Presentation to Fr Gary

On Saturday, 11 July, John Archbold presented a picture of a sunset at Kilcullen Bridge to Fr Gary Darby to mark his 28th year as a priest.

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Welcome Day at dance classes

Dance with Aaron and Niamh are hosting a Newcomer’s Welcome Day at Kilcullen Community Centre on Saturday, 25 July. 

The event offers free introductory sessions in Ballroom and Latin dancing for children aged 4-10 from 11am to 12pm, and for those aged 11 and above from 12pm to 1pm. 

Attendees can meet the team and learn more about the dance school. To reserve a spot, contact 085 7473562.

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Ballyshannon AGM tonight

A reminder that the Ballyshannon Action Group will hold its AGM TONIGHT, Thursday, 23 July at 8pm in Ballyshannon Hall. The meeting agenda includes the minutes of the previous AGM, the treasurer’s report, the chairperson’s statement, and motions to the committee.

The group’s officers are Jim Burke (Chairperson), Anna Sage (Treasurer), Shauna O’Rourke (Secretary), and Joanna Costello (PRO). Committee members are Jim Crawford, Joan Dowling, Clare Keon, Marcas McSeoin, Graham Sage, James Delaney, and Sarah Burke.

The AGM will give members an opportunity to review the group’s work and discuss matters for the year ahead.

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Cáirde replacing Text Alert

The Kilcullen Community Text Alert service is moving to the Cáirde app, replacing the existing text alert number, which is no longer in use. 

A public meeting with Kilcullen Gardaí is planned for August to explain the changes and answer questions. Further details, including the meeting date, will be shared once confirmed. 

In the meantime, any urgent concerns should be communicated directly to the Gardaí.

READ: Text Alert AGM hears how to switch to Cairde app 

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Fire service appeal on wildfire prevention

Kildare Fire Service, which is actively dealing with extensive fires on bog and grassland, is appealing to the public to prevent wildfires by not discarding cigarettes or matches outdoors, and avoiding campfires or BBQs in the countryside.

Any fires should be reported immediately to 112 or 999. Agricultural landowners should maintain machinery and make sure combustible debris doesn't accumulate, have firefighting equipment ready, create fire breaks, and avoid spark-generating activities during high fire risk periods. 

The service says community vigilance and preparedness are crucial in protecting against fires.

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New tables ordered for the Valley

Image: KCA.

Four new picnic tables have been ordered for the Valley and will be in place in September, writes Brian Byrne. The July KCA meeting in the Heritage Centre heard that the cost has been fully funded by donations from Applegreen and Nuala Collins.

The tables are made from recycled plastic and will last a very long time. Noel Clare noted that the wooden tables, which they are replacing, had been repaired prior to recent repainting and remain 'fairly functional'. 

"They are usable until the new ones are installed," he said. 

Since 2020, several new seats have been installed in the Valley by KCA, most of them made from recycled plastics.

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Placenames workshop for Heritage Week

A free drop-in workshop on local placenames will take place at Teach Diarmada, Main Street, Castledermot, on 19 August from 2pm to 7pm. The event focuses on recording minor local placenames – such as field names and crossroads – on the Meitheal Logainm website, helping to preserve valuable insights into the local landscape and its past. 

Visitors can call in at any time during the afternoon for a chat and a cup of tea, learn how to register placenames, and contribute entries on the day. 

Organised by Kildare County Council as part of National Heritage Week 2026, under the theme “Heritage at Risk”, the workshop offers a practical response to the loss of unrecorded placenames. No experience is necessary. 

For further information, contact Kildare County Council, 045 980200 or email heritage@kildarecoco.ie.

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Kilcullen AFC seeks new U16s

Kilcullen AFC’s U16 Premier (born 2011) squad is recruiting new players ahead of the coming season. The club is seeking enthusiastic footballers to strengthen its panel. 

Training is with qualified coaches focused on player development, teamwork, and enjoyment of the game. 

Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to contact Mark on 087 1528118 for further details.

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Parish Lotto Draw results

The numbers drawn in the Kilcullen & Gormanstown Parish Lotto Draw held on 21st July 2026 were 8, 9, 18 and 22. There was no Jackpot winner, and next week's main prize will again be €20,000. The value of the follow-up draws is €20,000 and €7,800.

The winners of the €50 Open Draws are TJ O’Neill (Promoter PJ Lydon), Clarke & Murphy (Vivian Clarke) and Stephen McCormack (Breda McCormack).

The winners of the Promoters Draw were Eilis Phillips and PJ Lydon, and the winner of the draw for those in the Parish Centre on the night was Ger Kelly.

The Parish thanks all who support the Lotto.

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Proposal to decoratively link lanes

More decorative use of the Town Hall laneway is planned, following a decision by Kilcullen Community Action to allocate money for seasonal decorations, writes Brian Byrne. The matter was raised at the July meeting of the group.

Antoinette Buckley noted that some Christmas and Easter decorations had been put in the lane in previous years, but none last year, except for a small Halloween element. She suggested that money previously used for one-off seasonal art installations might be better spent on quality decorations for the laneway that could be used year after year for the different seasons.

The discussion evolved into suggestions that the lane across the road, leading down by Fallons, could also be similarly decorated, visually linking it with the Town Hall and the improved public realm area in downtown Kilcullen.

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Women's cricket team planned for Halverstown

It has taken a little while — 141 years to be precise — but Halverstown is now hoping to field an adult female cricket team. Recent years have seen an explosion in cricket at the club, moving from one league team and a social team to two league teams, a social team, and five youth teams. The youth teams do include two girls’ teams: Under 13 and Under 15, both shared with North Kildare. However, Halverstown now hopes to go one step further and field a women’s team.  

To this end, Secretary Stuart Conroy has been putting out a message that there will be an information evening at 7pm on Thursday, 30 July, together with some basic coaching, to be held at the Halverstown cricket ground at Brannockstown. “The idea is to get enough numbers to form a team, have a couple of coaching/rules sessions in August, and play our first women’s game in September."   

Chairman Des Drumm added, “This has been a long time coming, but we feel now that the time is right. Moreover, Cricket Leinster is pushing for all clubs to have a women’s section, particularly since the Women’s national team is doing so well. It will also create a pathway for the next step up from the youth teams that we have. No experience of cricket is necessary!”  

Stuart added, “The ground is at W91 T8P3, and we suggest those interested come along no earlier than 6.45pm, when the gate will be opened. Just proceed straight through and past the house to the cricket pitch behind it, where our clubhouse is situated. We look forward to interest in what is a growing part of the sport.”  

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Orange fire risk warning

A Status Orange high fire risk warning has been issued for County Kildare, effective from 12 noon on 20 July 2026 until 12 noon on Friday 24 July.

The alert follows a prolonged spell of dry weather, which has left grass, heather and gorse highly flammable and increased the danger of wildfires, including underground peat fires on bogs. While overall temperatures are forecast to be lower, soil moisture levels continue to fall, and larger fuel types are now more likely to burn, making fires harder to control. Winds in some areas may exceed 20km/h at times, further worsening fire behaviour.

Kildare Fire Service is urging the public not to light barbecues or outdoor fires in forests or recreational areas, and to fully extinguish barbecues used at home. Landowners are reminded that burning growing vegetation on uncultivated land is illegal between 1 March and 31 August and must comply with all restrictions on land burning.

People visiting rural and recreational areas are asked to park considerately so emergency vehicles can access sites if needed, and to be especially vigilant in areas with dry vegetation. The public is advised not to approach or attempt to extinguish fires themselves.

Anyone who sees a fire is urged to call 999 or 112 immediately, move to a safe location, and provide clear details of the fire’s location, size, wind direction and proximity to homes or forestry. Suspicious or illegal activity should be reported to An Garda Síochána.

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