Maintain Hope raffle winners

Maintain Hope would like to give a big shout-out to everyone who supported our Christmas Raffle.

The hamper winners were Paul Hickey and Ciara Treacy.

A sincere thanks to everyone for their generosity.

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The passing of Maureen Keogh

The death has occurred of Maureen Keogh, née Russell, of New Abbey Road, Kilcullen, and formerly of Mullaghmast, Ballitore, on 19 December 2025, at Beaumont Hospital. 

Predeceased by her parents Martin and Ellen, as well as her brothers Tony, Frank, and Jimmy, Maureen's passing is very deeply regretted by her loving husband Liam, sons Niall, Darren, and Cormac, daughters-in-law Michelle, Deirdre, and Nicki, grandchildren Caitlin, Gillian, Alannah, Finn, and Éabha, as well as extended family, relatives, and friends. 

Funeral arrangements will be announced later. 

Rest in peace.

Kilcullen to run the GOAL Mile on 28 December

Image: GOAL.

The Kilcullen GAA Healthy Club and Community GOAL Mile will be held on Saturday, 28 December, starting at 12pm from the clubhouse on a course around the Community Walkway track, writes Brian Byrne. Runners for the event will finish before the walkers are allowed set off, probably at about 12.10pm.

There will be refreshments, chats and some Christmas goodies back at the clubhouse after the walkers finish, from around 12:30pm. Donations can be made to Goal on the day and via this link. 

The GOAL Mile, supported by AIB, is held throughout December in villages, towns, and cities across Ireland, and virtually worldwide, with tens of thousands of people running or walking a mile to raise funds for GOAL. The first GOAL Mile took place in 1982 when the organisation's late chairperson and international athlete, Noel Carroll, asked local people and their families to run a mile at The Phoenix Park on Christmas morning.

GOAL operates in 14 different countries, helping people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict, disease and climate change.

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Scullion to kick off Red Hot Music Club in 2026

The Red Hot Music Club has announced its Spring 2026 lineup, leading off with Scullion on 29 January. In a change from the usual venue, the event will be at Kilcullen Town Hall, with doors opening at 8pm.

Maria Doyle Kennedy and Kieran Kennedy are the headline act on 26 February, with Ger O’Donnell, Trevor Sexton, and Don Stiffe taking to the stage on 26 March.

The organisers say they are exploring new venues beyond their beloved Fallon’s and are committed to bringing the finest music and warmest gatherings. 

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Russborough Candlelight Walk after Christmas

If you're already planning beyond Christmas Day to schedule family-friendly events in the days after, the Candlelight Walk at Russborough House may be a good fit.

It's on 28 December, starting at 6pm, and takes place over a 2km route through the estate, lit by hundreds of candles.

The annual event benefits St Mary’s Church, Blessington, and the Irish Cancer Society, with all proceeds from the €5 entry fee (€20 per car) going to the charities.

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Free New Year's Eve Punchestown races to mark 175 years

Punchestown Racecourse will celebrate a remarkable 175 years of racing heritage with a very special New Year’s Eve race meeting, offering free admission for all, generously supported by Tote, on Wednesday, 31 December. The track recently landed the 2025 Racecourse of the Year Award.  

The Kildare Races at Punchestown were first recorded in 1824. The event moved to various venues across the county before officially establishing Punchestown as its permanent home in 1850. From those early beginnings, what has become the Punchestown Festival has grown into an internationally recognised five-day celebration of top-class horse racing, culture and community spirit.

To honour this rich legacy, Punchestown is inviting everyone to come together on New Year’s Eve to celebrate 175 years of memorable sporting, historic and community moments: the construction of the first grandstand, the role of the La Touche Family, endurance through the Civil and World Wars, the famous Match Race of 1986, many racing dynasties, and the dominance of Irish racing talent.   

The New Year’s Eve meeting promises a festive, family-friendly atmosphere, with complimentary mince pies and mulled wine on arrival, while stocks last, live music by the Ballymore Band, and free children’s entertainment.

Gates open from 11am with the first race going to post at approximately 12.30pm. The Hay Café, The Feedroom and a selection of mobile eateries will provide tasty snacks, barista coffee, and hot food with something for everyone, whilst the bars will be serving up festive cheer.

For those looking to enhance their day and arrange something a bit special this New Year’s Eve, the very popular Trackside Race & Dine package is available to book online for €95pp, with a children’s menu available.

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Kilcullen Lions Christmas Appeal

The Kilcullen Lions Club Christmas Appeal begins today and will run over three days — Friday 19th, Saturday 20th, and Wednesday the 24th. Collectors will be at the usual locations: Nolan’s, Eurospar and Centra.

The funds collected in the Christmas Appeal support the local Saint Vincent de Paul Society's work. 

Kilcullen Lions Club are grateful to the ongoing support and generosity of the local community. Last year's Appeal raised €5,000. 

Your local Lions Club addresses community needs in various ways. Assistance may involve providing manpower, professional expertise, direct financial aid or organising a targeted fundraising activity. All funds collected support charitable causes. No administration costs are taken. 

If you wish to make an online donation, you can do so at this link or using the QR code above. 

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Climate awareness and action course for seniors

A free climate course for beginners aged over 55 is being offered at Naas Library, starting at the end of February, writes Brian Byrne. It will be led by retired UN Diplomat Jacinta Barrins.

The course provides valuable insights into climate and its terminology. Participants will learn about barriers to behavioural change and how to measure their carbon footprint. They will also select an action to help the planet and implement it.

Throughout the course, progress will be shared and enjoyed over a cup of tea. Climate conversations will be held to promote discussion and understanding.

The course comprises six sessions scheduled on the following dates in 2026: 24th February, 3rd March, 10th March, 19th March, 24th March, and 5th April. Each session runs from 10:30am to 12:30pm at Naas Library. A bus stop is only a two-minute walk away.

To enrol, please call 045 980795 or email naaslib@kildarecoco.ie, or use the QR code in the header image.

Kildare County Council, the Kildare Climate Action Office, and Age Friendly Kildare support this course.

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Water safety classes for 2026

Water Safety Ireland Kildare is now taking 2026 bookings for junior and senior water safety and lifesaving classes in Naas.

The courses include lifeguard training and Nipper junior, youth, senior, and master lifesaving sport classes and training sessions. 

Participants will have the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones while learning new skills and building new relationships. There are also opportunities for competition. 

Water Safety Ireland is committed to reducing drownings in Ireland and works with the public to achieve this goal.

Bookings via this link.  More information on water safety at watersafety.ie.

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Carols at St Paul's, Ballysax

A Christmas Carol Service will be held at St Paul's Church, Ballysax, on Sunday next, 21 December.

Organised by the Friends of St Paul's, the event begins at 2.30pm, and Aidan Feely will conduct the songs.

There will be a raffle and refreshments, and all are welcome.

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Results of Christmas Lions Whist

Lovely turnout for our special Christmas whist, writes Siobhan Tutty-Bardon of Kilcullen Lions.

Winners included C. Tutty, J. Fleming, K. Browne, C. Fagan, V. Byrne, and J. Creevy.

Many thanks for the support during the year. Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy, safe, and healthy New Year.

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New lifeboat campaign is successful

Fundraising at Naas Racecourse.

A campaign to raise funds for a new lifeboat, led by volunteers from North Kildare, has successfully reached its €117,000 target, thanks to the generosity of people across the entire county, writes Brian Byrne. The D-class inshore lifeboat will be named Cill Dara and stationed at the RNLI station in Wexford.

The North Kildare RNLI committee started the project to mark the bicentenary of the sea rescue organisation. Fundraising events included street collections, notably at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford last summer, a cooking demonstration, an abseil challenge, and a concert by the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir. 

Fundraising efforts also took place in Newbridge, Athy, and Monasterevin, with local businesses in Kilcullen also making donations. Kilcullen's Pat Stafford is a member of the fundraising group.

The branch was established over 50 years ago in Celbridge by Lady King-Harman, and it has a special connection with Wexford Lifeboat Station: a D-class lifeboat was donated in 2005 by the family of one of the branch’s fundraisers, who passed away suddenly.

The D-class is highly manoeuvrable and ideal for searches and rescues in surf, shallow waters, and confined areas, often around cliffs, rocks, and caves.

Brian Bradshaw, President of North Kildare RNLI, expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the events and collections over the past year.

David Sherwood, Wexford RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, thanked all contributors for providing vital funds that will support the next chapter in lifesaving at Wexford RNLI.

The Wexford station was established in 2002. Its current lifeboat, Alfred William Newman, has been in service since 2015 and has been launched 142 times over the past decade, assisting 121 people and credited with saving four lives.

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Safety design for Thompson's Cross 'in development' - Council

A long-awaited design to improve road safety at Thompson's Cross will be finalised in the first quarter of 2026, according to Kildare County Council, writes Brian Byrne. The matter was raised again by way of a question from Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer at the recent meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge MD, to which officials replied that the design 'is being developed'.

Last December, the councillor was informed that six options had been identified to make the junction safer, but that there were 'no design resources' to progress any of them.

The junction has been dangerous for many years, since the realignment of local roads with the completion of the M9 in the Kilcullen area. Given the long history of crashes there, attempts to make the intersection safer have failed and are widely considered 'tinkering' with the problem. The last of these, carried out under the Low Cost Safety Improvement Scheme in 2016, included a controversial removal of a run-off lane on the turn towards Kilgowan. In October 2017, Council engineers told councillors that issues raised at works in 2016 had 'been resolved'. 

Cllr O'Dwyer has been working with the local Garda to ensure something substantial is done. In February of last year, Kildare County Council announced that a consultant would be appointed to investigate how best to address the dangerous nature of the junction ... along with nine others in the county.

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Santa Grotto and storytelling at An Tearmann

There will be a storytelling and music evening in An Tearmann tomorrow, Friday, with Sorcha from Candlelit Tales. 

The event starts at 5.30pm, and the stories from Ancient Ireland are suitable for people aged seven and up.

Payment is by donation, as you wish. Limited seating available.

Earlier, from 2pm to 5pm, there will be a Santa's Grotto photo booth in the cafe to capture family memories.

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Christmas Services 2025

Kilcullen Parish

Thursday 18th December - Carol Service 7.30pm

Monday 22nd December - Confessions 10am to 12pm

Season of Christmas

Gormanstown Church

Christmas Eve: 8pm Vigil Mass; Carol singing from 7.30pm

No Mass on Christmas Day

Kilcullen Church

Christmas Eve: 6pm Family Mass

Christmas Day: 10am and 11.30am Masses

St Stephen’s Day: Mass at 9.30am

Saturday 27th December: Mass at 10am; Vigil Mass (for Sunday) 6pm

Church of Ireland Services

Community Carol Services

Sunday 10th December: St John’s Church Kilcullen, Yellowbog, 10am

Sunday 10th December: St Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare, 3.30pm

Friday 15th December: St Patrick’s Church Carnalway, 7.30pm

Sunday 17th December: St Patrick’s Church Newbridge, 7.30pm

Christmas Eve

St Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare, Holy Communion 11pm

St Patricks Carnalway, Carols and Holy Communion, 10pm

Christmas Day

St Patrick’s Church Newbridge, Holy Communion 10am

St Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare, Holy Communion 11.30am with Bishop Pat Storey

Brannockstown 

Baptist Church

Friday 19th December: Carols by Candlelight, 7pm

Sunday 21st December: Christmas Family Service, 11am

Thursday 25th December: Christmas Day Service, 10am

Free refreshments at all activities. Eircode: W91 K004

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