KILCULLEN ADVANCES TO 400 MARKS IN 2026 TIDY TOWNS

Kilcullen achieved a milestone score of 400 marks in the SuperValu National Tidy Towns Competition 2026, writes Brian Byrne. It's an 11-point increase from the 2025 total of 389. 

Competing in the Small Town Category D, with populations between 2,500 and 5,000, the 2026 result marks 30 consecutive years of Kilcullen participation in Tidy Towns. The adjudicator praises the town's 47-page detailed submission as an 'excellent example for many other towns to follow'.

The work under Nature and Biodiversity in the extensive tree, native hedge and bulb and flower planting undertaken to protect the ecosystems in the town is noted, as is the significant task of removal of invasive species including Himalayan Balsam from the river banks and Dogwood from the Valley Park. The children’s workshops with Dulra Forest School for Biodiversity Week is also marked. The long-term work of reclaiming Pinkeen Stream is singled out for praise, and the 5,000 trees planted in the last three years across the Community Centre, GAA, and schools campus are commended. Under Tidiness and Litter Control, a high standard in all of the public areas visited is commented on. Takeaway littering is described as a scourge.

There is praise for the pedestrianisation of Lower Main Street and Market Square, and for shopfronts including Kilcullen Opticians, The Little Brew Cafe, 5 A Day, An Tearmann, Woodbine Books, The Hideout Gastro Pub, and McTernans. The art installations on utility boxes, and the 'outstanding' butterfly installation in the Valley, are praised, while the Library Garden is described as 'a great refuge'. 

Under Sustainable Action & Community Collaboration, the report highlights the Cross and Passion College students’ repurposing of old metal lockers into plant containers, the KCA polytunnel, the seed-swapping network, and the orchard in the Camphill Community.

In the area of energy transition, credit is given to the Lions Club Sheltered Housing retrofit insulation across four homes with SEAI and Kildare County Council backing, and the installation of rooftop solar panels on premises such as The Spout Bar.

Other observations include the Green School programmes at Scoil Bhríde and Cross and Passion College, while housing estates such as Nicholastown (winners of the 2025 KCA Best Biodiversity Impact award) and St Brigid’s Avenue receive top marks for community care.

The contribution of the volunteers, CE workers, sports and community organisations, and the support from businesses and Kildare County Council are all acknowledged in the report.

(NOTE: In an earlier version of this story I misread the notes and consequently the commentary on Nature and Biodiversity and Tidiness and Litter Control was incorrect.)

THE FULL ADJUDICATOR'S REPORT CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE.

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KILCULLEN TWINNING GROUP IN SAINT-CONTEST

After a long day travelling, the Kilcullen twinning delegation arrived in Saint-Contest in Normandy last evening to a warm welcome, writes Tanya Flanagan. We are delighted to be here.

There are eleven of us on the trip, including Twinning Committee members, representatives from Scoil Bhride and CPC and Irish dancers.

The dancers and a musician will be performing at the civic reception organised for us in their Town Hall tonight, Saturday.

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FOLK GROUP SEEKS MUSICIANS

Kilcullen Folk Group is looking for new musicians to play in our group. We meet on the first Saturday in the Church of the Sacred Heart & St Brigid at 5.30pm to practice – with Mass starting at 6pm.

Interested in more details? Please contact Frances on 087 9746000.

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CROSSING AT CPC TO BE UPGRADED NEXT WEEK

Works will commence next week to upgrade the Zebra Crossing at CPC to a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing, with push button units.  

The works will include the removal of Zebra Crossing equipment and the installation of new pedestrian crossing equipment, road lining, and all associated site works. 

Traffic and pedestrian management will be in place for the duration of the works. Kildare County Council apologies for any inconvenience caused.

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KILCULLEN WINS SECOND GOLD MEDAL AT 2026 SUPERVALU TIDY TOWNS

Kilcullen has won a Gold Medal at the Supervalu Tidy Towns 2026 national awards, writes Brian Byrne. It's the second year in a row that Kilcullen won gold.

KCA members Tony O'Sullivan, Sabina Reddy and Martin Sheridan are at the awards event in Croke Park today.

In 2023 and 2024, Kilcullen won Bronze and Silver medals.

Twelve communities in County Kildare achieved gold this year.

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NIAMH KAVANAGH AFTERNOON FOR HOPE FOUNDATION

Irish Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh will perform at an afternoon of entertainment on Friday, 26 February 2027, at Barberstown Castle Hotel, Straffan, in aid of the HOPE Foundation.

Tables for 8, 10, and 12 are available, as well as individual and couples’ tickets. Early Bird Tickets can be booked at the Hope Foundation website. Tickets to the event would make excellent Christmas gifts.

Proceeds will support HOPE’s life-changing programmes in Kolkata, helping make real their vision of 'a world where it should never hurt to be a child'.

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WOODBINE ON SHORTLIST FOR 2026 BOOKSHOP OF THE YEAR

Woodbine Books team member Paula Kavanagh, with owners Aidan Cunnane and Dawn Behan.

Woodbine Books has made the shortlist for the An Post Bookshop of the Year 2026. writes Brian Byrne. The Kilcullen shop is one of six, the others being from Dromore, Galway, Limerick, Bray and Waterford.

Woodbine Books recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of providing the town with not just a bookshop, but a hub of writing, crafts, games and social enjoyment. The shop hosts book clubs, book launches, readings, theatrical presentations, and open mic evenings for writers and musicians, which have been part of Kilcullen life over the last ten years. The store is also the HQ for the monthly meetings of the local Creative Writers Group. 

In the last two years, grant awards from the Books at One Community Fund have allowed Woodbine to expand the social engagement aspect of an enterprise that is cherished by all in the community. Among these are the monthly Sketchbook Club sessions where people can travel their own artistic roads in a non-competitive space. Involvement in children's reading and writing is another passion for all in the shop, with outreach events to the local primary schools all part of the effort.

Support for local authors and craftspeople has been a key part of the Woodbine crew's activity, along with partnering for local drama and film club ticket sales.

The bookshop was the Irish Region winner in the Independent Bookshop of the Year competition in the British Book Awards 2018. 

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RUGBY CLUB QUIZ NIGHT TONIGHT

A reminder that Newbridge Rugby Club is hosting a Quiz Night TONIGHT, Friday, 23 October 2026, at 7:30pm at the NRFC Clubhouse. The event will raise funds for the U16 Girls Rugby Tour to Italy in 2027. 

Tickets are €40 for a table of four, with a bar open on the night and raffle prizes available. 

Prebooking is encouraged by contacting Afton at 085 1644451 or Welmie at 085 8003775.

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KILCULLEN WINNER OF KILDARE CREDIT UNION BURSARY

Identifying the winner at the draw. Image: KCU.

The winner of the Chris Kelly Bursary Draw 2026 is Carl Kenna from Castlemartin Lodge, Kilcullen. The bursary has been running since 2005 and honours one of Kildare Credit Union’s founding members.

Open to KCU members attending third-level education for the first time, including mature students, the bursary provides the successful applicant with €1,000 per year for up to three years to support the cost of further education.

The winner was decided by draw.

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APPEAL FOR CYCLISTS TO LIGHT UP

File image by Deepak Gautam via Pexels.

As the evenings draw in and darkness falls earlier, may I raise the issue of cyclist visibility, writes Frances Moloney. I am encountering young people in dark clothes on unlit bikes, flying up and down Main Street, Kilcullen, who seem to have no awareness of how vulnerable they are when they are unseen by road traffic. 

It is also to be noted that none of these young people are wearing protective helmets.

May I appeal to parents to provide their children with lights for their bike and encourage their use? May I further appeal to sports coaches to reiterate the need to light up when heading to or from training, as I think many of these children are.

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HALLOWEEN EVENT IN LIBRARY GARDEN

A Halloween event is being organised by KCA and Kilcullen Library at the Library Community Garden on Thursday, 29 October, running from 6-8pm. 

The evening promises spooktacular sights and sounds, including a scavenger picture hunt for children with prizes for winners. 

All welcome.

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NEW AI AND CLIMATE PROGRAMME FOR IRISH SCHOOLS

A new national education initiative, GreenFutures, has been launched to help Transition Year students explore how artificial intelligence and climate change is changing their world. The free four-lesson programme was developed by Trinity College Dublin’s ADAPT Centre in partnership with UNESCO and supported by Huawei Ireland.

A first in Ireland to combine AI literacy with climate education, the programme's lessons cover climate data, AI ethics, sustainable systems and climate justice, encouraging students to think critically about technology’s impact on the environment.

The programme is part of UNESCO’s broader initiatives on sustainable development and digital transformation, and aligns with Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. Schools can access resources and register to participate at this link.

Pictured at the launch are Arthur Collins (TY at CUS); Calvin Lan (Huawei Ireland CEO); Siena Donnelly (Loreto St Stephen’s Green); Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth TD; Olivia Waters (Head of Impact and Growth Strategy at ADAPT Centre); Ruby O’Hanlon (Loreto St Stephen’s Green); and Robert Creane-Bolster (CUS).

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