EXOTIC BUGATTI IN CANNONBALL IRELAND 2026 THIS WEEKEND

A 1,500hp Bugatti Chiron Sport will be among the Cannonball Ireland 2026 supercars taking part in the event this weekend, writes Brian Byrne. The cars can be seen at a fuel stop at the Kilcullen M9 Service Area at around 3.15pm on Friday.

Earlier, the more than 200 cars, which will include examples from Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, Maserati, and many more, will have been driven from the starting point of the tour at the Johnstown Estate in Enfield and through the Wicklow hills via Enniskerry and back to the K Club in Straffan for lunch.

Over three days, the event participants will cover some 1,000km and be cheered on by an estimated 250,000 spectators in towns and villages through Westmeath, Offaly, Clare, Limerick, and Cork, and finishing up in Kilkenny City from around 5.30pm on Sunday, 13th. The finish line celebrations will once again feature live entertainment, music, giant screens, family attractions, colourful costumes, and the electric atmosphere that has become synonymous with Cannonball.

Since its inception in 2009, Cannonball Ireland has raised more than €2.5 million for Irish charities. The event was founded by Kildare-based businessman Alan Bannon and is sponsored by Circle K. This year's nominated charity is Ronald McDonald House Ireland.

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CLLR'S QUESTIONS ON BUS SHELTERS, TIMETABLE POLES

Kilcullen bus stop in 1929.

Timelines for the installation of bus shelters and bus timetable notification poles in Kilcullen are the subject of two questions from Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer on the agenda of the next Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting. 

The bus notification poles are needed at the church stop and Newbridge Road stop for the Local Link Service. 

The meeting is scheduled for 16 September at Aras Chill Dara in Naas.

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CURRAGH TY STUDENTS IN 'PARACHUTE' ARTS PROJECT

A screening of The Parachute Project short film on Wednesday, 16 September, in the Riverbank Arts Centre, will take place with an artwork display from students of Curragh Community College. 

The Parachute Project was a six-week creative programme held in April and May 2026, involving TY students exploring photography’s origins, learning cyanotype printmaking, and studying the Curragh’s history and landscape. 

The collaboration was led by artist Brian Cregan, with associate artist Aideen Cross. The film was created by Richard Lennon of Darn Skippy. The project was commissioned by the Riverbank Arts Centre and Kildare County Council Arts Service.

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NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR HERITAGE WEEK AWARDS

Nominations are now open for the 2026 National Heritage Week Awards, with a deadline of 15 September 2026, writes Brian Byrne. Communities, organisations, and individuals can submit nominations for the most engaging projects and events during National Heritage Week. 

A County Award will be presented for the best event or project in Co Kildare, based on heritage awareness, promotion, and community involvement. Last year, Castledermot Local History Group won for their event Discover Castledermot’s Medieval Foundations.

National categories include the Heritage At Risk Award, Wild Child Event Award, Water Heritage Day Award, Inclusive Heritage Award, Irish Language Award, Sustainability and Climate Award, and the Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Award for Intangible Cultural Heritage. A Heritage Hero Award is based on public nominations, to honour long-term contributions to heritage protection and promotion.

Dara Wyer, Kildare Heritage Officer, highlights the importance of recognising local efforts, saying National Heritage Week is only possible because of the enthusiasm and dedication of local communities. 

The awards ceremony will be held on 29 October 2026 in the RDS, Dublin. Nominations can be made at https://www.heritageweek.ie/awards.  

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'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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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. 

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