Thank you from Fr Gary

On behalf of my mother and family, I wish to express my deepest gratitude for your kind messages and Mass cards following my father Jim Darby’s recent passing. Your support and prayers are a great comfort during these difficult days as we begin to find a new place for my dad in our lives. 

I also wish to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to those who travelled to Killucan for the removal last Sunday week, and to those who travelled to St Joseph’s Church, Rathwire, the next morning for his funeral Mass. Please keep my family in your prayers. 

Thank you to everyone for your kind support, which I have felt personally. Your empathy, prayers and support have deeply touched me. Thank you to Fr Celestine for his support.

Let us continue to pray for each other.

God bless.

Fr Gary.

The Story of Us Census 1926 exhibition opens in Naas Library

A touring exhibition exploring life in Ireland 100 years ago is now open to the public at Naas Library & Cultural Centre, writes Brian Byrne. Census 1926 — The Story of Us is on display in the Chamber from 4 July to 28 July 2026. 

It was officially opened on Saturday, with County Librarian, Gillian Allen; KCC Cathaoirleach, Cllr Tim Durkan; Kildare County Council Director of Service, Joe Boland; and Keeper at the National Archives, Zoe Reid. 

Eoghan Burke opened the event with a rendition of 'The Bold Fenian Men'. The Moat Players performed pieces inspired by Kildare natives who were listed in the 1926 Census.

The exhibition, presented in partnership with Kildare County Council, uses documents, images, audio-visual displays, and census returns to show what life was like in the newly independent Irish Free State.

It looks at areas including sport, entertainment, language, culture, religion, gender, housing, and working life.

The 1926 census collected 21 sets of information, including name, age, sex, marital status, religion, housing conditions, and ability to speak Irish. Personal information from individual census forms can be published 100 years after the census was taken.

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Applications for Credit Union educational bursary

A reminder that applications are open for the Chris Kelly Educational Bursary for 2026, continuing a long-running initiative that honours one of Kildare Credit Union’s founding members.

Open to KCU members attending third-level education for the first time in 2026, including mature students, the bursary offers the successful applicant €1,000 per year for up to three years to support the cost of further education. An application can be made here.

The bursary, which has been running since 2005, will be awarded by draw from all eligible applicants. Applications can be submitted using either the downloadable application form or the online application form.

The closing date for completed applications is Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

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Leaving Cert science grinds for next school year

A programme of small-group Leaving Cert Biology and Chemistry grinds will be offered at Kilcullen Community Centre from September to May.

The classes will be led by an experienced secondary school science teacher and will focus on the new Leaving Cert curriculum, exam questions, marking schemes, exam technique, data analysis skills, and weekly question practice.

Classes will run on Monday evenings, with Biology from 5pm to 6pm and Chemistry from 6pm to 7pm. The cost is €30 per class, with five-week Biology blocks priced at €150 and six-week Chemistry blocks at €180. A discount is available for students taking both subjects.

Contact Nadine at 086 8628977 or find on socials at Science Grinds Kilcullen.

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The passing of Tom Berney

The death has occurred of Thomas (Tom) J Berney Snr, Rosetown, Athgarvan, on 4 July 2026, peacefully at his residence, in the company of his loving family. 

Predeceased by his beloved daughter Ann, granddaughter Clara and his siblings Philo, Marie, Lillian, Eileen, Bernadette, Peter, Jim and Bernard, Tom will be deeply missed by his beloved wife Mary, children Joe, Robert, Thomas, David and Mary, their partners, his grandchildren and all who cared for him with kindness and compassion during his short illness, extended family, neighbours, friends and his loyal companion Spot.

He will be reposing at his residence on Monday, 6 July, from 4pm to 7pm with prayers at 6.30pm. Removal will be on Tuesday morning, 7th July, to The Church Of The Sacred Heart & St Brigid, Kilcullen, arriving for 11am Funeral mass, which may be viewed on this link. This will be followed by the funeral at St Brigid's Cemetery, Kilcullen.

May Tom Rest In Peace

 

 

Another cricket award for Stu Conroy

Stuart Conroy congratulating Maggie Farrell on her "fifer" (a five-wicket haul) in Halverstown U-15s girls' win v Balbriggan.

Stuart Conroy of Halverstown Cricket Club was awarded Coach of the Month for May by Cricket Ireland. As part of its Grassroots Cricket Hero programme, Stuart was nominated by parents of Halverstown youth players and now joins the Cricket Ireland 2026 Coach Honours Roll. 

He was recognised for his unwavering commitment to coaching young players and supporting grassroots cricket through running the Smash It and It's Wicket programmes every summer for younger players. Stuart was recognised previously by Cricket Ireland when he was honoured in 2025 with the award of Activator of the Year. 

Halverstown Chairman, Des Drumm, noted that Stuart's work at the youth level has been absolutely prodigious. "He has put together a dedicated team of coaches and has broadened the youth programme not just to five under-age club teams but to 13 primary schools in County Kildare who compete for the Halverstown Cup every year. His recognition nationally for the second time is very well deserved and a matter of great pride and satisfaction for the club and for cricket in Kildare." 

The parents of any younger aspiring cricketers are welcome to contact Stuart at 086 1613353.

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John Devoy show on Saturday

A reminder that a new two-act show about the life of exiled Fenian John Devoy will be staged at the Moat Theatre, Naas, at 8pm TONIGHT, Saturday, 4 July, with tickets priced at €15.

From The Plains – The Story of John Devoy, written by musician and actor Eoghan Burke, blends storytelling, song, comedy and action to trace Devoy’s life from his childhood in Co Kildare to his role in major moments in Irish history, including An Gorta Mòr and the Easter Rising.

The production explores Devoy’s rebel days, his capture, and his later years campaigning from exile in America. Devoy, born in Greenhills, Kill, was described by Padraig Pearse as “The Greatest Fenian Of Them All.”

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New art centre opening in September

Crookett House Art Centre is set to open in September 2026 with its first exhibition, Monument, by Ricardo Baptista-Fernandes. Opening on 4 September, the exhibit will comprise a series of paintings in this exhibition were inspired by a stack of bales on top of a hill in the Irish countryside.

Located in the countryside at Crooket, Maganey, Co Kildare, the new centre will provide a live, work and exhibition space for established and emerging artists from Ireland and abroad.

The centre aims to add a new cultural and community dimension to the area, while offering another reason for visitors to come to the region.

Further information and newsletter sign-up are available at www.crooketthouse.com.

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Heritage specialists sought for expanded schools programme

The Heritage Council is calling on heritage practitioners to register their interest in its expanded Heritage in Schools programme, which is being extended to post-primary level for the first time.

Applications remain open until 12pm on 13 July for up to 100 heritage specialists nationwide. The programme is open to individuals working in areas including archaeology, history, Gaeilge, folklore, ecology, biodiversity, geology, traditional music, crafts, building skills and conservation.

Successful applicants will deliver curriculum-linked workshops in schools, on school grounds or in local heritage settings. From 2027, post-primary schools will be able to book full-day, half-day or shorter visits through the Heritage in Schools directory.

The programme, co-funded and monitored by the Heritage Council, aims to connect students with local and national heritage while supporting teaching across subjects including history, geography, Gaeilge, English, art, science, CSPE, enterprise and music.

Heritage in Schools has operated at the primary level since 2000. Last year, it delivered more than 3,000 visits to over 1,000 schools, reaching approximately 172,000 pupils.

Full details here. 

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