Earth as Art

The Diary was on a fleeting visit to Brussels yesterday and your editor was intrigued by this display of images from the Landsat 7 satellite, which are on view outside the HQ of the European Commission as an 'Earth as Art' exhibition.



The images are held in the Geography and Map Division of the US Geological Survey and have been selected for aesthetic rather than scientific value. They are actual pictures of the Earth, created by printing visible and infrared data in colors visible to the human eye. Band combinations and colors were chosen to optimize their dramatic appearance.

The exhibition was formerly on view at the US Library of Congress.



I was particularly struck by the symbolism of the composite view showing the Earth at night, clearly showing the amount of artificial light used in the developed economies of the planet.

Brian Byrne.

The passing of PJ Carroll

The Diary has learned of the death of PJ Carroll, of Ponderosa House, Mile Mill (formerly of the Curragh Race Course).

He is deeply missed by his loving wife Lauri, his daughters Patricia Rose and Siobhan, his son William, his brothers and sisters and many other relatives and friends.

PJ's remains will be resting at his home from 4pm today (Saturday). Removal at 12.30pm tomorrow to the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Brigid, for Requiem Mass at 1pm. Burial will take place afterwards in St Brigid's Cemetery.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

CCTV at Carnalway?

What looks like poles for a closed circuit TV system have been installed at Carnalway by the owner of the land which has been the subject of controversy since the amenity area was closed off in 2005.

Recently, the disputed fence which had been erected blocking access was removed, following the installation of a high security fence along the edge of the owner's 'working' land. Though no statement has been issued on the matter, this would seem to be an acknowledgment by Mr Langan of the right of way, following the instigation of legal challenge by the local community and moves by Kildare County Council under planning legislation.

The original closing off was reportedly because Mr Langan was concerned about littering along the banks of the river. Negotiations with the community, which included suggestions for an improved 'policing' of the area, came to naught.

If the poles are what they appear to be, a CCTV system would appear to be the owner's answer to policing the litter problem. However, concern has been expressed to the Diary about having CCTV monitoring of an area which people frequently use for bathing in summer.

[NOTE: The full story of the 'saga' can be accessed by clicking on the label 'Carnalway' below.]

Brian Byrne.

GAA Juveniles restart

Kilcullen GAA is restarting Juvenile Football on Saturday 31 March, 10-11am.

Registration of all the boys and girls will take place in the Clubhouse from 9.45am. Registration fee is 20 euros.

The club would appreciate help from parents and guardians.

Brian Byrne.

Anna writes travel

Kilcullen's Anna McCarthy makes her magazine writing debut this week with an article in Irish Car+Travel.

Anna has written a piece based on part of her life in Thailand, where she's working with Cultural Canvas Thailand, an organisation helping underprivileged people through art.

In A Perfect Day Anna describes her meeting with a popular music group, 'Caravan', and its charismatic leader P Nga, who turned out to have a passion for Irish folk music. A drive through the mountains in Thailand was accompanied by the music of The Chieftens.

Irish Car+Travel is an evolution of Irish Car, founded 17 years ago and published for the last three years by Kilcullen-based Whelan Byrne Associates. The magazine now has a strong travel component, and as part of the change has been completely redesigned.

The current issue includes a full report from the recent Geneva Motor Show, an exclusive interview with travelling chef Keith Floyd, and cars reviews and news.

"We wanted to expand the interest base of our readership," says Trish Whelan, publications editor of Whelan Byrne Associates, who also publish Irish Van & Truck. "Over coming issues we'll be introducing a number of new travel-focussed elements. Some will be associated with motoring, but we'll also be looking at destinations, and giving tips on travel."

Irish Car+Travel is distributed nationwide by Easons and Newspread and is available in all good newsagents.

Brian Byrne.

101 artists in Brannoxtown NS!

People flocked from far and near on Friday evening, 23 March, to Brannoxtown NS to view a very unique art exhibition. One hundred and one artists had their work on display –- the 101 children in the school.



The event was organised by the Parent Teacher Association of the school to raise funds while creating a very different type of event to include a social element! The event was from 6–8pm and spectators were coming and going the whole time!



The children had the opportunity to proudly show off their wonderful work to parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, neighbours and friends, while the PTA had the opportunity to sell the art work and raise money for the school.



A very unusual raffle was held! Parents and children were presented with photos of the teachers and they had to match names with photos. It sounds easy, but not when you consider that none of the teachers were above the age of eight!! Apparently there were a few correct entries and winners will be announced at school next week.



Well done to all concerned for arranging and supporting such an enjoyable event!



Esther Reddy.

Kilcullen at Gallipoli

There's a 30 metres tall obelisk on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey which has a link with Kilcullen.



The Helles Memorial, seen by every ship that passes through the Dardanelles, records all who died on the eight-month campaign by British Commonwealth and French forces trying to force Turkey out of the so-called 'Great War'. A downloadable detailed history of the campaign is available here from the Commonwealth Graves Commission (by whose kind permission the photograph above is reproduced).

Among the names is one Patrick Toole, a Private in the the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He was killed on Friday 11 May, 1915. He was a son of Patrick and Bridget Toole of Kilcullen, according to the official records. He was also the brother of Ray Donoghue's grandfather Michael.

Ray is best known to new Kilcullen residents as the genial occasional barman in Fallon's Cafe Bar. But to older Kilcullenites he is somebody we grew up with and also remember well his contribution to Kilcullen Drama Group in former years.

Private Toole -- Ray reckons the lack of the 'O' prefix is a mispelling, as his family recollections are all of the O'Toole name -- didn't make it too far into the campaign that began on 26 April 1915. His death is just one of 21,000 commemorated on the obelisk.

Ray himself has no recollection of Patrick, but does of his grandfather Michael, also a soldier in the Irish Fusiliers. "He was an assistant to a Chaplain in the war, and was a POW in Germany. He and Patrick were born in Yellow Bog and would have grown up there, and they went to school in Halverstown ... obviously not the school that's there now."

There's another Patrick, or 'Pat', in the story. A brother of Michael's. Ray's recall suggests that he might have been born after the original Patrick was killed, and was then given the same name as a dead brother. It's a common thing in Ireland.

That particular Patrick subsequently went to Australia, where he lived for 46 years. "I remember one day, I think I was about twelve, when somebody passed by the window and knocked at the door," Ray says. "I went out and said could I help him? He told me he was Pat, and he called out my grandfather's army number."

As Ray recalls it, 'they talked solid for two days, and my grandfather was hoarse when they came out of the room'. "He stayed for two weeks, and then went back to join his family in England, where they'd come back to after all those years in Australia."

Brian Byrne.

Carnalway fence removed

The high metal fence which has been a source of controversy at Carnalway for almost two years has been removed.

This follows a strong campaign by local people incensed at the blocking of a traditional right of way and amenity area, including a legal challenge.

The entrance to the area is now blocked by just a partial wooden fence, which, at the moment, does not hinder access to the riverbank amenity area.

This move is very welcomed by locals, especially with the summer months approaching soon.

Drama: Looking back and Forward

In November 1994 the reborn Drama Group staged a production of Ray Cooney’s play, Run for your Wife in the new Town Hall in Kilcullen. The play concerned the activities of a sex-mad taxi driver (played by Bernard Berney, I ask ye!!) who had two wives, one living in Blackrock and one living in Stillorgan (guess where most of the activity took place?) This bigamist arrangement mirrored a somewhat unhealthy relationship that was to develop between the Drama Group and Ray Cooney.



We presented another five of his plays during the following years. There was also some more serious Drama on show, Big Maggie in 1996; Da in 1997; The Cripple of Inishmaan in 1998; Lovers at Versailles in 2002 and The Memory of Water in 2004.

In 2003 we presented the Sean O’Casey classic Juno and the Paycock. This play, is about the lives of a tenement family and their friends viewed against the background of the Irish Civil War. Typical of O’Casey a very serious story was suffused with tremendous humour, and Juno was one of the most popular plays we presented in the past thirteen years.

Encouraged by this response the group decided to attempt another O’Casey play this year. So on Friday 13th April 2007 we stage The Shadow of a Gunman. Once again the story is set in a Dublin tenement, this time the background to the events is the Black and Tan war. In such a grim and dreary setting Sean O’Casey, once more, creates tremendously comic situations. His genius is, partly, his ability to weave great humour and deep tragedy into a story and yet leave an audience quite unconfused. This play, I predict, will be another runaway success.

Proceeds from the opening night will go the The Senior Citizens Association., and all our Senior Citizens are invited to attend, as our guests, on the Gala Opening Night, Friday 13th April. The play will run until Saturday 21st April.

Book by phoning Bernard Berney at 045 481497.

Philomena Breslin.

Summary of Play

One of Sean O’Caseys trilogy plays, The Shadow of a Gunman was first produced in the Abbey Theatre in 1923. The play is set during the war of Independence and revolves around the would-be poet, Donal Davoren, who is attracted to the idea of being mistaken for an IRA gunman. The play shows off Casey’s ability in characterisation as an array of Dublin characters presented. However, in typical O’Casey fashion, the comedy is underscored by the tragic outcome.

It tells the story of the verbal sparring partners Donal Davoren and Sheamus Shiels which are played by John Coleman and Philip Cummins. Lettitia Hanratty plays the part of the brave Minnie Powel.

Supporting roles are played by Nessa Dunlea, Bernard Berney, Siobhain Murphy Fergal Sloan, Maurice O’Mahony, Roy Thompson Dick Dunphy and Vivian Clarke.

The Shadow of a Gunman is directed by John Martin, who first produced a play for Kilcullen Drama Group in 1972 called The Wood of the Whispering , by MJ Molloy. it is note worthy that two of that cast, Nessa Dunlea and Dick Dunphy, who performed then are now in the current production.

The Asssistant Director of the play is Eilish Phillips.

Philomena in Vivaldi concert

Kilcullen's own Philomena Breslin will be singing the main soprano solo in the forthcoming Vivaldi Concert being performed in Naas on 1 April.

Philomena will sing 'Domine Deus' in the event, which combines the Nas na Ri Singers and the L'Academia di Musici Orchestra, Naas.

The performance is being held in the Church of Our Lady and St David, Naas at 8pm.

Philomena will also be singing the main Soprano Duet titled 'Laudamus Te' with Caoimhe Lardne from Naas. The conductor is Clive Armstrong and accompanists are Majella Cahill and Graham Walshe.

Brian Byrne.

Chainsaws in The Valley

The busy sounds of chainsaws and wood-shredder in The Valley yesterday indicated that a long-overdue ruthless pruning of some rubbish undergrowth had got underway.

The work was organised by Valley trustee Jim Collins as part of an overhaul of the community park, and to make it easier to maintain. Some boughs overhanging the river were being removed.

"It's mostly all the diseased alders, and any tree that's not in good health, that has no chance of prospering in the future," Jim told the Diary. "Even if we have to infill the spaces later, there's no point in harbouring rubbish. We're not carrying out a scorched earth policy -- anything that's good we'll leave."

One result of the clearance has been to show just how much the positioning of seats affects littering. Down on the banks below the seats are caches of empty cans and bottles, thrown there by people using the area for illegal drinking.

"It's a shame that the seats generate this kind of stuff, and there's nothing we can do except get a fellow with a bag and clear them," Jim says. "Maybe if we put bins beside the seats, I wonder would the guys drinking there use them?"

Once the clearance is done, Jim plans to get a digger in to re-excavate a drain running behind the small wall beside the path, in an attempt to keep the path in a more dry condition. "There used to be one there. but it got filled in by the earth creeping down the side."



The clearance will also open up the position for the proposed pedestrian bridge across the river from the point on the other side between the new Canoe Club building and the Dunlea development.

Jim took the opportunity to pay tribute to the voluntary work of members of the Tidy Towns Committee and individuals who have kept the park tidy over the years.

"I hope that this operation will make it easier to keep it tidy," he said.

Brian Byrne.

Derelict shop gets makeover

Kilcullen people will have noticed a not-before-its-time bit of refurbishing going on at the shop beside the bank.



Word is that it is to be the location of a shoe shop.

Brian Byrne.

Enjoyable flowers demo

There was an enthusiastic and appreciative turnout on Tuesday evening to a demonstration of flower arranging with an Easter theme by Naas florist Christine Hughes.



The event, held in the Parish Centre, was under the auspices of the Kilcullen Flower & Garden Club.

Among other displays, Christine showed some techniques with roses, tulips and with greenery in a tall glass jar.

She also arranged some daffodils, though cautioning that she preferred to leave daffodils 'where they grow', a sentiment which was received with general agreement.

The Flower & Garden Club meets each month, and further information can be obtained from Margaret Brennan.

Brian Byrne.

New Bridge trophy presented

Pat Berney and Jim Barker were the inaugural winners of the new Peacocke Duffy Cup presented by the Kilcullen Bridge Club.

The trophy honours the work of Sheila Peacocke, Hugh Peacocke and Breda Duffy over the years in promoting the game of Bridge in Kilcullen.

Community Games Draughts

The results of the Kilcullen Community Games Draughts Competition were: U/10 - joint 1st Jack Dooley, Brendan Aspell and Lisa Aspell, 2nd Stephen Murphy and Jeff Keane, 3rd Ben O'Shea and Harry Pembroke; U/12 - 1st Tony Aspell, Joint 2nd Rachel Hovenden Keane, Stephen Clare, Christopher McGlinchey, and Conor O'Sullivan, 3rd Michael O'Shea and Ben Kavanagh; U/14 - 1st Kieran Domican, 2nd Jeffrey Hovenden Keane and Aislinn Dooley, 3rd Jeremy Burke and Jake Pembroke.

The event was held in the Parish Centre and the medals were presented by Nick Aspell.

KTK Landfill Pool kicks off

The KTK Landfill Pool Tournament got under way in McTernan's last night with teams from Carbury and Milltown opening the points for a contest that will last for the next three months or so.



Organised by Benny McHale with the help of other stalwarts of the McTernan's pool scene, there are some 27 teams now entered for the competition, which has a guaranteed 2,000 euros in prizes. The proceeds from the competition are being donated to the Senior Citizens Fund.

"The teams are from all over the county, but Kilcullen itself is well represented, with about half the teams local," Benny told the Diary. "A number of businesses have sponsored teams, including Berneys Chemists, the Hideout and the Spout."

Benny is pleased that the game itself is experiencing a revival after some years in the doldrums. "There's a Kildare county team now, and a nationwide championship."

The idea of supporting the Senior Citizens Fund came after a Christmas time conversation with Theresa Meaney, and the KTK sponsorship is from a community fund which the landfill company provides annually to Kilcullen.



Each of the competing teams pays 100 euros entry fee, all of which goes to the Senior Citizens. The first round of the contest is played off between groups of three, and after that it becomes a straight knockout competition.

Brian Byrne.

The passing of Jim Aspell

The Diary has learned of the death of Jim Aspell of Old Kilcullen, having reached a great age of 97.

His passing is mourned by his loving wife Mary, daughter Maura, sons Tim, Christy, Shamie, Patsy and Tony, sister Molly, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchild, his other relatives, and all the many friends of the Aspell family. To all we extend our heartfelt condolences.

Jim will be brought from Murphy Bros Funeral Home, Naas, at 6pm today to arrive at Kilcullen Parish Church at 6.30pm. His requiem mass will be celebrated tomorrow, Thursday, at 11am. Interment will follow in St Brigid's Cemetery.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

A bit of G&S

Anyone fancying their ability to lilt in a performance of 'The Mikado' has a chance to do so in a forthcoming production of the Gilbert & Sullivan classic.

It is being planned by The Milltown Singers & Friends for the Dunlavin Festival of the Arts, and auditions are being held on Friday next, 23 March, in Scoil Nicholas Naofa, Dunlavin.

The auditions begin at 7.30pm. No experience is required. Further information is available from Andrew at 087 1361958.

The Milltown Singers were founded in 1989 and have performed most of the classic musical shows since that time.

Brian Byrne.

Kildare South FG at Punchestown

Kildare South Fine Gael is repeating its Punchestown Gold Cup social and fundraising event at this year's racing festival.

The equivalent event last year proved very successful, and tickets are understood to be 'in great demand' for the 2007 one.

Guest of honour this year will be the Leader of Fine Gael, Enda Kenny TD.

Tickets are 150 euros each and will allow entry to the races and the grand pavilion. Lunch and afternoon tea are included, as are the services of a tipster. Betting facilities are available in the pavilion.

Tables for ten can also be booked, for 1,500 euros. The event begins at 11am on Wednesday 25 April.

Details and booking forms can be acquired from Marjorie Moore in Kildare, phone 087 9984940, or Tom Carberry in Two-Mile-House, phone 087 2335206.

Brian Byrne.

Patrick's Day in Landau

Hello Brian, Two Kilcullenites met up for St Patricks Day in Landau, Germany. Paul Durney aka Saoirse Mhór played at Louise Brennan’s Irish Pub in Landau on the 17th. Louise is of Brennans of Old Kilcullen fame. Obviously carrying on the tradition.

Amidst the hectic activity we talked of people we both knew at home. Among others, John Brady. Louise, who recently visited home, said John had apparently vouched for my voice as Louise did not know what she was letting herself in for. We hadn't met before.

The night was grand and we agreed to do it again in the near future. We don’t of course have the extended Monday holiday here but, well, you can’t have everything I suppose. I also managed to have a pint, which isn’t always possible in my corner of the woods here in Germany. Saoirse (Paul Durney.)

[ED: Paul's own blog is here.]

Deirdre launching new CD

Deirdre Starr is launching her new CD in Tinahealy Court House on Saturday next 31 March at 8.30pm.

Deirdre now resides outside Shillelagh with Ciarain and Oisín.

The new album is a mix of songs which Deirdre had always wanted to record and includes many fine arrangements of songs such as 'Molly Hollywood', 'Who put the Blood', and my own favourite, 'Kilkelly'.

Anyone who has attended any of Deirdre's concerts knows the power and passion she puts in to the songs and the new album reflects this. It features musicians Mark Kelly of Altan, Dave Leahy, a friend from New Zealand, and Maire Breathnach of the Sharon Shannon Band.

The album is available from Deirdre direct on 086-0777363, or visit her website for further information.

Ray Kelly

Easter coming close

With one festival just about over and an early Easter looming, John and Noreen Dowling's bunny display in their 'Village Flowers & Gifts' shop is a cheerful reminder of chocolate to come.

Brian Byrne.

It Says in The Bridge: March 07

In yet another birthday issue for The Bridge the magazine enters its 37th year, and the Diary extends its congratulations to all concerned, over the years and currently. We of all people understand that meeting regular deadlines is not easy, especially in a voluntary publishing undertaking.

A front page story under the headline 'Rebuilding The Bridge'notes that a new year is also bringing new people into the endeavour. The other main story reports how the Pastoral Council is undertaking a survey of local opinion on parish matters.

Inside, the first of quite a few innovations is the revival of an Editorial. Planned as a circulating responsibility amongst members of the editorial board, Bernard Berney writes the first. In his inimitable style he considers a number of subjects for suitability, rejecting all by the time he gets to the end of his allotted space. A benchmarking example of how not to get into trouble for expressing opinion.

In news we read of the opening of the new recycling hub at Silliot Hill, designed by the manager of the facility Ger Grehan, aimed to make it easier for people to properly separate their waste. And there's also a note about a change in a business which has served Kilcullen for a quarter of a century -- Kevin and May Keogh are retiring from their Hillcrest Hire, and the operation is moving to The Link Park. Noel O'Connell is incorporating the business into his own.

The Environmental News section details six local planning applications, and also notes the changes made to the new building beside The Hideout following representations from local people and KCA to Kildare County Council. We also read here that Kilcullen's tidy town committee is considering not entering the National Tidy Towns competition this year unless Kildare County Council provides a basic litter collection service in Kilcullen.

Scoil Bhride's 'Notice Board' highlights a visit to the school by children's author Marita Conlon-McKenna, where she spoke about how she is inspired to write particular stories. The big story from Halverstown NS is about their trip to Newgrange, described as both 'exciting' and tiring. Exciting also was the visit by a number of Cross & Passion College students to Arus an Uachtaran as part of President McAleese's 'Vision for 2020' day. The CPC presentation on the day is published in the magazine.

Among the features this month is a piece by Charlie Talbot on the sponsor of the 1889 church bell, Raphael Bowen, which answers some questions but raises new ones about this 'mysterious' benefactor. Pat Behan has several pieces, the most entertaining of which is his account of an 'animal attack' in Australia on a trip there some years ago. Sean Landers muses on Presidents of the World, and also writes about St Brigid's Well and the original bridge across the Liffey. And there's a double page spread about the closer prospect of a community playground, with accompanying map.

There are new contributors too. John Mulhall begins a series about GAA stalwarts of Kilcullen with a profile of Michael Joseph Patrick Lambe, better and affectionally known to us all as Porky. Sean Dillon from Riverside Manor writes the first of a planned series on computers and their management. And there are three pages of a new contribution called 'The Spout', where members of the Kilcullen Creative Writing Group present examples of their work. This includes the first chapter of a serial, which is open to all to provide subsequent chapters.

We leave it to Jim Collins to end this report with a bang, in his recalling of when his father was 'technical adviser' for a drama group production of 'Shadow of a Gunman' in the late 40s. It required an 'explosion' effect offstage. Jim Collins Snr, who had been actively involved in the fight for independence in the 20s, obliged with what the late Jerry Kelly always described as an 'over-enthusiastic' effort which left the cast covered in smoke and the set collapsed.

Ah, the days of innocence.

Brian Byrne.

Congratulations, Josie!

Josie Meaney celebrated her 80th birthday on Thursday night in The Hideout, with many members of her family (below) and her friends.



More pictures can be seen in the slideshow.

Brian Byrne.

St Patrick's Day in Nanchang

Nanchang, Jianxi Province, China

There are three Irish teachers at my campus. We're taking a taxi downtown this evening with an American woman to meet some Irish, Australian, American and Filipino teacher friends at the Regal Hotel for a celebratory meal.

Singing not allowed by the management, but Confucian discourse acceptable in between toasts.

Gary Byrne.

La Feile Padraig

Happy St Patrick's Day to all Kilcullenites everywhere.

Maybe you'd like to let us know how you're celebrating the day, or the long weekend as we're doing here back home.

Judging by the look on Patrick's face here, he doesn't do much celebrating, does he?

Musn't have been any decent pubs close to Sliabh Mis.

Donnelly's Arm on the move again

Dan Donnelly's Arm is still on its travels, and after a very successful run as a keynote feature in the Fighting Irishmen: Celebrating Celtic Prizefighters 1820-Present exhibition in the Irish Arts Centre in New York last winter, is moving with the exhibition to the prestigious South Street Seaport Museum in south Manhattan.

The exhibition opens this evening, March 16th, with curator Jim Houlihan again at the helm in a collaborative effort between the South Street Seaport Museum and the Irish Arts Center.

The eclectic collection of boxing photography and artifacts is a veritable stroll down memory lane for fight fans and historians alike. Among the other artifacts and pictures on display are the legendary John L Sullivan's fur coat; a blazer specially made for Jack Dempsey; photographs from the archives of Sports Illustrated; Charlie Nash's Olympic jersey when he was fighting for Ireland; photographs of the classic Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti trilogy; and historic photos of such memorable Irish fighters as John L. Sullivan, James J. Braddock, Billy Conn, Jerry Quarry, Gerry Cooney, Barry McGuigan and Bobby Cassidy, just to name a few.

The new and expanded exhibit will also include: a heavy bag from Gene Tunney’s training camp; equipment from current female fighter Maureen Shea, used for training actress Hilary Swank for the film Million Dollar Baby, and three original oil paintings from the Tunney collection by the artist Mahonri Young, Brigham Young’s grandson. In addition, visitors will be able to view video of historic fights during their tours of the exhibit.

Of course, certainly the most unique item in the exhibit –- the late, great Irish fighter Dan Donnelly’s mummified right arm –- will again be on display thanks to Josephine Byrne of Kilcullen.

The South Street Seaport Museum is located at 12 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038. Making the exhibit of even greater historical significance is that the South Street Seaport Museum is located along the docks on the East River, where Irish immigrants prior to 1892 (pre Ellis Island) first stepped onto New York soil, just a block away from the museum.

When the museum was restoring old seafaring buildings along the docks, a wall of Irish graffiti was uncovered, dating back to the Great Famine. It will also be on exhibit.

Fighting Irishmen: A Celebration of Celtic Prizefighters 1820-Presentwill run through December 31st, 2007.

Time to scoop the poop

Maybe we're getting used to the litter problem now, given the current standoff between the Tidy Towns Committee and Kildare County Council over the lack of performance of duty by the latter.

However, the impasse is also showing up another problem, one which is far too easy to take home. It has been noted to the Diary that there is an increasing problem of dog dirt on Kilcullen's footpaths.

We're not sure about the regulations in this regard, apart from the requirement that dogs should have identification.

Maybe the offending canines are wandering loose. Or maybe some are being walked in the evenings and not being cleared up after by their owners?

If that last is the case, it is pooper-scooper time, folks. Dog owners of Kilcullen, spare a thought for the rest of us, and help make it easier to keep our own homes and cars unsmelly?

We considered doing some pictures. But this is a family community service, and for the moment we won't.

As for Kildare County Council's lack of duty performance in providing adequate litter lifting, remember that there's an election coming up. Local councillors from every party will be escorting their preferred candidates to your doorsteps for your consideration.

Tell 'em all.

Brian Byrne.

Viva Vivaldi

A night of Vivaldi worth considering is being performed in Naas on April 1.

'Vivaldi Gloria' and other choral pieces are being presented by the L'Academia Di Musici Orchestra from Naas.

The venue is the Church of Our Lady and St David, Naas. Tickets on sale at 15 euros are available from Barker & Jones bookshop, Naas.

L’Academia Di Musici/Naas School of Music was established by Marianna Alaberdova and Tony Brychta, both musicians of world-renowned status.

They are both former members of the Cello and Viola sections of the National Opera Theatre Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic.

Brian Byrne.

Yet another bad parking story

Ongoing parking problems in the town were highlighted once again on Saturday when Paul Aspell saw an elderly lady trying to get by a pony trailer and towing vehicle parked on the narrow footpath.



"I had to step out on the road and wave traffic to slow so she could walk around the trailer safely on the road," he told the Diary. "I asked the driver of the vehicle was there any chance of moving it off the path and onto the road, but I was totally ignored."

The location is yet another one crying out for double yellow lines, as part of a properly thought out parking plan for the town.

Though, of course, any such plan would have to be enforced too. And on the track record in such things so far, it mightn't be worth the cost of the yellow paint.

Brian Byrne.

Planning application for Riverside Manor

Brendan O'Connell has submitted a planning application to modify a planned development at Riverside Manor.

The application, file number 07/457, seeks modifications to previously approved planning permissions 99/1635 and 00/2221 to allow the construction of a 178-unit residental development, comprising two two-storey four-bed detached houses, 62 two-bed apartments and 62 three-bed duplexes.

The proposal does not involve any material contravention of the local development plan. The latest date for submissions is 12/04/2007.

Brian Byrne.

New interiors shop on way

A new home interiors shop opening in early April will bring to Kilcullen a selection of products from all over Europe, at reasonable prices.



'Haven', by Contemporary Interiors, is the brainchild of Amanda Mac Seoin and her husband Marcas, who have been operating an interiors design and fitout business for the last five years. They're based in Ballyshannon.

The stock will include bedlinen from Paris, candles and candleholders from Copenhagen, wallpapers by Colefax Fowler and Farrow & Ball, paints from the Historic Colour Collection by Colourprint, lighting and occasional furniture. Fabrics from Prestigious and Jane Churchill are also on offer.

"We're aiming at the middle to high end of the market, which reflects what's around us here in Kilcullen," Amanda says. "We'll have stock really from all over the EU, and we've recently been to the latest trade fair for the business in Paris, and we bought a lot of things there."

Marcas notes that they have exclusivity on some of their products, which will make the shop even more attractive to some customers.

Amanda and Marcas also provide a full interior design service, as well as preparing homes for sale. And a 'decluttering' service is possibly one of the most useful for people who have lived for a long time in the one home and might welcome outside help in dealing with the excess stuff that we all accumulate.

They can be contacted through their website

Brian Byrne.

Kilcullen at Edinburgh win

The Irish Team were well supported from Kilcullen in Edinburgh during the recent win over arch rivals Scotland.







Spotted were Niall McDonnell along his sons Adrian and Kevin, and also on the trip was Donal Flannigan. David Byrne and his sons Conor and Jamie (doing his final year in Dundee University) were there with their cousin Daragh and his wife Ciara, and Daragh's brother Colin with his girl friend Clare.

The general feeling, said Niall, ‘it was a hard got result’, but ‘a win all the same if not particularly pretty’.

Concerts raise 5,000 euros

The recent pair of concerts in the Town Hall by The Moon & Sixpence raised some 5,000 euros for St Brigid's Hospice and Home Care Service on The Curragh.



It was two nights of music, fun, and great entertainment. And two nights also of great achievement. But underlying the concerts was the sadness that two people who should have been there were not.

On each night MC Michael McCarthy laid out those thoughts immediately to the sellout audiences. That the venue itself wouldn't have existed but for the vision and perseverance of the late Pat Dunlea, and that the concerts themselves were in tribute to one of the band's founder members, Des Byrne.

Both thoughts were to be reiterated several times during the evening.

Immediately the band set the mood for the night as a rocking one, with lead singer Siobhan Hurley's swinging renditions of 'Walking in The Rain', 'Bobby's Girl', and 'I'll Never Find Another You'. Keyboard player Henry Donohue's haunting 'Telstar' style accompaniment fitted in perfectly with the era of the songs.

The sets went onward through 'Mister Postman' and 'These Boots Are Made for Walking', under which last Peter Coe's tonky work on the piano set the path superbly for those same boots to travel.

'Boots' also was the number during which the audience got fully interactive with the gig. After that they never lost the connection, and it was as much an audience performance as a band one, as the best gigs are.

The lineup included original members John Reidy, Michael O'Connell and Siobhan Hurley. Mike McCarthy, also one of the founders, but who had left, did a comeback song on the second night.

Henry Donohue also qualified as an 'original', having from early on been a musical arranger for the group and soon afterwards becoming the keyboard player. Peter Coe had been recruited when Henry's work pressures necessitated his leaving. Drummer Paddy Jones, who used to live in Kilcullen, is a recent and very powerful addition to the band.

When Mike McCarthy sang 'Eighteen Yellow Roses' as his own special tribute to Des Byrne, he brought the house down.

As did renditions by Siobhan and company of 'I'm a Believer', 'Obla Di' and 'Pearl's a Singer'. That last performance of the 1977 Elkie Brooks classic was a great demonstration of Siobhan's ability as a torchy soul singer. She can truly sing 'songs for the lost and the lonely'.

The subsequent 'Summertime' got the whole theatre clapping, and then Peter Coe's piano introduction for the band's cover of Elton John's 'Crocodile Rock' made everyone in the place really remember 'when rock was young' ... even if they were too young to.

In the second half on the second night there was a special contribution by a niece of Des's wife Josephine, Suzannah de Wrixon. An actor and singer, she gave a rendition of Stephen Sondheim's 'Send in the Clowns' which was haunting in delivery and performed with great presence. The song also gave Henry Donohue another chance on the Steinway, and if anyone hadn't already realised his love of and ability on the ivories, they did so during this one.

And this is a good time to mention that the night represented yet another 'premiere' for Kilcullen, the first time that a Steinway Grand Piano was used on the stage of the town's theatre. This was due to Peter Coe's friendship with John Holland of Pianos Plus, whose company not only supplied the Steinway, but waived totally the normal 700 euros per night rental.

Siobhan's subsequent belting out of 'I feel Lucky' both jazzed up everybody again, and gave her yet another opportunity to reveal the extraordinary range of her voice.

Then came 'Desperado', and though he had been skilfully controlling the pace all evening, drummer Paddy Jones really got in the groove for this one.

The night continued with one nostalgic song after another. There were specials like the duet from John and Siobhan of 'Teach Your Children'. That's the one that doesn't leave a dry eye in the house.

Then there was 'The Rose', sung by Siobhan and accompanied by Henry on the piano, and 'Katie' during which John's guitar prowess really shone through.

A very special song was one written by Michael O'Connell, 'The Dream'. The lyrics involve George Harrisson and John Lennon singing in Heaven. 'And one by one, the voices come, to join the Heavenly choir' one line went. "And I hear Des singing high harmony," John quipped wryly.

The encore finale was a really rocking end to a night that had been a bitter-sweet mixture of tribute, nostalgia and musical reminiscance. 'Sweet Little Sixteen', 'Rock and Roll Music' and the Chuck Berry classic 'Johnny B Goode' caused a standing ovation.

An upbeat end to performances which had brought cheers, tears, and a lot of great memories.

Brian Byrne.