It Says in The Bridge: December 05
This is a bumper-sized issue, but it should be said that most of the extra volume is made up of seasonal advertisements. Which, of course, each have their own interest to readers, so let's not knock them.
The facelift under way for the bridge is also on the front page, reporting that there has been 'an extremely positive' feedback to the work. The magazine fronts too the late news of the deaths of Des Byrne and Paddy Mitchell, 'yet again Kilcullen has lost two favourite sons'.
News inside includes the presentation of awards to Kilcullen and Brannockstown for both communities' performance in the Tidy Towns competition, along with the national awards presented in Moynalty. Other stories are the extra cost of the Christmas lights because of an ESB charge, a report on the meeting to discuss the defribrillator, and an account of the Senior Citizens Party hosted by the Scouts.
Roy Thompson writes a comprehensive account of the recent Miscellany Sunday event in Tom and Phena Bermingham's home in aid of the Michael Garry hostel for the homeless, and there's a wide selection of photographic items, including more from the CPC Deb's Ball, Pat and Dolly Lynch's 57th Wedding Anniversary, and the Gala Night opening of A Christmas Carol.
In the main features this month, Joseph Kelly shares some thoughts on his first attempt at going the distance in the recent Dublin City Marathon, Billy Redmond in his 'Off the Cuff' column does something similar, and Paul Aspell might have surprised a critical letter writer with his belief that Christmas is still a good time of the year despite the commercialisation of the festival.
Sean Landers got back to Taiwan safely and details some tribulations associated with his Teaching English as a Foreign Language work. His archeology/history offering this month relates to the bronze age cemetery at Mellon Hill, sadly destroyed 70 years ago.
Pat Behan reviews A Christmas Carol, summing up that it was a 'creditable adaptation' of a piece 'too well known' from 'one of the worst books ever written' by Dickens.
Finally, in the Christmas Messages from the local clergy, Fr Andrew O'Sullivan asks that we be reminded of the 'beauty and vulnerability of life' when we look on the child in the crib, while Rev John Marsden recalls how 'representatives of the whole of humanity' were drawn into an answering love to that shown by the Babe at Bethlehem.
Brian Byrne.
