Dorly's book is back in Woodbine

A new batch of Dorly O'Sullivan's book, Damien - a life for my son, has arrived at Woodbine Books, writes Brian Byrne. The 184-page hardback documents life in the family with Damien, who has Down syndrome and Autism (ASD-DS) and is non-verbal. 

First published last October, the book costs €20 and provides an absorbing and honest reflection of the emotions and frustrations experienced by the O'Sullivan family when Damien was in his early teens and issues with aggressive behaviour emerged. The story concludes when Damien finally becomes a resident at Camphill Grangebeg.

It's a challenging read at times, reflecting personal incidents, but it is, overall, a heartfelt and gripping account of a family's resilience and love for one another.

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St Brigid crosses in Berney's

Berney's Pharmacy are once again stocking St Brigid’s Crosses, handcrafted by Mrs Kathleen Houlihan from Nurney, and available for a contribution of €5. 

All money raised goes to Maintain Hope, supporting children in Kenya.

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Old road surface uncovered

This section of the old cobble road surface uncovered during current excavations outside O'Connell's Bar prompted thoughts on when the road might have first been tarred, writes Brian Byrne. A photograph from the Lawrence Collection, from around 1900, shows the main street as an untarred road, and in 1903, when the Gordon Bennett Race was held, all the main roads around Kilcullen were essentially dirt.

Tarring was done gradually. In 1916, the local authority sometimes only tarred the middle of a road to save money, according to the minutes of a Kildare County Council meeting in the 1920s. Because the tarred sections had a 'crossfall' camber to allow water to drain off, it could be difficult for horses, which was a common complaint to the council. Additionally, it was typical to apply a 'sealing' coat of tar on top, which made the surface slippery for horses. 

However, the local authority in Kildare demonstrated that the lifespan of tarred sections was longer than with the previous method of using water-bound soft limestone. By this time, too, the level of motor traffic, including buses and lorries, was increasing, and these needs superseded those of horse-drawn traffic. By 1928, about 12 per cent of County Kildare's roads were tarred. 

The late Tommy Byrne, my uncle, recalled that when he was a young boy playing on the main street in Kilcullen in the early 1930s, 'the tar had arrived,' so they were able to play with spinning tops on the roadway.

The road through Kilcullen was historically important as part of Ireland's first turnpike (toll-road) system, established in 1729 to improve the poor condition of the route. After the formation of the Irish Free State, significant and ongoing improvements to main roads occurred in the 1920s and early 1930s, funded by grants from the Road Fund. By the mid-1930s, most main roads in the area had been surfaced with tarmacadam.
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Kilcullen AFC U13s get new kit

Kilcullen AFC Under-13 Whites were presented with team kits by James Nolan from the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund at their clubhouse last evening.

James told the players he was impressed by their dedication after seeing their training and some matches. He encouraged them to keep giving their best effort to their team. 

He also acknowledged the work of the team’s coaches and managers, Brian Hunt, Davie Lee Carroll, Barry Griffith, and Cathal Hunter, who volunteer their time and expertise. 

Brian Hunt introduced each individual to receive their kit.

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Trees national photography competition for schools

The third National Schools Photography Competition, organised by Coillte, is now open, writes Brian Byrne. In association with National Tree Week, scheduled from 8-15 March, entrants  are invited to submit a photo of their favourite tree or outdoor nature space for a chance to win a class trip to Beyond the Trees Avondale. 

Entries will be accepted until 12 noon on Tuesday, 24 February 2026. The theme of this year’s National Tree Week is Growing a Greener Future Together. 

Details of how to enter can be found at this link. 

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Canoe Club Easter Camp

Kilcullen Canoe Club is holding an Easter Camp this year in response to popular demand. The 4-day camp is open to anyone aged 12 and over and welcomes all abilities, especially complete beginners. 

The cost is €209 and includes morning and afternoon sessions from 8.30am to 12 noon and 1pm to 5pm. Participants will receive a Level 1 Paddlesports Skills Certificate and a year’s membership to Kilcullen Canoe Club. The camp features kayaking, canoeing, and SUP activities. Instructors are child safeguarding certified and regularly train juniors at Kilcullen Canoe Club. 

For tickets and more information, visit Eventbrite here. 

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Mural brings City of Light to Armelle's

Madalina Cîrlig and Armelle.

A new mural in Armelle's Kitchen cake shop is a local showpiece for a young Kilcullen woman eager to turn her art into a career, writes Brian Byrne. The Parisian outdoor cafe scene is appropriate to France-born Armelle, who has spent the past 14 years developing her own patisserie in Kilcullen. 

The artist is Madalina Cîrlig, only 20, who already has a sharp business sense and an artistic talent refined during secondary school in Naas, to where her parents moved from Moldova when Madalina was seven. Instead of following the traditional route through third-level art after finishing at St Mary's College, Madalina decided to apply her skills directly to the marketplace. 

Her first job involved designing tattoos, but she realised it wasn't quite her scene, so she left that behind and now focuses on the 'big canvases' of murals. "This is much better because it gives me the opportunity to provide art that represents a business's brand," she says. "I've been building a portfolio of art and designs over the years, but for this kind of work, people want to see actual murals. I've been very fortunate to have this commission from Armelle, which is in such a public place." 

Armelle had a drawing of a Parisian cafe with outdoor tables and suggested Madalina draw inspiration from it. The artist expanded on that idea, creating a piece that hints at the City of Light with cherry blossom trees, a table for two with an umbrella, and a section of the iconic Eiffel Tower in the background. "An important thing was that there should be a lot of pink, because that's Armelle's colour. But I also wanted to show the macarons for which she is famous." A steaming cup of coffee beside a packet of macarons on the table suggests a diner just stepped away for a moment. 

The overall effect is very three-dimensional, making the shop appear larger and more summery. Part of Madalina's magic with the piece was not overloading the details. "The wall is not that big, and if you put in too much detail close up, it could look blotched and blurry. This way, viewers can imagine what's beyond the foreground." 

Living in Riverside Manor, Madalina owns her own business brand, Urban Canvas. She notes that murals like this are very popular in other European countries and sees great potential to develop them here. "I have proposals with other cafés in Kilcullen and Naas, so hopefully they will bring me more work." 

And more exposure. One advantage of having your work displayed in public commercial spaces is that passersby, going about their daily routines, don't have to go out of their way to visit a gallery to see your art. It’s a win-win for everyone.

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Curragh swimming pool reopens to public groups

Fianna Fáil Senator for Kildare South, Fiona O’Loughlin, has confirmed that the Curragh military swimming pool can reopen for use by local schools and community groups due to the recruitment of sufficient lifeguards, writes Brian Byrne.

The pool had previously been accessible to local schools, swimming clubs, and Defence Forces families, but has remained closed to the public since the COVID-19 pandemic. It underwent renovations in September 2024, costing nearly €300,000. However, the Defence Forces couldn’t recruit enough lifeguards at the time, preventing the public from using it.

Senator O’Loughlin confirmed that two full-time and two part-time lifeguards are now in place, allowing the pool to reopen.

She says it has been a “long-fought battle” to bring a public asset back into service and that she remains committed to securing funding and resources for a public swimming pool in Newbridge. "Kildare needs amenities that match its growth, and the reopening won’t stop this campaign."

Interested schools and community groups should contact estatemanagementcurragh@defence.ie to ask about pool availability.

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Brigid Film Season 2026 at Kilcullen Bridge Cinema

A reminder that the Brigid Film Season 2026, hosted by Kilcullen Bridge Cinema and supported by Kildare County Council, will feature a selection of films that depict the values of Saint Brigid and celebrate her legacy, writes Teresa Nurse of Kilcullen Lions. 

The season opens on Sunday, 1 February at 2pm with a family film, The Wild Robot. Roz is a curious robot who becomes stranded in the wilderness and must learn to adapt, survive, and form unexpected friendships with the animals around her. Children will love the charming characters and thrilling moments, and adults will appreciate the emotional depth and life lessons.

On Tuesday, 3 February, there will be a drinks reception followed by the film Four Mothers. An Irish Film set in Dublin, it tells the story of Edward, an Irish novelist whose career has stalled due to the demands of caring for his ailing mother Alma. He’s kept sane by a group of friends in similar situations — until those friends spontaneously decide to escape to a Pride festival in the Canaries, leaving Edward alone to care for all their mothers at once. It is a heartwarming film that explores themes of ageing, caregiving, loneliness, and sexual identity.

Tickets for both films are now on sale in Woodbine Books, Kilcullen, and on Eventbrite.

Details of further Brigid Film Season screenings later.

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