A Kilcullen Diary

CPC team win basketball All Ireland

2012-01-27T12:12:00.004Z

The Cadettes basketball team from Cross & Passion College won the All-Ireland Final of the Irish Basketball Championships in Tallaght this morning.

According to Assistant Principal Noel Clare, it was a 'decisive' victory, beating Loreto from Mullingar 41-36.

The team was trained by Eoin Wheeler, assisted by John Coleman. Some 400 members of staff and students went to Tallaght to cheer them on.

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The passing of Tom Healy

2012-01-27T05:13:00.002Z

The Diary has learned of the death of Tom Healy, Mount Carmel, Kilcullen, husband of the late Lilian and father to Tom, Marie, Bernard, Fr Peter and James.

Tom will be reposing at his residence from 11 o'clock today, Friday. Removal will take place this evening at 6.30, arriving at the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Brigid at 7 o'clock.

His life will be celebrated in a requiem mass on Saturday at 11am, and burial will take place immediately afterwards in New Abbey Cemetery.

To the immediate and extended family, we offer our sincere condolences. May he rest in peace.

More Garda opening times needed

2012-01-26T07:04:00.005Z

Half of Kilcullen residents don't think the current level of service from Kilcullen Garda Station meets their expectations, writes Brian Byrne. But four in ten do, according to the recently completed Kilcullen Community Survey.

The primary criticism was that the opening times are insufficient, with residents having to go to Naas or Newbridge to contact a Garda.

The response level to the related questions in the Survey for this service were numerically the highest in the section on Satisfaction with Local Services.

Almost 43 percent of respondents said the service meets their expectations, with 5.2 percent saying it exceeds their requirements.

Comments included appreciation for the prompt response of local Garda to break-in reports, while among the suggestions was a wish that there was more Garda patrolling around town after dark.

The Community Survey, commissioned by Kilcullen Community Action, will be officially launched and discussed at a public meeting in the Town Hall next Tuesday, 31 January, from 8pm. KCA has appealed for a full attendance, and the results of the Survey could provide the chance for a strong local influence on how the town develops.

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Onwards and upwards for Tara's shoe accessories

2012-01-26T06:38:00.004Z

Congratulations to Tara Haughton of Cross & Passion College who has just won the Leinster Title in the Senior Section (New Business) of the Ulster Bank Enterprise Competition.

Tara will now participate in the All Ireland Final in April. Tara’s company Rosso Solini makes special stickers which can turn an ordinary pair of shoes into a more expensive looking ‘designer’ pair.

Just minuters after winning the award Tara also received news that a major international TV shopping channel is interested in placing a very substantial order with her company.

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Friday challenge day for Cadettes

2012-01-25T04:29:00.002Z

Some 400 memebers of students and staff from CPC will travel to Tallaght on Friday to cheer on the school's Cadettes basketball team, who are in the Final of the All Ireland Basketball Championships.

The team is playing against Tullamore. It has been trained by Eoin Wheeler, assisted by John Coleman.

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AFC on fundraising drive

2012-01-24T18:49:00.000Z

A major fundraiser for Kilcullen AFC is currently in progress, writes Ray Kelly.

The club is running a Clothes Collection from their clubhouse located in the Community Centre area. All used clothes, soft toys, foot wear tied together, curtains and bedding are all welcome. Just note that we cannot take plastic toys or duvets/pillows. Drop them off to us every Saturday from 10 am until 12 noon – if you wish to drop off at other times please let us know – 0872636375 or kafcoffside@gmail.com.

The Clubhouse is located between the Boxing club and The ELMs Montessori school.

The club has another fundraiser, our annual race night, coming up on Friday March 16 in The Spout Bar. In between Cheltenham week and St Patrick’s weekend, a good night out is guaranteed.

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Kilcullen traffic lights 'obsolete'

2012-01-23T13:30:00.001Z

Kildare County Council has asked for funding to upgrade the traffic lights system at the Hideout Crossroads in Kilcullen, following a query from Cllr Ivan Keatley, writes Brian Byrne.

In response to the motion at today's Athy Area Meeting asking that an extra filter light be provided to allow traffic from the Carlow direction to turn right, the Council reported that the junction configuration and layout of the Kilcullen signalised junction is in need of upgrading, as some of the equipment is obsolete. The provision of a new filter light would be considered as part of any upgrade.

Unfortunately, the Council says no funding is available to make changes to the junction, but an application for funding is being made to the National Transport Authority to seek funding though no decision is expected in the short term.

In response to another motion from Councillor Keatley that the council improve and repair the footpaths in the village of Brannockstown as a matter of health and safety, the Council said that no commitment to carry out the requested works, or any other works, in 2012, can be given until the Naas Area Office budget for 2012 has been finalised.

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Young people involved in local groups

2012-01-22T00:14:00.005Z

Young people in Kilcullen are strongly involved in a variety of clubs and groups, according to the preliminary results from the recent Community Survey, writes Brian Byrne.

The full results will be released at a public meeting organised by Kilcullen Community Action for Tuesday January 31, at 8pm in the Town Hall.

Almost a quarter of respondents to the youth section of the survey said they were involved in music, dance or drama in the town. A slightly smaller number of those who responded said they were involved with the GAA.

The next most popular sports and activities after that are soccer (10.6%), cycling/canoeing (10.6%) and tennis/badminton (8.2%).

In terms of ideas about other sporting and leisure activities that are needed for Kilcullen, a significant number expressed interest in a swimming pool for Kilcullen. There was also general interest in basketball and horse riding.

Ideas for sports and youth groups in Kilcullen included a suggestion that groups advertise more. Others called for more activities or for fundraising events to increase awareness.

The survey was commissioned by KCA with the support of the Kildare Leader Partnership. KCA hopes that publication of the report will result in a strong local dialogue about how the future development of the town can be optimised.

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Moat theatre presents 'Eden'

2012-01-22T00:04:00.002Z

It’s Saturday night in Edenderry and a lot is hanging on this weekend for Billy and Breda, married for seven years but not functioning as a family unit for some time, writes Pat Keaveney of the Naas Moat Club Theatre.

Billy is drinking in the Golf Club and plotting his seduction of young Imelda Egan. Back home, his neglected wife Breda plans her relaunch into the town’s monotonous social scene. Her big hope, now that she has lost the weight, is that Billy and she will be a ‘proper married couple’ again.

Sunday night is the big night. In a series of monologues they recount the events of the weekend, his fueled by drink and fantasy, hers punctuated with her struggle to overcome battered self-esteem. As they bring us to the inevitable Sunday night dénouement, they introduce to the audience a succession of colourful characters, described in richly comic language in the Midlands vernacular.

Eden premiered at the Abbey in 2001. That year it won the award for Best New Play at both the Irish Times Theatre Awards and the Stewart Parker Awards then transferred to London’s West End. It has been translated and performed around the world and was adapted into an award-winning film in 2008.

Eden by Eugene O’Brien. Directed by Paul O’Brien and Eilish Rafferty. 21-25 February 2012, 8pm nightly. €15, concessions €12.

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Shopping habits shown in survey

2012-01-20T21:08:00.004Z

The influence of the major multiple chain food stores on shopping habits is shown by a finding that less than one in ten Kilcullen homes do most of their grocery shopping in the town, writes Brian Byrne.

This is one of the items thrown up by the Kilcullen Community Survey, which will be launched and discussed at a public meeting on January 31.

Just 8.7 percent of respondents said they do most of their grocery shopping in the town, while a third reported that they do most such shopping outside Kilcullen. Just over half said they did such shopping in a 'mix' of locations.

The results suggest that most people think there is a very good range of shops in the town, as well as of pubs and restaurants, though they are concerned about the cost of using them.

The survey was commissioned by Kilcullen Community Action, and has amassed a wealth of detail about the town and the views of its residents under such headings as Local Amenities and Services, Local Community Involvement, Environment and Transport, Recession & Unemployment, and Hopes & Fears.

KCA hopes that a full attendance at the public meeting will begin a major community discussion on how the future of Kilcullen can best be shaped.

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Art & Handwriting competition

2012-01-19T14:34:00.001Z

Kilcullen Community Games Art & Handwriting Competition will take place on Friday 3 February in the Parish Centre.

The event will run from 5.30pm-8pm and is open to boys and girls who live in the Kilcullen Community Games area.

Participation costs €2, and those coming are asked to bring their own pencils, crayons, and paints. Paper will be supplied.

The Art section categories are for Boys and Girls in U/8, U/10, U/12, U/14 and U/16. Handwriting is for Boys and Girls U/10 only.

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Minister to look again at M9 service area

2012-01-19T10:52:00.004Z

Transport minister Leo Varadker TD has agreed to take another look at the cost-benefit analysis of the proposed M9 service area at Baronsland, Halverstown, writes Brian Byrne, following a meeting last night with a delegation representing local businesses in the area.

The meeting at Leinster House lasted an hour, and according to Cllr Ivan Keatley he 'took all views on board'.

"He has agreed to reply to the group in writing within a week to ten days," says the councillor, who with FG colleague Martin Heydon TD arranged the meeting. "Obviously our main concern is that taxpayers money is not being spent on infranstructure before private investment is secured for the service station."

Preparations are already in train by the NRA of a €25m programme to build the service area infrastructure at Halverstown. Local businesses who previously provided such services in the area, and who have suffered badly by being bypassed, say they can give the service with the provision of a ramp link at Kilgowan which would cost less than €200,000.

The issue is against the background of a 'drastically reduced' €100 million budget for road-project funding in 2012 recently announced by Minister Varadkar, which he said will be focussed on dealing with black spots, maintenance and upgrading.

The businesses already affected by being bypassed say the location of the services area is far too close to Dublin to be viable in terms of the investment.

"The volume of traffic on the old road was upwards of 18,000 a day, which was able to support the services that are now off-line," says Tom Wall of the Priory pub and restaurant at Kilgowan. "The volumes on the new motorway are substantially down, at around 12,000, and there are about 2,000 vehicles a day still using the old road. With four service stations already on the road out of Dublin before hitting the motorway at Naas, there's really not enough business to warrant a services area here—it should be located somewhere down near Paulstown in Co Kilkenny."

The local businesses, including Tom Wall and Seamus O'Reilly who has a service station complex just three minutes off the motorway, strongly advocated the provision of a slip road off the motorway at Kilgowan before the actual bypass, but to no avail.

"It would only have cost €150,000 to build and we offered to donate some of our land to provide proper parking for trucks and cars at the location," says Tom Wall. "But the NRA didn't want to know."

A reduced speed limit is now in place at Halverstown pending the beginning of advance works for the services area.

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Drama group plans 'Les Mis'

2012-01-19T09:58:00.004Z

Packing a major novel, spanning 18 years and many characters in early nineteenth century France onto an hour and half of stagecraft is no easy task, writes Brian Byrne.

But that's just what Kilcullen Drama Group will be doing for their next production, due for performance in April. The play is 'Les Miserables', the stage adaptation (not the musical) of Victor Hugo's novel.

Mischa Fekete is taking up the challenge of directing the play, which is a big shift in style of production for the group, now under the leadership of John Coleman for 2012 following the recent AGM of the company.

The main thread is the story of ex-convict, Jean Valjean who becomes a force for good in the world, but cannot escape his dark past. The tale ends with the June Rebellion, or the Paris Uprising of 1832, an unsuccessful, anti-monarchist insurrection of Parisian Republicans, largely students.

The first stage version was written just one year after Hugo published the novel, in 1863. It was written by his son, Charles, and a colleague Paul Meurice. The Kilcullen version is an adaptation devised by American writer Tim Kelly (left), who died in 1998. It has a cast of 30, that itself a challenge for the Kilcullen Drama Group.

The play opens on Friday 20 April, the Gala Night, and runs to Sunday 29 April. It will include two matinee showings on Sunday 22 April and Sunday 29 April.

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A sculpture park

2012-01-18T01:03:00.001Z

Is this a direction for the Valley Park if the M9 sculpture project goes ahead? writes Brian Byrne.

Set in 16 hectares of bush and landscaped gardens near Frankston on the Mornington Peninsula outside Melbourne, the McClelland Gallery+Sculpture Park attracts thousands of visitors each year.

The Gallery presents an inspiring and engaging range of changing exhibitions and public programs. McClelland’s outdoor sculpture collection showcases over 70 works by prominent Australian sculptors.

The park was made possible through a foundation set up by Dame Elisabeth Joy Murdoch AC, DBE, the widow of Australian newspaper publisher Sir Keith Murdoch, and the mother of international media proprietor Rupert Murdoch. At the age of 102 she still takes an active interest in a range of philanthropic endeavours.

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Thoughts on Phil McGrath

2012-01-17T19:50:00.005Z

Sometimes looking in at the Kilcullen Diary can be a sad affair, writes Paul Durney, aka musician Saoirse Mhór, from Germany. In the case of the passing of Phil McGrath, todays news makes one's heart a little heavier.

I lived beside Phil and Una in Bishop Rogan Park when I was a youngster. They were buddies with my mother and father. Phil taught me some of my first chords. And he sometimes kicked football with us kids. He had a remarkable smile and laugh which is what I’m remembering today.

My condolences to Una and family from here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The funeral arrangements are now completed. Phil is reposing at his son Shane and daughter in law Sabrina's residence, 7 Cluain Laighean, Ballyroe, Athy. Removal will take place from there on Wednesday morning at 11am to the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Brigid, Kilcullen, arriving for 12 noon Requiem Mass. His funeral will take place immediately afterwards to St Brigid's Cemetery, Kilcullen.

More information requested on waste plant proposal

2012-01-17T19:43:00.000Z

The proposers of a waste and recycling facility beside Cnoc na Greine Woods and Avondale have been asked for further information by Kildare County Council, writes Brian Byrne.

The application by Christoper and Catherine Dolly could see a dry waste and vehicle end-of-life recycling facility on the Kilcullen Business Campus at Knockbounce.

A decision on the application was due this week, but has been deferred by the FI request.

Objections to the proposal have been made by residents of Cnoc na Greine Woods and Kilcullen Community Action.

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Table Quiz for Childcare Centre

2012-01-17T01:12:00.000Z

The quiz in aid of Kilcullen Community Playschool's proposed new premises, which took place in Bardons on Monday night, was a great success, writes Noel Clare.

Iseult O'Donoghue set a new standard in 'Quizmastering', getting through the eight rounds in record time. Eddie Cross set the questions and the winning team scored 78 out of a possible 80.

The quiz was one of a series which Eddie is running over Monday nights in Bardons to help support local charities and organisations.

The winning team from each night will get a chance to take part in a final and Eddie is putting up a cash prize for the final.

(Pics by Noel Clare/The Bridge.)

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The passing of Phil McGrath

2012-01-17T00:11:00.000Z

The Diary has learned with deep sadness of the death of Phil McGrath.

Widely known as 'The Legend' in local country music, he will be deeply missed by his loving family and very many friends, as well as the even wider circle of those who enjoyed his music.

Funeral details later.

May he rest in peace, and never stop entertaining in that great gig in the sky.

Meeting planned on survey

2012-01-16T01:36:00.000Z

A public meeting will be held to discuss the findings of the recently completed Community Survey, on Tuesday January 31 at 8pm in the Town Hall.

According to KCA's Orla O'Neill, the survey is throwing up many ideas and pathways for Kilcullen, particularly in terms of potential tourism opportunities.

We'll give further details about the meeting and the results as they come through.

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Delegation to meet with minister

2012-01-14T21:49:00.001Z

A delegation of local business people is to meet with Transport Minister Leo Varadker TD next Wednesday, to discuss concerns about the planned motorway services area at Baronsland, Halverstown, writes Brian Byrne.

The meeting was arranged by local Fine Gael councillor Ivan Keatley and Kildare South TD Martin Heydon.

The political representatives were responding to concerns that the project would not be the best use of taxpayers money in the current economic climate.

The meeting will also make the Minister aware of how local off-line services have already been affected by being bypassed.

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Litter warden checking us out

2012-01-14T01:13:00.002Z

Kildare County Council litter warden Noel Geoghegan has been taking a particular interest in Kilcullen during the last week. He's pictured here with Kilcullen Tidy Town's Noel Clare at the bottom of Sunbury. (Pic by Trish Whelan/Kilcullen Diary.)

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Footpaths, lights motions

2012-01-13T21:57:00.000Z

Two motions down for the Athy Area meeting of Kildare County Council on Monday week relate to the Kilcullen area.

Put on the agenda by Councillor Ivan Keatley, the first asks that the council improve and repair the footpaths in the village of Brannockstown 'as a matter of health and safety'.

In the other he asks that the council put in filter lights at the traffic lights in Kilcullen for traffic turning out the Dunlavin road from the Carlow side of the town.

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Toastmasters Open Night

2012-01-12T21:22:00.000Z

Kildare Toastmasters Club Open Night takes place on Tuesday January 24th, 2012, writes Mary Reynolds from that organisation. Guests and visitors are very welcome.

Whether you want to improve your communication skills, gain more confidence, be more effective in meetings or get your thoughts across more concisely, Toastmasters can help you develop your ability to communicate and become a more effective leader.

Kildare Toastmasters meet at the Silken Thomas, Kildare Town on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 8pm from January 24th to June 2012.

For further information about membership visit http://kildaretoastmasters.d71.org or contact Mary Reynolds on 087 604 6890.

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Seven years and counting

2012-01-11T21:05:00.002Z

Seven years ago I didn't have a notion that I'd be writing this article, writes Brian Byrne.

Seven years ago the Diary didn't exist, but it was just about to be born, in the last week of January 2005.

A lot has happened in Kilcullen in that seven years. And a lot has not happened too. For instance, the very first story in the Diary was a somewhat lengthy report on a KCA public meeting, at which it was decided KCA would not object to a planning application relating to Brennan's Hardware on Main Street.

The application, by Pat Dunlea and Donal Brennan, proposed a number of apartment blocks and shops on the property. It was a sometimes heated discussion on the project, which would see the Brennans hardware and builders providers business move to the outskirts of Kilcullen.

Of course, we know today that it didn't happen, even though planning permission was granted. But how many, I wonder, remember that the meeting took place at all?

That is, of course, one of the reasons the Diary is still in existence. Even thriving. Because so much happens here in this little one-street town. I don't claim we get to note everything, but a lot of what is going down finds its way into these daily pages.

And this is despite massively increased internet-based 'competition' when every local organisation, business, and very many individuals have their own 'news outlets' in the form of Facebook pages. There are also many more local websites than when the Diary started out.

In those first months, I got quite excited when the readership hit 200 pages a month. These days it is averaging out at some 18,700 a month. Sometimes peaking considerably higher.

In the past week we have posted lookbacks on Kilcullen 2011. A number of readers have responded on the lines that 'don't we live in a very interesting place?'. And we do.

Kilcullen is a place with buzz. All human life is here, to steal a marketing phrase once used by, I think, the News of the World or some such newspaper (I could Google it, but it wouldn't make any difference to the sense of what I'm saying).

Joy and tragedy, extraordinary and commonplace, beginnings and anniversaries are all part of a wonderful mix of what makes Kilcullen tick.

Sometimes one or other of them will overwhelm us. For instance, the tragic car accident that took the lives of two of the community's young people in October brought by far the highest ever number of 'hits' on the Diary.

The next highest might surprise, it was the stories related to the 'drive-through' by Queen Elisabeth II on her way to Gilltown in May.

There was also big interest in the story of the paver running out of control in August during roadworks on Hillside.

And our recent piece on 'Dick Reade, hero' was also exceptionally popular.

These were just a few strands in the highly coloured tapestry that is Kilcullen, and which I'm privileged to be able to report on. No more than any of us, I can't say that I'll be here this time next year to look back at yet another year of hyperlocal journalism (yes, that's something I learned in 2011, that there's a name for what we do here).

But, as always, I'm looking forward to continue being involved in my home town day to day in my own way. Thank you all, readers, contributors, the people I meet in the process, advertisers and everyone else who in one way or another are part of the same adventure.

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Volunteers call for Childcare project

2012-01-10T20:39:00.001Z

Happy New Year to all our member, their families and the whole community of Kilcullen, writes Iseult O'Donoghue of the Carer & Toddler Group.

We’d like to thank everyone who so generously gave their time, money, expertise etc to help our campaign to build a new Community Childcare and Family Centre. It is wonderful to see so many people coming together to support a valuable community resource.

We are always looking for people to give us a hand with all aspects of the campaign—fundraising, technical support, administration etc—so if one of your New Year resolutions is to volunteer and get more involved in the community, we’d be delighted to have you on board!

Contact Iseult at 086 8519361 for details of upcoming meetings or other ways to help out.

There will be a fund-raising table quiz in Bardon's on Monday the 16th—come along and cheer yourself up in January!

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