Age-friendly training programme for businesses

An Age-Friendly certification training course for local businesses will take place next Tuesday, 24 March, from 10am to 11.30am at the Ballymore Resource Centre, writes Brian Byrne. The training, delivered in partnership with Age Friendly Ireland (AFI), is open to businesses in Kilcullen and the surrounding area as well as those in Ballymore. 

Email invitations, including background information on the Age-Friendly initiative and the certification process, will be sent to Kilcullen businesses this week. 

Age Friendly Ireland supports communities across Ireland in preparing for a rapidly ageing population by focusing on environmental, economic, and social factors that impact older adults’ health and well-being. 

Ballymore Eustace has an ongoing programme guided by AFI to achieve age-friendly status, which so far has included appropriate improvements to the village's Liffey Linear Walk and other public spaces.

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AGM of Friends of St Paul's, Ballysax

Image: Ireland's Churches, Cathedrals and Abbeys.

Friends of St Paul’s, Ballysax will hold their AGM on Sunday, 29 March at 10am in the church. All are welcome.

St Paul’s, overlooking the Curragh plains from Ballysax Hill since 1826, ceased functioning as a church in 1972. The Church of Ireland handed over the building to the local community in 1994, and it became a community centre.

In the 19th century, its Sunday congregation often included British Army soldiers who came to hear Rev Dr George B Wheeler's sermons.

Appointed in 1865, Wheeler combined his Ballysax ministry with his role in Dublin as editor of The Irish Times. He travelled weekly between the parish and the capital but died after his horse-drawn carriage overturned on one of these journeys. He is buried at Ballysax.

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Tickets on sale for The Walworth Farce

Tickets have now gone on sale for Kilcullen Drama Group’s production of “The Walworth Farce” by Enda Walsh, writes Brian Byrne. 

The play is about Dinny and his two sons, Blake and Seán, as they navigate life in London after leaving Ireland, in a chaotic journey through hilarity and terror. 

Performances are scheduled from April 15th to 18th, 2026. Tickets are available for €15 at Woodbine Books at 045 482777 or on Eventbrite, with the latter subject to a booking fee.

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Businesses' opportunity to learn about AI

Kildare businesses are being offered an opportunity to learn how artificial intelligence can drive growth and transformation at a special Lunch & Learn event in Naas hosted by County Kildare Chamber.  The session will take place on Thursday, 7 May 2026, from 12 noon to 3pm at Lawlor’s of Naas.

Attendees will enjoy a light lunch and networking, followed by a keynote presentation at 1pm titled “AI and the Future of Business: What Leaders Must Do Now”, led by Mark Kelly, Founder and President of AI Ireland.

Kelly works with organisations around the world to turn AI from hype into a practical business advantage, advising on how to deploy AI both responsibly and profitably. He has collaborated with companies including Microsoft, Amazon and Google.

The Lunch & Learn is open to both members and non-members of County Kildare Chamber. Tickets are €30 + VAT for members and €50 + VAT for non-members.

Spaces are limited. For further information or queries, contact michael@countykildarechamber.ie.

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Closing date for for 2026 Kildare Garda Youth Awards

Tomorrow is the last day for nominations for the 2026 Kildare Garda Youth Awards, which will be announced in Newbridge Town Hall on 8 May 2026. The awards celebrate outstanding young people aged between 13 and 21 who make their communities better places to live.

Categories are: 1. Overall Award; 2. District Awards; 3. Voluntary Group Achievement Award; 4. Special Achievement Award; 5. Community Safety Award.

One nominee in each category will go forward to represent the Kildare Division at the National Garda Youth Awards, which will take place in November 2026.

Nomination forms are available at this link. 

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Shackleton Experience wins major building awards

The Shackleton Experience in Athy has won two top honours at the Irish Building and Design (IBDA) Awards 2026: Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Project of the Year and Heritage, Conservation Project of the Year. The IBDA Awards recognise excellence in Irish architecture, engineering, construction and design and were presented at a ceremony in the Intercontinental Hotel, Dublin.

The Shackleton Experience was praised for best-practice conservation and detailed restoration, combined with contemporary design. A standout feature is the glass extension, known as the Iceberg, along with cutting-edge exhibition design and interpretative methods.

An €8.3 million investment has turned the 300-year-old former town hall into a cultural and tourism destination. Reopened last October, the project was co-funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and Kildare County Council.

The general manager of the attraction is Brannockstown woman Aline Egar. 

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Red Hot Music in Kilcullen again

Ger O’Donnell, Trevor Sexton and Don Stiffe will perform at The Red Hot Music Club in Kilcullen next week, writes Brian Byrne. The location is in Kilcullen Town Hall, on Thursday, 26 March, starting at 8pm.

The three musicians will feature a mix of songs and collaborative performances, in a lively atmosphere and with a strong setlist from the trio, who each bring their own distinctive style.

An ideal night out for groups of friends and music fans looking for a laid-back gig in an intimate setting.

Tickets are now available on Eventbrite, and early booking is advised.

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Archaeological lecture in Kilcullen

The County Kildare Archaeological Society will host a lecture on the historic graveyard at Dunmanoge in South Kildare this Sunday, 22 March, at 3pm in Kilcullen Heritage Centre.

The talk, titled “Dunmanoge: the Past, Present and Future of a Country Graveyard,” will be delivered by Dr Sharon Greene as part of the Professor Raymond Gillespie Lecture series. Dr Greene will discuss the findings and progress made at the Dunmanoge site under the #AdoptaMonument initiative, highlighting both its archaeological significance and the ongoing conservation work.

Admission is €5 and includes tea and coffee. Regular attendees and new visitors with an interest in local history and archaeology are all welcome.

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Spring Equinox gathering this weekend

Kilcullen people are invited to gather at Dún Ailinne Interpretive Park this Saturday morning, 21 March, to mark the Spring Equinox with a sunrise event at the sculpture, writes Brian Byrne. Sunrise is at 6:27am, and if conditions allow, the rising sun will frame Noel Scullion’s artwork in a striking display.

The tradition began soon after the park opened in 2008, when people started meeting on the Saturday closest to the Spring Equinox to watch the sunrise together. Over the years, it has become a quiet and cherished community ritual, with many remarking on the shared moment of silence as the sun appears — even on mornings when cloud or mist hides the extraordinary effect.

The gathering later extended to 1060 Nicholastown, where participants shared tea, brown bread, Nolan's sausages and conversation, turning the occasion into a warm, social start to spring. The late Noel Scullion, whose spear sculpture is the centrepiece of the interpretive park, was a familiar figure at these mornings, often staying on for hours of stories and laughter.

All are welcome to attend the sunrise this Saturday and the informal get-together afterwards at 1060 Nicholastown.

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Lads ‘N’ Dads Social Hurling returns

Kilcullen GAA’s Lads ‘N’ Dads Social Hurling returns on Monday, 23 March, at 8pm.

The sessions, which take place on the club’s training pitch every Monday night at 8pm, are open to all adults with an interest in hurling. Newcomers, returning players, and those who have never lifted a hurley before are all welcome to take part. A limited number of helmets will be available for beginners. 

The focus is as much on the social side of meeting up and having a bit of fun as it is on the hurling itself.

Anyone seeking further information can contact Rob on 087 7837733.

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Kilcullen Library hours extended

Kildare County Council has announced that Kilcullen Library will extend its opening hours starting Wednesday, 18 March 2026. The library will now operate five days a week, providing an additional 13 hours and 15 minutes of service weekly.

The updated opening hours are as follows:

* Monday: Closed

* Tuesday: 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm

* Wednesday: 10am-1pm

* Thursday: 1.30pm-5pm and 5.45pm- 8pm

* Friday: 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm

* Saturday: 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm

* Sunday: Closed

This extension aims to better serve the community by offering more flexible access to library resources throughout the week.  

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'Thank you' to Maintain Hope runners

Images: Maintain Hope.

Over 150 runners and walkers gathered on Sunday, 1 March, to take part in our Running to Maintain Hope event, writes the charity's Gerry O'Donoghue. Professionally timed by JustRuns, the turnout surpassed all our expectations, featuring a mix of local residents and participants from neighbouring towns and counties. 

The weather was favourable, providing ideal conditions for both seasoned runners and more leisurely walkers. Our volunteer stewards received widespread praise for their courtesy and efficiency, ensuring that all participants enjoyed a safe and enjoyable outing.

Kilcullen GAA generously allowed us to use their facilities on the day, allowing for a smooth and trouble-free start and finish for each event. We also had the opportunity to offer a warm hot drink to all finishers in the excellent GAA clubhouse. 

The event's proceeds, combined with generous donations from supporters unable to attend and some remaining funds still to be remitted, increased our total by approximately €2,500. As always, every cent will go towards supporting our children in Kenya. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the event, and we look forward to making “Run To Maintain Hope” a regular feature in the local running calendar.

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