'CROSSROADS' IN COLOUR

Here's an update to yesterday's 'Crossroads' post. Austin Egan had an original colour version of that photo. Makes all the difference!

Mary Orford has told us that rehearsals were held in the Old School with liquid and food refreshments provided by her uncle,  Tommy, who lived next door at Church View. She also provided a selection of cast names, in no particular order: 

Eithne Dempsey, John Linnane, Josie Connolly, show producer (aka Cecil B De Mille with her cast of thousands), Stasia Orford, Frank Morrow, Betty Corrigan, Carmel Talt, Lil Moore, Joe Doyle, Jean Halpin, Susan Halpin, Áine Kelly. Orla Connolly, Henry Talt, Jim Collins, Joe Waldron, Ray Monaghan, Paddy Moloney and Des Hogan.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

NEW NOVEL EXPLORES FRIENDSHIP, FORGIVENESS, AND RECONCILIATION

Barry Kinane, author of The Cluxtons of Kilcullen, has ventured into fiction with his debut novel, The Ghosts of Gallows Glen, writes Brian Byrne.  Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the story follows two friends from Naas, whose lifelong bond is tested. 

Through dreams and spiritual connections, they discover a shared soul history dating back to the 1798 rebellion.  

A singer-songwriter from Ballyknockan, County Wicklow, Kinane is known for his award-winning ballad writing and albums that weave Irish history into music. 

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

BUSY WEEKEND FOR SHAMROCKS

South Kildare Shamrocks had an busy weekend, writes Martin Sheridan. The under-16 team secured a victory over Maynooth on Friday evening in Kilcullen. On Sunday, the Shamrocks Academy under-8 team enjoyed a hurling match against Sallins, while the under-10 team had a fun game in Rathangan. 

Anyone who would like to give hurling a go can get details on the South Kildare Shamrocks Facebook page or by contacting club members.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

LIONS WHIST RESTARTING

The monthly Whist drives organised by Kilcullen Lions restart for the autumn on Thursday, 17 September, in Scoil Bhride. Start time is, as usual, 8pm.

All card players welcome.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

WERE YOU IN 'CROSSROADS' IN 1976?

This one is a difficult challenge for recognising faces, as the reproduction in the Leinster Leader of July 3rd 1976 is pretty poor. But there may be some in the picture who remember themselves as playing their part in the Orford's Knockaulin Bar production of 'Crossroads' for the Kilcullen Capers that year. Contributed by Joe Murray.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

PRESIDENT LETTER FOR KILCULLEN BOSNIA WAR DRIVER

Brian Stuart of Old Kilcullen has received a congratulatory letter from President Catherine Connolly to mark his recent 82nd birthday. Brian, who was at the time in the haulage business, demonstrated bravery and community spirit during the mid-1990s Balkan crisis when he worked as a volunteer driver for Refugee Trust, delivering vital supplies to civilians in Bosnia. 

He undertook up to ten missions, navigating heavy goods vehicles through active war zones. On one of these, he was arrested in the company of two other drivers and detained for a period following a trip under UN escort into the Muslim side of the besieged town of Mostar. At gunpoint, they were accused of smuggling arms to the Muslims, and at one point, Brian was struck on the head.

Longford-born, he had served with the British Army in Germany and subsequently worked from there for several years before coming back to Ireland in 1974 and setting up Transland International Transport from Kilcullen. As he spoke fluent German and was familiar with Yugoslavia, which he had visited many times from Germany, he volunteered because he believed he could be of practical help. 

President Connolly sent her warmest personal congratulations, expressing her hope that on his birthday he was "surrounded by the warmth of happy memories and secure in the knowledge that you continue to make this world a better place for all who love you."

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

ALBERT COMPLETES 150TH PARKRUN

Albert Keenan, pictured with his son David and grandson Luke after completing his 150th parkrun in Naas yessterday morning. This is a fantastic milestone achievement for Albert, who is still going strong and proving that age is simply just a number.  Well done, Albert. 

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

TRANSPLANT FOOTBALLERS TRAINED IN KILCULLEN FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Back: Glen Clinton, James Reynolds, Mark Moore, Pat Huddleston, Brian Carney; Front: Mike Keohane, John Paul O’Neill, Val Weblin, Tim Lyons, Shane Riordan.

Ten Irish athletes who are taking part in the Transplant Football World Cup in Frankfurt from 13–18 September have been training over the last several months at Kilcullen Community Centre's Astro pitch, writes Brian Byrne. This morning was their last session at Kilcullen before the event.

As Team Ireland, they will be joining transplant recipients from around the world, in more than 60 teams celebrating life, resilience, friendship, and the extraordinary gift of organ donation.

Each athlete has a remarkable story. Just a few examples: Kilkenny-born JP O’Neill, who lives in Athy, has spent almost three decades showing what life after a kidney transplant can look like — as Football Sports Captain, he will lead the Transplant Sport Ireland team in Frankfurt. Val Weblin was in a wheelchair and on oxygen for two years and is now playing in this World Cup having received a double lung and kidney transplant. Mike Keohane was given just weeks to live and has been fit and healthy for 19 years since his liver transplant. For Shane Riordan, who had a life-saving bone marrow transplant in 2019, representing Ireland on the football pitch is something he never imagined would be possible.

Each of the other team members' stories is just as remarkable. "Tonight, the whole country will be rooting for the great Katie Taylor," says Kilcullen's own kidney transplant athlete, James Nolan. "But each of these guys is in the same brave league as Katie in terms of what they are achieving in their sport." Members of the team visited Nolan's Butchers this afternoon before returning home.

Players will compete in three preliminary rounds to qualify for a knockout semi-final. Each game is 20 minutes a side, with a 10-minute break. Transplant Sport Ireland team manager Harry Ward, watching today's training, said the players will be on the training pitch in Frankfurt tomorrow week just two hours after getting off the plane. "Then they'll show what they're made of through the week."

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

TIDY TOWNS EFFORT APPRECIATED AT KCA GATHERING

A presentation was made last evening to Ann Cashman at a gathering of Kilcullen Community Action volunteers, CE workers, and supporters to mark recent years' Tidy Towns successes in winning bronze, silver and gold medals, writes Brian Byrne. Ann retired as KCA chair earlier this year after serving in the position for eight years.

Current chair Noel Clare paid tribute to all who have previously led KCA, including Kieran Forde, Niall McDonnell, Ray Kelly, and Esther Kiely. "The foundations of what has been achieved was laid down over those years, with those people," he said, adding that the key to success is 'having good people around, to do things'. "It does take a lot of energy, a lot of effort from a lot of people. And the more successful you are, the bigger you get, the more it demands."

Thanking all who had helped achieve major improvements to Kilcullen through the years, he expressed particular appreciation for the Community Employment teams, currently comprising Wayne Aspell, Ilona Brede, Joe Winder, and Michael Haslam. "We have been extremely fortunate, because their dedication and their skills are quite incredible."

Noel outlined some of the key projects undertaken this year, including the new Heritage mural, the revitalisation of the 'Fish' area at Hillside, refreshing of the Dun Ailinne Interpretive Park, and improvements in the Valley including new picnic tables recently installed. He specifically recalled the KCA input for the public realm work recently completed in downtown Kilcullen. "That's one of the most fantastic things that has happened in a long time in Kilcullen," he said, noting that the impetus had come from KCA's promotion of an overall plan for the Market Square area several years ago.

The table decorations at last night's event in Fallons were flowers grown by KCA's gardening crew, Black-eyed Susans, or rudbeckia. The particular variety was Goldstrum. With the judging for the 2026 Supervalu Tidy Towns completed a while ago, it was a reminder to the gathering that Kilcullen's hopes are high for another good performance at the upcoming results event.

Wayne Aspell, Ilona Brede and Joe Winder.

Derek Hoey presenting Ann Cashman with a bouquet — flowers all grown by KCA.

All about gold.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

KILCULLEN SISTERS' MEDALS HAUL IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OF PERFORMING ARTS

Photos courtesy Liam Raftery.

Three Kilcullen sisters who took part in the World Championships of Performing Arts in Las Vegas brought home a total of 23 world medals across solo, trio and group dance, vocals and variety acts. Sofia (12), Nicole (10) and Lara (8) Raftery also won the overall Junior Ethnic Dance Division Award.

The three were proud members of 29 talented performers representing Team Ireland during an unforgettable 12-day trip in July. In total, the Irish team brought home 197 medals. WCOPA is the premier global talent competition, often cited as the official ‘Talent Olympics’ of the performing arts world. Managed by Worldstars International, it is where elite performers from over 70 countries compete in front of top industry judges, talent scouts, and producers. 

Among the Raftery sisters' medals haul were Sofia's Gold for Dance Acro and Bronze for Dance Ethnic, Nicole's Gold for Dance Open, and Lara's Golds for Variety Act Contortion and Dance Musical Theatre. As a trio they also won Golds for Vocal World, Dance Ethnic, and Variety Act Contortion, as well as scoring a semi-final medal in four different acts, and several invitations for meetings with professional agents. As members of the overall Team Ireland they contributed to wins of Silver for Vocal Open Group and Bronze for the Grand Final Group Vocal.

The Raftery sisters were coached by Katie and Niamh Conlan of the KNC Performing Arts Company, which led Team Ireland. Their family has expressed their gratitude to the coaches for helping the girls achieve remarkable success. They also thanked sponsors and supporters Glanbia, Marsh, Align Advisory, Moreton & Company, Kildare Credit Union Kilcullen, and Eurospar Kilcullen.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy