It Says in The Bridge: January 2016

The January Bridge is a sort of a Christmas reflection, as it catches up on all that went on over the festive season, writes Brian Byrne. So we have pretty extensive photos coverage, including the knitted Nativity scene on the cover which was made by the SUAS knitting club some years ago, and always raises a smile as well as a little reflection.

Smiles too for the front page pic of the Lotto Jackpot cheque being handed over to Mag Lawlor, a pretty good Christmas present in any terms. And a smile too from Betty Kelly, at the celebration recently of her 90th birthday.

The Miscellany on Sunday event in Bermingham's of Mooretown is also covered, which raised €5,000 for Fr John Bermingham's mission in Mozambique, and there are reminders too of the various other events — Carols by Candlelight, the Gospel Choir Christmas Show, the Maintain Hope Concert just a few of them.

There's also a whimsical denial that the Gospel Choir had anything to do with the damage to the church roof, on the basis that Niamh Kavanagh's rendition of O Holy Night had 'raised the roof'. It was storm Desmond, of course, that did the nasty on the slates, and the pictures of the repairing work show just how serious it might have been if not caught in time.

Home in time for Christmas were a number of our wild geese, and Noel Clare touched base with them and gives us short updates on what they're at. A diverse bunch of travellers, doing lots of different things.

There's a fair bit of coverage in pictures of senior citizens, as Christmas is a time when there then to be quite a few get-togethers for them. The annual Senior Citizens Christmas Party, held in Keadeen, gets a colour boost in the now very colourful Bridge, and there's also a page from another party, this time organised by the CPC students for their older neighbours. And there's also mention of the one organised by the Scouts, held in Toughers. Sure our seniors must have been stuffed with food and drink by the time Christmas Day came around.

New year, new business, or even boosts for older enterprise. The Business Bridge section written by Jacinta Sully highlights Ray De Courcy's Kilcullen Bouncy Castles operation, piloted last year and now expanding for 2016. There's also the change of management at what was the Cafe Coulan, now the Final Furlong because of Ruth O'Neill's family background in horses. Matt Dooley's Bneatstairs storage solution business is also featured, and there's a reprinting of an Irish Times report on The Hanged Man's in Milltown, which of course has a strong Kilcullen connection.

There are the familiar features. Billy Redmond muses on the Gospel Choir Concert in the church, particularly impressed by the efficiency of the raffle. He's also of the opinion that the new traffic arrangements at Mile Mill Cross actually work well. Billy also took on the role of reviewer of 'The Cavalcaders' (we missed it on the Diary due to family commitments), and he pronounced it a most enjoyable show.

Julie Dunlop's subject this month is a consideration of 'being authentic in today's world'. Not a light matter, and her delving into the matter for herself is the basis of an interesting read. Sean Landers delves separately into the historical contexts of New Abbey and Castlemartin, and in his missive from Taiwan reports that he has now achieved permanent residency there. Joe Robinson outlines the import of a new €2 coin to be circulated this year to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising.

Amongst the Schools articles, Scoil Bhride looks back on a very successful Christmas Fair, and also winning the Cumann na mBunscol among quite a number of trophy winning achievements during last year. Brannoxtown NS reflects on a number of successful fundraising events before and after Christmas, and welcomes back school secretary Pauline after an absence.

In his Sports Editorial, Killian Whelan muses on the exploits of three Kilcullen sports champions — Leighton Aspell, Jenny Murphy and Dennis Hogan — and looks forward to the competitive work to be undertaken by all the local sports organisations through this year. The recent successes of Kilcullen Boxing Club are reported by David O'Brien; the weather curtailment of activities of the Soccer Club are remarked by Richie Curry; and Jacinta Sully details the AGM and Christmas Draw results for the GAA. The busy Christmas of the Pitch & Putt Club is highlighted by Marian Courtney.

Finally, the Bridge reports the recent death of Paddy Melia, for many years a driving force in the Kilcullen Cinema and the Kilcullen Drama Group. May he rest in peace.