Fairy Trail planned for the town

A fairy trail is in the planning for The Valley in February 2019, writes Antoinette Buckley of Kilcullen Community Action, another great initiative for the town.

It's an idea I came up with when planning 2019 projects for the town on the town walk with KCA members a few weeks ago. I believe it was spoken about some years back but was not actioned at the time.

The initiative is sponsored by KCA and Ger Doyle from Yellow Bog. Ger is a carpenter and is making all the fairy doors and designing some very beautiful extra pieces for the valley next year.

The idea is to have a fairy trail for the children in the town and to attract families from outside the town to come into Kilcullen and walk through the valley Fairy Trail. The story boards will include stories of the history of the valley, the bridge, wildlife, flowers, and more. There will be more than 15 story boards with fairy doors on each tree. The doors will be painted in bold bright colours.

I'm sure the local schools will use the valley for nature walks to educate the children through fun colourful walks in the valley. Kids love fairies and will want to explore the valley in great detail.

We already have the very popular walk around the river at the Bridge Community and Farm. This would be a great connection from one walk to another walk for the children. Maybe a hot chocolate in one of the local cafes afterwards served by fairy chocolate?

The Fairy Trail will be part of the Kilcullen 700 celebrations. Thanks to Ger Doyle for his very generous support and work on this amazing project and to the KCA Fairy Trail committee working on the project.

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Classy car, poor parking

It's one thing for people to park across closed apartment gates late at night (although it really shouldn't be) but middle of the day, when there's a car visibly in the yard is just completely bad form, writes Neil Markey.

It is constantly happening.

With all the talk of renovating the market square, I hope there's a plan for where all those cars will end up because it's bad enough already.

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Kildare's climate change 'citizen scientists'

If you're interested in weather and how 'citizen scientists' are helping to monitor its effects at local level, an event in Maynooth University today afternoon should be fascinating, writes Brian Byrne.

It's a conversation with County Kildare's weather observers, a network of seven people who collect daily data for Met Eireann from privately installed rainfall stations.

Among those they'll be talking to is artist Martina O'Brien, whose Quotidian multimedia project explores the linkages between these observers and the planet-wide systems of climate observation.

The event, open to the public and free, runs 4-5pm in Callan Hall, South Campus at Maynooth University. It is part of the international celebration of Science and GeoWeeks in November 2019.

A small overview of Martina O’Brien’s work in progress and Climate Change research at Maynooth University’s ICARUS is also be on display at Maynooth University Library lobby until 23 November.

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Kilcullen 700 gets a logo

You'll be seeing more of this logo through 2019, as it is the official one for the Kilcullen 700 celebrations, writes Brian Byrne.

It was designed by Gareth Landy, a member of Kilcullen Community Action. He also designed and built the KilcullenTown.Com website, which was launched during the recent Kilcullen Community Awards.

A programme of events for the celebration year marking 700 years since the first bridge in Kilcullen was built is currently being put together.


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The passing of Maura Domican

The Diary has learned of the death of Maura Domican (née Dunne) of Old Kilcullen.

Maura passed away peacefully yesterday at her residence following a short illness, in the company of her loving family. Beloved wife of the late George, her passing is deeply regretted by her loving sons Patrick and Eamonn, daughters Mary, Bernadette, Hilda, Pauline and Aisling, brother PJ, sister-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandson.

Maura is reposing at her residence from 3pm today, Sunday 18th, with prayers at 8pm; and tomorrow, Monday, from 3pm. Removal will be on Monday evening at 7pm to Kilcullen Parish Church, arriving for 7.30pm. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11am with funeral afterwards to St Brigid's Cemetery.

Donations, if desired, may be made to 'Friends of Naas Hospital', for which purpose there will be a donation box in church.

May she rest in peace.

Bamboo for coffee is sustainable takeaway

Bamboo Eco Cup in Woodbine Books.

With the increasing public awareness of waste and recycling problems, single-use coffee takeaway cups are lately highlighted as unsustainable, writes Brian Byrne.

In Kilcullen, Crean's Place has already done its bit by not providing them for takeaway orders (as reported in the current Bridge magazine). Instead, they'll sell customers reusable mugs, and give a discount on subsequent refills.

And Woodbine Books — where you can also get really good coffee, by the way — they're offering the Green Line Eco Cup sustainable hot beverage option. Made of bamboo, it will last a long time even through the dishwasher, and look good too. The lid and sleeve are made from 100pc recyclable silicone.

Your editor doesn't do the takeaway coffee thing, but I understand there's now a big segment of the population which does, leading to some 200 million takeaway cups being thrown away each year in Ireland. Also, our Brexiting neighbours throw away around 2.5 billion of them.


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Congratulations events in The Hideout

The Hideout was hopping last evening with no less than two celebrations taking place, writes Brian Byrne.

The bigger of them was the third anniversary party of No 1 Fitness, which has proved to be one of those phenomenally successful enterprises. The two owners, Mariusz Olejniczak and Beata Zielinska, welcomed all, and special presentations were made to a number of people who had been with the gym since it started.

Pictured are Maciej Kuzniewice, Michal Zielinski, Mariusz Olejniczak, Beata Zielinska, Tadhg Cowing, Sarah Baars, Debbie O'Brien, and AJ Lawrence.

Then, quietly in the Coach House section (well, maybe not all that quietly), Mark Brennan was having a celebration for his 40th birthday. He's pictured, centre, family members Kieran, Catriona, Kevin and Anne.

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Kilcullen play is postponed

The Kilcullen Drama Group production of 'Many Happy Returns', scheduled for the end of this month, has been postponed until the end of January, writes Brian Byrne.

This is due to circumstances outside the group's control. The new dates will be confirmed in January.

The Kilcullen production is being directed by longtime group member Ray Donohue. The cast members are Lorraine Fallon, Maurice O'Mahoney, Brid Hernon Hoey, Bernard Berney, Siobhan O'Brien and Vivian Clarke.

The Bernard Farrell comedy is about a farm family expecting big things from the return of a scion who has become a millionaire, it has a cast of three men and three women.

It was first produced in 2004, at the Gate Theatre in Dublin, starring Geraldine Plunkett, Stephen Brennan, and Bill Golding.


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Team Nolan's picks up more awards

It's been another winning night for Team Nolan's, this time from France where James picked up on their behalf four Fins Goustiers awards.

"We're particularly proud to have won the Best Festive Product in the event with our Low Salt Home Baked Ham," he says, "as well as a major award for Dad’s old recipe for our Home Made Sausages. Well done Team Nolan’s of Kilcullen."

And he didn't miss out on the rugby match either, making sure to listen to the radio commentary. "Phenomenal, awesome, well done Team Ireland too."

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Two Mile House coffee morning for hospice, tomorrow

There will be a coffee morning tomorrow, Sunday, for the hospice, organised by Two Mile House ICA.

It will run from 11am to 1pm in the Two Mile House National School and everybody is welcome.

Every euro raised goes directly to the local hospice and homecare group.

Hospice Christmas Cards will also be on sale.

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Kilcullen Badminton update

Another busy week for KBC this week with eight matches played between the South West and Dublin District Leagues and here are some of the results, writes Match Secretary Enda O'Neill.

On Tuesday 13 November KBC hosted two teams in the South West league, Murt Dunne and his Grade 2 Mens team had tough opposition against Johnswell, the KBC Men were playing for pride in this match. The lads did themselves justice in this one bouncing back from a heavy defeat to Kildare drawing against table toppers Johnswell, 2-2 the final result. It could be said that they were unlucky not to beat their Johnswell counterparts.

Oisin Egan and his Grade 3 A Men who are still in the running for a semi final spot hosted rivals and league leaders Carlow LTC. Kilcullen needed to avoid defeat to put third place Portlaoise under pressure to get a result in their final fixture again against the LTC. The lads managed to get a fantastic draw against LTC with some outstanding play from John Mullen and Oisin in their 3rd Mens game securing the draw. This 2-2 draw now means that Portlaoise need to beat Carlow LTC in their final match to knock Kilcullen off second place. Well done to Oisin, John, Keith O’Neill and Vincent Coller on a great performance.

The Division 4 boys captained by yours truly (Enda O’Neill!) travelled all the way to Louth to play Boyne in their first Dublin District League match and were determined not to come home empty handed. In a tight and entertaining match we left the Boyne with a very good away draw. This is a great start to the league for Enda, Shochan Andrews, Barry O’Neill and John McGrane in their first season playing together at this level. The lads next fixture is at home to An. Caislain Nua in December. Well done to the lads on some superb play on the night.

Finally Stara O’Neill and her Div 3 Mix team visited KADCA in their second League fixture of the season, Stara and her team had earned a 2-2 draw away to Baltinglass the week before and were hoping to improve on their previous result. Improve they did and beat KADCA 3-1 in a fine display of badminton. Well done to Tara, Sinead Kelly, John McGrane and David Jackson. Their next match is at home to Trinity on Tuesday night.

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Busy town today

A lot of happenings around town today. First, if you are passing by, do say hello and support the Christmas Lights street collection, and then have a look at the bicycles on the bridge which are the first elements of the Christmas decoration of the town, and sponsored by local businesses.

Also, there's a massive range of books and DVDs on sale in the Heritage Centre, for the Maintain Hope support of children's welfare and education in Kenya.

And you can call in to Woodbine Books and congratulate them for getting a 'What's Hot' nod in today's Irish Times, for being 'a gem of a bookshop'.

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Questions and answers for Kilcullen 700

Question Master Derek Phelan (right) and the winning team.

In the Looney Tunes cartoon, who was trying to catch the Road Runner?
Who was the first President of Ireland in the 21st Century?
Where was the home of Volkswagen? (The city, not the country.)

That's just a selection from the questions that gave rise to smiles, frowns, and mild consternation, depending on whether you knew the answers, at the first Kilcullen 700 Table Quiz in The Hideout, writes Brian Byrne.

There was a good attendance for the event, which was to raise funds towards the costs of various initiatives planned for the celebration next year of the 700th anniversary of the building of the first bridge over the Liffey.

As the first official event related to the celebrations, it was also an opportunity to provide the outline programme for the year, which kicks off with the New Year's Eve Gala Ball in Fallons.

Chair of the Kilcullen 700 Committee Nessa Dunlea thanked everyone for supporting the event. She briefly outlined the history of the bridges in Kilcullen and asked everyone to get behind the year's projects, which are 'all for the people of Kilcullen'.

Question master for the evening was Derek Phelan, who said 2019 would be 'a big year with lots of events, history and drama'.

The winning team was Ray and Fiona Kelly, with Kieran Behan and Iarlaith Behan.

(And the answers? 1. Will E Fox; 2. Mary McAleese; 3. Wolfsburg.)

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