It Says in The Bridge: May 07

This is an issue in which the election dominates. It is not necessarily the most interesting part of the May Bridge, but we'll deal with it first.

The Editorial isn't signed but it does refer to the importance of the individual vote, and muses in historical terms on that and about the twin devils of voter and candidate apathy. That latter is a comment on the fact that some of the candidates in this constituency didn't respond to an invitation to provide a 'message to the electorate' through the pages of The Bridge.

The election pages themselves are edited by Pat Behan. There are also a number of paid advertisements from candidates, so the campaign also represents a healthy boost to the coffers of the magazine, as it does to all local papers.

Moving on, the news stories lead off with the recent 'presentation' of a bag of litter to Kildare County Council by members of Kilcullen Tidy Towns. The story notes the response from the Council that Kilcullen 'gets the same services as every other town in Kildare'. The writer says that is 'absolute nonsense'.

Bridge photographer Pat Foley also makes the front page in a story about his recent role as a 'soap star'. Unusually on the other side of the lens, the picture shows Pat with the street set of RTE One's 'Fair City' behind him, following his landing of a part as a ... photographer! ... in a recent episode.

Other news items include the results of the recent Daffodil Day Collection, which raised more than 5,000 euros for The Irish Cancer Society. There's coverage of recent developments in The Valley, of the Thanksgiving Service for Pastor Robert Dunlop, and of the Art Exhibition in Brannoxtown National School to raise funds.

A surprise 70th birthday party for Pat O'Connor of Calverstown was held in the St Lawrence's GAA Clubhouse, and that gets words and pictures coverage, as also does the Community Quiz organised by Kilcullen Tidy Towns in Bardons.

Other strong pictures pages include the Community Games Swimming Presentations, the 'Pyjama Day' event in aid of the Make a Wish Foundation organised by the Toddlers & Wobblers Creche, and, of course, there are lots of shots from the Gala Night of the recent presentation of 'The Shadow of a Gunman' presented by the Kilcullen Drama Group.

Pat Behan also writes a review of the play and its performance, and his byline is also prominent through no less than three business profiles, The Haven on Hillcrest, Ruby Shoes on The Square, and Sharon Griffin's Acupuncture Clinic in Calverstown.

Echoes of last month's issue include part two of Bernard Berney's profile on Paddy 'The Kings' Neill, mainly retailing a number of stories about that late Kilcullen character. And there's more promised for next month.

But the article also brought from the woodwork a number of pieces about nicknames, with a letter from Nicky Myers querying the origin of 'The Homewrecker' eliciting an hilarious response from Bernard Berney. And it also caused Mick Sammon to put pen to paper on reflections from schooldays which brought many memories to your Editor's mind. Well worth a read.

The regulars are still here. From Taiwan, Sean Landers reports on difficulties in managing table manners when brought to dinner by locals. Billy Redmond recounts his travels close to the same part of the world on the recent Irish Wheelchair Association trek to raise funds. 'Mulls Corner' this month is a profile of Tom O'Connell.

Finally, I commend to those of you interested in trees and plants a piece by Geraldine Gahan on 'A Living Fossil in Kilcullen'. Nope, it is NOT a profile of your Editor, but a fascinating account of the discovery of a type of tree that goes back 150 million years, the Wollemi Pine. Kilcullen is among the first towns in Ireland to have one, as it has been growing in Geraldine's collection since September.

I wonder will this new 'character' get a nickname?

Brian Byrne.