MAC & NORMAN CHEQUE FOR €33,100 PRESENTED

Photo: Mac & Norman VR.

A cheque for €33,100 was presented to representatives of the Irish Cancer Society last evening by the organisers of the Mac & Norman Vintage Rally, writes Brian Byrne. The money was the proceeds from the 2026 event held in August, and brights the total collected since the event was inaugurated to more than €676,100.

At the presentation in The Fox in Dunlavin, appreciation was expressed for all who had contributed to the event, and also to the bar and staff. There was a raffle, and music through the evening.

Pictured are John Kennedy, Sarah and Sinead from the ICS, and Mac and Ann Sully.

The 25th anniversary rally will be held on 15 August 2027.

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CINEMA: HOKUM FUN HORROR ON TUESDAY

This coming Tuesday, 20 October, Kilcullen Bridge Cinema are showing an atmospheric folk horror film. Hokum is an Irish ghost story with a sense of fun. 

Directed by Damian McCarthy, its stars are Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, and Florence Ordesh. Hokum tells the story of a successful American author who travels to a creaky hotel in Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes. He begins to investigate the hotel’s many dark secrets, drawing the attention of some very sinister and dangerous forces. 

Tickets are €7 and are on sale in Woodbine Books, Kilcullen, on Eventbrite, and at the door.

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ROSARY FOR WORLD PEACE

There will be a Rosary for World Peace in Kilcullen Parish Church this afternoon.

It begins at 3pm and everyone is welcome.

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KILCULLEN TOWN WEBSITE BEING UPDATED

KCA has started work on upgrading the information on the Kilcullen Town website. Anyone who runs a business or provides a service in the locality is welcome to submit details for inclusion. 

There is no charge. Details should include Business/Service Name, address, email, website, other social media sites (as relevant). 

Information should be emailed to kilcullencommunityaction@gmail.com before 31 October. 

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BOBBY COMPLETES 160km RUN AT KILCULLEN GAA

Shortly after 10.30 this morning, Bobby Molloy completed his task of running 160km around the Kilcullen GAA community walkway in 24 hours, writes Brian Byrne. His total distance after 144 laps was 160.8km.

He was cheered in by a large crowd of Kilcullen GAA members as well as several hundred participants in the presentations on the final day of the Kilcullen GAA Junior Academy. Earlier, many Kilcullen members of all ages had run with him on his final laps.

Through the night, the coldest of the year so far with frost and fog to contend with, club members and friends had taken turns to keep him company in the lonely hours. "It was great to have them," he told the Diary. "I hadn't expected so many to come out."

Surprisingly fresh after completing almost four marathon distances in the 24 hours, Bobby had picked up a minor injury during the night. "I tried running in the opposite direction to see if that would help, but it didn't."

Yesterday, from his starting time at 11am, pupils from Scoil Bhride took turns to come and cheer him on, and to run a lap or two with him.

Sponsorship cards had been circulated to the school and to the children in the Junior Academy, but the club said they had deliberately kept sponsorship on a low key because there were so many other fundraising events happening around this time. The funds raised will go towards the running cost of lighting the community walkway.

It's understood that the event may become an annual one, on a larger scale in coming years.

ALL THE DIARY'S PHOTOS ARE AT THIS LINK. 

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LOCAL HISTORY GROUPS FORUM IN KILCULLEN

The County Kildare Federation of Local History Groups annual forum will take place at Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre today, starting at 10am, writes Brian Byrne. 

The event will feature a presentation on the 1876 Catalpa rescue mission, where Fenian prisoners escaped from Western Australia on the American whaling ship Catalpa. The escape was orchestrated by Kildare native John Devoy. 

Kildare County Council Heritage Officer Dara Wyer will also introduce the council’s new Heritage Plan. The forum will conclude with local history groups sharing their activities and projects. 

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AFC SEEKS NEW YOUNG PLAYERS

Kilcullen AFC are recruiting new junior players for next season, with those born in 2016 encouraged to join. 

Training will continue through the winter to enhance skills, confidence, and teamwork. Open training sessions begin on November 2nd at the Astro in Kilcullen. 

Those interested can contact Marc at 087 416 0687.

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BOBBY IS ON HIS 160km RUN FOR KILCULLEN GAA

With the equivalent of nearly four marathon distances to complete over 24 hours, Brannockstown resident Bobby Molloy set off from the Kilcullen GAA Clubhouse on the dot of 11 this morning, writes Brian Byrne. A short while afterwards he was joined by children from Scoil Bhride 1st and 2nd classes, the first of relays of school pupils to give him support today on his endeavour.

The event will conclude tomorrow morning when members of the Kilcullen GAA Junior Academy, on their own final day, will join Bobby on the community walkway for his final laps. Two of his children play with the club, and when he finishes tomorrow he will have completed 160km, helping to raise funds to keep the lights on around the walkway.

"The event is under what's called Backyard Challenge rules," Bobby told the Diary this morning while warming up before his start. "The plan is to complete around 6.7km in 50 minutes, then take a 10-minute break for some food and drink, and go back out again. I do that consistently for 24 hours, hopefully."

Keeping his time over the 24 hours is his friend Chris Phelan. Both are coaches with Ryston Sports & Social Club in Newbridge, and last year they ran the Galway Marathon together to raise money for a charity. "We trained together to do a 100 miles also last year, but I had an injury and Chris had to do it himself."

If you're taking your own exercise around the walkway today, give him a cheer. And if you want to help with the fundraising, buy a coffee at the club's Raggy's Coffee Shop, which is donating a euro for every coffee or smoothie purchased.

Kilcullen GAA's Jay Lambert-Mills and Trevor Schwer with Bobby before the start.

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ANNA'S ARCTIC TREK FOR MS IRELAND

Kilcullen woman Anna McLeod, who lives with multiple sclerosis, will be among a group of adventurous women who will do an eight-day Arctic tundra expedition 350km north of the Arctic Circle in January, writes Brian Byrne. There are 14 participants in the fundraiser for MS Ireland, which will take place between 24 and 31 January 2027. 

Two-thirds of people diagnosed with MS are women, and the Arctic Trek fundraiser has a target total of €67,500, of which more than a third has already been raised.

Anna, who was diagnosed with MS 12 years ago, is one of almost 11,000 people in Ireland who are living with MS and is an ambassador for MS Ireland. Earlier this year she took part in the May 50K fundraiser and awareness event in Ireland. https://kilcullenbridge.blogspot.com/2026/05/anna-is-taking-part-in-may-ms-fundraiser.html

You can support Anna's fundraising at this link.

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RUNNING WITH RAGGY TO KEEP WALKWAY LIGHTS ON

A reminder that Kilcullen GAA’s own Bobby Molloy will run 160km over 24 hours, STARTING TODAY AT 11am around the community walkway to raise money for Kilcullen GAA, writes the club's Mark Phelan. The run will have kids from Scoil Bhride running alongside in relays. 

Bobby will run through the night and the mammoth effort will end tomorrow, Saturday 17th with, kids from our juvenile academy running with Bobby for the last hours as we round out our academy year.

This run is only for children and sponsorship cards are being distributed via Scoil Bhride. We ask anyone who uses the walkway or any of our facilities to consider sponsoring a child.

As costs soar, so does the need to keep fundraising to Keep The Lights On. Let's get the kids Running With Raggy and Bobby — all your support is greatly appreciated. 

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VENDORS INVITED FOR HALVERSTOWN CHRISTMAS FAIR

Vendor bookings are now open for St Joseph’s NS Halverstown Annual Christmas Fair, taking place on Sunday, 6 December, from 11am to 4pm at the school. 

The fair will be held indoors and will feature a range of stalls. For stall enquiries and bookings, contact Susan at halverstownpa@gmail.com.

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