Ciaran Steed wins Duathlon bronze

Ciaran Steed today won a European bronze medal in Ibiza in the age-related Duathlon, writes Liam Walker.

The race was made up of a 5K run, a 20K cycle and a 2K run.

The achievement brings Ciaran's year to a great conclusion.

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Mac and Norman 2018 cheque presented

Last night's cheque presentation. Pic by organisers.

The amount raised by the 2018 Mac and Norman Vintage Rally was €26,650, writes Brian Byrne.

A cheque for that amount was presented to a representative of the Irish Cancer Society last evening at an event in Walls of The Priory, Kilgowan.

In a total of 330 vehicles which registered for the Rally there were at least 104 truck and some 60 tractors.

It was the 16th running of the Rally, which up to last year had collected more than €435,000 for the Irish Cancer Society.

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Save the date for Miscellany on Sunday

Scene from 2016 'Miscellany'. Pic Conor Williams.

Phenagh Bermingham's charity fundraiser Miscellany on Sunday will be held this year at the Bermingham family home in Mooretown on Sunday 9 December.

The initiative sees friends and neighbours, well wishers and supporters gathering to perform songs, stories, poems and more besides. Proceeds of the event will be donated to Father John Bermingham's missionary work in Mozambique.

The people of Mozambique have experienced many hardships since they won their independence at the end of the colonial era and, if you'd like to make a small gesture to help them, you could do worse than supporting Phenagh's Miscellany on Sunday occasion.

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'Stop dumping at Avondale'

Entrance to Avondale. Pic: Google Maps.

Residents of Avondale are angry at recent dumping of furniture, mattresses and other combustible items in the estate, writes Brian Byrne.

The material has been appearing over the last couple of weeks, apparently in anticipation of a bonfire on Halloween.

"It has mostly been happening at night time," one resident told the Diary. "I know there is a bonfire every year there, but it is ridiculous that they are coming in vans to dump. It just isn't acceptable."


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Christmas Market 2018 fully booked

Scenes from last year's Christmas Market.

The Christmas Market at Market Square Kilcullen planned for 8 December is fully booked, writes Antoinette Buckley of the Christmas Market Committee.

The committee are absolutely delighted to organise this very successful event again this year for the town. It really worked so well last Christmas, businesses reported great business on the day and follow-up business in the lead up to the busy Christmas shopping period.

We decided to test out a Christmas Market last year to help support the local businesses in Kilcullen and to increase footfall into the town on the day. Shop Local Campaign posters were put up on the bridge poles to get the message out.

Due to the success of the event businesses asked if we would consider an Easter Market. We were happy to go ahead with that and again it proved to be a very good day for all.

This year we have great local stalls lined up. Those offering food include Crean's, Fallons, the River Cafe, Kalbarri Cookery School, Armelle's, Nolans Butchers, the Hideout, and Jane Russell sausages.

Other attractions and seasonal buying opportunities will be provided by Woodbine Books, the Secret Kloset Boutique, and stalls selling fresh Christmas trees, flowers, memory boards, crafts, personalised Christmas decorations, hand made jewellery, artwork, lanterns, handmade knits and crochet, Christmas wreaths, Markus landscape gifts, Camphill organic foods, preserves, mince pies, Christmas cakes, choc biscuit pudding, mulled wine, and Christmas gift sets. There will be a face painter, and DJ Georgia will entertain with festive music on the day.

KCA are buying new Christmas lights for the bridge and for the tree on the river at Market Square. A large Christmas tree and three smaller Christmas trees with lights will be put up in the flower bed on Market Square. Thanks to KCA for their support.

This year we will have a Santa's Grotto in the Heritage Centre from 12 noon to 5pm, with Berney's Pharmacy sponsoring the Santa gifts on the day. Photographer Conor Williams will offer a photo with Santa service.

The official switch-on of the Christmas lights will take place at 5pm on the day by KCA (Kilcullen Community Action). The Kilcullen Gospel Choir will perform some festive songs between 4pm-5pm before the switch on.

Looking forward to a fun, happy, festive Christmas Market 2018 at Kilcullen Market Square.

Shop Local, Support Local this Christmas.

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Tanya honoured by France

A happy Tanya Flanagan, after receiving the Ordre des Palmes Académiques from the French Government, for her work in promoting modern languages in the Irish school system.

The award was presented by the French Ambassador to Ireland, M Stéphane Crouzat, in the French Embassy in Dublin last evening.

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Halloween Camp by Childcare Centre

A Halloween Camp is being organised for mid-term by the Kilcullen Community Childcare Centre.

It will operate from Tuesday 30 October to Friday 7 November, from 9am, with options to finish at 1pm or 3pm.

The Camp will include a Giant Halloween Party, face painting, arts and crafts, music and movement, and sports, along with entertainment and more.

The cost for participation by day is €15/€20, or weekly €50/€70.

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Anthony wins the Relay cake

The winner of Guess the Weight of the Cake competition at the Kilcullen Relay for Life stand in Punchestown was Anthony Wyse from Narraghmore, writes Pat Kelly of the team.

He guessed 4.35kg, or 9lbs 6oz.

We would like to thank Mary Whittle from Rathangan for making the cake.


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Kris Drever in the BAG

Kris Drever is one of the Scotland’s finest and most prolific songwriters, writes Roy Thompson of the Ballymore Acoustic Gigs. He's coming to Mick Murphy's Bar in Ballymore next Monday 22 October.

His return to Ireland follows his acclaimed If Wishes Were Horses album and awards for BBC Folk Awards Best Singer and Best Original Song.

Much of 2018 has been spent touring playing a best of his career to date set and preparing a new album with Lau. This is a rare chance to see Kris in an intimate concert setting.

Alongside the new material from If Wishes Were Horses, Kris will revisit old songs from across his back catalogue playing many outside of the recording studio for the first time. Fans can get involved by posting, on his Facebook page, old songs they would like to hear; Kris will then pick from those selections.

Support on the night comes from the wonderful John Blek. John is no stranger to BAG, and is one of the finest songwriters on the Irish music scene.

Doors 8:30pm, admission €15.


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Tickets on sale for 'The Black Eyes'

Tickets go on sale today for the special Halloween Horror show to be presented by young members of the Kilcullen Drama Group at the end of the month, writes Brian Byrne.

The Black Eyes: An Urban Myth? will be performed on 30 October and 1 November.

The play, written for young people, is based upon a popular urban myth that originated in the US. In this myth, supposedly paranormal creatures with black eyes and pale skin, resembling children between 6-16, are found hitch-hiking, begging, or associated with 'haunted buildings'.

The stories have been around since the mid-1950s, thought to have originated in Texas but since spread around the world.

Bev Clark's play uses elements of horror, physical theatre and ensemble work to create a suspenseful and chilling play. It won the One Act Play Category of the Roister Doister Publishing Playwriting for Young People Competition in 2015.

The author has written many one-act plays, including Bentley: Road to Justice, The Ghost Crib, and Running Out of Time.

Contact Eilis Phillips for details of ticket sales.

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