Kilcullen Christmas Lights Night

Kilcullen Gospel Choir entertained in the Market Square when Santa came to town to switch on the Christmas Lights.

Kilcullen News Update

Jim Lacey proposed as new Community Garda ... Phone pouches issued to CPC students ... Calverstown teenager is World No 1 Junior Eventer ... Christmas evening at Woodbine Books ... Film tomorrow night about Camphill Ireland hero ... Carols by Candlelight on Thursday ... Christmas Market on Saturday ...

Reporting since 2005 from a Village Grown Bigger. Produced by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.

Gda Jim Lacey to be new Community Garda

Sgt Tom O'Donoghue, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, and Gda Jim Lacey.

Garda Jim Lacey from Kilcullen has been proposed as the new Community Garda for the area, following the recent retirement of Jon Brien, writes Brian Byrne. Although the move is not yet official, it was announced at last night's Home Safety meeting in Kilcullen Parish Centre.

Sergeant Tom O'Donoghue said there's a big gap left with Jon Brien's retirement. He outlined the role of a Community Guard as dealing directly with community groups and schools on issues relevant to those areas. 

Gda Lacey currently works out of Kilcullen with responsibility for the Ballymore area. He will continue with that in addition to the community role. He noted the importance of interacting with young people, particularly through the Garda TY Programme, and of the welfare dimension in liaising with older or vulnerable people. On that last, he emphasised that if anyone knows of somebody who might need a garda to come and talk to them about their concerns, to let him know.

The meeting also discussed practical crime prevention and security during the darker winter evenings, the boundaries of the area served by Kilcullen Garda Station, and the importance of community members being vigilant and staying in touch with each other and the gardai about concerns.

(The Diary will detail more from the meeting in subsequent posts.)

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Phone pouches issued to CPC students

Students in CPC have been issued Yondr phone pouches so their phones cannot be accessed while at school, writes Brian Byrne. It's a system increasingly used at concerts and in other settings to prevent illicit recordings. 

Phones must be placed in the pouches on entry to the school. The pouches have a magnetic lock, similar to the anti-theft systems used in stores. These can only be opened at special unlocking bases by tapping to release the lock when leaving the phone-free area.

The pouches have been provided to schools following a €9 million government allocation in Budget 2025. The idea is to have a uniform method for handling phone access in schools, as an alternative to requiring them to be kept in lockers, which students have access to throughout the school day. 

Many international studies suggest that secondary school students perform better academically and socially when they are denied access to their phones during classes.

The Budget provision was controversial, with teachers' unions saying the money could have been better spent on other educational needs.

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Catriona is retiring from 50-year Naas business

When artist Cian Mekitarian provided some seasonal art to Catriona's shop window in Naas this week, he included Santa taking a good look at his list, writes Brian Byrne. On that list was a very special present for shop owner Catriona Byrne — the gift of time to herself.

Because Catriona — full disclosure: she's my much-loved cousin — is retiring from a business she and her mother, Carmel, operated on Main Street in Naas for 50 years. Originally Miss Mod, then Mod Fashions, it eventually became Catriona's.

"I was so proud to take on a business that my late mother Carmel started up back in 1975," she says in a post this evening announcing her retirement. "Thank you to each and every person who has walked through the doors over the years, and to all of the wonderful ladies who have worked alongside me." 

Catriona also expressed a huge thank-you to the community of Naas for supporting her as an independent retailer for so many years, adding that it has been a privilege to have known them.

Her post has already brought scores of comments from friends and customers wishing her well in the next stage of her life.

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Calverstown rider is world No 1 in Junior Eventing

Image: Horse Sport Ireland.

Young Calverstown eventing rider Ben Connors is the World No 1 in the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Eventing Juniors World Rankings (U18s), writes Brian Byrne. His 123 points reflect a season that included four top 10 finishes at the Concours Complet International (CCI) 3 level and a 10th-place individual finish at the FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders in Strzegom, Poland, where he also helped Ireland win team silver.

Ben is the youngest of four riding siblings — his older sisters, Alex, Zara and Shannon, have all represented Ireland in eventing, and all four have won medals at the European underage level.

His parents, Michelle Nelson and Kieran Connors, say Ben worked incredibly hard for this and that they are very proud of what he and his horses have achieved. "He spent the summer working with Irish Olympian Susie Berry in the UK, and he is very thankful for the time she invested in him. To see a young Irish rider from Co Kildare leading the world junior rankings is very special."

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, a family friend, has congratulated Ben on a 'spectacular achievement'.

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Kilcullen News Update

Home safety meeting tonight in Kilcullen ... Fundraising for KCA mural project ... KWWSPCA Calendar launched ... Documentary about Camphill Ireland founder ... Photography Club launches 2026 Calendar ... Santa switches on Christmas Lights ... The passing of Philomena O'Neill ...

Reporting since 2005 from a Village Grown Bigger. Produced by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.

Christmas reflections in Woodbine

Shane Sullivan and John MacKenna will perform at Woodbine Books on Sunday, 14 December, offering an evening of song, music, stories, and poems for the Christmas season.

A Moonlit Christmas will start at 8pm. Tickets at €15 are on sale in the bookshop or on Eventbrite at this link. 

All welcome.

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Joan Healy Christmas Concert

Singer-songwriter Joan Healy will be performing a Christmas Concert in McAuley Place in Naas on Thursday, 11 December, writes Brian Byrne. The evening will feature festive tunes, musical theatre numbers, and some of her original songs. 

There will also be a support trad band, Tripping to the Well. Tickets are €20 at the door, or can be booked on Eventbrite. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start. 

Joan first began performing in public, as a busker outside the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge, during the pandemic. Now, alongside her career as a primary teacher, she arranges and promotes her own venue gigs.

From busking, she moved on to Open Mic nights in Dublin, getting spots at festivals, and performing in spaces like the Moat in Naas, the Brady Sessions in Terenure, and regularly at the Tuesday singer-songwriter nights in Darkey Kelly's in Dublin's Fishamble Street. She has also supported in gigs by Mundy and Megan O'Neill. 

Renowned Newbridge-based Colm Cahill has produced some of Joan's recordings, which are available on Spotify and YouTube. 

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Home safety meeting

A Safety Meeting with Kilcullen Gardai will be held in Kilcullen Parish Centre TONIGHT, Monday, 1 December. It will also be the opportunity to meet Kilcullen's new Community Garda.

Home safety and online fraud will be among the items discussed.

All are welcome to the event, which runs from 6pm to 7pm.

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The passing of Philomena O'Neill, née Somers

The death has occurred in Melbourne of Philomena O'Neill, née Somers, formerly of Kilcullen, on Monday, 17 November 2025, in her 76th year.

Athy-born Philomena was raised in Kilcullen by foster parents. She studied nursing in St Michael's Hospital, Dun Laoghaire, before emigrating to Australia in 1971, where she met and married Eddie O'Neill. In addition to raising their family of four, she worked as a nurse and Palliative Care specialist.

Loved and loving wife of Eddie, loved Mother and Mother-in-law of Kathy and Brad, Chris and Alana, Sarah and Kevin, Emma and Stu. Loving and proud Granny of Brianna, Denim, Abbie, Aidan, Callum, Rachel, Jordon, and Penelope. Beloved Sister of Francis (Somers) and Beloved Auntie of Margaret (Somers O’Brien), along with Tommy, Kate, Cillian and Lorcan (O’Brien).

Her loss will be sorely felt by so many in Australia and here in Ireland.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis 

Rescue dogs calendar launched at Table Quiz

Karen Piggott of Cottage Veterinary Clinic with Sally McCaffrey of KWWSPCA.

The support for local animal welfare charity Kildare & West Wicklow SPCA was very evident in the packed-out Table Quiz held at Fallons on Friday night, writes Brian Byrne. A fundraising 2026 Calendar was also launched at the event, with the photographs taken by members of Kilcullen Photography Club. 

The main calendar sponsor is the Cottage Veterinary Clinic, Newbridge, with other supporters including Eurospar Kilcullen, Fallons, Mart Coffee, Berney's Chemist, Mace Athgarvan, Mindology Wellness Centre in Clane, Studio Print Clane, National Energy, Robert Chambers Hair Dressing, Ryan Ennis of Paint & Paws, and PJ Wallace of Medals & Pedals Clane. 

Sponsors of the raffle on the quiz night were Hoban Hotel Kilkenny, Woofland Dog Park, Irish Dog Foods Ltd, Butternut box, Stina Flowers Kilcullen, River Cafe Kilcullen, and Hair Emporium Kilcullen.

Representing the Cottage Veterinary Clinic, dog behaviour and training consultant Felicity Kelleher acknowledged the brilliant work of KWWSPCA, adding that they are one of the most compassionate and welfare-led teams she has ever worked with. "The standard they set in the clinic makes everything I do more effective. It's a big honour to be here to celebrate the calendar launch." 

Felicity Kelleher of Cottage Veterinary.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 animals are now living better lives this year through the work of KWWSPCA, the organisation's Sally McCaffrey told those present. She also said that more than 400 feral cats had been neutered, many of which were rehomed on farms or as domestic pets. She said the primary focus for the coming year will be to raise funds and begin work on a new Shelter to replace the current leased premises in Athgarvan. 

The charity bought 15 acres of land near Kildare three years ago and was recently granted planning permission for the project. Sally McCaffrey also paid tribute to the volunteers at KWWSPCA, without whom the charity wouldn't have started in the first place, and who enable it to keep going.

Sinead Phelan and Sabina Reddy of Kilcullen Photography Club.

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Old Kilcullen Christmas gathering

A reminder that the Old Kilcullen Area Community Association are hosting their annual Christmas event at the old post box in Old Kilcullen TODAY, Sunday, 30 November.

There will be carol singing, along with festive drinks and snacks, in Brennan's Car Park. The event starts at 3.30pm.

Children can post their Santa letters in the restored post box.

All welcome.

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