Dumping in church car park

Some overnight dumping in the church car park. Pictures provided by a Diary reader.

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Crookstown Run-Walk fundraiser

A reminder that a community 5K/10K Run and Walk fundraiser in aid of Crookstown Parish and Crookstown National School will take place TOMORROW, Sunday, 14 June 2026.

The event gets underway at 11am from Crookstown NS, with registration available on the day. Entry costs €10 per person and €5 for under-16s, with cash only accepted.

Organisers are encouraging strong local support for what promises to be an enjoyable community occasion, with refreshments to be served afterwards.

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Coffee Morning for Maintain Hope

A Coffee Morning to raise funds for the Maintain Hope charity that supports families in Kenya will be held at Whitehall Cottage on Saturday 27 June. Hosted by the Dooley family, the event will run from 11am to 2pm.

Maintain Hope currently supports around 80 Kenyan children within their families in the Ngong area to ensure they are healthy and can continue their education through primary, secondary and even third level.

For every child aided to learn and live a fuller life, the beneficial ripple effect for the future of their families and community is beyond measure.

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Dowling Property: Recently built detached bungalow, Yellowbog Common, Kilcullen

Dowling Property is delighted to present to the market this very special property for sale, located within walking distance of Kilcullen. This modern A2-rated home is situated in a highly sought-after location and is ready for its lucky new owner to “walk in and hang up their hat!” 

Standing on a very fine 0.75-acre site, the bright and spacious accommodation consists of an entrance hallway, sitting room, kitchen/living room, utility, guest WC, plant room, 4 double bedrooms, including a master en-suite, and a family bathroom. The real highlight is the perfectly positioned, sunny south-facing kitchen, which is open-plan to a large sitting room, making it ideal for modern family living. 

Presented in excellent condition throughout, this superior home is future-proofed for many years to come, featuring geothermal heating, which, combined with its high insulation levels, helps it achieve an impressive A2 rating. The site enjoys extensive road frontage and rolling countryside views. Direct access to the M9/M7 is just a c. 3-minute drive away, making it ideal for the city commuter. All amenities are located within walking distance of Kilcullen town, including leisure facilities, shops, schools (Scoil Bhride Primary School and Cross & Passion College Secondary School), an award-winning playground, sports complex, public transport, and all major road networks, including the M7/M9 motorway. 

With its first-class location and wonderful presentation, we must now advise early viewings, as opportunities like this are rare. One not to be missed! 

AMV €660,000. dowlingproperty.ie. Kildare Office 045 482189. 

If you are thinking of selling, we’d love to hear from you so we can arrange a FREE on-site call-out to your property and answer any questions you may have about the selling process.

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Woodbine Open Mic a brilliant night of craft and talent

Dawn Behan presents Anne Coakley with her writing prize.

It was like Sunday Miscellany on steroids, writes Brian Byrne. The rota of performers at the Woodbine Books Open Mic night presented an evening of excellent writing and music, in extraordinary variety. The full gamut of emotions and a world of experiences combined to make two hours of brilliant entertainment. 

The now annual summer event also marks the end of the season for the Woodbine Creative Writers Group, now in its third year of existence and forging ahead in enabling the members to develop their writing craft. And, as was very evident at the event, their confidence in their work and themselves. 

Woodbine proprietor Dawn Behan opened the evening on a sad note to mark the recent passing of one of the group's founding members, John Martin. "A brilliant writer and always so generous with his feedback," she recalled. "And he was always willing to go on first, so I didn't need to strong-arm someone else. We are all so much better off for having known him."

Amanda Durkan.

To begin the evening, prizes were handed out for a recent competition organised by the group, funded under the Brigid 1500 programme by Kildare County Council. The competition was judged by Ilona Blunden, a former moderator of the group who now teaches creative writing in Maynooth. Among the winners, who received books that were shortlisted in this year's An Post Book Awards, were Anne Coakley and Amanda Durkan. Both read their winning pieces, Anne her poem Rain with Love on the Cousane Gap, and Amanda her very dark flash fiction piece, Soft. 

Raven Evans.

The next presentation was from the youngest person present, Raven Evans, who read — with a presence beyond her years — four of her poems. In very skilled wordsmithing, she revealed colour and richness in nature to be found in various everyday environments. If it is her preferred direction, this young lady is going to create some writing waves in the coming years.

Charlie Gregova.

Charlie Gregova was next to the podium, with Swallow Song, a brooding piece about the discrepancy between instilled childhood belief and adult reality. This was followed by David Murray in his favourite fantasy space, this time about a broken knight finding redemption in a second chance. Moving from dark places, it was then Phil Cummins who returned us to the land of smiles with his beautifully acted monologue about his family's life with dogs and how they react to the moods and dynamics of the household.

David Murray.

Phil Cummins.

David Scott and Pud Barrett.

There was music then from David Scott and Pud Barrett, with some seriously listenable songs and guitar playing, their choices and presentation perfectly matched to the evening's intimate gathering — Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive, Slip Away, The Fool on the Hill, and Saturday Night at the Movies.

Celia Murphy.

Celia Murphy's piece next, The Winding Stair, brought us to the famous Liffeyside bookshop-café, watching Dublin and the Ha'penny Bridge from its window and pondering on stories and ghosts from the past that live on in the night-time reflections on the river. Then there were three poems from Brian Fogarty, musing on literary pretension, the overload of modern life, and unrequited love.

Brian Fogarty.

Orla Ní Sheaghaidh.

Orla Ní Sheaghaidh presented one of her typically delicious pieces, about a plane flight from the mainland to Inishmore, mining her panic for comedy. Henry Murphy then did something similar with a mock email to a supervisor, this time building comedy out of officialese language seeking his due overtime payment. After that, we found where young Raven had likely got her writing inspiration, as her dad, Reuben Evans, read from Talisman the Unicorn, a story he had written in children's book form with, literally, hundreds of endings, each step in the road to them decided by periodically asking members of the audience a two-choice question about where to go next.

Henry Murphy.

Reuben Evans.

Geraldine Gahan.

Geraldine Gahan's memoir brought the listeners through her recollections of a multi-generational gardening family and what they had taught her about food self-sufficiency. Bernadette Murray provided a short poem, A Path of Memory, taking us from the happy games of youth to awareness of growing older in a tapestry of life to be carried on like the music notes of an old song. Bernie Ahearn's The Emerald Ballroom was an evocative recollection, from a newcomer to Kilcullen Open Mic nights, of rural community dancing in the times just before the showband era changed everything — romance and missed chances, shy men, family expectations, and relationships that might have been in a time when emigration was the only option for life change. A short poem from Anninka Shimshek described the images that come into her mind when she says colours out loud, including in other languages that she speaks.

Bernadette Murray.

Bernie Ahearn.

Anninka Shimshek.

Sean Corrigan.

Sean Corrigan, introduced by Dawn as another "brave soul who doesn't know anybody here", stepped up next with Do Not Call Me a Poet, a wonderfully crafted rap recalling college days when he was often introduced to friends as a poet, where his preference would have been just, "Sean plays GAA". You have to have been there to appreciate it. 

Mary Barber.

A piece from Mary Barber recalled the story of Thornton Lace, a famine-relieving enterprise established by an Englishwoman, Elizabeth Roberts, in a townland outside Kilcullen. A story now 'lost in the shadows of forgotten history' and waiting to be spoken of again 180 years later. Then Celia Murphy returned with a memoir of a lifelong passion and dream fulfilled when she got to visit Nashville, experiencing an almost childlike excitement as she toured the country music capital's landmarks. Kayleigh Treacy then read a poem, Twenty-three, which outlined an emotional path from a toxic relationship and emotional abuse to reclaiming autonomy.

Keyleigh Treacy.

A parting gift of a recipe for their favourite garlic bread, with a baked example, was given by Charlie Gregova, who is leaving after a year in Kilcullen, made "wonderful" by the writing group and involvement in many other parts of the community. Then David Murray, to dispel the 'unfortunate rumour' that he can only write fantasy, closed off the written presentations with a short poem, One Small Hour, about unspoken love and secret admiration. The event concluded with several other songs from David Scott and Pud Barrett, which included Blackbird, its theme of recovery and growth appropriate to much of the experience of the evening.

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Tidy Towns street collection today

The KCA Summer Flowers street collection is taking place in Kilcullen today, Friday, 12 June, from 9am to 4pm, and tomorrow, Saturday, 13 June, from 9am to 3pm. The collection will help support the beautiful summer flower displays throughout the town. 

Thanks to the hard work of KCA volunteers and the CE team, window boxes, hanging baskets, flower beds, planter boxes, and three-tiered planters have all been prepared, along with planting at Valley Park and the Library Garden.

A huge amount of time and effort has gone into the project, helping to bring colourful floral displays to Kilcullen once again. Following the town’s Gold Medal win in 2025, organisers are hoping for another gold in 2026 with the community’s support.

A card machine will be available at each collection point, and donations can also be made by scanning the QR code.

KCA and the CE team thank everyone for their continued support.

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Canoeing course for teenagers

Kilcullen Canoe Club will run a new evening canoeing course for teenagers, starting on Tuesday, 23 June, writes Brian Byrne. The course is designed to introduce young people to canoeing and help them build confidence on the water in a fun and supportive environment. 

Participants will work towards a Level 1 Paddlesports Skills Certificate, giving them a recognised foundation in the sport.

The cost of the course is €160 per person, which also includes one year of Kilcullen Canoe Club membership.

The programme offers an exciting opportunity for teens to learn new skills, stay active, and get involved in a local outdoor sport.

Further information and booking details are available at kilcullencanoeclub.eventbrite.com.

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Valley tables need replacing

Donations of €1,000 and €2,000 have been made towards the estimated €2,400 cost of replacing picnic tables and seats in the Valley, writes Brian Byrne. (This story is updated with news of the second donation just in.) 

Those attending the recent meeting of KCA were told that three of the units have reached their end of life. “When we were cleaning and painting the seats in advance of the Family Fun Day, we found that some of them were beginning to fall apart,” KCA’s acting chair Noel Clare told the meeting. He added that the plan is to replace these with seats made from recycled plastic, already used in many of the seats and tables, as well as flower containers around the town.

With €1,400 more needed for this project, Noel had asked everyone present who might know someone interested in sponsoring a seat to have them get in touch with the group — and with the latest donation, the cost is now pretty much covered.

The discussion noted an ‘amazing’ level of use of the seats and tables since they were reintroduced to the Valley several years ago. “It’s particularly great for the young people who want to go somewhere to just hang out,” Noel said. “If you go down there in fine weather, you’ll find every seat and every picnic table in use.”

He expressed appreciation to Paul Mullen of the Lemongrass restaurant in Carlow for his recent donation of four table sets to KCA. “Though they’re not made of recycled material, they’re very sturdy. One is now in the Valley, one at the river beside the square, and two are near the Coffee Hatch at the Community Centre.” 

The next KCA meeting, which is open to everyone to attend, is scheduled for Monday, 13 July, at 8pm.

Please note that the KCA Summer Flowers street collection is taking place today, Friday, and tomorrow. All support welcome.

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AFC seeks U16 players

Kilcullen AFC is inviting expressions of interest from players for its U16 Premier squad ahead of the 2026/27 season. 

The club is offering young footballers the chance to train and play on quality astro and grass pitches under UEFA-qualified coaches in a positive, player-focused environment. 

Interested players or parents can contact Mark on 087 1528118 for more information.

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First call for Culture Night

Culture Night 2026, a nationwide event, will be held this year on Friday, September 18th, writes Esther Reddy. Although this seems like a long time away, Kilcullen Drama Group and Friends are already planning a programme for Culture Night. 

Last year's event in Kilcullen Town Hall was an evening of great entertainment, including poetry, dancing, drama excerpts, and song. However, to organise an event for this coming September, Kilcullen Drama Group and friends need to hear from you now! They are calling on anyone who would like to get involved. 

Text or call 087 4707652 to log your interest so that a programme can be put in place. Don't leave it to someone else — text or call to make this year's Kilcullen event another resounding success.

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Free GAA club memberships for boys and girls opportunity

Kilcullen GAA has launched its academy raffle, offering 20 free club memberships for 2026 to boys and girls aged 3-12. 

To participate, applicants must answer a question on the poster, scan a QR code, and email their answer to ragsgaa@gmail.com, including the child’s name, age, and school. 

This initiative aims to provide children with the opportunity to engage in team sports, and Kilcullen GAA is eager to welcome new members.

Additionally, all registered Kilcullen GAA academy members can win a Nintendo Switch by attending 10 sessions this summer. 

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