It Says in The Bridge: Jan 07

We start this somewhat late review of the January 2007 issue of The Bridge with a small item on the back page which notes that the publication completes its 36th year next month.

The magazine's long life has been due completely to the tremendous voluntary effort of many, many people over the years. It also has been, over more than three-and-a-half decades, a pivotally important way for this community to talk to itself and as such has been a catalyst in much of Kilcullen's past and recent evolution.

Kilcullen has changed much over recent years, and there are many new residents. Maybe some of you are interested in taking the flag and helping carry both The Bridge and the community it serves on towards the next decades?

A meeting at 8.30pm on January 31 in Fallons has been organised to facilitate just those people. If you're interested in writing for, or in helping with any other aspect of the production of The Bridge, please go along.

Now to the current business. The first issue of 2007 leads with the overturning of the planning permission given by Kildare County Council for a new commercial development of The Square. An Bord Pleanala upheld an appeal by An Taisce on the grounds that the proposed new buildings would be 'discordant' to the location and the views of it from the bridge.



The lead page picture is of Dick and Trudy Jeffers at the pre-Christmas launch of Dick's book, 'A Harvest of Memories', a story that is covered inside the magazine in extensive words and pictures, including an extract with strong Kilcullen echoes.

We also read on the front page about the continuing difficulties relating to the Carnalway Bridge right of way saga; and in more congenial manner of the retirement of Carmel Gleeson from the position of Principal of Crookstown National School.

On the other news pages, maybe Dean Marum of the Toddlers and Wobblers might have got local actor Dafydd O'Shea into a little trouble? He notes, in a report of 'Dilly's' visit to the club, that Dafydd's favourite drink is Guinness ... but we all know that he makes a good twist out of appearing in TV adverts for Amstel, a Heineken brand.

Dafydd also makes news ripples in a report of his success in gaining a key stage role in Dublin in John Osborne's 'Look Back in Anger'.

Other news stories include a report on the St Stephen's Day fundraising Mystery Walk in aid of the street children of Calcutta, the Kilcullen connection to a BAFTA award in the person of Alan Dooley, and from-the-stage views of Christmas children's productions by Evelyn O'Sullivan's 'Drama Dynamics' and Scoil Bhride students.

There are also extensive picture coverages of the Senior Citizens Christmas Party, and the Kildare Steiner School Christmas Fair.

In a more serious vein, the Kilcullen Gardai Notes highlight a spate of break-ins to houses across the parish, and appeals for neighbourly cooperation in combating the problem: 045 481212 is the local Garda number if you see anything suspicious.

In features, Sean Landers recalls his Christmas at home in Kilcullen, and wasn't impressed either by the seasonal lights nor the litter. In his regular second piece, Sean retails how much of Kilcullen's built heritage has been lost 'due to the ravages of Time'.

The Diary Editor's brother Gary has a couple of pages on 'Church Buildings seen in China', a shortened version of a piece previously published in 'Ireland's Eye'. There's also an article by Pat Behan on peer pressure being a 'magnificent thing ... which plays an important part in shaping the future of society'.

The same writer takes the Letters to the Editor route to reply to a criticism in last month's issue about his article on Halloween fireworks in Calverstown. The Diary has no interest in rehearsing either side of the arguments, but we wonder if the matter might also have prompted another feature by PB on 'PC or not PC?'.

There's also a page from Anna McCarthy on her endeavours for 'Cultural Canvas Thailand' and how her involvement in the charity came about.

Which only leaves us to remind you about where we came in; as somebody whose professional journalistic career was kick-started by having the writing outlet of The Bridge, I ask you to go along to the meeting on January 31 if you feel you'd like to be involved. I would be there myself, but will be out of town on business.

Brian Byrne.