The sun performs for Equinox gathering

Images: Noel Clare.

An enthusiastic group of people braved a frosty spring Equinox Saturday morning to honour the late Noel Scullion, gathering for the dawn at the Dun Ailline sculpture he created in 2008. It was one of those special mornings when the sun actually shone through the spear monument, as the artist had intended. 

A new seat was unveiled at the interpretive park in Noel’s memory by his sons, Joe and Jack, serving as a fitting tribute to his life and legacy. The plaque reflects on his creative spirit resting in this place. 

After the ceremony, everyone enjoyed a warm breakfast kindly hosted by Ray and Fiona Kelly in their Nicholastown home, continuing an Equinox tradition started in the years following the sculpture's dedication.

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Night at the Dogs for St Anne's

A special “Night at the Dogs” will be held next month in aid of St Anne’s Special School, Ballymanny Cross, The Curragh. Organised by the St Anne’s Special School Parents’ Association, it will take place at Newbridge Greyhound Stadium on Friday, 17 April 2026. 

Doors open at 6.30pm, with the first race at 7.40pm. Tickets cost €10 and are available from St Anne’s PA members. They can also be bought online via the booking link. 

The night promises to be a great social occasion while raising vital funds to support the work of St Anne’s Special School. The event has received generous backing from local businesses, with race sponsorship from Comerfords Newbridge, Newbridge Veterinary Clinic, Westgrove, IGSL, Irish Commercials Volvo Trucks, Complete Bathrooms, Relay Express, and others. 

For more information, email parentsassociation@stannesthecurragh.ie.

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Kildare Older Persons Council general meeting

A general meeting of the Kildare Older Persons Council will take place on Tuesday, April 14, at 10am in Rathangan Community Centre. It is open to all Kildare residents over the age of 55.

The event will include an update on the work of the council over the past year from chair Annie O’Shea, as well as a range of guest speakers.

Local Link representatives will speak about the door-to-door transport service and other public transport options in the Kildare area, while the charity Alone will outline its services and give details on initiatives such as energy credits.

The Kildare Age Friendly Healthy Homes Programme will also present information on its work, including grants, health and housing supports, social supports, and other measures aimed at helping older people remain safe and well at home.

Age-friendly chair yoga classes will be held from 9.15am, ahead of the main event, for anyone who would like to take part. A light lunch will be provided following the meeting.

For further information, email kildareopc22@gmail.com.

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Age-friendly training programme for businesses

An Age-Friendly certification training course for local businesses will take place next Tuesday, 24 March, from 10am to 11.30am at the Ballymore Resource Centre, writes Brian Byrne. The training, delivered in partnership with Age Friendly Ireland (AFI), is open to businesses in Kilcullen and the surrounding area as well as those in Ballymore. 

Email invitations, including background information on the Age-Friendly initiative and the certification process, will be sent to Kilcullen businesses this week. 

Age Friendly Ireland supports communities across Ireland in preparing for a rapidly ageing population by focusing on environmental, economic, and social factors that impact older adults’ health and well-being. 

Ballymore Eustace has an ongoing programme guided by AFI to achieve age-friendly status, which so far has included appropriate improvements to the village's Liffey Linear Walk and other public spaces.

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AGM of Friends of St Paul's, Ballysax

Image: Ireland's Churches, Cathedrals and Abbeys.

Friends of St Paul’s, Ballysax will hold their AGM on Sunday, 29 March at 10am in the church. All are welcome.

St Paul’s, overlooking the Curragh plains from Ballysax Hill since 1826, ceased functioning as a church in 1972. The Church of Ireland handed over the building to the local community in 1994, and it became a community centre.

In the 19th century, its Sunday congregation often included British Army soldiers who came to hear Rev Dr George B Wheeler's sermons.

Appointed in 1865, Wheeler combined his Ballysax ministry with his role in Dublin as editor of The Irish Times. He travelled weekly between the parish and the capital but died after his horse-drawn carriage overturned on one of these journeys. He is buried at Ballysax.

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Tickets on sale for The Walworth Farce

Tickets have now gone on sale for Kilcullen Drama Group’s production of “The Walworth Farce” by Enda Walsh, writes Brian Byrne. 

The play is about Dinny and his two sons, Blake and Seán, as they navigate life in London after leaving Ireland, in a chaotic journey through hilarity and terror. 

Performances are scheduled from April 15th to 18th, 2026. Tickets are available for €15 at Woodbine Books at 045 482777 or on Eventbrite, with the latter subject to a booking fee.

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Businesses' opportunity to learn about AI

Kildare businesses are being offered an opportunity to learn how artificial intelligence can drive growth and transformation at a special Lunch & Learn event in Naas hosted by County Kildare Chamber.  The session will take place on Thursday, 7 May 2026, from 12 noon to 3pm at Lawlor’s of Naas.

Attendees will enjoy a light lunch and networking, followed by a keynote presentation at 1pm titled “AI and the Future of Business: What Leaders Must Do Now”, led by Mark Kelly, Founder and President of AI Ireland.

Kelly works with organisations around the world to turn AI from hype into a practical business advantage, advising on how to deploy AI both responsibly and profitably. He has collaborated with companies including Microsoft, Amazon and Google.

The Lunch & Learn is open to both members and non-members of County Kildare Chamber. Tickets are €30 + VAT for members and €50 + VAT for non-members.

Spaces are limited. For further information or queries, contact michael@countykildarechamber.ie.

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Closing date for for 2026 Kildare Garda Youth Awards

Tomorrow is the last day for nominations for the 2026 Kildare Garda Youth Awards, which will be announced in Newbridge Town Hall on 8 May 2026. The awards celebrate outstanding young people aged between 13 and 21 who make their communities better places to live.

Categories are: 1. Overall Award; 2. District Awards; 3. Voluntary Group Achievement Award; 4. Special Achievement Award; 5. Community Safety Award.

One nominee in each category will go forward to represent the Kildare Division at the National Garda Youth Awards, which will take place in November 2026.

Nomination forms are available at this link. 

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Shackleton Experience wins major building awards

The Shackleton Experience in Athy has won two top honours at the Irish Building and Design (IBDA) Awards 2026: Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Project of the Year and Heritage, Conservation Project of the Year. The IBDA Awards recognise excellence in Irish architecture, engineering, construction and design and were presented at a ceremony in the Intercontinental Hotel, Dublin.

The Shackleton Experience was praised for best-practice conservation and detailed restoration, combined with contemporary design. A standout feature is the glass extension, known as the Iceberg, along with cutting-edge exhibition design and interpretative methods.

An €8.3 million investment has turned the 300-year-old former town hall into a cultural and tourism destination. Reopened last October, the project was co-funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and Kildare County Council.

The general manager of the attraction is Brannockstown woman Aline Egar. 

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Red Hot Music in Kilcullen again

Ger O’Donnell, Trevor Sexton and Don Stiffe will perform at The Red Hot Music Club in Kilcullen next week, writes Brian Byrne. The location is in Kilcullen Town Hall, on Thursday, 26 March, starting at 8pm.

The three musicians will feature a mix of songs and collaborative performances, in a lively atmosphere and with a strong setlist from the trio, who each bring their own distinctive style.

An ideal night out for groups of friends and music fans looking for a laid-back gig in an intimate setting.

Tickets are now available on Eventbrite, and early booking is advised.

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