It Says in The Bridge: April 06
The Bridge this month comes with a front-page caveat: to the point that it hit the shops on April 1, so 'take care as your read it!!!'.
The lead story is 'Conor's Golden Moment', and reports on local jockey Conor O'Dwyer completing a triple crown of Irish wins at Cheltenham, by bringing Michael 'Ryanair' O'Leary's War of Attrition first past the post on St Patrick's Day. It's hoped that the Gold Cup will be brought to one of our local hostelries soon, or even more of them in a local celebratory tour.
In other news items, there's news of a training programme for the new defribrillator unit to be installed in the town, and a preliminary meeting for Monday 24 April has been set to get this in train.
Some sad news is the announced closure of Patricia's Hairdressing Salon after many years of serving the hair needs of Kilcullen women. Patricia McDonnell is holding a small event on 10 April to mark the occasion.
Amongst the various news pages from the schools we read that Esther Reddy is moving to Brannoxtown NS as Principal, from Halverstown NS. No doubt the Halverstown pupils will be sad to see her move, and the Diary highlighted recently some of the nice things that have happened there in recent times.
The Cross and Passion College presentation of 'Fame' is given a good page of pictorial coverage in the magazine, which reports that over 1,000 people came to see the show (your Editor was abroad on business at the time and couldn't make it, but congratulations to all involved).
In Lions Club News there's a reminder that the Duck Race will again be held in the Liffey on Sunday April 23, with proceeds in aid of Operation Maintain Hope in Kenya. The day will also see the 'Battle of the Bands' in the square, and there will also be a Childrens Treasure Hunt.
Kilcullen Scouts also get honourable mention, from the Irish-Sri Lanka Trust Fund, with a great picture of the boat named after them in that country which was devastated by the tsumani. The Scouts had raised more than €5,000 for the project.
Congratulations too to Adeline Poufong, who was runner-up in the 14-17 category in the National Credit Union Poster Competition. She's pictured with her entry.
In a special news section from Kildare Country Council, we read that Kilcullen's annual Rate Valuation, at €4.01, is almost three times that set for Newbridge. There's also news of the granting of planning permission for a Lap Dancing Nightclub in Calverstown.
In features, Pat Behan outlines once again the need for blood donors, Roy Thompson cogitates on the need for public policy change by the next Government, of whichever shades it is made, and also wonders about the recent riots in Dublin and what the mindless thuggery means.
Billy Redmond goes Off the Cuff on a couple of what he terms 'near death' experiences, in his usual droll way. Mary McNamee writes on the Mayo Exodus to Kildare, to wit the arrival of seven families from the Swinford area to Blackhall in Calverstown, 50 years ago. Pat Behan reports on how a local family, the Keanes, became 'stars' on Korean TV, and Paul Aspell muses on the origins of St Patrick in Ireland, bank charges, and road safety.
Sean Landers has a historical piece on Fr James Harold, PP of Kilcullen from 1745-1830, and in his Letter from Taiwan he details more of the lore and language teaching in that place where he currently works.
The opening of the Macari Star is reported; there's thanks from Avon for participants in a breast cancer research fundraising walk; and Noelle Murray recalls the joys of the card game Rummy.
And there's also the usual sports club reports. All in all, a really packed Bridge this issue.
Brian Byrne.
