Flood help

Lynn Worrell has sent us a link of a website to help flood victims countrywide. Though as far as we know there haven't been any problems in Kilcullen, it may be worth checking out.

Flood warning

The ESB has issued a flood warning for towns in Co Kildare that lie on the banks of the River Liffey including Ballymore Eustace, Kilcullen, Newbridge, Clane, Celbridge and Leixlip.

Your editor has just done a recce around the area, and so far there's no problem in Kilcullen, though the Liffey is high and angry.

However, the Mill Stream is completely overloaded and has burst its banks in several places. There's a particular backlog of water on the upstream side of the bridge at New Abbey, and a fair degree of land is under water downstream.




There has been some flooding of land also in the Gilltown area, though not in unusual places.



Pinkeen stream at the moment seems to be draining satisfactorily, although the Pitch & Putt Club has gained a rather large water hazard over the past week or so.



All in all, hardly worth mentioning when compared to the horrors people in other parts of the country have experienced in the last week, and are continuing to do so.

Siodhna's launch

Pictures from the the launch by John McKenna of Siodhna Kavanagh's book 'Pathways', in the Heritage Centre.

'Theft' next week

A dramatic moment from the rehearsals of 'Theft'.

Has Vivian finally had it with Bernard's ad-libbing? Will he pull the trigger on the production? Will Fergal be able to stop him?

'Theft', if everyone survives until then, opens 3 December. The other performances are December 4, 5, 8, 11, and 12.

Santa coming to Stonebrook

Even though it is only open since the spring, word about Stonebrook Pet Farm has reached the North Pole, and Santa is going to pay a pre-Christmas visit there next Saturday.



Indeed, part of the reason is to check on a few of his reindeer who have been wintering at the farm. They're very happy along with Elf the Shetland Pony and the other animals at the farm.

The barns in the farmyard will become a Christmas Village over the next few weeks for the entertainment of visiting groups of children. There will be a Teddy Bears stable, an Elves Workshop, Mrs Claus's Kitchen and an Activity Room as well as Santa's own parlour where he'll chat with his visitors.

The Village is open to individual families as well as groups, the latter by appointment only. The opening times are 3-6pm on Saturdays and Sundays from next weekend, 4-6pm on Thursdays and Fridays in December, and 3-6pm on December 21/22/23.

Admission is €15 per child, which includes a gift from Santa, and €3 per accompanying adult which includes a glass of mulled wine.

The group tours can be arranged for weekdays in December at €10 per child incliding Santa gift, and mulled wine for the group leaders. Call Jackie on 086 2661700 for booking.

Vicky Ronaldson is pictured at the Teddy Bear Tree in Santa’s Village at the Stonebrook Pet Farm.

Poster winners

The local winners of the Kilcullen Credit Union Schools Poster Competition were presented with their prizes last week by the CU's chairman Pat Stafford.

The winners were as follows:

Special Category - 1. Sean Treacy; 2. Peter Purphy; 3. Kevin Kinsella; and 4. Aodhan McFadden.

Seven years and Under - 1. Leon Cullen; 2. Erika Doyle; 3. Kate Maloney; Commended Abigail O’Leary.

Eight to Ten years - 1. Ella Byrne; 2. Abigail O’Byrne; 3. Saoirse Baxter; Commended Edie Burke.

Eleven to 13 years - 1. Lauren Hurley; 2. Emmanuel Equare; 3. Conor Bardon; Commended Blathnaid Corless.

Fourteen-17 years - 1 Jeffrey Hovenden-Keane.

Eighteen years and Over: Adeline Poufong.

Good support for flowers night

Almost a hundred people turned out last night in the CPC Assembly Hall to see Christopher White demonstrate Christmas themed flower arrangements.

The evening was arranged by the Kilcullen Flower & Garden Club to raise funds for KARE and the Alzheimer Foundation.

Adrienne Thompson, chair of the club, is pictured here with Christopher.

Siodhna's book launched

Pictured with Siodhna Kavanagh of Camphill at the launch of her book 'Pathways' on Monday night are John Martin and John MacKenna.

John MacKenna launched the book in the Kilcullen Heritage Centre.

KCA submission on retention application

If the unauthorised development by James Browne beside The Hideout is granted retention permission, it would create an ‘undesirable precedence’ whereby developers could totally ignore a local authority’s planning conditions.

That’s the nub of an objection lodged by JJ Warren on behalf of Kilcullen Community Action, against the application for retention of the development.

“The application now lodged seeks to retain the development in its present form,” he says in the objection. “This simply could not be allowed as it goes against the entire arguments put forward by the planning department during the processing of the original application.”

The objection details the architectural and safety issues surrounding the development as built, using descriptions such as ‘hideous’, obtrusive’ and ‘totally overwhelming’.

Noting that a balcony area which is ‘totally at variance’ with the original permission opens out over ventilation pipes from the fuel storage tanks of the adjoining filling station, Mr Warren says this must give rise to ‘serious safety issues’ for occupants of the building, and indeed to the general public.

The planning reference is 09/1076

Playground fundraising

Kilcullen Playground Committee has a number of events in the next few weeks which are part of the campaign to raise funds for the playground project.

Kilcullen Drama Group will perform their play, 'Theft', on Tuesday, 8th December, with all proceeds going to the Playground.

A primary school poster colouring competition is being held, with prizes donated by Tescos. Finished posters should be sent into Scoil Bhríde, Kilcullen by Friday 11th December. Children not in Scoil Bhríde can download the poster from the playground website at www.kilcullenplayground.com.

A disco is being held in the Community Centre on Friday 18th December for pre-school and primary school children. Details of this will be posted on the playground website.

The Committee has designated an equestrian theme for the playground project and hope it will be followed through when Kildare County Council designs the playground. This is in recognition of the importance of the horse industry to the area.

The fundraising campaign colour is yellow and people who want to support events should watch out for this as anything branded yellow in the town in the next few months is sure to have something to do with the playground.

Kilcullen Playground Committee has been working since May 2005 to get a community playground for Kilcullen. It recently launched a fundraising drive to get the last €50,000 needed to bring the project to completion.

Tender documents for the playground are expected to be finalised by Council officials before Christmas, and the playground constructed during the Spring of 2010. The Council will contribute €200,000 of the total project budget of €250,000.

Orla O'Neill.

Badminton night raised €1,100

The recent theatre evening held by the Kildare Badminton Association in Kilcullen raised €1,100 towards coaching young people in the sport.

It was a performance of ‘Poets in Paradise’ by members of Kilcullen Drama Group. The organisers have thanked all who helped make it a success.

“We had a marvelous evening, thoroughly enjoyed by all,” says KBA chair Nora Hogan. “I was especially proud to showcase to the many visiting club members our local Theatre in full voice, and the depth and variety of talent that we have in our community. This event has helped us to fund the many events and activities planned for the coming Season.”

Halverstown pupils funds for Barnardos

Pupils at St Joseph's National School in Halverstown held their annual sponsored walk and breakfast on Friday morning. The proceeds went to Barnardos.

FG stalwarts honoured

Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny was guest of honour at Friday night's presentation dinner in honour of a number of FG councillors who are taking a break from their positions.



These are Billy Hillis; FG Leader Enda Kenny; Sean Cunnane, Fionnuala Dukes; Rainsford Hendy; and Brian Maginn. The FG Leader told them, however, that 'their work is not yet done'. Play the slide show above to hear him.

More talent for Miscellany

The entertainment lineup for the annual Miscellany on Sunday fundraiser on 6 December continues to grow.

Latest recruits to the event, which is held in the home of Tom and Phena Bermingham, include the Silken Thomas Players, Eoin O'Toole, Barbara and Richie Collins, Andy Nolan and Dick Jeffers.

The event is in aid of the Michael Garry House homeless shelter in Newbridge.

All are welcome. Voluntary donations.

Siodhna's book launch

Author and playwright John McKenna will launch 'Pathways: A Collection of Stories' on Monday night in the Town Hall Heritage Centre.

The book is by Siodhna Kavanagh of Bridge Camphill, and local writer John Martin assisted with its production.

Siodhna is very well known to local people who shop at Manna, the community's organic shop behind An Tearmann.

The launch is at 8pm and everybody is welcome.

Parish Draw tickets on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Kilcullen-Gormanstown Parish Draw.

First prize in the limited draw is €12,000, with second and third prizes of €1,500 and €500 respectively. There are five further prizes of €100.

Tickets cost €100 and may be bought by individuals or groups. They are available from the usual sellers or the Parish Office.

Pitch footpath needs work

The condition of the concrete footpath around the area of the soccer pitch was raised at the recent KCA meeting.

Ray Kelly said it was originally laid about 25 years ago but needed replacement as it was in a dangerous condition.

He noted that some maintenance had been carried out by a local person, but suggested that the 600 metres path might be a project for KCA to raise funds for.

JJ Warren is looking into costs.

Wine tasting in 'Gallery'

Kilcullen Lions are to host a wine tasing evening in the new ‘Good Food Gallery’ on Thursday 26 November, at 8pm.

There will be a Christmas touch about the event and the chance to sample some great cheese. The ‘Good Food Gallery’ is a new morning and lunchtime venture by Paul and Suzanne Carey from Carnalway.

Meantime, volunteers to help with the Lions Christmas Appeal should contact Kevin on 087 6822378. The Appeal will be mounted on the 19th, 23rd and 24th December. In the current economic climate, funds from this collection will be needed more than ever.

Recycling buys a computer

In a two-way showing that recycling pays, students in class 4C of Cross & Passion College recently gained their school an extra computer, for just a little effort.



After a visit from Jim Fitzgerald of WEEE Ireland they realised how easy it is to recycle electrical goods without any charge. Subsequently the students decided to organise a collection of such goods in the town.

They visited the local primary school and businesses throughout Kilcullen and within a couple of days they managed to fill two large bins with small electrical goods from the school and the local community.

The school will soon receive a computer that has been refurbished by WEEE Ireland, in acknowledgment of the effort.

Some 38 other schools throughout the county have participated in similar schemes.

The class is pictured here with the results of their 'sweep' through the town.

Brady family visit

Members of the Brady family, who formerly lived at Brownstown, Kilcullen, recently came back to Kilcullen to mark the 50th anniversary of their father John’s death and the 10th anniversary of their mother’s passing. Pictured are Michael, John, Nan and Frank.

Jim and John and a piece of infamy

So how come, on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Kilcullen has a very direct connection?



Well, local man Jim Collins was there when it started to come down. And he brought home a bit of what had imprisoned many thousands of Berliners for decades as his only hold luggage on the plane. Wrapped in cardboard and brown paper.

"I told the people at the check-in to be careful with it, saying what it was," he recalled last week. "And then I was afraid that I'd told them too much, and it would disappear as something of historic value."

History records that it didn't disappear. And during the current celebrations and media rememberances of the occasion he recalls how his own place in this particular part of Cold War history came about.

"I was in Cologne at a trade fair with my brother John, and things there suddenly got very quiet," he says. "We wondered why, and then somebody said that the Berlin Wall was coming down. So we rang a German friend of ours in Cologne and persuaded him to drive us to Berlin."

When they got there, the first exuberances of the breaching of the wall were still in evidence. In fact, they were greeted by the recently elected boss of the zone as 'newsmen from the west', a description the two Irishmen neglected to deny. But it wasn't an easy situation.

"We weren't sure what the official status was. I remember standing in a gap in the wall, looking across at some guards with rather grim faces. I stood there, then put a foot across into the East German territory. They burst into laughter, and then indicated to me to make up my mind, was I going to chance it or not?"

Sometime later, Jim and John hacked out a piece of the wall, the result being the souvenir that Jim brought home to Kilcullen. "I remember being really worried that somebody might take a potshot at us as we did it."

The following day they went to visit a church in the East Zone where services of celebration were being held. "I had a bad feeling about that place too, that it might not have been a good location to be in if everything suddenly went wrong. But nothing happened."

The German friend who drove them to Berlin that night has since died. But he'd had his own interesting career during WW2, surviving in a Panzer tank division in the North Africa campaign, and subsequently spending three years in a POW camp in Kentucky USA.

"He said he spent a lot of his time picking cotton," Jim remembers. "I asked him once what he missed most as a POW. His answer was one word. Women."

Meantime, two decades on, Jim agrees that having his fairly substantial bit of the old Berlin Wall is like 'having a bit of rock from the moon'.

"I haven't been able to go to the moon, yet," he says. But you get the real feeling that, even now in his 70s, he hasn't ruled it out.

Brian Byrne.

This story appeared on the Kilcullen Page of last week's Kildare Nationalist.

It Says In The Bridge: Nov 09

Lots of good news on the front of the current Bridge, suggesting that the advent of winter is not completely doom, gloom and chill. The main story, under the headline 'Gourmet Kilcullen', records the latest success of Nolans Butchers in winning the National Champion accolade in the annual spiced beef competition held by the Irish Craft Butchers. It also marks the opening of yet another food enterprise in Kilcullen, the 'Good Food Gallery', operated by Paul and Suzanne Carey.

There are picture-marked celebrations too, with Niall McDonnell presenting the Landers Family with a Community Award from the recent KCA function, while another pic has Kathleen Moran cutting the cake to mark the 70th anniversary of Nicholastown Estate. Kathleen was the first person to occupy a house in the estate and is still living there.

Coverage of the Community Awards continues inside (the Diary was unable to attend, your editor being literally on the high seas that night). Particular congratulations were expressed to the three businesses which won 'Most Improved Premises' awards, regarded as a sign of optimism in these recessionary times.

Other photo features include the Halloween fun at Drama Dynamics, that 70th anniversary of Nicholastown celebrations, and some coverage of the Kilcullen Canoe & Outdoor Pursuits Club (we didn't know it had expanded its name!).

News items include the fact that the Kilcullen Playground Project is still on track but that some extra money is needed, to be raised from the public. There's also a nugget hidden in a feature about the Kilcullen Carer & Toddler Group that they plan to put together a 'Guide to Parenting in Kilcullen' next spring. The fact that the 'Headrush' salon has now been in business for five years is marked, and the Lions Club is investigating the need for a 'Meals on Wheels' programme in the area.

The features this month highlight some of those who regularly work the Car Boot Sale organised in aid of CPC Parents Association funds, and there's a recollection of the late Hans Mehlan, who worked in the Irish Rubber factory in 1971. Jim Collins is doing the remembering, and Hans's recent passing in Cologne was close to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which Jim recalls being part of along with Hans.

Sean Landers gives us some more cultural and daily life detail from his life in Taipei, most particularly in the shopping area of Ximen. From his hometown musings we get more on 'The Secret Gardens' at Harristown, mainly in the form of a poem by the 18th century bard John Winstanley.

Billy Redmond goes Off the Cuff on whether there is an afterlife, on being 'spoiled' by the mainly women attendance at the Hospitality Tea morning, and the efforts to set up an Active Retirement Group (which has actually got under way). He wonders, though, if there's a possibility of an Inactive RG, which would facilitate overactive members (like himself) to 'slow down'.

In the schools pages, CPC marks the retirement of the college's guidance counsellor Lucy Byrne, and Scoil Bhride pupils record trips to the Library and to The Curragh.

In sports, the Soccer Club celebrates gaining the League title, the GAA is a little less celebratory at not achieving the Intermediate title and its Ladies failing to win their Junior final. Over at the Badminton Club, the Juveniles brought home a record four trophies from the recent LBBUI tournament in Baldoyle.

Finally, a reminder that the next issue of The Bridge will be the last one before Christmas and the copy deadline is 23 November.

Brian Byrne.

Restaurants add eatery options

Some quiet changes have been made to two local restaurants, improving both variety and price accessibility and extending further the options for eating out locally.

The Riverside Restaurant, formerly Paul's, is now being operated directly by the Dunlea family and offers some of the best dining in what is arguably the county's most pleasant location on the banks of the Liffey.

The Riverside is open from 5-10pm Monday through Friday, and from 10am-10pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The weekend Brunch menu offers an attractive range of breakfasts, soups, hot lunch dishes and salads ranging in price from €9-€19. The Dinner menu offers an Early Bird two-courses and glass of wine for €25 and main courses ranging from €16-€33.



The adjacent Italian Kitchen (above) has been decorated with old photographs of people and events from Kilcullen and its surrounds, and the menu now offers an extensive range of pizzas, pastas, salads and traditional Italian dishes. Pricing is simple -- all starters are €5, Salad, Pasta and Mains dishes €10, and Pizzas from €8. There's also a Kids menu of Main, Dessert and drink for €10.

Extensive wine lists in both venues.

Flower club Charity Evening

Kilcullen Flower Club has organised a Gala Floral Charity Evening with Christopher White (NAFAS Dip) on the theme of 'The Joy of Christmas'.

The event, on Tuesday 24 November will be supporting KARE and the Alzheimer Society.

It begins at 8pm and is being held in the Assembly Hall of the Cross & Passion College.

Light Refeshments will be served and there will also be a raffle. Admission is €10 and all are welcome.

Theft in progress

Members of the Kilcullen Drama Group are currently in rehearsal for their upcoming production of Eric Chappell’s comedy-thriller, “Theft”.

The play concerns the events that unfold when a petty thief, Thaddeus Quill, is captured while burgling the house of a wealthy property developer. Initially poor old Quill seems considerably overmatched in the battle of wits that ensues between himself, on one side, opposed by the undoubted wealth and power of the property developer, his socialite wife and their two upper-crust friends. But, in this battle of wits, it quickly becomes clear that some of the protagonists are unarmed.

Quill uses his intimate knowledge of the lives of his captors to confound and dismay them. His philosophical dissertations on the use and abuse of power, by the “Movers and shakers” in our society, is profound and hilarious. Ultimately he arrives at a conclusion which is life-changing for all those involved.

This play is very relevant to the economic crisis we face today. It may not provide any solutions, but it certainly allows us to take light-hearted look at the morals of the society enraptured by the extraordinary wealth generated by the Celtic Tiger.

“Theft” runs for 6 nights only: Thursday to Saturday 3rd, 4th, and 5th December 2009, and Thursday-Saturday 10th, 11th and 12th December 2009.

To book, phone Bernard (who, it must be clearly obvious from the foregoing, plays himself ... Er, Quill) at 045 481497

The Good Food Gallery opens

Congratulations this morning to Paul and Suzanne Carey who have just opened their new 'Good Food Gallery' in the premises formerly Alice Coleman's B&B in downtown Kilcullen.

Among their first customers were John and Monica Martin. A major refurbishment of the building has resulted in a magnificent speciality foods store and coffee shop.



We'll bring a full report at a later date, but just now it is sufficient to applaud this very well thought out new enterprise which will also lift that part of town enormously.

Martin is FG's election man

Martin Heydon was selected last night to contest the next General Election in Kildare South for Fine Gael.

The selection meeting was held at the Clanard Court Hotel in Athy and was attended by the FG Leader Enda Kenny.

Martin, a farmer, was elected to Kildare County Council earlier this year on his first attempt as a candidate for the party.

He has many connections with Kilcullen, and received his second level education at CPC.

Since his entry into local politics 12 months ago Martin has created quite an impression, achieving the highest vote of all Kildare South Fine Gael candidates in the June 2009 local elections when securing his seat in the Athy district with 1980 first preference votes.

At the convention he said that, given the current challenging times, people need and will demand a new brand of politics, 'new blood, new ideas, and an energy and vision to see this through'. "I am that type of politician," he said. "I have something to offer that is both fresh and new and I am ready for this challenge.”

He added that meeting most of the Kildare South members, as part of his canvass, had heightened his awareness of the real need and desire among members in Kildare South to return a Fine Gael TD for this constituency.

The convention, which was attended by over 300 people, heard Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny TD say he did not think it was beyond the bounds of possibility that Fine Gael could win an overall majority in the next general election. He added that gaining a seat in Kildare South will be instrumental in that goal and the members have placed their trust in Cllr Heydon to deliver.

Martin, for his part, promised to cover every inch of ground in the constituency in that aim and show the people of Kildare South that Fine Gael means business.

Nolans score high again

Nolan Butchers was a runner up at the country’s largest retail sector awards, the FBD Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2009, held at Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny last Saturday night. The awards were presented by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, TD, and hosted by TV and radio personality, Miriam O’Callaghan.

Nolan won the Best Large Store Award in 2008 and were thrilled to make it into the Top 6 in their category once again. They had already been crowned 2009 All Ireland Spiced Beef Champions as well as winning 7 Gold medals at the Association of Craft Butchers competitions in 2009.

Attended by approximately 500 representatives of the retail industry in Ireland, the Awards seek to recognise and reward high standards of excellence across the entire retail industry. The overall title of National Store of the Year 2009 went to Instore furniture shop in Co Dublin and a special Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed on Senator Feargal Quinn for his contributions to the industry over the past 20 years.

To All “Poets in Paradise”

... and the few left in Kilcullen.

On behalf of the Kildare Badminton Association, I would like to thank most sincerely all who supported and attended our recent fund raising “Poets in Paradise” event in Kilcullen Town Theatre.

We had a marvelous evening, thoroughly enjoyed by all, and I was especially proud to showcase to the many visiting Club members our local Theatre in full voice, and the depth and variety of talent that we have in our community.

Our mission in the KBA is to promote and develop Juvenile Badminton in Kildare and surrounding counties and this event has helped us to fund the many events and activities planned for the coming Season.

We must say a big thank you to the "Poets" Players and their crew who have generously given us their time and energy to help us raise over €1,100.

Thank you James and Bernard for the generous use of your script and on stage performance alongside Philomena, Maurice and Vivian. A wonderful performance by all - we eagerly await your next production.

Thanks also to the Front of House crew of Sean, Nuala and Madge and behind the scenes Eilish and Frankie - without their help the show just won’t go on.

Thank you Brian for your support and if you can’t remember whether you were there or not try this link.

Thanks also to our KBA committee members, clubs and parents who prepared the food and drink, donated raffle prizes and cheered and applauded a wonderful evening.

Nora Hogan
Chairperson KBA.

€2,000 raised by Thorny Rose

It was a little bit surreal, a 'beauty' contest of local men in drag.



But that was the whole idea, to have a bit of over the top craic in aid of one of the best causes, Rehab. And this year the Kilcullen heats were held in The Hideout, with contestants from other pubs in town participating.

Music was provided by Alan Dee.

With €1,700 raised on the night, the event was a complete success, and Hideout proprietor Eamonn Boyce is confident that the final tally will exceed €2,000 for the charity. “I really appreciate the support for the event from the other pubs in town also, which shows that for a good cause we’re all able to rally around together.”

The Thorny Rose idea has been around for years, and the nationwide event is organised by Matt Browne, Rehab's tireless fundraiser. Matt, who lives in Kildare, lost a leg to diabetes some years ago. But that hasn't stopped him from being very active indeed.

Among his exploits are successfully completing the challenge of a lifetime by becoming the first person to circumnavigate the Irish coast on a jet-ski, three years ago. The epic 19-day, 1,000 mile journey began and ended in Howth, Co Dublin.

Matt was also awards coordinatior for this year's Kildare People of the Year competition, which took place in Keadeen Hotel last weekend. He was the winner of the first Kildare POTY back in 1989.

The Passing of Bridget Gahan

We have learned of the death of Bridget Gahan, mother of Tony and mother-in-law of Geraldine, Kilcullenbridge House.

Bridget was late of Clonmel and died at Curragh Lawn Nursing Home in her 91st year.

She will be sadly missed by her loving sons John, Tony and Ward, daughter Martha, sister, brothers, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and a large circle of friends.

Bridget is lying in repose at Kilcullenbridge House until 10pm this Tuesday evening. Removal will take place tomorrow morning for 12 noon Requiem Mass at St Mary's Church Cahir. Burial will take place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Ring in about a bell

A church in Tanzania is ringing out an appeal ... for a bell.

The church was built five years ago in the town of Arumeru, but still doesn’t have a bell to call parishioners to worship.

And they want the real thing, not an electronic unit, both because of tradition and the fact that electrical services may not always be reliable.

“A bell is very important in the Catholic tradition,” says Mointini Ako, who lives in Brownstown and in his spare time funraises to help the work of locally-born priest Dan Noud in Tanzania. “It’s in one sense the symbol of communication between a church and its community, marking the times and days. But it is also important for warning of local emergencies.”

So, if any parish in the area has a spare bell, having perhaps upgraded to the electronic versions which can be programmed to work automatically, they can get in touch with Mointini and he will collect and ship it out.

Meantime, he wants to express his gratitude to all who have recently donated a wide range of items for a container of aid which he’s organising for Fr Dan’s school and clinic projects in Nangwa and Mogitu..

“We have got the beds we need for the Girls School, and we have received a good number of text-books for the school. We have also some piping, and desks, and doors. But we could do with some windows. They don’t need to be perfect, because it is warm in Tanzania, but they are required to keep out the dust and the wind.”

Gutters, paint, electrical switches and sockets are also welcome.

Contact Mointini at 085 1182776 or Michael McLoughlin at 086 709872.

Playground fundraising

A group which has been working for the last 4 years to get a community playground for Kilcullen has launched a fundraising drive to get the last €50,000 needed to bring the project to completion. Kilcullen Playground Committee worked through several proposals before finally getting agreement from the national school, Scoil Bhríde to lease land to the Council for the playground. In return, the project, which will cost in the region of €250,000 will improve road access and car parking facilities for the school and the adjoining Community Centre, through which people will access the playground. Tender documents for the playground are expected to be finalised by Council officials before Christmas, and the playground constructed during the Spring of 2010.

Committee members heard at a recent meeting there is anecdotal evidence that some families in the area can no longer afford to send their children to pre-school playgroups. The point was emphasised that it was, therefore, more urgent than ever that free community play facilities be put in place to give families an outlet.

The Committee is finalising a plan which will roll out various events and fundraising methods over the coming months. A dedicated bank account is being set up with Bank of Ireland, Kilcullen and anyone interested in helping with the fundraising or making a donation can contact the Committee at kilcullenplayground@gmail.com.

Orla O'Neill.

South Kildare's Boutique Festival & Fair

The South Kildare Craft and Art Festival will be held this year in the Sportsmans Inn, Timolin, on Sunday 29th. November.

This has been described as a Boutique Style Fair which last year was praised for its uniqueness and the variety of unusual crafts on display.

Entries are now being taken for Tables at the Fair. Interested Craft people should phone Brenda at 0879249144 to book.

The Fair will be open from 11am on the Sunday morning till 7pm. As an extra attraction this year, lunch will be available from 12.30-3pm and snacks thereafter, so it will be possible to make it a Sunday Day Out for friends or family while doing some special Christmas shopping.

Proceeds from the Fair will be divided equally between Timolin and Moone Tidy Towns Committees. The Festival is being supported by Kildare County Council.

Tables are limited to 20 special and unique Crafts so do call soon to reserve a place

$2,500 to Paint a horse

The County Kildare Twinning Committee are looking for an artist that can convince us he/she can paint or otherwise decorate a Horse (Fiberglass & life sized ) to represent County Kildare at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky next year.

The event is HorseMania, 75 of the horses will by American artists representing cities all over the USA that are part of the Sister Cities Confederation, which is the American equivalent of Twinning in Europe. Four Horses will be flown to Europe to be transformed to represent Deauville in France, County Kildare in Ireland, Sinidaka in Japan and Newmarket in England. Each will be decorated by a local artist - any medium or multi media.

Some examples show horses decorated to a theme in ceramics in tiny interlocking shards of mirror glass while another was a horse-poster of Lexington's tourist attractions. One that really caught the eye was called 'Jacques' which featured a collage of the racing silks of the last 50 Kentucky Derby Winners - now there's an idea !

When decorated the European Horses, including Kildare's, will be shipped back to Kentucky, in time to go on display throughout Lexington from July 1st. until the Games are over in October. Then they will be auctioned and the proceeds go to Art and non profit charities with a percentage we understand going to the artist.

'HorseMania' was last organised to celebrate the Millenium and raised over a million dollars. So do we have an artist in County Kildare to beat the world?

If you would like to be considered for the task, contact Sean Cleary at 0849090044 for an application form. You will be asked to give an outline and sketch of your Theme and idea when returning the application. A bursary of $2,500 will be available to the successful artistand it will give that person huge Media exposure especially in the United States.

Table Quiz winners

The winning team at Thursday night's GAA Ladies Table Quiz in Bardons: Tadhg Shanahan, David Phelan, Ian Kinsella and Ronan Duffy.

More pictures below.

UNICEF card scam

The card pictured here looks genuine enough, but the giveaway is that it is only printed on one side, and genuine UNICEF sponsorship cards are printed on both sides. Also, the quality of the pictures would suggest that it was a copy of another printed original.

It was found thrown in a hedge in Kilcullen, with €88 collected on it.

"It has become an increasing problem lately," a spokesperson for UNICEF Ireland says.

She said that all genuine UNICEF cards of this kind are on high quality card, and are printed on both sides.

Also, details of the particular event which is being sponsored should be written in on the card, and the name of the collector.

And if you are asked on the street, or on your doorstep, to donate to any charity, look for identification, and authorisation from the charity for the person to be a collector.

GAA ladies Table Quiz tonight

A table quiz will take place tonight in Bardons at 8.30pm in aid of Kilcullen Ladies GAA.

There are some great prizes on offer including tickets for the Punchestown Winter Racing Festival, tickets for the Kildare GAA Player Fight Night in Time, vouchers for Woodies DIY and loads more.

A table of four is €40.

All support greatly appreciated!

Susan wins top teaching award

Dr Susan Bergin of Kilcullen is to receive a National Award for Excellence in Teaching this month.

Susan, daughter of Pat and Rosaleen Bergin, Sunbury, will be presented with the Award by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, on behalf the National Academy for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning.

She is one of five awardees, and has been selected for the honour for her work in the Computer Science Department of NUI Maynooth.

The University says that her integration of research with teaching has been so successful that the rate of student retention in her department is now one of the highest in the college.

Kilcullen AFC capture League title

Kilcullen AFC first team bounced back from their League Cup final defeat last Sunday to wrap up the League today with a fine 2-1 win against second placed Rathangan. AFC went a goal down early but pulled back two goals to seal the League.



Goals from Trevor Harris and top scorer Brian Kelly saw AFC revenge last years league Title loss to Rathangan.

The performance today was one of the best seen by a Kilcullen Team in years. Overall a great team performance and a great reward for the players and to the management team of Fergal Finn and John Berney.

Back row: Fergal Finn - Manager, John Browne, Paul Maher, Aidan Carroll, Kieran Brennan, Michael Kelly, Fran Shortt, John Berney - Assistant Manager. Front: Mick Williams, Kenny Fanning, Danny Fisher, Tadgh Shanaghan, Brian Kelly, Trevor Harris, Neil Cavanaugh, Ray Aulsberry, Nicky Kelly.

Ray Kelly.

Who was who last night?

Halloween 2009 in Kilcullen turned out to be a real dress-up night in every pub in town. Of course, some just dressed as themselves.