The passing of Paddy Nugent
A young Paddy Nugent presiding over a dinner for Non Stop Draw promoters and collectors.
The Diary has learned with sorrow of the death of Paddy Nugent, who was in a very real way one of the architects of the Kilcullen we know today.
He will be best known among those of us who grew up here as the founder of the Kilcullen Non-Stop Draw, set up in 1949 to raise funds for Kilcullen Tennis Club.
The draw became one of the most successful of its type, and the proceeds were subsequently used for parish funds also.
In 1960, Kilcullen Development Association Ltd was formed to make better use of the draw funds, and among other benefits it cleared the parish debt for work on the church roof.
KDA then bought 44 acres of land on the Naas Road, and began development of an industrial site, long before the IDA ever came up with the idea.
In following years, KDA, with Paddy Nugent still at the helm, built the first 'affordable houses' at Moanbane Park, followed in 1971 by Bishop Rogan Park.
Other projects supported by the draw funds until 1978 included The Bridge Magazine, the Primary School, the Boxing Club, and the Canoe Club. From 1978 until the draw was wound up in 1990, the funds went to KARE.
A full account of KDA and Paddy Nugent's involvement in the building of modern Kilcullen can be read in 'Thirty Years of the Bridge', a compendium of articles from the first three decades of the magazine.
Pictured here on left when he received a community award for all he had done for Kilcullen, no doubt there will be many more stories told about Paddy in the next few days and weeks.
In the meantime, he is sadly missed by his loving wife Rita, sons Seamus, Paddy and Joseph; daughters Margaret, Maureen and Geraldine; and all his extended family and friends.
His removal will take place from his residence in Kilcullen to Kilcullen Parish Church on Monday evening, to arrive at 7.30. The funeral will take place to St Brigid's Cemetary after 11 o'clock mass on Tuesday.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
— Brian Byrne.
