Tracey O’Dwyer outlines her community priorities

In a newsletter update circulating in the Kildare-Newbridge MD, Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer has detailed her local agenda focused on roads, safety, community facilities, and planning across Kilcullen, Athgarvan, Newbridge, and related areas, writes Brian Byrne. The Kilcullen-based councillor was recently elected as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Kildare County Council.

For Kilcullen, the Fine Gael councillor says a major priority has been securing the future of Teach na nDaoine. She notes the building, which she hopes will become a dedicated space for senior citizens’ groups, was secured from the HSE for a nominal fee, with €180,000 in Local Property Tax funding allocated for essential repairs and works expected to begin before the end of this year. She also highlights progress on the Old Kilcullen Heritage Trail, saying she worked with the Old Kilcullen Committee and Kildare County Council to propose amendments after public consultation.

Road safety remains another major focus. She said she continues to push for improvements at Thompson’s Cross in Old Kilcullen, where work is hoped to commence this year, road widening in Athgarvan, and safety upgrades at several junctions, including Corbally, Mile Mill, Grangebeg, Baroda, and Kennel Bridge. Traffic calming on Kilcullen approach roads is a priority concern, and works are due to begin later this year on a €50,000 traffic calming project on the Curragh Road in Athgarvan. 

Cllr O’Dwyer has also been working with KCC to deal with parking pressures in Kilcullen — including in Kilcullen estates Bishop Rogan, Cnoc na Greine, and Riverside — on road and path upgrades, and on better bus stops and shelters for Two Mile House, Kilcullen, and Kinneagh Cross, and those recently provided in Athgarvan. She is also seeking improved access from the M9/M7 to Newbridge.

On community services, the councillor said she is addressing the lack of medical card dental services in Kilcullen and the shortage of childcare and after-school places. She also confirms €100,000 has been secured for a skatepark in Kilcullen, with a suitable site now being sought.

In Newbridge, she is working towards achieving a swimming pool, a municipal sports hub and a cultural centre, while in Athgarvan, she is supporting a new community space. She is also seeking a columbarium wall in St Brigid’s cemetery in Kilcullen.

The update also covers estate taking-in-charge projects, with work ongoing in locations including Hillcrest and Riverside in Kilcullen, Moorehill Wood in Brannockstown, and Walshestown Abbey and The Meadows in Newbridge. Cllr O’Dwyer says the adoption of the Kilcullen and Newbridge settlement plans in 2025 gives the area a roadmap for balanced development, and she points to zoning wins for school capacity in Kilcullen, and a new swimming pool and a sports hub for Newbridge.

She says her overall aim is to support safer communities and to keep local development aligned with infrastructure, accessibility and the needs of residents.

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New special class for CPC

Image: NCSE.

Cross and Passion College, Kilcullen, is getting a new special class for the 2026/2027 school year, writes Brian Byrne. This brings the total of new special classes established across Kildare this year to 33.

Meanwhile, families seeking a special school place for the 2027/2028 school year can now seek the facility on the Parents Notify online portal operated by the National Council for Special Education, which opened yesterday.

Parents or guardians must notify the NCSE through the online portal by 1 September and provide required documentation by 15 September 2026, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

Acknowledging that the deadline for Parents Notify is earlier than last year, Kildare South-based Senator Fiona O'Loughlin said it will help ensure there is a clear sense of demand, which can feed into the budget process in the autumn. "Early notification is essential to ensure sufficient places, staffing, and accommodation can be planned for the year ahead," she said.

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Curious Cubs Summer Camp in Ballymore Eustace

Curious Cubs Summer Camp 2026 is set to run from July 27 to July 31 at The Band Hall in Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare. Designed for children aged 3 to 7, the camp will offer a mix of arts and crafts, music, sensory play, dance, mindfulness, storytelling, imaginative play, and games.

Running Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm, the camp aims to build confidence, encourage friendships, and support children through the early school years. Places are limited, with a price of €100 and a 10% sibling discount available.

To book or request more information, contact multiactivitycampkildare@gmail.com or text 085 1892353.

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Local roads motions for MD meeting

Local roads issues are the focus of two motions put on the agenda of the next meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge MD by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, writes Brian Byrne.

The first is a request for Kildare CC to carry out repairs to the speed bumps at Scoil Bhride. The second is seeking consideration of the back access road at St Brigid's Avenue for resurfacing in 2027, and in the meantime, fix the potholes there.

The meeting will be held at 10 am on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, in the Council Chamber, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas. 

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Weather advisory issued for County Kildare

Met Éireann has issued a moderate weather advisory for County Kildare, warning of a prolonged spell of very warm or hot weather lasting into next week.

Daytime temperatures are expected to widely exceed 25°C, with highs reaching the high 20s or low 30s in places from Friday. The UV index is forecast to be high to very high, while warm and humid nights may bring minimum temperatures of 15°C or higher.

The advisory also warns of possible thunderstorms later this week, along with heat stress, dehydration, uncomfortable sleeping conditions, water safety risks, transport disruption, animal welfare concerns, drought concerns, and a heightened risk of wildfires.

The advisory is valid from 1am on Wednesday, July 8, until 2pm on Thursday, July 9. People are advised to follow updates from Met Éireann and take precautions in the heat.

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Men’s health cancer awareness talk in Newbridge

A free Men’s Health Cancer Awareness Talk will take place at Newbridge Family Resource Centre on Friday, 10 July, from 11am to 12pm.

The session will be delivered by a nurse from the Marie Keating Foundation and will focus on cancer awareness, early detection, signs and symptoms, screening programmes, and ways to reduce cancer risk through healthy lifestyle choices.

The talk is aimed at men who want to learn more about looking after their health, as well as family members and friends who want to encourage loved ones to seek support and information.

Newbridge Family Resource Centre is at W12 PX65. For more information, contact Claire on 086 7702907.

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Free GAA club memberships for boys and girls opportunity

Today, 7 July, is the last day to enter the Kilcullen GAA academy raffle, offering 20 free club memberships for 2026 to boys and girls aged 3-12. 

To participate, applicants must answer a question on the poster, scan a QR code, and email their answer to ragsgaa@gmail.com, including the child’s name, age, and school. 

This initiative aims to provide children with the opportunity to engage in team sports, and Kilcullen GAA is eager to welcome new members.

Additionally, all registered Kilcullen GAA academy members can win a Nintendo Switch by attending 10 sessions this summer. 

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Thank you from Fr Gary

On behalf of my mother and family, I wish to express my deepest gratitude for your kind messages and Mass cards following my father Jim Darby’s recent passing. Your support and prayers are a great comfort during these difficult days as we begin to find a new place for my dad in our lives. 

I also wish to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to those who travelled to Killucan for the removal last Sunday week, and to those who travelled to St Joseph’s Church, Rathwire, the next morning for his funeral Mass. Please keep my family in your prayers. 

Thank you to everyone for your kind support, which I have felt personally. Your empathy, prayers and support have deeply touched me. Thank you to Fr Celestine for his support.

Let us continue to pray for each other.

God bless.

Fr Gary.

The Story of Us Census 1926 exhibition opens in Naas Library

A touring exhibition exploring life in Ireland 100 years ago is now open to the public at Naas Library & Cultural Centre, writes Brian Byrne. Census 1926 — The Story of Us is on display in the Chamber from 4 July to 28 July 2026. 

It was officially opened on Saturday, with County Librarian, Gillian Allen; KCC Cathaoirleach, Cllr Tim Durkan; Kildare County Council Director of Service, Joe Boland; and Keeper at the National Archives, Zoe Reid. 

Eoghan Burke opened the event with a rendition of 'The Bold Fenian Men'. The Moat Players performed pieces inspired by Kildare natives who were listed in the 1926 Census.

The exhibition, presented in partnership with Kildare County Council, uses documents, images, audio-visual displays, and census returns to show what life was like in the newly independent Irish Free State.

It looks at areas including sport, entertainment, language, culture, religion, gender, housing, and working life.

The 1926 census collected 21 sets of information, including name, age, sex, marital status, religion, housing conditions, and ability to speak Irish. Personal information from individual census forms can be published 100 years after the census was taken.

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Applications for Credit Union educational bursary

A reminder that applications are open for the Chris Kelly Educational Bursary for 2026, continuing a long-running initiative that honours one of Kildare Credit Union’s founding members.

Open to KCU members attending third-level education for the first time in 2026, including mature students, the bursary offers the successful applicant €1,000 per year for up to three years to support the cost of further education. An application can be made here.

The bursary, which has been running since 2005, will be awarded by draw from all eligible applicants. Applications can be submitted using either the downloadable application form or the online application form.

The closing date for completed applications is Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

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