Wednesday, February 28, 2007

'Giant stride' for Badminton team

Kilcullen Badminton Club's Mens 1st Team drew against Baldonnell last night, taking a point towards qualification for the Class 4 Quarter Finals.

It was a 'closely contested' match and the Baldonnel team proved a 'very hard nut to crack'.

The full report is on the club's website.

Brian Byrne.

Table Quiz on Friday

Brannockstown Community are holding a Table Quiz on Friday night, February 2.

It will be located in The Stray Inn. A table for four costs 30 euros and starting time is 8pm sharp.

There will also be the usual raffle and spot prizes, and refreshments will be served.

Brian Byrne.

Speak up!

If you fancy improving your public speaking skills, the Kildare Town Toastmasters Club is always happy to welcome new members.

They meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in the Silken Thomas, at 8pm.

Further information is available from Eugene at 485373.

Meantime, if you'd rather brush up your skills before joining, there's some helpful advice here.

Brian Byrne.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

First Responders seeks volunteers

Kilcullen First Responders will always welcome new volunteers for their potentially lifesaving service.

firstresponders026If you live or work in the Kilcullen area, you could train as a responder and deal with sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack or stroke victims, which kill thousands of people eack year at home, in the workplace, or while at leisure activities.

First responder members are trained to provide early intervention in such emergencies, while awaiting the arrival of emergency personnel.

Training by the Eastern Region Ambulance Service includes diagnosis and initial treatment for a range of emergencies, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), relief of choking, and the operation of an automated external defribrillator.

Without early intervention in the case of cardiac arrest, for instance, the chances of long-term survival decline by as much as 10 percent a minute.

If you are interested, contact 087 9462446; or come along to a meeting on the first Tuesday of every month in the KARE McMahon Centre (old Cross & Passion Convent) at 7.30pm.

Brian Byrne.

Planning applications

A planning application has been lodged for a new pedestrian bridge across the Liffey from the upstream end of the Market Square development.

The application, by Nessa Dunlea, is for a construction of painted steel finish, 27.5m long and 2.9m wide. It will include a stainless steel railing with timber handrail.

The application was lodged on 15 February and is due for decision by 11 April. The last date for submissions is 22 March.

Previous posts on this subject:

Pedestrian bridge proposed
Support for bridge idea
A view of the bridge

comm06awards7026Meanwhile, Eddie Cross (right) has applied for a change of use permission, from a restaurant previously granted at Bardons Public House, for a bookmakers office.

He is also looking for permission to make minor alterations to the protected structure in the form of a window to be replaced by a door.

The application was lodged on 22 February and a decision is due by 18 April. The last date for submission on the application is 29 March.

Brian Byrne.

Monday, February 26, 2007

KCA mulls street collection

The possibility of a street collection to raise funds for its work in Kilcullen is being considered by Kilcullen Community Action.

kieranforde2The matter was discussed extensively after a report on the financial position of the organisation showed that last year it ran to a significant deficit.

Excess of expenditure over income for 2006 was almost 2,700 euros. "We can't operate in that way for 2007," chairman Kieron Forde said. "We shouldn't be spending more than we have."

Orla O'Neill, who presented the accounts, noted that the annual Pub Quiz raised enough money to pay for KCA's general running costs.

The big drain on finances last year was the Christmas lights. There was general criticism of how these had operated during the recent holiday season.

"If we're paying out that kind of money, then they should be working right," Siobhan Tutty Bardon said.

Brian Byrne.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

A club with definite goals

Kilcullen AFC, established in 1968, is one of the more progressive clubs in Kildare at present, fielding a total of 14 teams for the 2006/2007 season. Given the size of the town this is a pretty good reflection on the professionalism of its members.

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afc9649Of the 14 teams, we field two Senior teams playing in the Kildare Junior League and 12 under age teams playing in the Kildare Schoolboy League.

Our Underage League teams are from Under 15s down to Under 8s inclusive and we also provide coaching for 6-7 year-olds. The club have a great group of managers, who, week in week out look after their respective teams.

Off the field we are a busy committee although a very small one. Our main goal, as well as providing soccer to the youth of the town, is to provide a permanent home for the club. To date we are halfway to this goal with completion of our clubhouse down at the Community Centre. Our next venture is to develop our playing area and provide a quality full size pitch with training facilities. This venture we hope to start this year.

afc9609Like all clubs we cannot get by without the help of many people and groups. The club acknowledges the assistance of Scoil Bhríde and the Cross and Passion College for the use of their excellent pitches, to Denis and Margaret Brennan for the use of our home pitch for nearly 30 years, and all the businesses who have sponsored our teams.

If you want to see the club in action, drop down any Saturday between 10am and 2pm to the Community Centre and see what goes on. While it may look like mayhem and in some cases it is, you will see over 60 kids playing in competitive home matches. Bear in mind that we have a similar number of players playing away. The season runs for 7-8 months of the year so it takes considerable commitment from both the committee and from managers to keep these teams going.

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Ray Kelly

Happy Birthdays, Ollie, Bridget

A double bunch of good wishes go out today to a related pair of Kilcullenites.

It's Ollie Archbold's birthday, and all his family send their best to him in his Jersey retreat. They also extend the same nice thoughts to his grandmother, Bridget Aspell, who shares Ollie's birthday but not his years. She's 97 today. They all had a great day last year too.

Happy birthdays both.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Planning application from Ladbrokes

A planning application for a bookie shop at the office/retail development beside the Hideout spurred fresh discussion on the building at the latest meeting of Kilcullen Community Action.

ladbrokes276The development is already the focus of an investigation by the Conservation & Compliance Section of Kildare County Council, and developer Jim Browne of Clane has been told to remove five unauthorised windows facing out from the gable end of building.

KCA chairman Kieron Forde said that the organisation's objection to how the building was constructed should be submitted as soon as possible, and engineer JJ Warren told him it could be 'signed off' the following day.

He said his technical report will show nine divergences from the permission granted to the developer. He also said that under current regulations, any planning application related to the building could not be progressed until issues of unauthorised development had been sorted.

"This is one to really test the Council's resolve," Kieron Forde commented. "It is so blatant in so many ways, if we can't get them to move on this, they never will on anything."

The applicants for the bookie shop are Ladbrokes. The application calls for a change of use of the existing single storey ground level retail unit to a licenced betting office.

The work applied for includes modifications to an 'existing shopfront' to incorporate a new extended glazed shopfront opening with new surrounds, and a new externally illuminated double-sided projecting advertising signboard at the front.

The application was made on behalf of Ladbrokes by Fergal Fitzpatrick Architectural, Corban's Lane, Naas.

Brian Byrne.

A note from Joseph

I enjoyed the slideshow of the 1953 Donnellys Hollow Pageant very much. Yours truly had to view it at our local public library as our circa 1999 iMac refused to coopererate. I was also impressed to learn that my Uncle Jim Berney was the original posessor of those photograhs.

Earlier this evening I read the letter from Paul Durney regarding his memories of the Capers and all things Kilcullen. I can remember as a young teen of no more then thirteen or fourteen years old going to his home at Bishop Brogan Park and plucking a few strings on his electric guitar.

As always, keep up the good work! All the best, Joseph A. Fagan Jr.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Councillor support for Kilcullen

Naas Area councillor Mary Glennon has written to Kildare County Council officials to urge them to sort out the litter situation in Kilcullen.

Responding to an email from Tony Maher of Celbridge, who is leading efforts by a number of towns to have the Council improve various situations relating to litter and waste management, Cllr Glennon said she could understand the frustration felt in Kilcullen.

"They've been looking for a street cleaner since I've been on the Council, and that's nearly eight years," she wrote. "How hard can it be?"

Kilcullen Community Action had written to Tony Maher to note that Kilcullen is contemplating pulling out of the Tidy Towns competition this year in protest at failure of the Council to 'fulfil its duties' in relation to litter in the town.

Brian Byrne.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Breakthrough in playground project

There has been a breakthrough move in the project to build a children's playground near the Community Centre.

Orla O'Neill told the recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action that agreement had been reached with the parish on the 'swopping' of land near Scoil Bhride to provide a suitable location.

Full details of the plan will shortly be going on public display at a number of locations in the town.

The project will also involve the closure of the existing entrance lane to the Community Centre, in favour of a new entrance from the road beside the Castlemartin housing estates.

It is planned that a roundabout will be provided at that entrance to facilitate traffic entering and exiting what is also planned to be a link road to the Athy Road at the new Knockbounce Business Park.

"It will have a huge beneficial effect for everybody using the area," Orla O'Neill said.

Brian Byrne.

A note to the Diary

Dear Brian,

This evening I received an email from my cousin in San Francisco apropos your piece on the Donnelly's Hollow Pageants. This contains a picture of his grandmother, my grand-aunt, together with her son and daughter. It was a delight to see this as none of us were aware of its existence.

After reading the aforementioned article I then began to read through Diary articles, working backwards, and am now bleary eyed but reluctant to stop, having been at it for hours. I have been transported back in time to the Kilcullen of my youthful summer holidays and my schooldays, not to mention places further afield, by virtue of your wonderful postcards. I shall continue my trawl backwards tomorrow, and no doubt will probably stay too long in front of the computer again.

I just wanted to say thank you for making such a marvellous compendium of 'Kilcullenabilia'. It's fascinating, and probably addictive too.

By the way, I now live in Dromahair, Co Leitrim. My parents (my mother is Dorothy Myers, originally of Main Street and Mile Mill) visited at Christmas and on a trip to the local pub, came across another Kilcullenite - one Gary Byrne. It certainly is a small world.

Thank you again,

Best regards,

Bernadette Linnane.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Survey of pastoral attitudes, beliefs

The following letter will be sent to parishioners shortly asking them to take part in a survey to establish pastoral attitudes.

There are significant changes taking place in Irish society at the present time and those changes have an impact on the Parish of Kilcullen. For instance, the population of the Parish in the 2002 census was 4,000 and the population in the 2006 census was 6,500, an increase of nearly two thirds. These changes bring excitement and opportunity, but they also bring challenges and difficulties. On foot of these changes the Parish Pastoral Council is conducting research on the needs of the Parish at the present time in order to be able to plan well for the future.

This research will take the form of a guided listening survey. We aim to interview one hundred people who are representative of the Parish community as a whole. Your name has been chosen as one of the one hundred.
We plan to conduct interviews during the month of March. The interview will be informal, will take approximately one hour and will be tape-recorded. During the interview we will ask you a number of general questions on your attitude towards the priests, the Parish, the Church, the community, social issues that arise in the community, prayer and belief, God and Jesus Christ.

As part of the objective of the research, a report will be compiled from the findings, which will be analysed by an independent researcher from outside the Parish, and which will serve as a reference for future planning in the Parish.

Participation in the interview will be voluntary, confidential and anonymous.

In order to facilitate the interview it will be necessary to arrange a time, a venue and a date with you. In the course of the next week or so one of our interviewers will be in touch with you to make arrangements, should you wish to take part.

On behalf of the Pastoral Council I wish to thank you for reading this letter and to thank you also in anticipation, should you decide to take part in this important research project.

Howard Berney.
(Chairperson of the Pastoral Council.)

A letter from The Land of Smiles

Hello from the Land of Smiles. It is nearly a month since I arrived and as always things are moving slowly but progressively.

annamac861The weather at this time of year is far less trying than it will be in only a month or two. The days are hot and staying indoors under a fan is about the only way to keep cool. But at night the temperature drops significantly and the release is always welcome. It’s funny that in Ireland we complain about the cold and the rain, here the complaint is the heat.

annamac262Since I have been back I have had an unexpected house move that has taken up a lot of time and energy but now I am settled in a little cottage style house, about ten minutes drive from the town centre in a small country village. It’s perfect.

We are back working full steam ahead with Cultural Canvas Thailand. All three of us have come back with renewed energy and high hopes for the near future of our organization. The fundraising night that I held in Kilcullen and the support that I got from our community has given me a great boost in confidence and added motivation to succeed.

annamac843

In the next months our website is going to see quite a few changes. After which time the main mission will be to market it to potential volunteers, wishing to get involved in the community of Chiang Mai.

annamac726The overall plan for the art program is finally complete and this week I will be working on sending it to as many Chiang Mai artists. With the money from what we are calling the 'Kilcullen Community Fund' we will be able to start with the art programs, whatever the interest in the volunteer programs is.

For those of you who are not aware of Cultural Canvas Thailand let me recap.

Our first objective is to create a volunteer experience where tourists wishing to travel to Chiang Mai have the opportunity to get involved with organizations working with people affected by issues that very often corrupt or disregard their rights as human beings. These groups consist of HIV/AIDS victims, hill tribes, Burmese refugees, sex workers and orphans. We want to create a volunteer program that promotes cultural exchange between groups whose lives have been blessed by privilege and groups who have been born with little and are rarely given the chance to progress.

While living in Chiang Mai we realised that most tourists are largely unaware of the social problems in a city that has a lot of cultural and historical wealth to offer. We want tourists to be able to come and feel comfortable interacting with people who very often make them feel uncomfortable. The reason for this discomfort is simple lack of knowledge about who they are or why they are so much on the outer edges of society.

annamac854

The art programs will further promote cultural exchange and learning while using artistic media as a substitute for language. One of the main barriers in exchange between foreigners and the Thai population, in general, is language. The art programs will see members of mainstream Thai society, in particular artists, working to bring the Cultural Canvas target groups and foreigners together in an interactive environment.

This is the idea now it is our mission to see it become a reality. Sincerest thanks again to the community of Kilcullen. I will keep you updated of our progress.

Kind Regards,

Anna McCarthy.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Getting ready for marathon 2007

It's that time of year again, which seems to be as much a harbinger of spring as the chatter of small birds mating in the eaves.

Volunteers are being sought to run in the Womens Mini Marathon 2007 in aid of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund.

As Phena Bermingham says, the preparation is a nice way to trim up, lose a bit of weight, get fit.

"It's an opportunity to get out walking, running or jogging, and it is all free," she says. "It is an enjoyable experience and a way to make new friends."

There will be a meeting in the Parish Centre on March 8 at 8pm to give out sponsorship cards and provide information.

You can also contact Phena direct at 087 9767531 485232.

Brian Byrne.

A Postcard from Sydney

Hi Brian,

Just a quick email updating you on some of the the Kilcullen contingent here in sunny Sydney. At the moment all is well with the posse.

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As we speak, Amanda Finn and Shane Lambe are in transit in their camper van up the East Coast. They're in Noosa at the moment, near Brisbane and are sadly missed.

kilcullensydneys33l

Conor Gleeson is working hard and living it up every weekend, and plans to travel to Melbourne and the East Coast in March.

kilcullensydneys50lkilcullensydneys29l

I'm teaching EFL and playing Gaelic Football at the weekends with the Irish Australians. We won the Sydney Summer Comptition yesterday. Kevin O'Brien is working as a carpenter and has started playing with the Penrith Gaels.

kilcullensydneys42l

All of us have introduced Kilcullen into the vocabulary of many new people over here as we have an insatiable appetite for nostalgia and have regaled both willing and unwilling listeners with stories about the place.

Regards,

Sarah Burke.

Flower & Garden demo

Kilcullen Flower & Garden Club will meet in the Parish Centre on Tuesday February 20 at 8pm.

The evening will include a demonstration by Margaret Collins from Carlow.

Admission is 5 euros.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Quick cakes disposal

After a very positive 'commercial' from Fr Andrew O'Sullivan during mass, that the cakes on sale at the Brannockstown National School Cake Sale to be held after mass were 'all fat-free', all stock was old out within ten minutes.

branscakesale07

With nothing left to do, the organisers from the Parent/Teacher Association of the school had time to pose for a pic for the Diary.

Congrats all.

Brian Byrne.

National Tree Week offer

National Tree Week takes place from 4-10 March 2007 and Kildare County Council will have approximately 250 standard trees and 350 saplings for distribution to schools, residents’ associations and community groups during the week.

treeThe offer is in conjunction with Coillte and the Tree Council of Ireland. A form of application is available here.

The standard trees will require staking and stakes are not provided by the Council. Distribution of the trees will occur at the end of February to early March.

Trees will be distributed as fairly as possible based on demand and applicants may not receive the number or type of trees requested.

Further information is available from Environment Section, Kildare County Council, Arás Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas (marking the envelope 'National Tree Week').

You can phone 045 980588 or email.

Brian Byrne.

Related Story: Holly tree planted at school

Parish Council to do survey

The Parish Council is undertaking a survey in order to assess the needs of the people of the parish under a number of headings.

The research, in the form of a Guided Listening Survey, will focus on people's attitudes towards God, towards others, towards the Church and towards priests.

The survey will be carried out during the month of March, and a team of helpers is being recruited at the moment for the work. Each member of the team will be asked to carry out about five interviews.

Anybody who would like to be a part of this team should contact Fr Michael Murphy.

Brian Byrne.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

School Cake Sale

Brannockstown National School is having a Cake Sale tomorrow morning after 11 o'clock maas.

The venue is the Parish Centre and the event is being run by the Parents/Teachers Association. All Welcome.

Brian Byrne.

Arts grants available

A number of arts bursaries and grants are on offer from the Arts Service of Kildare County Council.

They include the Arts Act Grants Scheme, which considers applications for arts education and training projects and also provides assistance to groups, organisations and schools towards projects and purchase of equipment.

A Cecil Day Lewis Literary Bursary Award may also be applied for through the Council by established and emerging writers and critics, for research and training.

The Kildare Dance Summer School Bursary offers two awards for the summer school to be held in Maynooth College in July.

There are also two residency bursary awards available for the Tyrone Guthrie artists workplace in Monaghan, and two more for the Drama League of Ireland Summer School in August.

Conditions and application forms are available from Kildare County Arts Service, Riverbank, Main Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare, phone 045-448318/448328; or by email. Full details are also on the Kildare Community Network website.

The closing date for each scheme is 5pm Friday 16 March.

Brian Byrne.

Friday, February 16, 2007

The Passing of Mick Clifford

The Diaryhas learned of the death of Michael (Mick) Clifford, Brannockstown, at St Brigid's Hospice on The Curragh.

His removal took place this evening from his home to Kilcullen Parish Church. Requiem Mass will be celebrated tomorrow, Saturday, at 11am, and will be followed by interment in St Brigid's Cemetery.

Mick was the beloved husband of Lily, loving father of Madeline, Peter, Betty, Michael, Bernadette, Shamie, and Vivienne, and his loss is deeply felt.

We extend our condolences to his family and friends.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

Work at Rogan Park near completion

The last section of work is under way at Bishop Rogan Park on a Kildare County Council programme which saw some 50,000 euros spent on the estate in the last year.

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"Rogan Park is one of the oldest of the privately built estates in Kilcullen and needed quite a bit of attention," Cllr Billy Hillis told the Diary.

rogan9554Much of the work was related to surfacing the roads and car parking areas, and the last portion of it involves improved parking and access at the innermost part of the estate.

"We also took out some old trees and topped others," Cllr Hillis added. "It's probable that what the Council did helped the estate to achieve 'most improved' status in the recent Community Awards organised annually by Kilcullen Community Action."

Brian Byrne.

A view on proposed crossing

It is good to hear that pedestrian lights may be a possibility at the Hillside end of town.

The location of the lights is critical, though. A lot of elderly people from Logstown use the shops alongside Hillside and a location further up the road would be of no benefit to them.

Also the traffic issues with regard to the entrance of Hillcrest could be addressed with the introduction of traffic lights incorporatiing pedestrian lights along the Hill side area.

Regarding the use of the lights by school children, once on that side of the road they face a hazardous journey from the end of the Hillcrest development down to the Fountain take away, as the footpath is not suitable for pedestrians. The footpaths in this area could be upgraded using the funds outlined by Billy Hillis in your article.

Hope it happens ...

Ray Kelly

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Told to remove windows

browne9540Kildare County Council has given the developer of the office/retail development beside The Hideout nine days to remove 'unauthorised' windows on the gable end of the building.

In a Warning Letter from the Planning Department issued on 12 February, Jim Browne of Clane was told that the five windows appear to be 'unauthorised development' following the department's investigation to date, and must be removed by February 21.

The move follows a complaint to the Conservation and Compliance Section of Kildare County Council.

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tanker022According to the complaint, the windows -- which were not on the plans for which permission was granted -- are a health and safety hazard because they open onto a petrol delivery stand on the neighbouring filling station. Tankers carrying up to 40,000 litres are regularly on the stand, with deliveries conducted under rigid statutory safety regulations.

Kilcullen Community Action is also making representations to Kildare County Council about the development, which has recently been described as 'monstrous', and a 'bunker'.

The matter was raised at the last meeting of KCA, which heard that up to nine deviations from the planning permission may have occurred.

The developer has also been told that an Enforcement Notice may be issued if the request to remove the windows is not complied with, and that the penalties for an offence under the relevant regulations include fines of up to 12.7 million euros and up to two years imprisonment.

Brian Byrne.

Plan for pedestrian lights

Kilcullen may have its third set of traffic lights by the autumn, if an application to Kildare County Council for a pedestrian crossing goes through.

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billyhillisCouncillor Billy Hillis is seeking the crossing at a location (above) near Esker Leigh on behalf of residents of the estates on the north end of town.

"Schoolchildren particularly have great difficulty crossing at Logstown, because of the heavy and fast-moving traffic," Cllr Hillis says. "The best solution is to put a lights-controlled crossing at Esker Leigh, which will allow all residents from Moanbane, Esker Leigh and Rogan Park to cross safely."

It would also mean that school pupils from those estates wouldn't have to cross the road again until they reached the lights-controlled crossing at Scoil Bhride.

The cost of the new crossing is expected to be in the region of 40,000 euros, and Cllr Hillis has requested the funding from a development levies allocation of 250,000 euros which must be spent in the Naas Electoral Area in this calendar year.

Brian Byrne.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

The Donnelly's Hollow pageants

Following a recent request from Dr John Feehan, School of Biology and Environmental Science in UCD, for some of the photographs from the 1953 Donnelly's Hollow Pageant, I thought it an opportune time to make them available on the Diary as a slide show.

DonnellyPag011

The pictures are courtesy of Jim Berney (wearing black top hat above), who played the part of Dan Donnelly in the reenactment of the famous fight with English champion George Cooper.

I've put some links relating to the pageants and Dan Donnelly below, but even though it was more than 50 years ago, maybe there are some people out there with their own memories of the pageants? We'd love to hear from you.

The Donnellys Hollow pageants
Dan Donnelly -- the short story
Arming America

Brian Byrne.

A late call

Forgotten that Valentine's Day present?

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Bernard Berney's is open early.

Brian Byrne.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

KCA to complain about development

Kilcullen Community Action is to make a complaint to the Conservation & Compliance section of Kildare County Council in relation to an offices/retail development beside the Hideout.

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This follows a discussion at the latest meeting of the group, which heard that there could be up to nine points of difference in the almost-complete office and retail project when measured against the planning permission.

Local engineer J J Warren is to draw up a technical report on the matter, which was raised in correspondence by local businesswoman Josephine Byrne. His report will accompany an official complaint from KCA.

browne9540In a letter to KCA she outlined two major points where it seemed that unauthorised development had taken place. These related to the height of the building and to five windows facing out onto her filling station which were not in the plans on which permission was granted. She said these represented a health and safety issue, as some of them opened right over the petrol infill stand of her filling station, which is bound by stringent statutory safety regulations.

She said that she had already lodged a complaint with Kildare County Council, after seeing what had actually been done when the scaffolding around the building was taken down after Christmas. Celia Travers commented that up to that time the work 'had been well camouflaged'.

browne9542

Local engineer J J Warren said he had found nine points of divergence from the permission granted to the developer. These included windows on the front which were not in line with the protected nearby building of The Hideout, as originally proposed. He said that the initial planner's report on the first application had been 'very specific' in requiring that the roofline not be extended above the neighbouring building.

During the discussion, Esther Kiely described the building as 'monstrous'. Celia Travers said it looked like a 'bunker'. Other KCA members also detailed their criticisms, with a concensus that the actual building was nothing like the one for which permission had been granted.

tonygahanTony Gahan warned that 'time was not on the side' of the complaints. "By the time it is dealt with, the building will be occupied and functioning," he said. "Then you'll get nowhere."

J J Warren disagreed, saying that under new rules the Council had to act and could be legally forced to do so.

At the time of the original application, neither KCA nor Josephine Byrne and her late husband Des had raised any objections, since the project as proposed appeared quite reasonable in relation to the surrounding buildings.

Margaret O'Shea said the position as it is now 'makes a laugh' of the planning system.

Brian Byrne.

Related Stories:

Office, retail plan for Hideout
Letter: Re Hideout development
Hideout development discussed

Monday, February 12, 2007

AWOL wheelie bin

There's a hue and cry for a wheelie bin recently disappeared from behind the Town Hall.

kieranforde2Well, maybe it's not a Crimeline matter, but Kieran Forde of Kilcullen Community action says the matter is serious, because the bin concerned was 'worth a fortune'.

That was because it was sponsored by Kildare County Council, and therefore collected free each week with whatever waste had been put into it by KCA.

He noted that there were three such bins originally, but in addition to the one that had gone missing, another had been burned out by vandals last year.

"We need two replacements, at least. Maybe more, given that the town has grown so much since we got the original three," he said.

Brian Byrne.

Daffodil Day volunteers required

We're celebrating our 20th anniversary of Daffodil Day in 2007. Can you spare one hour of your day to help us?

Every Daffodil sold helps the Irish Cancer Society to provide quality care and emotional support to cancer patients and their families through our free nationwide nursing services.

With your help, on March 23, we aim to get everyone in Ireland wearing a daffodil –- the international symbol of hope –- and have this country ablaze with vibrant yellow blooms and other Daffodil merchandise.

Volunteers are required between 9am-2pm on March 23 to sell daffodils on Main Street and at the Gala Supermarket.

Please contact me on 087 9094380 or email me to participate in this worthwhile project!

Thanks a Bunch!

Nuala Collins.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

The litter and the sweet

Love is in the air again, as shown in just one way by the delightful display in Dowlings Village Flowers & Gifts shop.

valentinewind9543

phonelitter9538Unfortunately, it seems still that too many of our townspeople have no love for Kilcullen itself, as the ongoing litter problem shows.

The phone box being a perennial case in point.

Brian Byrne.

Pool Challenge fundraiser for Seniors

KTK Landfill Ltd is sponsoring a 2,000 euros Charity Pool Challenge in McTernan's in aid of Kilcullen Senior Citizens.

The prize fund is a minimum and is guaranteed, but it may well be greater if the response is good.

There are four players per team and up to four subs may be nominated if required. Entry fee is 100 euros per team and the closing date for entries is February 28.

Application forms are available from McTernans or by phoning 087 1343569.

Brian Byrne.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Robert's work commended

Tributes were paid at a recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action to the work carried out by Robert Curry in The Valley.

Robert is employed under a FAS scheme, and Noel Clare highlighted the foliage trimming and leaves clearing work done by Robert in the town's riverbank park.

Brian Byrne.

Friday, February 09, 2007

Having a makeover

Just to say that we're doing a little makeover of the look of the Diary. So for a little while we'll have lost some of the elements you're used to. But we'll be better eventually.

Brian Byrne.

Playgroup needs temporary home

The Naomh Bhride Community Playgroup is looking for temporary accommodation while a new Community Childcare Centre is built on their site beside the All Weather Pitch.

Funding has come through for the Centre, but the playgroup will have to vacate the portacabins they currently occupy there, from the end of March until the end of the year.

Anyone with knowledge of suitable accommodation should contact Maureen Keogh on 087 2178217.

Brian Byrne.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Spraying needed soon

noelclareSpraying for weeds through the town must be done in the next four weeks, if a 'window' which will ensure no problems later in the year is to be taken advantage of.

Noel Clare told a recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action that a 'slot of a couple of weeks' makes all the difference between having no weeds and needing to deal with a bigger problem later.

It was agreed that a list of areas to be treated would be drawn up, and a number of members offered their services and time to help.

Noel Clare noted that the work had to be done by people 'who knew what they were doing'.

Brian Byrne.

GAA plans St Patrick's celebration

Kilcullen GAA is hosting 'The Legend of Luke Kelly' at the Kilcullen Community Centre as part of a big St Patrick's Night celebration event.

The night is being organised by John Mulhall, and music, craic and beer is promised from 8.30pm to 2am in what is likely to be the biggest March 17 gig in town.

'A tribute to Luke Kelly' was launched in October 2001 at Dublin's Hotpress HQ. The band was booked for a three month residency at The Olympia Theatre and since then has amazed audiences following powerful performances in many prominent Irish venues. The band also made a memorable appearance on RTE's 'Open House' and a fantastic live session on Eamon Dunphy's radio show 'The Last Word'.

Lead singer Chris Kavanagh bears a remarkable resemblence to Luke while his singing talent captures the depth and passion of the great man. He is joined onstage by accomplished musicians who all consider it an honour to bring Luke's memory back to the live stage.

The support band is Heather Breeze.

Admission is by tickets only, which are now on sale at 20 euros each. Contact 087 6611341 for details and booking.

Brian Byrne.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

'Hallucination' of litter pickers?

Kilcullen Community Action chairman Kieran Forde (below) told a recent meeting that he thought he was 'hallucinating' recently when he saw operatives of Kildare County Council picking up litter on the meridian of the M9.

kieranfordeHis comment opened a discussion on Kilcullen's long-time aggravation with the Council on its failure to provide an adequate litter clearing service to the town. But the immediate response to his 'hallucination' was Ray Kelly's comment that the people the chairman had seen might have become 'lost in the fog' of that morning.

The discussion reiterated a decision made at the previous meeting that KCA would no longer engage in voluntary litter picking during the spring and summer, unless Kildare County Council came up with a commensurate service.

celiatraversBut after some debate, it was decided to do a one-off clear up of rubbish on the approach roads to the town, which wouldn't be done by the Council anyway. Ray Kelly said the material included mattresses, car batteries and other waste. He suggested they take it from the material from the hedges and ditches and leave it out 'for the Council to take away'.

That generated concerns that the members might then themselves be charged with littering. A suggestion that it might shame the Council into acting was met with a comment by Celia Travers (above) that 'Kildare County Council has no shame'.

Brian Byrne.

Lions plan Fashion Show

A Fashion Show being run by Kilcullen Lions at The Stand House on Thursday March 8 will raise funds towards the purchase of an accessible vehicle for two local people suffering from Freidreich's Ataxia.

The compere for the night will be Tracy Piggott, and tickets are available, 20 euros each, from any member of the Lions or from Village Flowers & Gifts on Main Street.

Boutiques supporting the event include Catriona's of Naas, Debenhams and Owen Barker Menswear from Newbridge, the Bridal Boutique and Berneys Saddlers from Kilcullen, and the Golf Shop.

Brian Byrne.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

The Brans rally support for Council

Brannockstown Community Committee is undertaking a house-to-house campaign to encourage people to support Kildare County Council's moves on the ongoing Carnalway right of way issue.

The Committee will ask people to write to the Council to show the strength of support for the recent issuing of Planning Enforcement notices to the landowner who blocked off access to a traditional amenity.

The notices were issued during the last two months, demanding that the landowner dismantle fences erected without planning permission. However, it seems that the notices have not been complied with.

The issue is also the subject of a court action by a group of local people, representing the community.

Meanwhile, the Diary understands that the community has received cross-party support in their campaign from local representatives.

Brian Byrne.

Pullout from Tidy Towns mooted

Kilcullen may not enter the national Tidy Towns Competition in 2007.

That's a real possibility if ideas proposed at last night's meeting of Kilcullen Community Action are carried through.

The principle behind the move is to shame Kildare County Council into providing proper cleaning services for Kilcullen and other towns throughout the county.

estherkielyThe suggestion was raised by Esther Kiely, on the basis that there were a number of other towns in Kildare which were very dissatisfied with various aspects of the Council's litter and waste activities, or the lack thereof. This was clear from a recent meeting to which several such communities sent representatives.

J J Warren suggested that the idea could become a national talking point if several towns got together in a press conference to say they were refusing to participate because of the Council's failures in their duties.

"We could go on on TV3, for instance, and make a big blow about it," he said.

Following a lively discussion, it was decided that Esther Kiely and Celia Travers would find out what other towns in the county require from the Council, with a view to threatening a significant and embarrassing pullout from the prestigious competition.

Kilcullen has been continuously improving in recent years in the Tidy Towns awards.


Brian Byrne.

Family buys special hospital beds

Funding for two special beds for Tallaght Hospital has been raised by the family of the late Billy Dowling, as a gesture of thanks to the hospital for the care they took of him while he was there.

The beds, which cost 4,000 euros each, have now been delivered to the hospital, and the Dowlings hope to repeat the exercise next year.

The money was raised by getting sponsorship for family members running in the Womens Mini Marathon; Billy's son Charlie dressed up in female clothing to take part.

"When Billy was there he had the benefit of this kind of bed when there were only two of them in the hospital," says his wife Sheila. "The least we could do was try and help them get some more."

She emphasises that it is the people of Kilcullen and surroundings who gave sponsorship for participation in the Marathon who have really provided the beds.

Brian Byrne.

Monday, February 05, 2007

It Says in The Bridge: Feb 07

This month's magazine leads off with a report on 'Progress at Business Park', noting that at long last there's serious construction work on actual premises for the businesses planning to locate there.

bridgefeb07There's also good news that the Naomh Bhride Community Playgroup has received funding to build a new Community Childcare Centre. The story is covered in full inside, and the only problem remaining is where to locate the playgroup while the building work is going on?

In other news we read of the results of a collection for autism, and of an upcoming collection for cancer care in the form of the 20th annual Daffodil Day. Nuala Collins is seeking volunteers for that one, for March 23; there's plenty of time, but don't leave it on the long finger to volunteer.

There's a report with pictures on the recent Heritage Seminar in the Kilcullen Heritage Centre, which had a good attendance of local people as well as the county-wide audience at which it was aimed.

Among the schools pages, Scoil Bhride events reported on by pupils include a project on the Ancient Egyptians, a collection for the Kildare Animal Foundation, and recollections of a Roller Coaster ride during mid-term. The Credit Union Inter-Schools Quiz held in the school last weekend is also noted, with accompanying photos.

Brannockstown School provides a comprehensive words and pictures report on Santa's visit before Christmas. At the upper levels, there's a resume from Cross & Passion College about how they celebrated La Feile Bhride at Old Kilcullen.

The Calverstown First Responders have now been fully launched, we read from the hinterlands to the south, while from the east is a double-page photographic coverage of the 60th birthday party for Dina Dillon, held in The Stray Inn.

The regular features are back with us. The Environment pages highlight the status of some planning applications in the locality, and also some detail on how we can all individually do our bit to conserve electricity usage. Billy Redmond goes Off the Cuff on matters which include hospitals and their associated politics, and an email from a Mysterious Lady; read the piece and (nearly) all is revealed.

Sean Landers has landed back in 'dreary old Taipei', and muses on the state of politics there as well as a new craze evident in his temporary country, of ordering one's favourite cheesecake on-line. With his more local hat, Sean reports on 'Strange Goings-On at New Abbey' as outlined in the latest Kildare Archeological Society publication, 'Kildare History and Society'.

Pat Behan writes on how 'Government Harms your Health', and while he mentions in passing how state control worked well for the likes of Hitler, Stalin and Mao Tse Tung, he's really talking about how the 'home' state is slowly assuming more and more control over our daily lives. To an intrusive degree, he feels.

One pair of photographic pages in this issue is a must-view for those of us who remember the annual Kilcullen Parish Carnival. The pictures on one page come from the Irish Press of the time and there are many much younger faces of people thankfully still alive today, as well as sadly some gone. Opposite is a picture of the 'Nicholastown Caper Gang' of 1973, and the candidates in the famous first Lord Mayor Campaign in the late 70s.

Finally, there's a note about that meeting last week for anybody who wants to get involved with producing The Bridge. It seems it was quite a success, and 'some changes for the better are promised'. But another meeting is arranged for Fallons at 8.30pm on February 21, so if you didn't get to the last one (like me), there's still opportunity to be grasped.

Brian Byrne.

KCA downs tools on litter

Members of Kilcullen Community Action have decided not to undertake any litter collection in the town this year unless there is 'some corresponding effort' by Kildare County Council.

KCA incorporates Kilcullen's Tidy Town Committee, and over many years has been active in the spring and summer months in litter collection, as well as encouraging other local people to be involved.

However, now thoroughly frustrated at the Council's failure to 'carry out their duties' in relation to Kilcullen's litter problems, the voluntary work will no longer be undertaken.

In addition, KCA has called on Kilcullen voters to let candidates in the forthcoming elections know that they are not happy with the 'total lack of service' in the litter collection area.

Brian Byrne.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Any Pence or Punts for Billy?

Billy Redmond has issued an appeal for local people to donate to the Irish Wheelchair Association any 'old money' they might have kept since the changeover to the euro.

Billy has been fundraising for the IWA for some ten years now, notably with his familiar Sale of Work each year.

He is offering to change any old money donated to his cause, in the Central Bank. And even if there are people who have stocks of old coinage and notes and wish to donate it to a charity of their own, he says he will also bring it to Dublin for changing on their behalf.

It is estimated that up to £300 million is still out there nationally, in jars and cans, under mattresses, even perhaps in the boots of cars.

Contact Billy on 087 6109362.

Brian Byrne.

Des was right

WASHINGTON (CNN January 29, 2007) -- Israel's use of US-made cluster bombs in last year's war in Lebanon may have violated agreements with the United States governing their use, the State Department said Monday.

"There may -- likely could have been some violations," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

The State Department has sent a report to Congress laying out the preliminary findings, he said.



The above report certainly seems to vindicate the views of Kilcullen's Des Travers as reported in the Diary last September, when he evaluated the situation in Lebanon following an obscene war.

Brian Byrne.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Editorial: Keep The Bridge open

A friend said to me recently that certain things shouldn't be allowed publication in The Bridge. I had no problem with that opinion being expressed, but did have serious concerns with the idea itself.

bridgedec06Maybe it's my thirty years as a professional journalist in newspapers, magazines and broadcasting; and more latterly in the so-called 'new media' of the Internet. I have a knee-jerk reaction to any form of denial of free speech, or limiting of expressions of opinion.

And, of course, I have a special interest in The Bridge, because for five years before 'going pro', the outlet for my practice of the craft of reportage and writing was that unique community publication. It can truly be said that if The Bridge hadn't existed, I'd probably not have eventually moved into a career which has given me -- and still does -- enormous satisfaction and tremendous variety of experience.

In those early 'Bridge' days, I guess I was just as opinionated as any of the many contributors of that time and through its history since. Opinions which no doubt did occasionally offend others. And I do recall various other surges of temper in its pages from many sources during the thirty-six years for which it has been churned out, month after month, in a tremendous voluntary effort.

Many times in those three and a half decades, opinions expressed by contributors raised hackles and got heated responses. On other occasions the magazine merely recorded and reflected differences already abroad in the community. And then there were periods when issue after issue coasted along on a gentle sea of indifference.

Thing was, The Bridge was always there, to become a repository for history and memory, often from far back centuries, and to record the current state of the town and even sometimes look to its future.

It was always accessible too, something which has been at the heart of its longevity. Whether a contributor simply wrote a letter to the editor, or provided a report from a small event, or launched a regular column, it was there for them to so do. And whatever was reported, proposed, or argued, all was also available for the wider public to read, consider, and maybe comment on.

Something in The Bridge would always be a conversational launching point for Kilcullenites, whether over the family dinner or down in the pub for a Saturday night pint.

bridgenov06By and large, The Bridge has also been pretty flexible editorially. Although with different and generally nominal editors over the decades, no particular editorial policy was ever laid down, especially in terms of what should or should not be allowed into print. In fact, from a professional eye's viewpoint, there were occasions when contributions probably strayed into the kind of territory where our learned friends make considerable sums for themselves and allegedly defamed clients. Fortunately we still have a community where some sensible latitude is allowed. Maybe, though, The Bridge shouldn't count on that ethos continuing ...

But back to the 'it shouldn't be allowed' idea.

There have, across the world and its history, been many examples of the importance given to allowing free speech. The Greeks, and the Romans later, provided fora where anyone could have their say on matters of which they felt strongly. It is arguable that when their leaders began to stifle such opinions, they started their civilisations' declines.

Many centuries later the United States Constitution enshrined freedom of expression in the rules by which that country was founded. And there is still, in many American states, the monthly Town Meeting where local people can, and do, have their say on how they should be governed locally.

Closer to home, although in legal terms Britain has some of the more Draconian defamation laws in the world, institutions like Speakers Corner at Hyde Park gave unfettered platforms to opinion which has included some very anti-British sentiments as well as the occasional loopy.

OK, times they are a-changing, and many of these freedoms in the 'free' world are being circumscribed in the worrisome catch-all of 'national security'. Others are being obscured in a fog of news management and PR. And then there are the PC lobbies busily trying to emasculate language by excising any words or expressions that might give offence, whether in jest or truth.

All that is for longer essays by more learned people than me. But here's a thought about squashing 'non-acceptable' notions out of our local organ of expression; it shoves them underground, and away from retort.

bridgesepto6For The Bridge, I firmly believe that it is better if all are allowed to make their points in whatever words they want, within the statutory limits of defamation and incitement to hatred. That way, they can be answered, refuted if necessary, and the merits of either side of an argument be out in the open and available to examination.

Where there could be editorial interdiction is in the presentation. Some contributions to recent debates could have been trimmed substantially without dimming the argument of the writer; indeed, judicious editing could actually have made points more telling.

In a completely voluntary publication like The Bridge, there just isn't the time to do that kind of editing. It really should be done by the contributors themselves. So, a word of advice from somebody who has been self-editing for three decades and more: write, then rewrite, and rewrite, and rewrite again.

It's like distilling poteen; the more times it goes around, the better the final product.

If a policy of refusing articles is ever part of The Bridge, it would be better that it be for overly verbose writing than for what the contributor is saying.

Besides, there's an adage which goes, roughly, 'if the tongue offends, cut it out'.

But then the person so treated will never be able to say 'sorry'.

Brian Byrne.

'Moon and Sixpence' gig confirmed

A two-night performance by 'The Moon and Sixpence' will be held in Kilcullen Town Hall on 8/9 March 2007 as a tribute to the late Des Byrne.



Des (with guitar on right) was one of the founder members of the band, which performs a limited number of gigs during the year for charity fundraising.

Admission for the performances is €15 which will include a wine reception. All proceeds from the event, which will also include guest artistes, will go to The Hospice Movement.

Full details later.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Holy Land trip mooted

A trip to The Holy Land is under consideration by a group of parishioners, following a meeting this week in the Parish Centre.

An ad hoc committee has been established from those who turned up, to look into the level of interest and costs of the journey, which could be planned for the autumn of 2007 or spring 2008.

Fr Michael Murphy has visited the area and last July he set an exibition of photographs and other items relating to his experiences there.

jerusalem4454

Brian Byrne.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Gardai seek missing girl

Gardaí at Sundrive Rd in Dublin are trying to find Louise Herbert, aged 15, from Kilcullen.

Louise is described as 1.67m in height, of large build, with blue eyes and long straight red/brown hair.

She was last seen on Tuesday near Our Lady's Hospital For Sick Children, Crumlin.

She was wearing a pale blue Nike jacket, blue jeans, a pink and white striped top and boots.

Gardaí believe she may visit the city centre or Crumlin areas.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the gardaí at Sundrive Road on 01-6666600.

Waiting for a tragedy?

Not to keep travelling old roads, but this story about the woeful state of the Athy Road/Sunnyhill Road junction really does need a revisit, given that I first raised the issue in June 2005.

And again in February 2006.

sunnyathyjunc9098

Indeed, local knowledge will tell that the situation has been thus for a long time before.

With the publication of each of the old stories, I sent the links to Kildare County Council. There has never been a proper response, in action nor communication.

sunnyathyjunc9104

sunnyathyjunc9105I also asked our Town Engineer about it last August, and he suggested that it 'might' be the responsibility of an engineer from another area.

But the fact is, nothing has been done to fix what is patently a road traffic danger situation (consider the difficulties of exiting traffic onto the Athy Road which not alone has to keep an eye for fast northbound traffic, but also navigate around suspension-killing potholes).

Do we have to wait until a person is killed, rather than just McPherson struts?

Brian Byrne.