Saipan screening in Kilcullen

Saipan, starring Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke, is the next film showing at Kilcullen Bridge Cinema on Tuesday 10 March, writes Teresa Nurse of Kilcullen Lions. Saipan revisits the infamous row between Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane in the weeks before the 2002 World Cup. 

Led by coach McCarthy and captain Keane, the Irish team travels to Saipan for a key preparation camp. However, Keane grows frustrated with the quality of the facilities and resources available to them. McCarthy attempts to reassure his star player, but soon the two men are embroiled in a heated and very public dispute-one that escalates when Keane threatens to return home.

Saipan is a compelling and vibrant dramatisation of one of the most infamous sporting sagas in Irish history. Éanna Hardwicke (Keane) and Steve Coogan (McCarthy)are both superb as the men at the centre of the row. 

Tickets are €7 and are now on sale in Woodbine Books, Kilcullen, and on Eventbrite.

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Young cyclists do well in Navan

Kilcullen Cycling Club's Tom Hughes and Conor Regan were first and second in the Seamus Kennedy Memorial C3 race in Navan at the weekend. 

The pair finished over a minute ahead of the rest of the large field.

Photo courtesy Liam Walker.

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Ticket sales for Little Shop of Horrors

CPC TY is presenting the Little Shop of Horrors as their 2026 musical, staging from 10-12 March inclusive. 

Everyone is working hard to create a wonderful evening of entertainment for all. The extraordinarily beautiful poster, completely hand-drawn by Mae Cowper Gray, is an indication of the talent that will be on show over the three nights. 

Don't miss it! Tickets go on sale from Monday, 2 March.

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Fright Knight is hugely entertaining.

Photos: Noel Clare.

A two-hour play without a script, featuring a cast of at least 25 people, could have been a recipe for disaster, writes Noel Clare. It should at least have been chaotic. Instead, it was two hours of wonderful entertainment from start to finish. 

The concept was brilliant. The show begins with what appears to be a properly scripted play, directed by Eileeshe Phillipé, set in a 1930s mob-ruled American city where one seemingly honest law enforcement officer, Mugsy Knight (played by Davey Byrne), does his best against corrupt officials and their associates. We are only minutes into it when one of the characters, a diva called Betty Baronne (played by Siobhan O’Brien), takes a drink, collapses, and dies on stage. 

Panic erupts; Siobhan’s death was not part of this particular play, and when her drink is discovered to be a cleaning solution, murder is suspected. The curtain is drawn, and Nessa Dunlea, seemingly having no idea what is happening, tries to reassure the audience. When the curtain reopens, the entire drama group is gathered on stage — cast, background crew, prompters, etc. — all to be questioned as suspects in the recent murder. 

Two detectives carry out the investigation — one retired detective, Mick Tracey (played by Fergus Ryan), under instruction from his wife, Vic (Siobhan Murphy), and the other, Mugsy, somehow transported from the 1930s. Throughout the rest of the performance, we witness the questioning of the entire group and become aware of the jealousies among members, the idiosyncrasies of others, and the ‘too good to be true’ marriage of the murdered Siobhan and her husband Gerard. Everyone is a suspect, even the tea ladies, Fiona and Collette, who are thrilled at the opportunity to step onto the stage away from their tea-serving duties in the foyer! 

During the interval, we hear from all suspects, and each member of the audience is asked to decide who they think the murderer is and write it down with the provided pen and paper.

Part two begins with further questioning of those higher on the suspect list. Throughout this, none of the cast knows who the murderer is, nor are they aware of the surprise awaiting us: Siobhan has not died — the cleaning solution had been diluted by the eccentric Maurice O’Mahony in an effort to save the group some money and was not strong enough to do the job. Therefore, the murderer failed, and the victim returns to the stage to assist in revealing the suspect. For a time, it seems Collette, another diva, eager to rid herself of Siobhan to take her role, might be the culprit. But in the end, we discover it was Eilis, who had felt totally undervalued for her years of work within the group. Only three people in the packed theatre correctly guessed the murderer. The most suspected was Siobhan’s understudy, the very shy and nervous — or was she? — Esther Reddy, who never had her moment on stage.

Considering the large cast, the production worked remarkably well. Due to the large number of characters, they used their real names on stage, which was easier than remembering so many stage names. It was hard to believe that it was essentially unscripted; the dialogue flowed smoothly, with some very memorable lines and funny moments. The show was brought together by Kilcullen Drama Group chairperson Sinead McKenna, and great credit is due to her for bringing such an original piece to the stage in Kilcullen. It was a courageous move that paid off brilliantly. 

Sadly, the show could, for obvious reasons, only run for one night, disappointing many who couldn't get tickets. Nonetheless, those lucky enough to attend on the night were treated to another memorable evening from Kilcullen Drama Group. One can only look forward to their next production, The Walworth Farce, in April.

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Deadline looms for 2026 heritage grants

The deadline for the 2025 Heritage Council Community Heritage Grant Scheme is less than three weeks away, offering funding to community organisations for projects that protect, share, and celebrate local heritage. The funding amounts range from €800 to €25,000. 

Eligible projects include conservation management plans, biodiversity initiatives, and heritage skills workshops. Applications must be submitted by 20 March 2026, with projects due by 13 November 2026.  A webinar on the application process is available on the Heritage Council’s website. 

Kildare Heritage Officer Dara Wyer has urged groups to apply, saying the scheme provides resources and confidence to care for places and stories. "Whether they aim to conserve historic buildings, maintain our beautiful towns or protect rare insects, this funding can make a real and lasting difference," he says. 

Successful projects from 2025 in Kildare included a Conservation Management Plan for Great Connell Priory and Moth Mapping by Butterfly Conservation Ireland. 

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Old Kilcullen Litter Pick

The annual litter picking day on the roads around Old Kilcullen is taking place on Saturday, 7 March at 11 am, writes Kevin Sheehan of the Old Kilcullen Area Community Association. 

For anyone who can help, we are meeting at the tower at 11am, where bags will be available, and we will assign roads to individuals.

Some points to note: Please wear a hi-vis vest, and bring a pair of gloves.

We will organise for the bags to be picked up from the roadside, and Kildare County Council have confirmed that they will look after the disposal.

Thanks in advance for your help.

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Kilcullen cyclists lift first 2026 trophies

Kilcullen cyclists who won the first races of 2026 are Tom Hughes, photographed with the Willie Marks Trophy won in Summerhill, Co Meath, and Gavin Stapleton winning in Annaclone, Co Down.

Photos courtesy Liam Walker.

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It Says in The Bridge: March 2026

With this issue, The Bridge enters its 56th year, writes Brian Byrne. A significant milestone in any publication’s history, but even more so for a community magazine that relies on print media for its continuation in an age that has become ever more digital.

The leading lights this month are a core group of Spout customers who plan a St Patrick’s Day swim in the Liffey to raise funds towards the Kilcullen Heritage Wall initiative from KCA. They’re gathering sponsorship, and hopefully a few other brave souls to accompany them.

The front page also has pointers to other main stories inside: the opening of Mountain Flow Yoga, the next play in rehearsal by Kilcullen Drama Group, and a profile of Armelle’s Kitchen in the Bit of Business column.

Also inside are feature pieces on a variety of subjects, including the imminent launch of a debut fantasy novel from Crookstown’s Conor Forrest, drawing on Irish mythology, which is a rich source for such fiction and will no doubt provide him with further inspiration. There’s also an explanation of the recent Threads of Connection tapestry display in Kilcullen Heritage Centre. From regular contributors, Mary Orford taps her own favourite source, the Schools Folklore Collection, in a piece for International Women’s Day on 8 March, with extracts from the work of local girls who grew up to be women who contributed much to the Kilcullen community. Noel Clare explores Oldtown Woodland Park in Naas, Daithí de Róiste gives us the backstory on the Great Connell Priory, and Eugene Brennan ponders the electrical and water lifelines passing through and around Kilcullen. If you always wanted a timeline of the history of Kilcullen, well, now you have it, from Sean Landers in his regular column, beginning in 550 with the death of St McTail of Old Kilcullen monastery and finishing up in 1853 with the publication of a novel, The Clintons, by Maria La Touche of Halverstown. A lot happened in between.

The memoir penned by Jim Kelly about his lifetime work with the late Tony O’Reilly continues this month, focusing on the early years of the move to Castlemartin. It’s a fascinating series.

John Duffey tells us that his favourite occupation of the moment is sitting and thinking. This month, his thoughts are on two bachelors of Kilgowan that he knew, Tommy Murphy and Tommy Kenna, whose lives were taken up with rural work, and leisure activities that themselves helped put food on the tables (ferreting, anyone?).

The schools this month are the KCCEC preschoolers and afterschoolers, providing a page just as busy as they are, in the Scoil Bhríde ones that follow: schools have such an amazing variety of activities these days.

There’s more sports news this month. The canoe club, AFC, and Jack Courtney’s darts career all feature, while the GAA headlines the return of the Juvenile Academy. And The Bridge stalwart, the pitch and putt club, gives its usual mix of news and archive.

All that and more, at the usual outlets. Enjoy the start of the 56th year.

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Aodhan Byrne sponsorship from Healys Tyre & Exhaust

Healys Tyre and Exhaust Centre has just finalised a sponsorship deal with local athlete Aodhan Byrne as he continues his sporting journey, writes Brian Byrne. 

Aodhan, who has boxed for 13 years with Kilcullen Boxing Club, secured an Irish senior championship this year and recently made his winning debut as a professional boxer last weekend. 

"I am so proud that John and I are in a position to support Aodhan," says Tom Healy. 

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Dog poo on path frequented by children

Concerns have been raised over dog faeces on the path leading to the back gate of Scoil Bride Primary School. The path is frequently used by playschool children and CPC students. 

The issue was reported yesterday and was still present this morning. Some students, including a young boy, stepped into it. 

A parent has informed the playschool and physically blocked the path this morning to prevent further incidents.

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