Kildare County Council meeting notes

Though the Diary was unable to attend the full meeting of Kildare County Council yesterday, two important takeouts are worth reporting on, writes Brian Byrne.

First, our local councillor Tracey O'Dwyer's question on the status of the technical specification for community CCTV received a positive answer. The sub-committee on the matter will now meet to sign off on the specification prior to the Joint Policing Committee Meeting in September.

Also, the long-running campaign by Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy to have meetings of the Council live-streamed has finally been successful, with enough of her fellow councillors backing her yesterday to push this on. The Council has accepted her request to have the Protocol Committee examine the optimum systems for the streaming and to change Standing Orders to give effect to the wishes of the Council.

Cllr Healy described it as a major step forward for transparency in Kildare County Council, and thanked all those who had spoken in favour of her motion.


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Barretstown Big Picnic

The annual Barretstown Big Picnic is being held this year on Sunday 7 July, writes Brian Byrne.

Running from 11am-5pm, entry is free but there's a fee of €10/€5 for those wishing to attend the Fossett's Circus which will be on site. Circus times are 11.30, 13.30 and 15.30. Bookings can be made at Eventbrite.

Activities taking place on the day include pony rides, balloon making, face painting, canoeing, bouncy castles, petting farm, crazy golf and much more including competitions and prizes.


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Taking care of health talk on Thursday

A public talk on taking care of mental and physical health will take place on Thursday next, 27 June, in Camphill Grangebeg, Dunlavin, writes Brian Byrne.

The free event is for over-18s only and is being facilitated by George Leigh of GROW. It begins at 7.30pm.

The talk is under the theme of 'A Personal Journey' and will discuss how to mind mental and physical health, how to manage stress and deal with depression, dealing with bullying, and how to recover from setbacks.

Places can be booked by calling 087 7723811.

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Pride of Business Premises Awards

Pic: County Kildare Business Premises Guidelines.

A new competition has been set up to recognise pride in business premises in County Kildare's towns.

Kildare County Council’s Economic Unit Forum has initiated the ‘Pride of Business Premises Awards’ which will recognise local property owners who maintain a high level of visual appearance to their premises.

It will be an annual competition and is open to all businesses and shops in towns across the five Municipal Districts in County Kildare.

The inaugural competition will be adjudicated by three independent judges, in early September 2019, where five winners and five runner ups will be selected. The Awards Ceremony will take place in October 2019.

The criteria for the judges are in six areas —Clean and Well Presented; Design consideration of Signage; Well Presented Window Display; Entrance and Accessibility; Over and Above; and Public Domain.

The closing date for applications is Friday 30 August 2019. Expressions of Interest forms should be emailed to cbrogan@kildarecoco.ie or submitted to Local Enterprise Office, Level 7 Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare.

For more information phone Cassandra Brogan on 045 980915; Email cbrogan@kildarecoco.ie or localenterprise@kildarecoco.ie.

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Presentation to Spout by GAA Ladies team

A presentation of a framed jersey was made to Tommy Dignam of The Spout to mark the fifth year of the pub's sponsorship of the Senior Ladies GAA team in Kilcullen, writes Adam Timmons.

The team has expressed a 'massive thank you' to Tommy, Derek and all the crew in the Spout for a great night, and for their continued support of Ladies Football

The night was all the better for the 'last gasp' winning goal victory in the Championship versus a very good Maynooth side, making it three wins from three and guaranteeing a place in the Intermediate Championship Semi Finals. It is the Ladies first ever year at the Intermediate level, following on from their Junior ‘A’ and Junior ‘B’ championship victories in the last three years which makes this feat even more impressive.

They have two games remaining before the semi finals. First up is Monastervan away, followed by Clane at home in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on the Club's Facebook page for confirmation of dates and times.

(Pics courtesy Kilcullen GAA.)

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Brannoxtown CNS Graduation

Brannoxtown Community National School had its first graduation ceremony last evening, organised by the Class of 2018-2019 and Principal Sarah Fitzpatrick.

Pics courtesy Tracey O'Dwyer, who said it was a 'fantastic evening, the vibrancy and life in the school was palpable'.

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Cnoc Na Greine Family Fun Day and Picnic

The date has been set for the Cnoc Na Greine Residents Association Family Fun Day and Picnic, to be held on Sunday 14 July, 12pm to 3pm.

All residents are welcome to join in on the Big Green at The Drive.

There will be bouncy castles, super slide, inflatable Assault Course, face painters and more.

A great opportunity to meet neighbours and have some fun.

Helpers will be needed on the day. Contact any member of the Cnoc Na Greine Maintenance Committee.

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Dawn Walk 2019 sponsor cards still available

Some of the participants at last year's walk.

It’s getting closer to the annual Dawn Walk to New Abbey Stud in aid of Pieta House will take place this year on Saturday 6 July.

The cost is €10 for adults and €5 for under-16s, and registration will be at 3.30am on the day, or pre-registration on Friday 5 July between 5pm-7pm at Kilcullen Town Hall.

There will be a raffle, with great prizes, and all proceeds go to Pieta House. Sponsorship cards are still available from Lorna at 087 2741701 or Richie at 087 2346428.

The event is supported by Kildare Credit Union and Home Instead Senior Care.

NB, no dogs are allowed on the walk.

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KCCEC AGM tomorrow

A reminder that the Kilcullen Community Childcare & Education Centre AGM will take place tomorrow evening, 26 June, at 6.30pm in the Centre.

The event will also be an Information Meeting for New Parents, for the upcoming year 2019/2020.

All are welcome.

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Revenue 'Tax Refund' scam doing the rounds again

The 'You've Got a Tax Refund' scam is doing the rounds again, writes Brian Byrne.

A Diary reader has alerted us to re-appearance of the crooked scheme, in which an email or a text (in this case it was a text) says you have a refund coming. Clicking through brings you to a fake Revenue On Line screen, where the potential victim is asked to log in with their bank details to get the 'refund'.

DON'T. It IS a scam. And Ireland's Revenue authorities emphasise that they will never ask for your bank details online.

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More memories from Acoustic Picnic 5

Just a few more photo memories from yesterday's Acoustic Picnic, this time from Tracey O'Dwyer.

Earlier ones from Frank Mitchell are here.

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Gospel Choir end of year concert

A reminder that the Kilcullen Gospel Choir's end of year concert will take place on Saturday 29 June in the Cross and Passion Assembly Hall.

The special guest this year will be Paddy Casey, and tickets are on sale at €15 from any choir member, or from Berney's Chemist.

Seating is unreserved, but ticket numbers are limited, so pre-purchase is advisable. The concert will begin at 7.30pm.

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On yer rothar ...

It's the middle of Bike Week 2019 which runs until June 30, writes Brian Byrne, and there have been a number of events through the county which hopefully will have gotten many of you out on two wheels.

Today, for instance, is Bike to Work Day, and also Bike to School Day, so there might well be a stack of bicycles in the office car park or the school yard.

Still to come locally is a Kildare County Council presentation on Designated Cycle Cafes (we have fixed a wandering apostrophe in their own title) which is happening on the Council's website on Thursday. This is an invitation for expressions of interest from relevant commercial cafes and service stations to be part of a Cycle Route Map currently being prepared by the council's Road Safety, Cycling and Sustainable Transport Officer.

Also on Thursday the Kildare Civil Defence will be adding to its current Bicycle Unit, which at the moment has four bicycles fully equipped with first aid equipment and accessories, which are manned by volunteers and used at community events throughout the county.

On Friday 28 June, a mobile bicycle repair workshop will be in action outside Newbridge Garda Station from 10am-12 noon, in association with Cycle Clinic. Anyone can bring their bicycle along and have it assessed for safety, and repaired if necessary. A free event.

On Saturday 29 June there will be a Naas Greenway Cycle from K-Leisure via The Harbour Naas onto Canal route, via Osberstown and into Sallins, finishing at SuperValu, Sallins for light refreshments, water and fruit. It's from 2.30pm-4.30pm and suitable for adults, children and families.

On the Saturday evening, the beginning of the Leinster Loop 2019 will be the family 12km and the 25km cycles, followed the next day by the 145km, 100km and 55km route events. The Sunday events can only be registered for online, and will take riders through no less than five counties to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research and St Laurence’s Community Complex. The event will include an Inclusive & Accessibility Cycle.

More on the Bike Week events here.

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Music, magic, and a little drop of rain

Well, it rained. But that's Ireland. And according to all reports the weather didn't at all dampen the enthusiasm for the enjoyment of yesterday's Acoustic Picnic 3, writes Brian Byrne.

The Diary was unable to attend, but these pictures courtesy of Frank Mitchell provide us with a sense of the fun, magic, and music of the event, which was as always in aid of Maintain Hope.

Well done to all concerned. And onwards to Acoustic Picnic 6 …

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