It Says in The Bridge: July/August

This Summer issue of The Bridge leads off with the official opening of the Credit Union's new building by Credit Union League President Anne O'Byrne. The retirement of Garda Sergeant Tom Duffy after 34 years of service in the town is given equal prominence, and both stories also take up major space inside.

It is very much an issue of high pictorial content -- more than 120 photographs -- with spreads from field days at Brannoxtown and Scoil Bhride national schools, from the Awards Day at Cross & Passion College, and the recent celebration of Fr Andrew O'Sullivan's 10th anniversary as a priest. Those attending the Dunshane Open Day are also given plenty of coverage.

Of less pleasant matters, there's also a visual roundup of recent vandalism in the community, including the window-smashing at Jackman's Gala Store, the breaking of fencing at the Pitch & Putt Club, and the destruction of flagstones and trees in the Valley Park.

Other stories include an account of the Four Peaks Challenge 2005 in which Kilcullen men Mark Phelan and Enda O'Neill played a storming part, the visit of a world karate champion -- Michael Walsh -- to Kilcullen's Kenpo Karate Club, and a promo piece about a September Golf Classic being organised by Kilcullen Lions Club to raise funds for mobile defibrillators. News of business reports on the arrival of the Headrush hairdressing salon and the closing of the Bakewell bakery shop, operated by Deirdre and Liam Horan for the last six years.

In features, Brian Keyes of the Kilcullen Set Dancing club highlights the current season of Summer Schools around the country, the KCA Environment News page is devoted to further extracts from the An Bord Pleanala Report on Pat Dunlea's upcoming Market Square Development, and Pastor Robert Dunlop recalls a trip made 'in the steps of Abraham' to Haran in Eastern Turkey.

Among the other regular columnists, Billy Redmond ponders on several matters in his usual eclectic way, including a disappointing response to his first efforts at texting; Sean Landers muses from Taiwan on the characteristics of his neighbours, and finds that they are people 'just like people anywhere'. His historical 'surfing the net' deals with 'a local politician' of the 17th centure, Kilcullen-born Sir Maurice Eustace.

Sports news includes reports from St Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club, Kilcullen GAA, and further news of local winners in the County Community Games. The Soccer Club notes that it hopes to have its new building open for beginning of the coming season.

And finally, a letter from Shane Nolan who has lived in the Bridge Camphill Community for seven years. He's now moving to Camphill Greenacres in Dundrum Dublin, and promises to keep Bridge readers in touch with how he gets on.

Brian Byrne.