Hot weather warning from Asthma Society

Images: Asthma Society of Ireland.

The Asthma Society of Ireland has warned that this weekend’s hot, humid weather could be dangerous for people with asthma and other lung conditions, writes Brian Byrne. With Met Éireann heat and forest fire warnings in place, the Society is urging the public to look out for vulnerable groups, particularly children and older people.

Parents, sports coaches, and camp leaders are being asked to take extra care with children spending long periods outdoors. Older people with respiratory conditions are also at increased risk, and neighbours and family members are encouraged to check in on them regularly.

Hot and humid conditions can make breathing more difficult and raise the risk of an asthma attack, especially at night or in the early morning. Forest-fire smoke, barbecue smoke, and high pollen levels are adding to the danger by irritating the lungs and worsening symptoms.

The Society is advising people with asthma to reduce strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, keep indoor spaces as cool as possible, check daily pollen and air-quality forecasts, and follow their Asthma Action Plan.

Anyone with worsening symptoms is urged to seek medical advice, while anyone experiencing severe breathing difficulties or symptoms that do not improve after using a reliever inhaler should call 112 or 999 immediately. Free nurse-led support is available via the Asthma Adviceline and WhatsApp services, with further information at www.asthma.ie.

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Scouts celebrate end of year with BBQ

The 9th Kilcullen Scout Troop celebrated their end-of-year last evening with a barbecue on the site designated for their new den on the Community Centre campus, writes Brian Byrne. The event brought together parents and other family members to mark the occasion.

Kilcullen Scouts have had a busy year, and recently took part in the Portlick Scout Campsite, at Athlone, with kayaking, hiking, a fishing trip, archery, crate stacking, and a cookery challenge. In June, the Beavers and Cubs had a weekend in the Lilliput Adventure Centre in Mullingar, enjoying activities that included climbing walls, lake activities, bog jumping, capture the flag, and orienteering.

The troop is now in its 49th year, and there's a wait list for membership. The group caters for young people aged 6-18 through Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Ventures. After that, they can become Adult Scouters.  

Kilcullen Scouts were originally located in the Tennis Club. After going through several temporary premises, they got their first purpose-built Den in 2000 in the Community Centre.

In addition to their own activities, Kilcullen scouts get involved in community work, including helping with Tidy Towns and organising events for the town's older people.

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Drop the hosepipe, urges Uisce Éireann

A watering can uses less water.

Uisce Éireann has urged people in the greater Dublin area, which includes Kildare, not to use hosepipes to water their gardens during the current hot spell, writes Brian Byrne. The service says that if water usage continues at current rates, it will be forced to impose nighttime restrictions on supply.

A new record for water usage in the region was set in recent days, with reservoir levels dropping by up to 30 million litres a day.

Across the country, 25 water supplies out of a nationwide total of more than 700 are currently under nighttime restriction. These include parts of Kilkenny, Tipperary, Donegal, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Meath.

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Road closure Mile Mill-Grangemore on Monday

The R‑413 will be closed on Monday, 13 July 2026, between Mile Mill Cross and Grangemore, Brannockstown, during the day for surface dressing works. 

A signed diversion will be in place, local access maintained, and motorists should expect some delays.

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The passing of May Keogh (nee Crone)

The death has occurred of May Keogh (nee Crone), The Hill, Kilcullen, on 9 July, 2026, in the tender loving care of Curragh Lawn Nursing Home.

Predeceased by her parents, Robert and Margaret, May's passing is very deeply regretted by her loving husband, Kevin and her loving friend Stella, sister-in-law Mary, brother-in-law Michael, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

May will be reposing at her residence, (R56 AV97), on Friday, 10 July, from 4pm until 8pm with prayers at 7.30pm.

House private at all other times.

Removal will be on Saturday morning, 11 July, to The Church of the Sacred Heart & St Brigid, Kilcullen, arriving for 11 am Funeral Mass, which may be viewed on this link.  This will be followed by burial in St Brigid's cemetery.

Family flowers only, please. 

Rest in Eternal Peace, May.

Designated bathing area sought for Kilcullen

File photos: Kilcullen Diary.

Waterways Ireland and Kildare County Council have carried out a risk assessment on potential designated bathing areas in the Liffey at Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne. This follows requests from local swimming enthusiasts to have an official swimming location established.

The initiative is one of a list of project ambitions produced by Kilcullen Community Action earlier this year. Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, who says it is 'a worthy project worth pursuing', has previously walked the Liffey area with representatives from the Kildare Sports Partnership, "to start the discussion about various locations."

Following the recent assessment visit by Waterways Ireland and KCC, the next phase in this project is an environmental impact analysis, followed by a water quality analysis to ensure there is good water quality if people are going to swim. At that point, a detailed design would be done and costings assessed.

The matter has come into sharp focus with the current and earlier heatwave spells, with scores of mainly young people cooling off at what were traditional swimming places in the river, but which are now fenced off from public access. 

KCA's Tony Gahan, a keen swimmer, is leading the call for Designated Bathing, suggesting that a pontoon structure that would rise and fall with the flood could be located on the Riverside Manor bank side of the river. The location had a temporary wooden dock for many years while the new Kilcullen Canoe Club premises were being constructed as part of the Market Square development in the late 2000s. It fell into disrepair when it was no longer needed by the club and was dismantled for safety reasons several years ago.

A request that KCC designate a generationally popular swimming spot at Carnalway, made by Cllr O'Dwyer last year, didn't succeed. Identified bathing waters are monitored, managed, and assessed under the requirements of the 2008 Bathing Water Quality Regulations. The regulations followed the transposition of the Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) into Irish law in 2008, aimed at enhancing the protection of bathers' health and introducing stricter standards for water quality. Local authorities are required under the legislation to identify such locations.

In 2024, KCC sought public assistance in identifying such locations so a profile of each could be developed, including an assessment of the risk of pollution and what action would be taken if pollution occurs. Among details requested from the public were how swimming areas have been used up to now, how many people use the site, what facilities (eg, signage, parking, toilets, etc.) exist at the site, how accessible it is, and what safety issues exist. 

To our knowledge, there are as yet no Designated Bathing Waters in County Kildare.

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New self-storage facility opens in Halverstown

A new self-storage business has opened in Halverstown, Kilcullen, offering secure and flexible space for both household and commercial customers.

The Self Storage Yard Ltd is a modern container yard that provides new, clean, dry and fully insulated storage units with flexible rental options. The fully gated facility features 24/7 CCTV, secure access control and well‑lit surroundings.

The site offers easy drive-up access and a simple online booking process, designed for anyone needing extra space for household items, tools, business stock, equipment or vehicle storage in the Kilcullen, Kildare, Naas and Newbridge areas.

Contact 089 4149738, info@tssy.ie, or visit the website at tssy.ie for full information and booking.

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Dowling Property: 38, Brownstown Manor, The Curragh

Dowling Property is delighted to present to the market one of the finest three-bedroom, semi-detached homes to be offered for sale in recent times. This modern A-rated home is presented in show-house condition throughout both inside and out and is located just a c. 4-minute drive to the M7 at Newbridge.

This elegant home sits on a large corner site and boasts a very impressive feature list. The accommodation, which is spacious and well laid out, consists of an entrance hallway, a sitting room, a guest WC, a utility, a kitchen/dining room, and a downstairs bedroom, which is also ideal for a playroom. Upstairs are two double bedrooms with a master en-suite and a family bathroom. The kitchen is bright and enjoys a dual aspect with many appliances included in the sale, and all complete with a breakfast bar and stools. The large rear garden is a real highlight as it is designed with low maintenance in mind and is fully walled. 

There is garage space to the side with obvious scope for further development (STPP) and off-street parking for 2/3 cars on the cobble lock driveway. All amenities are located on your doorstep, which includes a creche/Montessori, chemist, Centra, public house, restaurant, churches, and primary and secondary schools. Kilcullen is c. 5km, Newbridge is c. 5km, and Kildare Town is c. 4km. The M7 interchange at Newbridge is just a 5-minute drive away, along with the M9 interchange at Kilcullen. Kildare village is just a c. 6-minute drive away, with a host of first-class shopping. 

With its superb location and presentation, we must now advise on early viewings, as this property is not to be missed. A true gem!

AMV €395,000. dowlingproperty.ie. Kildare Office 045 482189. 

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Looking Back: Tidy Towns 1969

In the month of Tidy Towns judging, with KCA, residents' associations, and individuals all very busy to show Kilcullen in its best light, we thought it appropriate to show these pics from 1969, of members of the Nicholastown Tidy Towns Committee at work and relaxing. They come courtesy of indefatigable newspaper archives burrower, Joe Murray.

 

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Library celebrations

There was a steady stream of friends and patrons of Kilcullen Community Library on Saturday morning to mark the 100th year of the Kildare Library Service. Refreshments were hosted by Librarian Ita Casey (inset above).

Meanwhile, there'll be a Movie Afternoon for children next Wednesday in the Kilcullen Library, with a PG film screening from 3pm. All welcome.

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