The Bridge begins 35th year

The Bridge, Kilcullen's community magazine, celebrates its 35th birthday with the issue that went on sale today.

The magazine leads with the achievement of the Cadette Basketball team at Cross & Passion College in making it to the Final of the All Ireland Schools Cup, to be played next Monday against Letterkenny. The team will be decked out in new kit presented by Des and Jo Byrne of Kilcullen Service Station.

Molly Howard's 90th birthday party gets substantial photographic coverage, as does the recent launch of Michael McGinley's The La Touche family in Ireland. Pastor Robert Dunlop, who has taken more than a passing interest in the La Touche history, reports on the occasion.

Two pages of reports by the pupils of St Joseph's National School in Halverstown provide a revealing mix of school and home life, especially Ciara McGrath's story of treasure lost and found.

The Tidy Towns Planning Update documents the status of eleven current planning applications, most of which have been asked for further information, and on the regular Kilcullen Community Action page there's another request for organisations that wish to be included in the revised edition of the Community Directory to send in their details to KCA.

Young people figure photographically from the Kilcullen Credit Union Schools Table Quiz, the Community Games Art Competition, and the Lions Club Peace Poster Competition. Meanwhile, there's also plenty of picture coverage from the Senior Citizens outing to Athlone.

Business Bridge this month features Shelly's Barber Shop, established on the Church Road by Michelle Behan.

The fundraising by Kilcullen Scouts for the Tsunami relief effort, with over €4,000 already raised towards the cost of a boat, is detailed, as are two previews of upcoming theatre in Kilcullen: the Drama Group's Lovers at Versailles and Grease! from the CPC 4th Year students.

Regular columnist Paul Aspell has a clever piece about trying to buy tickets for a U2 concert, and the Sean Landers Letter from Taiwan reports on various aspects of food in his current country of residence. Sean also reports on the Benevolent Jane Coleman, an Absentee Landlady in the middle 1800s.

Sports reports on Basketball, Boxing, Pitch & Putt, GAA and Soccer round out the first Bridge of its 35th year.

Congratulations to all concerned.

— Brian Byrne.

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