Vice-President of European Parliament visits CPC

MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness has been in CPC addressing a group group of Fifth Year students, writes Noel Clare.

The group will be travelling to the European Parliament in Strasbourg with their teacher John Tynan at the end of May.

The trip was first prize in an EU sponsored competition which the students entered last year.

New pilates term begins next week

The new intermediate level pilates matwork term starts next Monday 30 April for seven weeks in Kilcullen Community Centre.

The sessions run from from 8-9pm, and the price is €70 per course per person. Advance booking is required.

The class is suitable for those with existing pilates matwork experience. To book, contact Yvonne at yvonnepilatesyoga@gmail.com or through the Facebook page YUMANDFIT.

Dawn Behan writes about Woodbine Books in IT

Dawn Behan of Woodbine Books has a lovely piece in the Irish Times today about why and how she set up the bookshop in Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne.

Well worth a read, and she has nice things to say about her home town too.

Woodbine Books is Ireland’s Independent Bookshop of the Year, the regional winner in the UK and Ireland competition.

The overall winner of the £5,000 prize, won last year by Dublin’s The Gutter Bookshop, will be announced at the British Book Awards ceremony in London on 14 May.

Stations of the Cross installed in Gormanstown

Some of the recently-installed Stations.

A set of Stations of the Cross acquired from a closed-down convent in Dublin have been installed in Gormanstown Church, writes Brian Byrne.

The Stations came from the Sisters of Charity Convent and Chapel in Gardiner Street, which dated back to Victorian times and was put up for sale in 2016.

In due course, there will be a dedication ceremony of the Stations in Gormanstown, to the Sisters of Charity.

Meantime, the church has recently been painted by John Dunne and Alfie Haslam. Artistic lettering and other details within the church have also been refurbished by artist Gale Pullen, recently retired from teaching at the Kildare Steiner School.

Gormanstown Church itself was built around 1830 and pre-dates the Parish Church in Kilcullen. It is assessed as being typical of churches built in Ireland around the period of Catholic Emancipation, and retains many of its original features and materials, including the slate roof and fine-cut granite bell-cote.

The simplicity of the interior is a particular attraction, and allows the newly-installed Station to be viewed without distraction.

Pictures by Peter Moloney.

Symposium on GDPR regulations

A Breakfast Symposium on the new GDPR data protection rules will be hosted by County Kildare Chamber in the Osprey Hotel, Naas on 3 May from 7.30am, writes Brian Byrne.

The keynote speaker is Emerald de Leeuw, CEO of EuroComply, a software company that helps companies manage GDPR compliance.

Data protection expert Stephanie Tutton, a Senior Analyst of EuroComply, will also speak and conduct an outbreak session.

The Symposium will cost members of CKC €50, while non-members will be charged €100.

The breakout sessions at €30 each will be Marketing for business with Stephanie Tutton; Data security and data governance with Emerald de Leeuw; Impact on HR for business with Stephanie Tutton; and Demonstrating compliance & GDPR upkeep with Emerald de Leeuw.

Bookings may be made online at countykildarechamber.ie.

KBC competitive season draws to a close

DDLC Division 2 Runners Up Gareth Hogan Robert Butler Lynsey Walsh Sinead Kelly.

Kilcullen have been well represented at the latter stages of the Dublin District League 2017/2018 with a number of teams making it to the play off, semi-final and a final stages, writes Tara O'Neill.

It seems the mixed league has been the club’s forte this year with two teams making it to a semi final and one team making it one step further to a final. Barry O’Neill’s Division 6 Mixed team have been solid all year round progressing to the same later stages in the Cup also, but it just was not to be their night as they suffered a defeat in their semi-final against old rivals Knocklyon.

Olivier Valory’s Division 8 Mixed have had a similarly successful season in both the Dublin and South West competitions. The team were unfortunate to bow out at the semi-final stages also.

Lynsey Walshe’s Division 2 Ladies sailed had a great season and managed to reach both the semi-final and final, however it was just not to be their night despite putting up a good fight against well acquainted rivals Old Bawn.

Debbie Mangan’s Division 2 Ladies played some great games throughout their season, topping their group and securing themselves a place in the semi-final. They came up against Ailesbury and despite putting in their best efforts came second on the night.

John McGrane’s Division 4 Men’s secured themselves a well earned semi final spot also but were unfortunate enough not to progress to the final stage.

As mentioned in a previous article, Kilcullen’s Grade 3 Mixed team were very unlucky to come runners up in the South West Leinster competition. Lucky for them though, the two teams that reached the final were given the opportunity to represent the League in the Leinster Badminton Interleague competition. It wasn’t to be yet again for this team as they were beaten by a strong Kilmessan team.

Finally, the fortnight finished up with a number of individuals from Kilcullen representing their county in the Leinster County Individuals competition. Enda O’Neill and Kathrin Logan had progressed to the semi-final stages of the Grade 4 Mixed but had to pull out due to injury. Instead their trusty teammates Barry O’Neill and Jennifer Monaghan stood in and gave their all. The well-practised pair came runners up to a strong side.

Also representing Kildare in the mixed were Tara O’Neill and John McGrane who played a strong Boyne side in the Grade 3, but despite their best efforts in three sets were beaten also. Enda O’Neill and Barry O’Neill had tough competition in the Grade 4 Men’s and it was not to be their day. Tara O’Neill and Siobhan Willis (Baltinglass) beat Dublin in the Grade 3 Ladies semis, the progressed to the finals and fought hard to beat a strong Wicklow claiming a Leinster title for themselves.

Sarah Walshe represented Kildare Grade 4 Singles but was beaten by a well-practised opponent from Westmeath. Sarah also represented Kildare in the Grade 4 Ladies with Emily Miggen and were extremely unlucky to be beaten in the third set 22-20. Sinead Kelly and her partner Caroline Sheedy knew it was never going to be easy as they were beaten by a good Dublin partnership in the Grade 2 Ladies.

David Jackson and Martin Dunne represented Laois in the Grade 2 Men’s semi-final and while they gave it their best shot and lost they knew all wasn’t to be lost, both having a second chance in the Grade 2 Mixed. Martin and his partner Claire gave it their best shot once too but it wasn’t to be.

David and his partner Rachel Cass (Portarlington) won their semi final game making it through to the final where they faced Dublin. While the pair got to three sets they were unfortunate not to come out at the winning end. Well done to everyone. It is a great achievement to get the chance to represent your county.

As always, it has been a very busy season for Kilcullen Badminton Club. There’s no doubt that as the competitive season draws to a close many members will be looking forward to a well-earned break. The club's official season is not finished just yet, with another month or so left for members to come down to the club and knock the shuttle about at their own leisure. It is hoped that Summer Club will commence towards the end of May with a usual Pay As You Go/Summer Fee envisaged.

More details to follow, but for now it’s a massive well done to all of my fellow club members on all of your achievements this year!

Grade 3 Leinster Individual Winners Tara O'Neill and Siobhan Willis.

Kilsaran seeks further 10-year extension at Brownstown

Kilsaran Concrete has applied for for a 10-year extension to its permission to extract and process sand and gravel in the Brownstown, Corbally and Silliot Hill area, writes Brian Byrne.

The application is at a pre-validation stage, and there's no date for submissions yet.

The application refers to an 89-hectare site with control cabin and canteen facilities, electricity substation, bunded fuel tanks, ESB substation and Switch-house and septic tank etc.

In 2007, the company was granted a 10-year extension to its operations there.

The File Number is 18427. The company has a number of other planning applications under consideration.

Punchestown is organ donor awareness time

Jockey Elizabeth O'Shaughnessy from Kildare, promoting organ donor cards.

As Punchestown Week starts, it's also that time of year when local organ donor cause champion James Nolan gets to see the positive of his own early kidney troubles, the running of the Charity Race he founded, on the last day of the Festival, writes Brian Byrne.

"It's hard to believe it's already that time of year again," says James, who received a kidney transplant from his sister Catherine Doyle on the 25th July 1987. It was a life saving donation that James describes as the greatest gift that one human being can give to another and that is The Gift of Life. Without this, James was facing a life on dialysis.

It's the 29th running of the race, which funds the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, and involves 25 amateur riders battling it out, most of whom will not have raced before.

James has ridden in the race himself 13 times and won it on Nero’s Dancer in 2002, an experience he describes as one of the highlights of his life. Fortunately, over 30 years later, both Catherine and James are healthy and well and looking forward to the Festival at Punchestown.

The 25 Jockeys for this year's race are Stephen Thorne, Dublin; Orla Donworth, Kildare; Kirsty Campbell, Carlow; Emma Connolly, Meath; Zoe Donohoe, Meath; Karen Moore, Kildare; Sarah Neville, Tipperary; Stephen McGuire, Dublin; Conor Strain, Antrim; Rachel Sweeney, Cork; Paddy Woods, Meath; Anne Widger, Tipperary; Louise Lynn, Dublin; John Stagg, Mayo; David O'Neill, Westmeath; Alvin Barry, Kildare; Geraldine Gleeson, Dublin; Bertram Allen, Wexford; Sorcha Woods, Kildare; Caolann O Conaola, Galway; Dermot Duffy, Galway; Sarah Jane Denny, York, England; Elizabeth O'Shaughessy, Kildare; Tina Condon, Cork; and Ian Cribbin, Kildare.

Each will have raised a minimum of €1,500 in sponsorship to take part.

Since 1990 the PKRF has raised over €1.4m which has been divided amongst various projects that help improve the quality of life for patients on dialysis, maximise the lifespan of the transplanted kidney, suppports medical research projects that will help people with kidney disease, and promotes Organ Donor Awareness.

During 2016 and 2017, for instance, €150,000 was donated to open a new renal unit at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in December 2017 in Dublin. In addition, €100,000 was committed to support two kidney-related research projects under the guidance of the Irish Nephrology Society.

A further €20,000 was committed to continue Art Therapy programmes for dialysis patients in Tallaght and Waterford Dialysis Units, and €5,000 was provided for a Sports Programme for Kidney Patients

For more information please contact James Nolan at 086/2349919 — or visit www.pkrf.ie.

Tennis in the Saturday sun

The Juniors thoroughly enjoyed the tennis games on Saturday in the sunshine at Kilcullen Tennis Club, writes Mary Butler.

All three sessions saw new members join up and the Spring Season is now well and truly in full swing!

Please email KTCMembershipMail@gmail.com for information on joining.

The passing of Billy Clifford

The Diary has learned of the death of William 'Billy' Clifford of St Brigid's Avenue.

He passed away in the wonderful care of the nurses and staff of the Curragh Lawn Nursing Home. Billy, husband of the late Brigid (Queenie) and father of the late Liam; sadly missed by his loving sons and daughters Patricia, Bridie, Mary, Esther, Theresa, Gay, Martina and John, Ger and Joe, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother and sisters, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends

He will be reposing at Anderson and Leahy’s Funeral Home, Newbridge, from 2pm Monday, with prayers at 8 o’clock

Removal will be on Tuesday morning at 10.15am to arrive at the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Brigid, Kilcullen for 11am mass.

Burial will take place afterwards in St Brigid’s Cemetery, Kilcullen.

Family flowers only, donations if desired may be made to the Oblates Lourdes Fund, and Friends of St Brigid’s Hospice, Moore Abbey, for which purpose there will be a donations box in the church.

May he rest in peace.

Thanks for the Teach Cake Sale support

Liz and Jacinta would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who donated some lovely cakes to our Teach na nDaoine cake sale, writes Jacinta Sully.

Also thanks to Antoinette Buckley for all her help on the morning, and thanks to everyone who came and supported.

We made a total of €535. Thanks from the Teach na nDaoine committee for the continued support from the community.

Kilcullen GAA Social & Awards Night

Dan Bell receiving the Club Person of the Year award from Christy Howard, with Club Chairman Des O'Brien.

Dan Bell was presented with the Kilcullen GAA Club Person of the Year award at the Club's annual Social & Awards Night in the Hideout, writes Brian Byrne. The award was presented by Christy Howard who said the Bell family have been dedicated to the Club for many years.

There was a full house attendance for the evening, at which there were also Player of the Year awards for Minors, Juniors and Seniors. These were Senior Men’s Player of the Year - Willie Jones; Senior Ladies Player of the Year - Eimear McBride; Junior Men’s Player of the Year - Tim Carey; Minor Boys Player of the Year - Ciaran Melinn; and Minor Girls Player of the Year - Emma Keane.

An Auction and Raffle during the evening raised funds for the U14 Girls Feile team which will be participating in Féile na nÓg in Louth at the end of June.

The auction by Nick Egan of three signed jerseys raised €925. The jerseys were a U14 Girls Feile team, a 3-in-a-row Dublin All-Ireland football, and a 2018 Kildare team.

The Raffle prizes included tickets for Punchestown race meeting next week, a signed Gaelic football by the Kildare team, an Adult Kildare jersey plus Boys and Girls Rags jersey, a case of wine, a Ngai’s restaurant voucher and bottle of red wine, a Berneys Saddlery jacket, a Linda Doyle beautician voucher, a Daybreak bottle of wine and chocolates.

Earlier, a Cake Sale during their morning training session by the girls raised €490.

At the start of the evening, Pat Lynch, president of the Club, thanked all for coming, on behalf of the Committee and the Club.

Club Chairman Des O'Brien noted that it was a night to appreciate the people in the club who have done so much work.

All the Diary's pictured from the evening are available here. There's a selection from the gallery below.