The passing of Angela Farrell

The death has occurred of Angela Farrell (née Blaney), late of Firhouse, and Tallaght, Dublin 24 and formerly of Kilcullen, Co Kildare, on 9 January 2026, peacefully at home in the company of her loving family. 

Beloved wife of the late Frank and loving mam to Hilary, Grace, Fran and Sinéad. Pre-deceased by her sisters Patty and May, Angela is sadly missed by her heartbroken family, grandchildren, great-grandchild, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements later.

Rest in peace.

Narraghmore actor raising funds for hospice cuddle bed

If you have been to the Narraghmore Drama Society's presentation of Widows' Paradise in Kilcullen this week, you'll know that the funds raised are going towards the purchase of a cuddle bed for St Brigid's Hospice on the Curragh, writes Brian Byrne. 

The charity choice is because one of the actors, Helen Lambe, pictured above with her son, lost her husband Cianan 13 years ago after a short battle with cancer, at the young age of 48. He spent the last five weeks of his life in the hospice, and Helen stayed every night with him, but had to sleep on a mat on the floor as the hospital bed was too narrow for her to lie beside him.

"Cuddle beds didn't exist 13 years ago, but they do now," she says on her GoFundMe page raising money for the provision of one. "They provide families with that physical connection when it matters most."

If you weren't able to make it to the show—the three nights were sold out—you can contribute at the GoFundMe page. 

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'Christy' kicks off Kilcullen Bridge Cinema for 2026

A reminder that Kilcullen Bridge Cinema begins 2026 with the Irish film Christy, showing on Tuesday next, 13 January, writes Teresa Nurse of Kilcullen Lions. Directed by Cork man Brendan Canty, it won the Best Irish Film award at the Galway Film Fleadh.

Set in Cork, it tells the story of 17-year-old Christy, who is thrown out of his foster home for attacking his foster brother. He is released to the care of his half-brother, Shane, and returns to his childhood community. Having tragically lost his mother at a very young age, he feels disconnected from the place and its people, and finds it hard to settle in. However, gradually, the local community begins to connect with Christy, helping him finally feel that he may have found a place to call home.

Christy is an ideal film for the New Year. Genuine and raw, it is an uplifting portrayal of community from the perspective of a teenager seeking his place within it.

Tickets €7 are now available at Woodbine Books, Kilcullen, and on Eventbrite.

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Rivermanor expresses 'frustration and disappointment' in appeal against planning refusal

Only two of ten internal departments in Kildare County Council recommended refusal of the planning application by Rivermanor Developments Ltd for 74 homes adjacent to Riverside Crescent and Bentley's Lane, writes Brian Byrne. Four departments raised no objections, and four requested further information.

That's a key element in the company's appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála of the council's refusal of permission last November. The council said a proposed underground attenuation tank under public open space would materially contravene the objectives of the Kildare County Development Plan 2003-2029 and the Kilcullen Settlement Plan. The planners also noted a lack of clear pedestrian and cyclist permeability and a lack of high-quality, usable public space. They also criticised the prior clearance of all natural vegetation without any proposal for 'meaningful compensation' for its loss, and a design that does not consider the site's natural character and context, particularly its proximity to the River Liffey.  

In the appeal, lodged on 12 December, the developer notes that the site is effectively an infill site close to the town centre and cites its sloping character as impacting both layout and permeability. The appeal also suggests that the planners had not taken a 'holistic and balanced' approach to the residential zoning objectives of the site, and that the developer is 'significantly frustrated' with the fact that multiple policies and objectives of the County Development Plan were cited in the refusal, without assessment in the Planners Report or internal department reports of why the development contravenes the policies.

The appellant also states they are 'extremely disappointed' that the council refused planning permission in lieu of a request for further information.

The Parks and Ecology departments recommended refusal in the Planners Report. Further information was recommended by the Chief Fire Officer, as well as by Water Services, Housing, and Transportation.

The full appeal is available on the Kildare County Council planning portal, within the planning application file (reference 2561097). The An Coimisiún Pleanála case reference is PL09.500450. There is no date yet for a decision.

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Fundraising for new KCA-commissioned heritage wall mural

Fundraising continues for the KCA initiative of a Kilcullen Heritage Wall Mural, which will serve as an eye-catching feature at the Newbridge Road entrance to the town, writes Brian Byrne. The mural will complement several other artworks around the town, many of them KCA-sponsored, and will cover the entire double gables of a formerly derelict building now under refurbishment by Fitzpatrick Heavey Homes. 

Fundraising is centred on an iDonate page. “These things are quite expensive, and we will need grants and the support from the community to make it happen,” KCA chair Anne Cashman said at the launch event in Fallons before Christmas. “But it is a beautiful, vibrant image and will be a fantastic piece of art to add to the town.” She said Kilcullen has a gold medal standard in Tidy Towns to live up to, and this will be another great addition.

The artistic team that won the commission tender, All Out Design, has developed a Visual Story for Kilcullen theme, incorporating local history, heritage, nature and the environment. The draft design includes motifs of Kilcullen bridge, a horse, a stylised waving hand of welcome, the Liffey, swans, badgers, and wildflowers.

It is hoped to have the piece in place in the spring.

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GAA Lights Up season underway

File photo via GAA.

The sixth Kilcullen GAA Ireland Lights Up walking event got going last night, in partnership with Get Ireland Walking and Irish Life, writes Brian Byrne. It will run every Friday evening at 7pm until 13 February. 

Ireland Lights Up transforms the club grounds into a safe, social, and accessible space for everyone in the community, whether or not they are GAA club members. By taking part in the walks, participants can help Kilcullen GAA compete for €30,000 in club funding through the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs Steps Challenge. Available via the MyLife app, this involves clubs collectively tracking 4,000km over five weeks. Clubs that reach this target will be entered into a province-wide draw for a €2,500 donation. 

Download the MyLife app from the App Store or Google Play. Register and navigate to the ‘Social’ tab. Join the ‘Leinster’ challenge and search for Kilcullen GAA. Walk! Every step contributes to the club’s 4,000km target.

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Information night for Youth cricket

Halverstown Cricket Club is hosting an information night for parents of children interested in joining its Youth section. It will be held in Piper's Hill School, Naas, on Thursday, 15 January.

The event starts at 7.30pm and will include details of training sessions, matches, kit and registration.

The club will field Boys and Girls teams at U11, U13, and U15 this year. To book your place for the parents' night, please contact Stuart Conroy at 086 1613353.

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Icy roads warning

There are warnings about icy roads, with reports of black ice in the area. Drive carefully.

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Christmas tree recycling

A reminder that until Monday, 19 January 2026, Kildare County Council is providing a free service to recycle REAL Christmas Trees sustainably.

There are seven sites across the county where this service is provided, the two closest to Kilcullen being the Fairgreen in Naas and the Lidl Distribution Centre (beside the R445 Roundabout) in Newbridge.

The trees are being shredded, and the mulch is being distributed to local landscaping projects.

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Sheep in Conroy Park

Image George Allen.

For the second time today, sheep have escaped from the field behind St Brigid's Avenue, writes Brian Byrne. The fence between the two areas is broken, and they are now in Conroy Park.

Residents are concerned that the animals will go from there to the main road, creating a traffic hazard.

Earlier today, a resident moved sheep back into the field from St Brigid's Avenue.

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Widows' Paradise is a timely pick-me-up

This is the week every year when a pick-me-up can be needed after the ups and inevitable subsequent downs of the Christmas and New Year, writes Brian Byrne. The Narraghmore Drama Society's presentation of Sam Cree's Widows' Paradise is just the medicine.

Directed by Maryclare McMahon, the three nights in Kilcullen Town Hall were fully booked before last night's opening preview. The play is a barrel of laughs, and everybody left the theatre smiling. 

With five women ostensibly seeking a break from the man kind, and five men on a fishing weekend, piling them all inadvertently into the same caravan space is a recipe for all sorts of reactions, misassumptions, and potential romantic mixups. The Narraghmore group cast milk the script for all it can give, and keep the laughter going.

The women players are Olive Whelan, Lorraine Fallon, Majella Hickey, Mary Gorman and Helen Lambe. The men are played by Kilcullen's Derek Phelan, with Fionn Whelan, John Grufferty, Padraig Whelan and Pat Donnelly.

A lot of fun, and if you are lucky enough to have your tickets for tonight or tomorrow night, any post-Christmas blues should evaporate.

A few of the Diary's photos here will give the idea.

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The passing of Anne O'Neill

The death has occurred of Anne O’Neill (nee Delaney), Killinane, Kilcullen and late of Newbridge, who passed away peacefully at Naas General Hospital on 6 January 2026, in the company of her family.

Anne will be sadly missed by her husband Sean, daughters Meta, Ruth and her partner Philip, Kim and her partner Anthony and Joyce, grandsons Jan and Sean, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She is reposing at her daughter Joyce's residence (R56H336) today, Thursday, from 4pm until 8pm with prayers at 7:30. He funeral will arrive at St Joseph's Church, Gormanstown, for Requiem Mass at 11 am tomorrow, Friday morning, with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. 

Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, may be made to Friends of Naas Hospital.

Rest in peace.

Some KWWSPCA calendars still available

A few 2026 KWWSPCA Calendars are available for €10 each. These can be purchased at Noah’s Ark, the KWWSPCA Charity Shop in Newbridge, and the Cottage Veterinary Clinic in Newbridge, which is the main sponsor of the calendar. 

They can also be purchased online, with €5 postage and packing, by visiting the KWWSPCA website at www.kwwspca.ie and pressing the Donate button. Please add a reference ‘Calendars’ and include your name and address. The calendars will then be posted to you. 

Please phone Sally on 087 6803205 for more information.

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Music academy expands teaching schedule

The Born to Strum Music Academy in Crookstown Craft Village has expanded its schedule to provide lessons both on weekdays and weekends, writes Brian Byrne. The Academy now offers instruction in guitar, bass, violin, fiddle, piano and harp.

"It has been an incredible journey since we moved from our cherished home at the Kilcullen Community Centre two years ago," says the academy's director, Steve Hult. "After nearly a decade of teaching in that wonderful space, we were naturally a bit sentimental about the change, but we are thrilled to share that our community of musicians has grown more vibrant than ever, allowing us to expand our offerings."

Call 085 1776230 for more information.

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