Sharing the craft of St Brigid crosses

When Sheena Malone was growing up, St Brigid crosses were part of her life at this time of year, writes Brian Byrne. Now she shares them everywhere. 

"I grew up in the Bog of Allen, so there were reeds all around," says the Allenwood artist who led the St Brigid craft workshop at Kilcullen Library last week. "I've been making the crosses since I was in primary school." But during the pandemic lockdown, this particular craft from her school days grew more important. On walks in the bog, she collected loads of reeds and began making crosses and bridogs (little reed dolls) in significant numbers. "I asked people if they wanted them, free of charge, and then I ended up sending them all over the world to my Facebook friends." 

Realising that people responded positively to the pieces, she decided to run workshops teaching others how to make their own, and has been doing so for the past couple of years from Allenwood. The event at Kilcullen Library last week drew a full house, with interest from people of all ages, including many children. 

With art qualifications from UCD and Stockholm University, Sheena spends much of her time in Berlin, where she has worked on several arts-based projects and serves as a language editor for Konstfack, Sweden's largest university. Since 2021, she has also been the County Kildare Coordinator for the annual Culture Night programme. Her own art, which includes textile pieces dyed with medicinal plants gathered in and around the Bog of Allen, has been exhibited at various venues across Kildare, in Berlin, and at Electric Picnic. In 2024, her film The All-Ireland Turf Footing Finals won the Best Short Documentary category at Junefest, Newbridge. 

Last October, Sheena embarked on an artist-in-residency project with 4th- and 5th-class pupils at Scoil an Linbh Íosa in Prosperous, creating shadow theatre films based on local folklore and myths, including one about St Brigid's Cloak. These can be watched on YouTube at this link. 

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CPC students meet Irish Ambassador to Luxembourg

The Irish Ambassador to Luxembourg, Jean McDonald, hosted a group of very impressive young women and their teachers from Cross and Passion College, Kilcullen, at her residence for coffee and a chat this morning to hear all about their visit to Luxembourg and participation in a Model UN Conference. 

The ambassador said it was inspiring to hear such thoughtful and engaged contributions, adding that the 'future is in good hands'. 

"What a brilliant way to kick start our celebrations of Lá Fhéile Bríde," she posted on the embassy's Facebook page. "Go raibh maith agaibh and come back and see us again soon."

The students — Amy, Cadhla, Michalina, Ruth, Dara Belle, and Emma — are representing CPC and Ireland at an Erasmus+ Model United Nations Conference, which has brought together over 50 students from nine countries (Germany, Spain, France, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Belgium, and Luxembourg) to debate major global challenges. 

The event's debates explore the theme “A World in Transition” — a powerful and timely focus that emphasises why young people’s voices matter in shaping the future.

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ESB warns of flood risk along the Liffey

High water in 2016.

The ESB has warned that it may need to release extra water from the Poulaphuca Reservoir, with a consequent risk of flooding in some downstream areas, writes Brian Byrne. Levels in the reservoir have increased by almost two metres in recent days.

In a statement yesterday, ESB said that large volumes of rainfall over recent weeks, which have entered the reservoir, have been contained by the dam at Poulaphuca; otherwise, this water would have significantly increased water levels along the river, over and above what has already been experienced.  

However, since reservoir storage capacity is limited and based on current forecasts, some of these additional inflows may need to be released in the coming days. This could increase the risk of flooding along the River Liffey, particularly in the Clane and Newbridge areas. 

Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams are monitoring the situation closely, ensuring resources are in place, that crews are on standby, preparing the necessary interventions, and will issue further communications. People with concerns about flooding should contact their local authorities for further information. 

The last time there were warnings of very high levels in the Liffey was in 2016. At that time, the council closed off pedestrian access from the market square to the riverbank.

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Sprint to the finish for Ireland Lights Up

As of last Friday night, the Kilcullen GAA-Ireland Lights Up participants have collectively walked the equivalent of three times around Ireland, writes Maurice O'Brien. With 11,881.6 km totted up, it's now a sprint to the finish.

We had our biggest crowd yet out on Friday, Erin Rovers from Offaly has passed us out. We need new sign-jups urgently; it's not too late.

We need to get the equivalent of four times around Ireland and pass them out.

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Butcher's Banquet 2 in The Spout, Sunday

I Know the Butcher are hosting Butcher's Banquet 2, a punk rock celebration, this bank holiday Sunday, 1 February, St Brigid's Day, in the back of the Spout, writes Dafydd O'Shea.

We're supported by new band Barrfite from Newbridge, Dumb Posh Hippies from Dublin and Blandad, a band from Newbridge who are blazing a trail in the underground scene. 

Music is from 5pm.

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It Says in The Bridge: February 2026

It's a dramatic headline for the first Bridge of 2026, A Murder in Kilcullen! But it hasn't happened yet. The story previews an innovation for the Kilcullen Drama Group: a murder mystery at the end of the month, in which only the writer-director knows who committed the dastardly deed. It's a one-night only presentation, and Stage Fright will deservedly be the hot ticket of February.

Drama on the Kilcullen stage is also the stuff of the main colour feature this month, the highly successful farce that was presented in early January by the Narraghmore Drama Society, Widows' Paradise. Facial expressions are key in comedy drama, and there's plenty of them to enjoy here. Colour too in A Bit of Business, highlighting the new mural at Armelle's patisserie in Kilcullen, the work of a young local woman intent on an artistic career in the mural form. There's also a note about another artist, Geraldine Losty, and the new painting of St Brigid, commissioned for Kilcullen Parish Church.

In news, there's the retirement of Julie O'Donoghue, though this issue went to press before her last day in the Library and the lovely sendoff from friends and patrons of the service she supervised for 47 years. News too of the change of name and ownership of the former Warrior Wellness studio, with an Open Day scheduled at Mountain Flow Yoga next weekend. There's a full list of the Brigid season at Kilcullen Bridge Cinema, with something for everyone. And there's a congratulations page for three birthdays and a wedding (a potential film title is in there somewhere).

From Bridge regular contributors, Noel Clare goes Out and Away to Moore Abbey in Monasterevin, where he finds a real treat in a cafe on the site, and Mary Orford brings us reflections of Kilcullen a hundred years ago. Billy Redmond muses on Winston Churchill in WW2 and the post-war meeting of the three victorious leaders at Yalta. Sean Landers revisits Gilltown through the words of Bob Waugh, while John Duffey goes back to a youth that included pitch-and-toss. Daithi de Róiste writes about several holy wells in the general Kildare area, and Eugene Brennan details the story of Voyager 1, the NASA satellite that has travelled the farthest from Earth.

Two features have different interests. There's the first of a short series of memories of Tony O'Reilly and Castlemartin, by Jim Kelly, who worked as estate manager for the Irish businessman from soon after graduating from Warrenstown Agricultural College. Orla O'Neill details the gathering traction of the Apartheid Free Zone campaign for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. 

There's the usual busy input from the childcare centre and the schools, all doing bright, cheerful, and sometimes magical things. In sport, there is pitch and putt news, updates from Kilcullen GAA, and the recent presentation of awards at the Canoe Club.

This issue also marks the completion of 55 years of The Bridge, another milestone for Ireland's longest-published community magazine. Enjoy.

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Dowling Property: Baroda Court, Newbridge

Welcome to No.12 Baroda Court. A very special home in a very special location. Tucked away in this sleepy cul-de-sac is where you will find this superb, four-bedroom, detached bungalow for sale. Located in one of Newbridge's most sought-after estates just off the Dublin Road, direct access to the M7/M9 motorway is just a c.4-minute drive away, along with frequent train service to the city.  

This wonderful home is presented in very good condition throughout, extending to c.149 sq.mt. The accommodation is bright and spacious and well laid out, consisting of an entrance hallway, dining room, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, garage conversion, four double bedrooms with master en-suite and family bathroom, a versatile garage conversion (ideal as a playroom), four double bedrooms, with a master en-suite. A real highlight is the large, well-proportioned sitting room with a wood-burning stove and a large feature bay window, maximising the light. The site and gardens have been well maintained by its house proud owner and are mature, landscaped, and private. The rear is not overlooked and boasts an extensive lawn area with mature trees and shrubs. 

All amenities are within walking distance, including first-class primary and secondary schools such as Newbridge College, The Holy Family, Educate Together, and Gaelscoil. Newbridge has a top-class selection of shopping, including Lidl, Aldi, Tesco, and Dunne’s Stores. Home to the Newbridge Silverware showrooms, the Courtyard Shopping Centre, and the famous Whitewater Shopping Centre with the major shopping chains: Marks and Spencer, TK Maxx, Penneys, Boots, Zara, and many more, as well as several restaurants and cinemas. 

Homes in Baroda Court are among the most sought after in Newbridge, so we are strongly advising on early viewings of this fantastic home. A real gem and one not to be missed!!

AMV-€525,000; Dowling Property Kildare Office 045 482189; dowlingproperty.ie.

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