LESLEY'S 'CHASING AEROPLANES' IN ULSTER EXHIBITION

Kilcullen ceramic artist Lesley Kelly’s work, Chasing Aeroplanes, has been accepted for the Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, running from today, 19 October 2026, to January 2027 at the Royal Ulster Museum, Belfast.

The exhibition, one of Northern Ireland’s most prominent art shows, attracts up to 100,000 visitors. Lesley's piece explores a yearning for approval from external societal pressures, in earthenware clay and glaze, combining traditional craft methods with contemporary design. 

Her process involves creating paper models, shaping clay ribbons, and applying unique glaze scripts, culminating in a meticulously crafted and fired artwork. 

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No1 FITNESS FREE OPEN WEEK

No1 Fitness Kilcullen is hosting a free training open week from 19-24 October 2026, offering classes for people aged 16 and above of all fitness levels. 

Participants can enjoy over 23 group classes, including functional training, No1Rox strength & conditioning, turbo cycling, yoga, tabata, mobility, and core sessions. 

To book a class, contact via DM or email at info@no1fitnesskilcullen.com. The gym is located at Unit 5, Kilcullen Industrial Estate, Naas Road, R56 WC95. For more information, call Beata at 087 9754415 or Mariusz at 087 2895896.

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BIG TURNOUT FOR NARRAGHMORE PINK RUN

The fifth annual Pink Run at Narraghmore had in excess of 200 participants on this fine sunny morning, with a mix of serious runners and walkers, writes Brian Byrne. They were all out to build on the €20,000 total which has been collected for Breast Cancer Ireland since the event was inaugurated.

The supporters of the event had a choice of 5km or 10km circuits, and the gathering at The Old Hardware was a cheerful and sociable affair.

We show some of the pictures here. All the Diary's pictures can be viewed at this link. 

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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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