This is the
Bridge before our summer break; the next one will be in September,
writes Brian Byrne. This gives a little time to mull over the concerning issues of
invasive species, the stuff of the lead story, as detailed by local resident scientist
Dr Jan-Robert Baars. It's quite fascinating, and maybe a little scary.
There's nothing scary about the centre-spread recording the very successful Family Fun Day in the Valley last month, unless you were a little one worried about the Punch and Judy characters, who were the centrepiece visitors again this year. As noted, the weather tried to grinch the event, but people still turned out in their hundreds... and hopefully will again next year. The date has already been set by organisers Kilcullen Community Action. There's also a colourful recording of the barbecue and fun evening enjoyed by the 9th Kilcullen Scout Troop, marking their end of year with family and friends.
The Bridge's Bit of Business this issue is the launch of the Eileen Tan brand of fragrances, by the local entrepreneur of the same name, who will be bringing it to national and even global attention as one of four Kildare businesses to feature in the 2027 Showcase in the RDS.
There is, as always, lots of heritage elements. A report on Kilcullen-born Frank Conroy marks the 90th anniversary of his death in the Spanish Civil War, with some interesting local background revealed. Eugene Brennan reflects on the Moone High Cross, which he visited for the seventh time in a decade while on one of his frequent cycle trips. He suggests that the protective perspex canopy built over it could be copied in other places where built heritage is subject to the ravages of Irish weathering. In the same heritage vein, Daithí de Róiste highlights the Bog of Allen Nature Centre as a great day out for all the family. Noel Clare and Co took a trip to Vicarstown and the Barrow Line, in recent years having lost its pubs, but now revitalised by the opening of the Vicarstown Bridge Cafe.
KCA News reports on a new scarecrow in the Library Garden, courtesy of the local Kare clients, as well as the generous success of the street collection towards the cost of this year's Kilcullen in Bloom. The KWWSPCA slot suggests that there seem to be fewer unwanted kittens, and it has also been a successful rehoming year so far for the cats and dogs taken into its temporary care. There's also a piece about a plaque remembering Fergal Sloan put up in the Heritage Centre by the first responders, an article on the doings of Newbridge Rotary Club, and a promotion for a new choir for the town, Valley Voices.
In other regular spaces, Mary Orford reminds us of the often make-do aspects of the toys used by children in Kilcullen in the 1930s, courtesy of her favourite set of local copybooks from the collection of folklore compiled by schoolchildren in Ireland in those years. Julie Felsbergs finds a spiritual angle following a recent redundancy in her HR field, and how she has been navigating a strange, for her, new world. In his piece, Fr Gary reflects on the promises of God to look after the community of faith in a challenging time of declining numbers of clergy. Sean Landers looks at the life and work of a local poet in the 19th century, Marie La Touche of Harristown, and John Duffey takes us back to the bloody story of Pike Bridge, where some 400 people on both sides are believed to have died in a 1798 battle.
The schools pages include the annual Scoil Bhride walk to the site of the Old Kilcullen 1798 battle, and some successful sports campaigns in the same school. St Joseph's NS records the fun of end-of-year sports and tours. Other sports news is related by Kilcullen GAA, Kilcullen Bowls Club, and the Pitch & Putt Club.
More than a hundred photographs. At least fourteen thousand words. Advertisements for everything from finance, flatpack help, fix-it services, flowers, funeral directors, and favourite places. It's yet another Bridge, the mirror of our community. Happy summer to all.
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