'No Facebook voting' for Community Awards

The format of the annual Kilcullen Community Awards will be continued as before for this year, writes Brian Byrne.

This was decided at the most recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action, held in The Hideout. A date has yet to be set for the event, but it probably will be in late October or early November.

Chairman Ray Kelly said that someone had proposed a Facebook voting system to pick the winners from the nominations, an idea that received absolutely negative response from the meeting.

During the discussion it was suggested that there might be a large number of sports nominations, given the successes of various sports groups and individuals in Kilcullen this year.

The winners of the Kilcullen in Bloom Garden Competition will also be announced at the Awards.

A call for nominations for the Awards will shortly be made.

The next meeting of KCA will be on Thursday 4 October, in O'Connells Lounge at 8pm.

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Kilcullen Toddler Group to resume activities

The Kilcullen Toddler Group will resume on Wednesday next, 26 September, in the Parish Centre, writes Brian Byrne.

The group had not restarted as usual after the summer break some weeks ago, as not enough volunteers were available.

However, organiser Laura Murphy announced on Thursday last that new volunteers had come forward, following an appeal, which will allow the group's resumption. It meets on Wednesdays from 10am to 12 noon.

The group was originally set up in the early 1990s.

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'Lack of design personnel' holds up changes to Narraghmore square

Pic: Google Maps.

Local parking issues and a lack of design personnel are holding up the completion of works in the Square in Narraghmore, writes Brian Byrne.

Cllr Ivan Keatley.

That's according to a reply to Cllr Ivan Keatley at the recent meeting of Athy MD, which noted that the parking issues raised during a public consultation on the community-led plan require a review of the proposed layout and modifications to the design.

Agreement from local property owners would also be required, according to the Roads, Transport and Public Safety department in Kildare County Council.

Cllr Keatley was told that the Municipal District 'currently does not have the personnel to deal with the design issue', and that consequently a timeline for completion of the works cannot be provided.

Cllr Keatley's query had noted that the timeframe for the completion of the works 'is now long overdue'.

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A Big Thank You to the people of Kilcullen!

Lorna Brophy and some members of the Dawn Walk committee presenting a cheque to Peter Hurley of Pieta House.

Pieta House is deeply grateful to Lorna Brophy and Richie Kelly and the wonderful fundraising committee of volunteers in Kilcullen, writes Peter Hurley, Director of Human Resources at Pieta House.

Please be assured the significant funds you raised (almost €22,000 this year) will be used to provide professional therapy to many people who are in crisis and at risk of suicide or engaging in self- harm.

Our service — now employing nearly 300 staff in 15 centres across the country — has never been as busy, with a growing demand for work to be done in our services of prevention, intervention and postvention. We also operate a 24/7 helpline (1 800 247 247 ).

It is people just like the generous fundraisers and the community of Kilcullen that make our work possible and it was simply humbling for us to experience the commitment and dedication of you and your committee on Friday night — sincere thanks again to you all again and to those who took part in the wonderful event held during the summer.

Keep up the tremendous work and good health and happiness to all in Kilcullen for the remainder of 2018 and beyond!

READ: A wonderful walk for Pieta House

READ: Full house for Twilight Chorus

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'Wellness Wednesday' plan

An inaugural 'Wellness Wednesday' evening will be held next Wednesday 26 October, organised by nurse Ramona McCormack.

The event will introduce a new nutritional system recently launched in Europe and is aimed at giving users more energy, help them lose weight, management of stress, improved fitness and better sleeping.

The meeting will be in Sunnyhill. For further information and directions, call 086 3172663.


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Photography Club AGM

Kilcullen Photography Club will be holding its AGM on Thursday next, 27 September, writes Brian Byrne.

All who are interested in photography are welcome to attend the event, which is in The Artaban hall at Bridge Camphill, starting at 8pm.

The club is just a little over a year old and has had a number of outings, and is also working on a 2019 Calendar based on pictures taken around Kilcullen by members.

The club has also just set up its own website, where they can be contacted and people can view galleries of members' photographs and keep in touch with upcoming events.

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Appreciative audience for '1798' Culture Night presentation

There was an enthusiastic and appreciative audience in the Library last evening for the Culture Night presentation on the Rebellion of 1798 as it related to Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne.

The presentations included history, song and stories from the time, illustrated with contemporary drawings and paintings. Gerry O'Donoghue, who gives the annual talk on the site of the battle at Old Kilcullen, provided the core details of the event, including how bloody and treacherous it was.

The other contributors were Maurice O’Mahony, Joe Kelly, Francie O’Brien, and Frank Morrow. There was also a public debut of a song written for next year's Kilcullen 700 celebrations of the building of the first bridge at Kilcullen.

A large 1798 poster made by the pupils of Scoil Bhride in the hall of the Library was a highlight presentation of its own.



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Names on old McTernans faces?

This is one of a treasure trove of pictures provided to the recent 'Meitheal of Memories' organised by Mary Orford and her team, writes Brian Byrne.

It is one from John Brady's collection of Kilcullen memorabilia and was given to the Diary by Patricia Byrne, whose dad Danny O'Sullivan is on the left of the top row.

It was taken in McTernans, and the late Joe McTernan is in the centre. If any Diary reader knows some of the faces, we'll be delighted to help fill in any gaps.

UPDATE: Thanks to Noel O'Connell, we know that the man on the bottom left is the late Sean Keegan, who worked in Brennans Hardware before setting up his own hardware business in Newbridge.
Meanwhile, Patricia Byrne has come back with more names, courtesy of her mother Breda O'Sullivan. At the very top, white coat and glass in hand, is Gerry Coleman; beside him ? O'Toole; then Matt Dunlea; and AN Other. The next row down is Jimmy O'Neill; AN Other; Sean Callan (with the hat); and we don't have the rest of that row.
The middle row includes Myles Fenelon; AN Other; Joe McTernan; AN Other (half face); ? Walker; James O'Sullivan (Patricia's grandfather); ? O'Rourke; and AN Other.
Front row people include Sean Keegan; AN Other; ? O'Neill; and Paddy Nugent (crouched).

In the meantime, a member of the Meitheal of Memories project team has been despatched to John Brady to pin down the names from all of the 22 photographs he provided to the collection.

There will be another session on Thursday 4 October, in the Kilcullen Heritage Centre, where people are again invited to bring in memorabilia of all kinds, which will be scanned or photographed and returned immediately to the owners. The session will be from 7pm to 9pm.

"If I have learned anything it is that people want and need to reminisce and share their stories," Mary Orford says, "so even simply collecting the material can take time as we need to acknowledge the value of each item. We now have a great little working group."

Mary notes that 'yesterday is now history so the memorabilia doesn’t have to be as old as stone tablets!'. "At our previous sessions people brought photographs, medals, drama programmes, a diary, a matchbox. We'd love to have any material relating to Kilcullen military life, the big houses and estates and the people who worked there, correspondence to and from Kilcullen, school photos, parish outings, famous people who lived here, sporting heroes, carnivals?"

So bring your memorabilia along and share your story, and help to save the memories of Kilcullen.

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Dawn Walk and concert cheque given to Pieta House

A cheque for €21,784 was presented to Pieta House last night in O'Connell's Bar, writes Brian Byrne.

The money represented the proceeds of this year's Dawn Walk to New Abbey Stud and the Twilight Chorus Concert in the market square on the evening of the same day.

Pictured are Lorna Brophy and some members of the organising committee, along with Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin, handing the cheque to Peter Hurley, Director of Human Resources at Pieta House.

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Choosing the right career path

Pic: Startup Stock Photos.

With Higher Options in the near past, the near future of the CAO deadlines is beginning, writes Eoin Houlihan of Right Choice Careers. So too is the closing date for UCAS, which is the UK's version of the CAO.

Those wanting to study at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry must do so by the 15th October at 18:00, according to the UCAS website. There are other deadlines after this date but the majority of colleges and courses have the deadline of 15th January 2019 at 18:00.

On the 29th of September the ISH Young Breeders Programme Training Event will be taking place in Kildalton Agriculture College. To find out more information log onto Qualifax.ie and search the above event. This is a fantastic opportunity for any young budding breeder.

Kildalton will also have its first open day on the 5th October. Open tours start at 10am and 11am. Further information on their website.

Any student wishing to become a primary school teacher should be aware that Mary Immaculate College will run its open day on the 18th of October. Check website for details.

Any student who is interested in careers in; Animation, Art, Character Make Up Design, Costume Design, Creative Music Production, Cyberpsychology, Broadcast Production for Radio and Television, Photography, and more, should check out the IADT website. There are some fantastic opportunities for potential students to register for the free Taster Days that are on offer during the Halloween break, 30th October to 2nd November.

For all these events please check college websites for further information.

There is a lot happening in the world of careers. If your child is wondering what they should do and not sure how to go about it then let us help them. Enrol your child onto one of our three bespoke workshops, facilitated by two professional Guidance Counsellors. For further information you can get in touch by emailing Eoin and Sandra on rightchoicecareers@yahoo.com


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'Goal Setting' for careers workshop in library

An advice session on 'Goal Setting: Defining and Progressing Your Career or Business Goals' will be held in Kildare Library on Wednesday 10 October, writes Brian Byrne.

Presented by Deirdre O'Shea Consulting, the session will run from 9.30am to 12.30pm and is aimed at those who don't set goals, or who do but find them ineffective.

The workshop will detail the core tips and tools relating to goal setting, and will provide exercises to help participants to figure out their goals, develop the steps needed to achieve them, identify obstacles, and devise strategies to keep on track.

The event is part of the 'Work Matters in the Library' programme, and attendance is free but booking is essential. Booking at 054 520235.


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Gardai want watch for silver Audi

A request for local residents to watch out for a silver Audi car whose occupants are believed to be involved in burglaries has been made by An Garda, writes Brian Byrne.

The car in the alert has a 05 WX registration, and has five male occupants. The burglaries were in Narragmore and Athy, and the car was last seen near Crookstown at 9pm last evening.

Any information or sighting report should be communicated to Naas Garda Station.



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Cross and Passion College Open Night next week

Cross and Passion College is hosting its Open Night for parents and prospective students on Thursday next, 27 September between 6pm and 8pm

The evening offers parents the opportunity to visit the school and meet with students and teachers of the College. It will offer insight into facilities, the work of students and highlight the variety of the activities in which they are involved.

The Principal will address visitors at 6.30pm and at 7.15pm in the Sacred Space of the College.

The College staff look forward to meeting both new and familiar families on the night.


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Culture Night in Kilcullen tonight to centre on 1798

Gerry O'Donoghue talking about 1798 on Old Kilcullen, in 2015.

A reminder that a presentation in songs and stories about the Rebellion of 1798 which had some important engagements in the Kilcullen area will be a local highlight feature of Culture Night 2018, writes Brian Byrne. It will take place in the Kilcullen Community Library tonight, Friday 21 September.

It will be an exploration of the happenings and personalities around Kilcullen’s involvement in the momentous events of 1798, with illustrations, extracts from contemporary accounts, and songs and poetry inspired by the period.

There will be contributions from Maurice O’Mahony, Joe Kelly, Francie O’Brien, Frank Morrow and Gerry O’Donoghue. This Culture Night event is presented in association with Kildare Library and Arts Service, and begins at 7pm. (NOTE: This post has been changed to reflect a correct starting time.)

There will also be a performance by Kilcullen Gospel Choir in the main concourse of Naas Hospital, between 2pm-3pm on Sunday 23 September.

Some 94 events will be held across the county for the initiative. It is the 9th year that Culture Night has been celebrated.

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Pieta House cheque presentation tonight

Some of those who took part in the Dawn Walk.

A reminder that a cheque for €21,500 will be presented by the Kilcullen Dawn Walk Committee to Maria Peelo of Pieta House tonight, Friday 21 September, writes Brian Byrne.

The money represents the proceeds of the walk and concert held in June, and the presentation will be in O'Connell's Bar.

Mundy and the Kilcullen Gospel Choir entertained at the Pieta House Concert.

A full house for the concert in the Market Square.

The committee thanks all who contributed to the events, and everyone is invited to the presentation, which will be at 7pm. Music will follow.

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'Flight of the Wren' launch

Mayor of Kildare Sean Power was the guest of honour at the launch in Woodbine Books of Orla McAlinden's 'Flight of the Wren' on Wednesday evening, writes Brian Byrne.

Orla is pictured above (second from left) with Kildare Culture Night Ambassador Eric Donovan, Alex Reece Abbott, Culture Night Ambassador Inni-K, and Kildare County Council Arts Officer Lucina Russell.

Pictures by Gingham Sky Photography.


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