Scoil Bhride's young hurlers

The 2nd Year pupils of Scoil Bhride have enjoyed learning the skills of hurling over the last three weeks, writes Martin Sheridan, courtesy of SKS mentors and help from former students. 

Many thanks to Scoil Bhride for giving us the opportunity to encourage hurling with all the boys and girls. 

Hopefully, we will see them on Monday evenings at 6.30pm at the Juvenile Pitch in Kilcullen (up beside the ball wall). 

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Coffee Morning for Maintain Hope

A reminder that the annual Coffee Morning to raise funds for the Maintain Hope charity that supports families in Kenya will be held at Whitehall Cottage on this 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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Cill Dara Lifeboat appeal exceeded target

A D-class lifeboat.

The Cill Dara Lifeboat appeal has exceeded its target, raising €143,768.75 against a goal of €117,000, writes Brian Byrne. The appeal, led by support from people across Kildare and beyond, was launched to help purchase a D-class lifeboat for Wexford Lifeboat Station. 

Organisers thanked everyone who supported fundraising events across the county, including the Wexford Fleadh in conjunction with the Wexford RNLI crew. The extra funds will help support the upkeep of RNLI lifeboat stations around Ireland. The new lifeboat, named Cill Dara, is expected to be on the water later this summer.

The North Kildare RNLI committee started the project to mark the bicentenary of the sea rescue organisation. Fundraising events included street collections, notably at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford last summer, a cooking demonstration, an abseil challenge, and a concert by the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir. 

Fundraising efforts also took place in Newbridge, Athy, and Monasterevin, with local businesses in Kilcullen also making donations. Kilcullen's Pat Stafford is a member of the fundraising group.

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Parish Lotto Draw results

The numbers drawn in the Kilcullen & Gormanstown Parish Lotto Draw held on 23rd June 2026 were 9, 18, 25 and 27. There was no Jackpot winner, and next week's main prize will again be €20,000. The value of the follow-up draws is €20,000 and €7,000.

The winners of the €50 Open Draws are Tom Duffy (Promoter Berney’s Chemist), Faise Haslam (Parish Office) and Ann O’Connell (Anne Brennan).

The winners of the Promoters Draw were Vivienne Clifford and Bernie Kirby, and the winner of the draw for those in the Parish Centre on the night was Ronan Murray.

The Parish thanks all who support the Lotto.

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Figures stolen from New Abbey grave

UPDATE: THE FIGURES HAVE BEEN RETURNED.

Two angel figures, powered by solar, were taken from a grave in New Abbey Cemetery at some time between last evening and this morning.

The grave stone on the Clifford and Stokes family plot had only recently been refurbished, and members of the family placed the angels there yesterday afternoon. When they went back this afternoon to complete tidying up, they were gone.

"We're all very upset about it," Mrs Agnes Stokes says. "It's not the first time this has happened; things have been taken from the grave before."

Kilcullen gardai are being informed. If anyone has any information on the matter, please contact them.

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Invasive Species workshops this week

This is Invasive Species Week 2026, running from Monday, 22 June to Sunday, 28 June, organised by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, writes Brian Byrne. It aims to raise awareness about invasive species and promote actions to prevent their spread, and, as part of the week’s activities, two engaging workshops will be held at Kilcullen Heritage Centre on Wednesday and Thursday. 

These workshops will focus on aquatic invasive species, both plant and animal, and will feature live samples. Attendees will have the opportunity to use microscopes to examine smaller species. Each workshop is limited to 25 participants, so booking is available on Eventbrite here.

The exhibition and talk will run from 6pm to 7.30pm at Kilcullen Town Hall, followed by the outdoor demonstration from 7.30pm to 8.30pm at the River Liffey.

The events will feature Dr Jan-Robert Baars of University College Dublin’s School of Biology and Environmental Science and Ethan Bannon, a research assistant and junior ecologist with an MSc in Wildlife Conservation and Management from UCD. 

Common invasive species in Ireland include plants such as Rhododendron ponticum, Himalayan Balsam, and Japanese Knotweed, as well as animals like the Asian Clam, Zebra Mussel, and Asian Hornet. Last year, public sightings of the Asian hornet in Cork led to the swift removal of two nests.

For more information about Invasive Species Week, visit invasives.ie/invasivespeciesweek/. To report a sighting of an invasive species, go to https://invasives.ie/reportsightings/.

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Plaque in Heritage Centre remembers Fergal Sloan

Siobhan Dunphy, Laura Begley, Eilis Philips, Fiona Sloan Kelly, Ronan Collier and Philip O'Rourke.

A plaque to commemorate the late Fergal Sloan was placed in the Kilcullen Heritage Centre last evening by members of the Kilcullen First Responders, writes Brian Byrne. Fergal passed away in 2022, and the occasion was to mark the responder group's appreciation for the funding of a portable defibrillator, which had been raised in his name at a Carols by Candlelight concert after his death. 

Kilcullen Gospel Choir was one of the contributing performers at the concert, and last evening's presentation was attended by Fergal's wife, Eilis Philips, and his sister, Fiona Sloan Kelly, who are both members of the choir.

"It's the AED that we carry with us on every call, so he's potentially helping on every call we go on to save lives," Ronan Collier of Kilcullen Responders said at the presentation. "We just felt, when we heard it's his birthday tomorrow, that we wanted to make sure he has been remembered the right way."

The plaque features a photo of Fergal on stage in Kilcullen during a Heritage Evening presentation in August 2019. He was a stalwart of Kilcullen Drama Group for decades, appearing in many of their plays.

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Dowling Property: 28 Hillcrest, Kilcullen

Dowling Property is delighted to present to the market this extended, three-bedroom, dormer bungalow for sale. Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac in this highly sought-after estate of just 72 houses and located just off the Naas Road in Kilcullen, it overlooks a well-kept green to the front. 

This fine home was extended by its original owner from new and includes a large rear kitchen extension, which features a gorgeous open-plan kitchen/dining room and living area, and is ideal for modern family living. The accommodation, which is bright and spacious, consists of an entrance hallway, downstairs double bedroom, sitting room, utility, kitchen/living room, dining room, and second reception room to the front. Upstairs are two double bedrooms with a family bathroom. The heating is gas. 

The rear garden is very generous in size and is private and not overlooked, and to the front is off-street parking. All amenities are located within a stone’s throw, some of which include leisure facilities, shops, Scoil Bhride primary school and Cross & Passion College secondary school, public transport systems, and all major road networks, including the M7/M9 motorway. Hillcrest Shopping Centre is located c. 200 metres from your front door. 

With its sought-after location and fabulous extension, we must now advise of early viewings to avoid disappointment of this Chain-Free sale. One Not To Be Missed!

AMV €400,000. dowlingproperty.ie. Kildare Office 045 482189.

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Applications for Credit Union educational bursary

A reminder that applications are open for the Chris Kelly Educational Bursary for 2026, continuing a long-running initiative that honours one of Kildare Credit Union’s founding members.

Open to KCU members attending third-level education for the first time in 2026, including mature students, the bursary offers the successful applicant €1,000 per year for up to three years to support the cost of further education. An application can be made here.

The bursary, which has been running since 2005, will be awarded by draw from all eligible applicants. Applications can be submitted using either the downloadable application form or the online application form.

The closing date for completed applications is Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

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Racing Legend honour for Kilcullen’s Jim Kavanagh

Images courtesy Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer.

Kilcullen resident Jim Kavanagh was conferred with this year’s Irish Derby Racing Legend award at an event in Kildare town yesterday to announce the 2026 honouree in the Kildare Derby Festival Hall of Fame.

Kavanagh, who grew up near the Curragh, held a trainer’s licence for many years before going on to serve as Trainers’ Representative with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI).

From his successful career as a trainer to his work with HRI and his voluntary contributions as an Irish racing archivist, Kavanagh has devoted his life to preserving Ireland’s racing heritage.

The Racing Legends Plaque was unveiled at the pop-up Racing Legends Museum at the Old Courthouse in Kildare. 

The exhibition showcases local trainers, iconic horses and jockeys who have shaped Kildare’s racing story for generations, many with strong links to Kilcullen, Gilltown, Athgarvan and the surrounding area.

Jim Kavanagh and family.

With Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer.

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