gym, fencing, walking track, scoreboard and lighting etc. It’s a really exciting time for our club and community.
Thank you once again to Philly and the Hennebry family. Our U7s were in action again recently, this time in a football blitz in Tramore.
We played three games and the lads were excellent throughout as they started on their journey in the colours of Portlaw.
Well done boys. A big thank you to our GDA Gavin Whelan and all at Deise Og for organising and to Tramore GAA for hosting.
