U14 Girls Féile campaign ends

The Kilcullen GAA Girls U14 were edged out in the last minutes of their semi-final against Kilkenny at the John West Féile Peil na nÓg 2017 today.

The final score was Kilcullen 2-3 Kilkenny 3-5 after a very tough competitive match to the very end.

It was disappointment for the girls but a great achievement to get so far. They topped their group, winning all their matches to reach the semi final and was a fantastic few days of football, making everyone at home proud of them all.

The Club also thanks the host families in Belturbet who followed their progression to Monaghan today after their own team was beaten by Kilcullen yesterday.

The Club wants everyone possible to give the team a great welcome home this evening and is calling on people to meet at the Club grounds at 6pm this evening. The team bus will depart from Clones this afternoon and the estimated arrival time will be posted at 4pm on the Kilcullen GAA Facebook page.

CPC helps with Phoenix Park fawns tagging

A video clip on yesterday's Irish Times website features CPC science teacher Eleanor Higgins and some 5th Year pupils helping the OPW and UCD students in the annual tagging of fawns in Dublin's Phoenix Park, writes Brian Byrne.

According to the clip and the detail in the accompanying article, about a hundred fawns are expected to be born each year in the Park. They are caught using large nets, and then measured and tagged before being released again.

"We're very proud of them all," says Catherine Moynihan, principal of CPC.

The link to the IT story is here.

Purty work by Tidy Towns

Just for those Kilcullenites who don't get into town often, writes Brian Byrne, this is the before and after sequence of Kilcullen Tidy Towns work last weekend on the derelict property formerly occupied by Pat Lawlor, just up from Berney Bros saddlery.

Just shows what can be done with a little photography and some corrie board, and a splash of imagination.

The Tidy Towns group's next step is a bit of ivy trimming and some paint work.

(Pics Kilcullen Community Action/Tidy Towns.)

UPDATE: Kilcullen girls reach semis in Feile

Kilcullen U14 Girls have reached the semi finals of the at the John West Féile Peil na nÓg 2017 tomorrow following a 6-4 to 3-3 victory over Truagh (Monaghan)

Earlier today they won their first game, against host club Belturbet, in their weekend campaign.

The girls enjoyed the opportunity to play their football with their new friends and are now back in Belturbet with their host families to enjoy the get together.

They are pictured above with their Belturbet opponents. (Pic via Kilcullen GAA Facebook page.)

Don't tempt smash and grab thieves

Following a Kilcullen resident's car being broken into last night while parked outside her home, people are again warned not to leave anything visible in the car that would attract the attention of thieves, writes Brian Byrne.

The Diary understands that in this instance, all that was visible was an empty bag, and the thief who smashed the car window got nothing.

But the resultant damage puts the car's owner at significant cost, not only for repairing the window, but possibly increased insurance premium if she tries to recoup the cost from her insurers.

UPDATE: We understand that cars were interfered with outside two other homes in the same south Kilcullen area on the same night. Nothing was reported taken.

KCA Tidy Towns fundraiser in Spout, 1 July

A fundraising night to support the activities of Kilcullen Community Action/Tidy Towns will be held in The Spout on Saturday next 1 July, writes Noel Clare.

Tom and Marian are always first up to support what we do in Kilcullen, whether Christmas Lights or Summer Flowers, and we would encourage anyone in Kilcullen to come along and support them and us.

Fenton Blue will be providing the music, so you may want to stay …

Sports night fundraiser for local photographer's cancer fight

A host of celebrities from the Irish sporting world will be at a fundraising night in Kilashee Hotel on Thursday next 29 June, to support popular local photographer Adrian Melia’s fight against cancer, writes Brian Byrne.

In an evening based around Adrian’s passions for sports photography and public speaking, horse-racing commentator Brendan McArdle will introduce such sports luminaries as Johnny Murtagh, Willie McCreery, boxer Eric Donovan, jockey Chris Heavey and other guests from the community games, GAA and rugby worlds.

The event is organised by a group The Friends of Adrian Melia, the members of which are in Toastmasters, photography, sportspeople and most of all, people who care for a man whose own work has made a difference to the lives of many people.

An auction of prints of Adrian's favourite photos from his portfolio will be part of the evening, which begins at 7.30pm.

Adrian is is fighting advanced colon cancer, which has also affected his liver. He is hoping to travel abroad for specialised life saving treatment which is not available in Ireland. At the moment, he is undergoing a very strong form of chemotherapy, but continues to work.

Tickets at €30 can be booked in advance, individually or for groups, at Eventbrite, or just turn up on the evening.

Brannockstown Bug Hotel

Insects travelling between Kilcullen and Brannockstown are now well accommodated with Bug Hotels, writes Brian Byrne.

Following on from the provision of one in Kilcullen’s Valley Park, the Brannockstown Youth Club has built a fine facility in the grounds of Brannockstown Baptist Church.

Described as a ‘5-star’ space, no doubt we’ll soon be seeing recommendations on Bug Trip Advisor …

Kilcullen Dawn Walk for Pieta House getting closer

Joan Freeman from Pieta House was in Kerry Group Naas last week giving a talk at the company's Health & Wellness Week on the work of the organisation, which helps deal with self-harm and suicide awareness, writes Brian Byrne.

While there she met with Kilcullen Community Action chairman Ray Kelly and helped to promote the Dawn Walk and Twilight Chorus Concert in Kilcullen planned for next month.

Liam Ó Maonlaí of The Hot House Flowers will be the special guest at the Concert in the Market Square on Saturday 15 July. A seated open-air event, the lineup also includes Kilcullen Gospel Choir and the Newbridge Three Sopranos.

Tickets at €10 are available from the Gospel Choir, and the Concert is the follow-on event from the Dawn Walk through New Abbey Stud on the same day.

All proceeds from both events go to Pieta House. The organisers are Lorna Brophy (087 2741701) and Richie Kelly (087 2346428).

Sponsorship cards for the Walk are available on request. Previous Walks have raised over €16,000 for Pieta House.