Forms for joining the Kilcullen Garda District Text Alert scheme are available from The Grocery in Calverstown, Kilcullen Garda Station, Kilcullen Credit Union, and scheme committee members. Please encourage neighbours and friends to join.
The Diary has learned with sadness of the death of Harold Mitchell, formerly of Nicholastown and living in Reading, England, for the last 50 years.
Har was brother to George, John and the late Paddy, and their sister Ann Bell of Newbury, and we spoke with him last during a visit home in August 2005.
He is survived by his partner, son, and three grandchildren.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Mystery Novel, Spanish
There are worse prisons than words. That's a short line from one of the characters in this often disturbing and highly crafted novel, translated from the original Spanish. It is a book which imprisons between its own covers.
Spanish is a wordy language, and though Lucia Graves' translation turned it into quite natural English, the flowery idioms and long conversations require concentration. Give it that, and the time required, and the author rewards the effort.
Set initially in the turbulence of Spain in the early fifties, Zafon uses flashback techniques to open up the mystery of a group of people connected by a book found in a Barcelona old book depositary. This book is the last in a series by a forgotten and failed author, and possession of it brings the story's narrator through danger, terror, and anguish, to love.
It is a Gothic tale in style, and the characters include a vindictive and savage policeman, a variety of oddball but very human people in the world of publishing and bookselling in Paris and Barcelona, where the tale is set, as well as several women who mostly seem doomed to tragedy and who generally drag the men with whom they connect into tragedies of their own.
Zafon's technique is like one of those pictures which feature a mirror that continues a series of reflections of the same scene until they are too small to see. Except that the mirrors each distort slightly, so the reflections are not exact. There's a taste of eternity here, and a sense of hopelessness repeating itself through several generations condemned to make similar mistakes as did their forefathers.
The nearest English author I can get to Zafon is Robert Goddard, whose wonderfully crafted stories will always find their way onto my shelf of books waiting to be read. The Shadow of the Wind was recommended to me by Julie O'Donoghue in Kilcullen Library, and in turn I commend it on to those of you who like something meaty and totally devoid of beach-book saccharine.
Be warned, though. You will be imprisoned by the words until the final release, without any remission of sentence.
Brian Byrne.
A Summer Camp is being held at the Kidz Academy from Monday July 2.
The first week will focus on Arts and Crafts; the week beginning July 9 will concentrate on Sports; July 16 will start a Swimming week, with one hour each morning in Treacy's Leisure Centre under the supervision of a coach.
For further information on these and subsequent weeks through July and August, contact Siobhan at 087 2930006 or 045 883437.
The sponsorship collected by the participants in the Womens Mini Marathon on behalf of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund has exceeded 14,500 euros.
Organiser Phena Bermingham says there is still more to come and she has appealed for any outstanding money to be handed in so that a final cheque can be given to James Nolan, founder of the PKRF.
Meanwhile the recent Scoil Bhride Field Day collected more than 7,000 euros.
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Kilcullen is one of the top ten villages in Ireland suffering from 'urban sprawl'.
According to a list compiled by Business Plus magazine, our population growth between 2002-2006 was 101 percent, which puts us slap in the middle of the top ten table.
For the record, Stamullen in Co Meath is the place which tops the list, with a 219 percent population increase, and Clogherhead, Co Louth is tenth, with 72 percent.
Brian Byrne.
A cheque for 2,400 euros was presented to the Kilcullen Senior Citizens Fund at the weekend, following the final of the KTK Land Fill Charity Pool Tournament in McTernans.
The competition was organised by Benny McHale with the help of other stalwarts of the McTernan's pool scene, and some 27 teams entered from all over the county.
The contest has been running since the middle of March. The Martin Thorpe team from the Milltown Inn won the final, beating Newbridge CYMS by 7 games to 5.
KTK Landfill provided 2,000 euros for prizes from a community fund which the company provides annually to Kilcullen. The donation to the Senior Citizens Fund came from the entry fees.
Mary Masterson of McTernan's (above right) was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Teresa Meaney from the Seniors Citizens Fund in appreciation for hosting the event in her pub.
Brian Byrne.
A special Community Games art award was inaugurated last week when the Brenda Scullion Memorial Award was presented to Rachael Hovenden-Keane.
The award is in memory of a former Cross & Passion College teacher who passed away last year, and was set up by the Community Games Committee to be presented to the Arts section local winner chosen to go forward to the County Community Games Finals.
The inaugural award was presented by Noel Scullion, artist, husband of Brenda.
Margaret Kissane, while giving details of the award, recalled how Brenda had always adjudicated the local round of the Community Games Art competition.
"She was a friend, mentor and supporter of the competition for many years. She always gave freely of her time and her expertise, for which Kilcullen Community Games is extremely grateful."
Margaret also thanked Joe O'Connor for his sponsorship of the trophy.
Brian Byrne.
There will be an Open Day at Barretstown in Ballymore on Sunday 1 July, from 11am.
It is an opportunity to see what goes on in the Paul Newman founded facility that provides holidays for seriously ill children.
Tours are available through the day, with the last one starting at 2.30pm.
All adults and children are welcome. Light refreshments will be available, as will entertainment for visiting children.
The designs for a new building, which it is hoped will begin construction later in the year, will be on view.
If you want to book a tour, phone 045 864115.
Brian Byrne.
The Diary extends best wishes to popular local publican Martin Myles and his wife Denise, on the birth of a baby boy.
The Diary records the death of Alfred (Alfie) Piggott, of Grangemore.
His removal will take place from Doyle's Funeral Home, Ballymount, this Tuesday evening at 5.45, to arrive at Gormanstown Church via Grangemore at 6.30pm.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11am, and interment will take place immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Kilcullen Credit Union has presented a set of 30 singlets to the town's Community Games Committee.
This follows the sponsoring of a set of track suits two years ago, which helped the team in the County Finals win a prize for being the best turned out group.
Presenting the singlets, Credit Union Chairman Pat Stafford said it was wonderful to see such a vibrant group in the town. He congratulated them on their past successes, and said he looked forward to 'more of the same' in the future.
"Sport is so essential in today's world," he said, "in keeping healthy, active, and in giving something to your team and belonging to the community. It is also important that the youngsters should take part in sport in a fun kind of environment, rather than being about winning at all costs."
He said the Credit Union has a policy of supporting local groups, and this was an example of that policy.
Margaret Kissane accepted the singlets on behalf of the Community Games Committee, and said that it was a 'delight' to see so many children involved.
Brian Byrne.
The Diary has got to notice it a little late, but the Animals First Veterinary Hospital in the Link Business Park has established its own very informative website.
The practice was established in April 2005 and is operated by Rachael Gordon and Conor McMahon.
Want to know more? Click here.
An adult Salsa Dance course is planned for anyone 16 years and over in Kilcullen.
The classes commence on Wednesday 29 June and will last four four weeks. The venue is the Community Centre, from 8-9pm. No partner is necessary, and the programme is open to both men and women.
The cost is 50 euros for the course. Call Maria on 086 6686909.
The KTK Landfill Charity Pool Tournament final takes place in McTernan's tonight, beginning at 9pm.
About half the teams were from the immediate area, and a number of businesses sponsored teams, including Berneys Chemists, The Hideout and The Spout.
The KTK sponsorship is from a community fund which the landfill company provides annually to Kilcullen.
Brian Byrne.
The Parish of Sacred Heart and St Brigid Kilcullen are holding their annual Golf Classic in aid of Parish Funds on Monday 23 July in the Curragh Golf Club.
The cost of entering a team of four is 350 euros, which includes a meal and entertainment. The cost of sponsoring a tee box is 150 euros.
For non-golfers there are a limited number of tickets at 30 euros for a meal and entertainment. It is essential that these tickets are booked and paid for in advance.
To secure a Tee Time or Sponsor a Tee Box please phone Nessa at 087/2339610.
To avoid the handling of money on the day please forward your cheque for 350 euros or 150 made payable to Kilcullen Parish Golf Classic and post it to Nessa Dunlea at Touchwood House, Gilltown, Kilcullen, Co Kildare.
Nessa Dunlea.
A set of singlets will be presented this evening to the Kilcullen Community Games by Kilcullen Credit Union.
The Credit Union is sponsor for the Community Games in Kilcullen, and the handover will take place at 7pm in Credit Union House.
Also, the first presentation will be made of an award for young artists, in memory of the late Brenda Scullion of Cross and Passion College.
Brian Byrne.
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The first work on what is hoped to make for a really colourful Kilcullen soon has got under way on the provision of flower boxes for the first floor windows of premises on Main Street.
The first units have been mounted on his own premises, and the rest of them will be set out according as work on the irrigation system is completed. At the moment, the unsettled weather has held up some of the process.
"It's a once-off investment," Brian Fallon says. "I hope that if it is nice enough this year and creates a buzz, people will plant the boxes themselves next year."
Brian Byrne.
The recent participation in the Womens Mini Marathon by 57 local women has resulted in more than 10,000 euros raised to date, and chief organiser Phena Bermingham says 'there's a lot more to come in'.
She also appealed for people to carry organ donor cards, as there is a 'huge need' for transplant organs all the time.
Brian Byrne.
An opportunity for parishioners to say goodbye to Fr Andrew O'Sullivan has been organised for Thursday 5 July.
Fr Andrew's last official day in the parish is Sunday 8 July. He has served in Kilcullen for seven years and is going to Rome to study Canon Law.
As a mark of appreciation for his work here, it is proposed to make a presentation to him on behalf of the people of the parish.
Envelopes to facilitate those who wish to be associated with the presentation have been distributed to the Challenge list. For any other parishioner who wants to contribute, envelopes may be obtained at the Parish Centre, or from the organisers of the event -- Miriam McDonnell, Clare Lydon, Nancy Fitzpatrick, Nessa Dunlea and Evelyn McKenzie-Smith.
Everybody is welcome to the event on the 5th, and it is hoped there will be a large turnout to wish farewell to a man who has been priest, friend, mentor and an inspiration in the parish in a myriad of ways.
Brian Byrne.
Kilcullen Community Action members will be undertaking a tidying up of the approach roads to the town this evening. Anyone prepared to help should meet at the Town Hall at 7.30pm.
Note that the clean-up will not involve the main street footpaths and roads, as these are considered the job of Kildare County Council.
The Cake sale held in the Parish Centre yesterday in aid of Brannockstown National School was a quick sellout, as usual.
The Diary understands that more than 700 euros was raised at the sale.
Pictured are (back) Anne Fitzgerald, Catriona O'Connell, Mary Murphy, Mary Landers, Nicola Lynch, Miriam O'Brien, Caroline McGlinchey; and (front) Orlaith Cullen, Tara Fitzgerald, Ita Lynch, Geoff Keane.
Brian Byrne.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service Mobile Clinic will attend in Kilcullen tomorrow (Monday) afternoon.
The IBTS advises donors that they try to make sure they have eaten something before going to the clinic.
They should also allow for an hour to an hour and a half from registration to refreshments for the donation.
Anyone feeling unwell after making a donation can contact the service at 01 4322800.
Brian Byrne.
Camphill Dunshane is holding its annual Open Day on Sunday 24 June.
The event will be in the afternoon between 2-5pm, and offers an excellent opportunity to see how the members of the community live and work together.
There will be food stalls, games, crafts and the whole day is guaranteed to be one of fun for the entire family.
Admission is free and car parking is provided.
Brian Byrne.
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Kilcullen Tennis Club is organising a Summer Camp tennis coaching week for young people in July.
The camp starts on the first Monday of the month and while the club is initially committed to mornings, if the numbers require it will operate coaching in the afternoons as well.
No registration is needed; anyone interested can just turn up on the days. It costs 5 euros a day for members and 7 euros a day for non-members.
Last year, a similar event involved more than 70 young people.
Brian Byrne.
The long-planned sculpture for the south end of the town, representing the historical site at Dun Ailinne, will be completed in July.
The work is being done by sculptor Noel Scullion and the project is being manged by Kilcullen Community Action with financial help from a number of organisations, including KELT.
At a recent meeting of KCA, Noel Clare noted that 'a good bit' of work will need to be done before they can set a date for the official launch of the sculpture. "A concrete plinth will have to be built, and a large crane will be required to lift the piece," he said.
Brian Byrne.
Fr Andrew O'Sullivan leaves Kilcullen on 9 July to spend three years studying Canon Law in Rome. Nobody can doubt that his impact in the parish has been considerable, and he leaves us in much better shape than he found us. On behalf of all, the Diary wishes him Godspeed.
The first impression wasn't a good one.
"There was a crowd of men on the footpath, beating the lard out of one another," he recalls. "And I had just been saying to my friends that I was coming to a nice quiet country idyll."
The lights changed and they drove past the fracas, quite bemused. "Then I saw the church, and we got out and peeked inside. I was so relieved, because to me it is all about the church, and what I saw was an absolute gem."
There were a number of very immediate things to deal with, such as the poor state of the Parochial House, where there was water coming down the walls and the carpets were soggy. As far as the new curate was concerned, the place 'wasn't suitable for human living'. The house dates to around 1885 and was, to put it kindly, in serious need of attention. It was also an indicator of what other problems might be waiting.
Gormanstown was fixed. The Parochial House was made habitable. Work was done on the Parish Church. "They were carried out so well by such good people that the fundraising was relatively painless. And people were very generous."
On 20 June 2004 he escorted President McAleese up the church, where she gave the First Reading and also read the Psalm. Later, outside the new centre, she spoke of 'radiators and drains' as akin to the choices people have in life, that they can either give off heat or not do much.
His experiences as chaplain to CPC have also been very fulfilling. That was particularly evident at the recent graduation of the Class of 2007. "My whole relationship with the school has been phenomenal. A series of presentations the other day was very touching, in how they showed the impact we've made on each other over the seven years. It was very emotional, and I found that I wasn't the only one with tears in my eyes."The Diary has learned of the death of Shiela Keogh of Conroy Park.
She will be sadly missed by her sons Jim and Paddy, her daughter Sheila, and her extended family as well as all her friends, particularly Rose Thorpe.
Removal took place last evening from her home to Kilcullen Parish Church. Her Requiem Mass will be at 11 o'clock this morning, and will be followed by interment in New Abbey Cemetery.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Money raised for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund by participants in the recent Flora Mini Marathon can be handed in at the Parish Centre on Thursday 14 June, between 7.30-8.30pm, or given anytime to Lorraine Hegarty-Kelly or Phena Bermingham.
By last weekend, some 3,500 euros had been collected. There were 57 participants on behalf of PKRF in the Mini Marathon.
Brian Byrne.
Compost bins are available from Kilcullen Community Action.
They cost 30 euros each, which is a discount on the normal retail price thanks to sponsorship from Noel O'Connell of Hillcrast Hire and Kildare County Council.
Contact Ray Kelly (087 2636375) or Noel Clare (045 481506)if you're interested.
It was fun as usual at the annual Scoil Bhride Field Day organised by parents and teachers at the school.
The weather was perfect for the event, and a steady stream of visitors through Sunday afternoon ensured that the financial outcome will be positive.
But the real thing was enjoyment, and there was plenty of that whether your thing was food, books, sponge throwing, pony riding or taking a flutter on lucky dip and guessing the number of sweets in a jar.
There's a set of pictures here that give a flavour of the day.
Brian Byrne.
There's a little stump of tree at the lower end of the road up through Sunbury.
It is scrawny. It is stunted. It's not the height of a seven year old child, because it was broken in two last year.
In the recent couple of months it has sprouted small branches and leaves, as trees do in spring. Up to today it had vibrant fresh foliage, doing the keep-me-alive thing that foliage is for plants.
That little tree is an inspiration to all living things, that where there's life, there's hope.
This morning I walked down by our stunted little survivor. Half the new tiny branches were lying scattered on the ground around its puny trunk.
Around it also were a group of boys and girls wearing Cross & Passion College uniforms. Presumably on a break between their exams. I asked was there a reason why the little tree had been stripped of its life-giving leaves?
"We didn't do it," one lad said.
"Then what are those leaves in your hand?"
He looked at the bunch of green and dropped it to join the others on the ground.
"I didn't do it," he said. "I just picked these up off the ground."
I shrugged. "It's a pity the leaves have been torn off, though."
I picked my way between the girls sitting on the footpath, not concerned that they were blocking it. "Yeah, a pity," I heard from behind me as I walked on. Then some sniggered laughter.
I'll pick up the litter later that they'll leave (they always do). But I can't stick the tiny branches back on our puny, brave and cruelly delimbed tree.
***
LATER: As an update to the story above, here's how two fingers are given to anyone complaining about trees being damaged.
After lunch, I had occasion to walk down the road again. No students. Also, no branches at all left on the poor tree.
Of course, I've no proof that it was done by the students ... after all, they say they don't do such things.
And the tree can't tell ...
Brian Byrne.
Kilcullen people from abroad who come home on holidays this summer should take some time to look at the cleaned-up painting behind the main altar of the Church of the Sacred Heart & St Brigid.
The painting is typical of those found in churches built during the time of the Catholic Emancipation in the latter half of the 19th century.
"They brought over Italian craftsmen to decorate the churches, because the Irish traditions and skills had all disappeared over 600 years of occupation," says Fr Andrew O'Sullivan. "An Italian by the name of Buccini created that piece. It is signed and dated 1900. When I came here, it was one of the first things that, on a personal level, I wanted to see restored."
"She wanted to do something by way of appreciation for the late Pat Dunlea," says Fr Andrew, "and she approached us with an offer to clean the painting."
Talking to the Diary, Mary said there is little information about the artist, and that it could well be the only surviving signed piece by him. She believes he later went to England, and that a daughter then emigrated to the United States.
A number of previous repair jobs on parts of the canvas which had been damaged at various times had not been done well, and this didn't help matters.
But the painting as it is now represents the perseverence and the skill of Mary McGrath. The parish is indeed fortunate on two counts, that somebody thought it could be restored, and that somebody was available to restore it.
As I say, take a closer look next time you visit the church.
Brian Byrne.
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The Kildare South Constituency of Fine Gael is holding a convention in Lumville House tonight to select a candidate for the Seanad.
The event takes place at 7.30pm. The Diary is aware of two nominations, Cllr Richard Daly who was a candidate in the recent General Election, and Tony O'Donnell.
The Kilcullen Bethany Support Group has been established to help people in the parish to cope with bereavement.
Last year, six people from Kilcullen took part in a training course in preparation for setting up the Bethany group. Among the most important elements of the course were the development of listening skills.
In today's world, people can often be unaware of the grief associated with bereavement. Grieving is a natural process, which can take a long time, and although it can be helped by the understanding and support from friends, this may not always be available.
Those affected can have feelings of anger, guilt, fear and depression as well as the pain of loss.
Talking with a member of the Bethany Group, whose members may themselves have suffered loss, can help the healing process.
The Kilcullen group will also provide home visits. The contact number is 086 2668288.
The name of the organisation recalls the visit of Jesus to Mary and Martha on the death of their brother Lazarus.
Brian Byrne.
Next Monday, June 11, has been nominated as the first KCA-sponsored 'Clean-Up Evening' of the summer.
Anybody willing to help should meet at the Town Hall at 7.30 where bags and gloves will be available.
At the most recent KCA meeting, it was emphasised that volunteers would not clean street areas which are the responsibility of Kildare County Council, but approaches and amenity areas will be cleaned.
The meeting also reiterated that Kilcullen IS entered in this year's National Tidy Towns Competition. It had been suggested that the town abstain as a mark of protest against the failure of Kildare County Council to provide adequate litter cleaning services.
Meanwhile, a letter has been received from the Council -- which last year opened a 57m euros new HQ -- that litter cleaning services have indeed been reduced in Kilcullen because of 'budgetary constraints'. This admission represents a turnaround from the position previously stated by the Council.
Brian Byrne.
The completion recently of a new school building at the Kildare Steiner School at Gormanstown is another milestone in the school's development. This building will be the new home for the Main School (classes 1-6).
The two classroom project, which began in June 2006, was overseen by Aidan Harney, a parent in the school. The contractor was ICF Build Ireland, Akip, Rathdowney, Co Laois and the build was managed by Joe Gilfoyle. The funding for the facility was raised by the parents.
The building is state of the art with such features as underfloor heating, high levels of insulation and a heat recovery ventilation system. Each of the classrooms has double doors leading outside and a kitchenette.
The next project will be a new building for the kindergarten.
The Kildare Steiner School school caters for children from three-and-ahalf to 12 years, or kindergarten to class six. The current roll is 45 students.
The school was moved to this site three years ago from Dunshane, beginning in a prefab Main School. Since then a Kindergarten has been added, as have playgrounds for the Kindergarten and the Main School. The site was also enhanced by the addition of an orchard where each family in the school has planted a fruit tree.
The Kildare Steiner School was founded in 1987 and uses the educational approach developed by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). It is one of 900 or more such schools internationally. Steiner or Waldorf schools are co-educational schools with pupils coming from all denominations. A great awareness of the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual processes at work in the development of the growing child is an essential element in Steiner education.
Contemporary life puts children under increasing pressure to grow up as quickly as possible. The Kildare Steiner School, however, takes an unhurried approach to childhood by providing a safe and secure environment in a fragmented world.
Enrolment for next year is taking place. Further information can be had by writing to us at Rathargid, Gormanstown, Kilcullen, Co Kildare; telephone +353 (0)45 401919; or Email.
Helen O'Connor Nolan.
Sorry to be a bit late with this report, but it's been a busy couple of weeks and I missed the weekend publication of the latest issue.
The lead story in this issue is the celebration of the 10th year of the Kilcullen Lions Club as an entity in its own right. I should put that into an earlier personal perspective in that my Dad, Jim Byrne Jnr, was one of the founder members of the original Naas-Kilcullen Lions, and so, the anniversary of Lions in Kilcullen is actually much longer than a decade.
That's not to take from the fact that over the last decade the Lions as now constituted has played a very active role in the community, as evidenced by the sheltered housing project in St Brigid's Avenue, the support for the KARE development in the former Cross & Passion Convent, and the upcoming Solas Youth Cafe to be based in the Tennis Club.
And those 10th anniversary celebrations are expanded inside the magazine in words and pictures from the event held in Fallons.
Other front page stories are not so positive. Under the general heading of 'Chaos in Kilcullen' the magazine reports the loss of the voting franchise for many in the town during the recent elections, and the traffic problems during the First Communion.
"The two examples ... show how poor we are at local and national level of planning what should be reasonably simple events," the writer notes.
Other news items include an admission by Kildare County Council that it actually has withdrawn a litter collection service from Kilcullen, the 433 euros presentation to Brannockstown Tidy Towns Committee by the Aerial Committee from the same village, and a pictorial view of the 8th annual Seminar of the County Kildare Federation of Local History Groups which was recently held in the Heritage Centre.
The various schools pages include a piece on how skipping is good for you, by Aoibhin Tutty-Bardon from Scoil Bhride; a statement that Confirmation Day 'was brill' from Grainne McMullan of Brannoxtown NS; and some pictures from the Kildare Steiner School from the recent talk about Waldorf Education, 'Putting the heart back into education'.
There are also First Communion pictures, a piece about the Bethany Group -- Trained to Listen, Here to Help; and, in sports, pages of pictures from the recent activities of Kilcullen Community Games.
There's an article from Jim Collins recalling the creator of the St Brigid's Well sculpture 30 years ago, Fr Henry Flanagan OP (whom I remember well from my own days in Newbridge College). In the course of which, Jim asks for advice on what should be done with the much-vandalised and valuable piece ... and my own view is that it should be removed to the safety of the Heritage Centre and a plaster facsimile be made for the vandals to play with.
The features in this issue reflect a mix of old contributors and new. From the former, Sean Landers does his thing from Taiwan in pensive vein on a 'life cluttered with discarded leaves'. He also comes close to home on a subject which is familiar to me, the Kilcullen Turnpike Road, eventually put out of business by the railways.
Bernard Berney does part three of his profile on 'The Kings' Neill, now well on the way to being a full book if everybody tells the stories they remember of that now-dead character of Kilcullen. They better tell them quick, because many of those who remember the 'Kings' are now ourselves heading towards the final furlongs ...
'The Spout' pumps again its creative writing spills from the members of the group based in An Tearman. From the pages, the Diary commends to you 'The journey of a soldier' from Colm O'Brien, aged seven. Remember that name, it has the potential for posterity.
Michael Moran is another contributor there, but he also journals in his series on 'Living in Kilcullen', where he introduces Esker Lea.
New scribes, at least to these eyes, include Eleanor Farmer, who profiles Fr Andrew O'Sullivan on his time in Kilcullen, soon to end. There's also a profound piece from Liam and Jackie McCarton on some of their experiences working in Sri Lanka after the tsunami. And Catriona from the multi-talented Poufong family shows serious journalistic promise in her report on the launch of the information report of the Youth Cafe project at CPC.
I honed my ability for this kind of piece through the 80s, when I was a writer/presenter of 'It Says in The Papers' along with Tom Savage and the late P P O'Reilly.
At that time I had five newspapers to draw on to write a script of five minutes' duration. The Bridge today easily provides at least as much information for such a script as did those five newspapers then.
At the Diary we think that's great. And we wait, exhausted, for next month.
Brian Byrne.
The latest stage of the refurbishment of Kilcullen Tennis Club is virtually complete, and the building now has a new roof and windows. Renovation of the exterior front is hoped to be completed before September.
The refurbishment funds were provided by Kilcullen Lions Club and Kildare County Council.
A group of young people involved in the upcoming establishment of a Youth Cafe painted the inside of the premises. The cafe itself will open for business in September.
New windows were donated by Marvin Architectural in Dunlavin. The building work was carried out by Colm Murray.
Kilcullen Development Association were responsible for the refurbishment of the neighbouring Billiard Hall five years ago, and also for the relaying of the courts.
Brian Byrne.
Kilcullen Community Action is fighting the withdrawal of the town's Council litter-cleaning service with a positive message in a poster campaign which asks people to keep Kilcullen clean and bring home their litter.
KCA is the group responsible for Kilcullen’s entry into the Tidy Towns Competition. They had threatened to withdraw from the competition because of the lack of support from the Council but decided instead that a poster campaign to help with the litter alongside a campaign for the reinstatement of a proper service would be more constructive.
KCA chairman Kieran Forde said they were driven to this action because they had been asking Council officials for years to put a proper cleaning service in place.
On a positive note, they said this service 'was coming up for review' in the near future. KCA intends to use the opportunity to campaign for a proper service for the town, which has had an increase in population from 2,000 to almost 5,000 in four years.
“We are delighted with the posters, and hope it will draw people’s attention to the lack of services in the town,” said Kieran Forde. "While it is always a good thing to encourage people not to drop litter, we are asking for a special effort while the service remains almost non-existent. Each year, a small group of people pick litter and make every effort to have the town looking its best for the Tidy Towns competition. We need people to support us in this effort.”
Orla O'Neill.
More than 1,600 euros has been donated so far to Kilcullen Community Action towards the cost of planting flowers in public places
Other contributors to date include John and Anne Collins of London, Jim and Nuala Collins, Ger and Lorraine Kelly, and Sean Phelan. Further sponsorship will be welcomed.
KCA expects that most of the planting will be carried out this weekend.
Meanwhile a recent pressure test on the irrigation system for the bridge flowers displays revealed that a number of connectors hadn't been tightened when it was installed. Members of KCA have rectified the situation.
Brian Byrne.
A dedicated parish website is currently being designed and is expected to go online shortly.
The project is one of Fr Andrew O'Sullivan's final initiatives in Kilcullen before he leaves in early July to study in Rome.
As yet, no further details of the site are available. But watch this space.
Brian Byrne.
They went; they walked (most of them); they won.
Phena Bermingham with Ger Kelly back at the Parish Centre after the 2007 Womens Mini Marathon; because she had injured her foot prior to the event, Phena -- main organiser on behalf of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund -- was pushed in a wheelchair by Ger around the 10k course.
They may not have come in first, but the 57 Kilcullen women who took part in yesterday's Flora Mini Marathon for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund were proxy winners for their charity. As also were the 19 other women who went on behalf of Kilcullen AFC in aid of breast cancer research.
For Theresa Meaney it was her 19th time in the event, a veteran indeed!
Also, two Kilcullen ladies, Mary Murray and Nuala Collins, walked the Mini Marathon in aid of The National Rehabilitation Centre Dun Laoire. They were part of the larger group of Soroptimists from all round the country who took part.
The Punchestown fund returns should be available on Thursday week, Phena Bermingham says.
The Diary wasn't on the walk itself, but there are some before and after pictures.
Brian Byrne.
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With 55 acts on ten stages over three days, all set in the beautiful gardens of the Barock Castle in Ludwigsburg, Germany, Saoirse and Tom received great feedback from the thousands of people who wandered from stage to stage, enjoying the spectacular multi-cultural event.
The pair performed for two hours, in six 20 minute sets. Brian Byrne.
Some 86 ladies from Kilcullen are taking part this afternoon in the 2007 Flora Womens Mini Marathon in Dublin.
Pictured prior to their leaving town for the event are (above) the ladies participating on behalf of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund and (below) those taking part from Kilcullen AFC for breast cancer research.
Brian Byrne.
Our friends at the Bridge Camphill Community have set up their own blog, with the dual purpose of keeping us all abreast with their news and providing a writing and photographic outlet for their own members.
The blog has been set up by Mischa Fekete, the community's IT guru who also wears many other Camphill hats. It went live on 20 April last, and since then has documented a number of happenings at the Bridge campus and at the new Grangebeg farm.
Congratulations to all involved, and welcome to what has become a thriving blogosphere emanating from various groups and individuals in Kilcullen.
Mischa has also built a new website for the Bridge Camphill Community which is a big move forward from the original.
Brian Byrne.
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At the recent AGM of Kilcullen Badminton Club, the following committee was elected for 2007/2008.
Chairman Hilary Makin (085 7387726); Secretary Jennifer Monaghan (087 2628305); Match Secretary Liz Lambert (087 2839249) and Treasurer Ger Bisset (087 1245438).
Meanwhile members new and old are invited to take part in KBC's pay-as-you-go Summer Club.
The informal sessions throughout the summer will cost just 5 euros a night, or you can pay 100 euros upfront -- a saving of 30 euros.
The club is also looking for new players and the Summer Club is an ideal time for people to try out before the membership season starts again in September.
All standards are welcome and the club is particularly keen to attract both men and ladies interested in playing League matches next season.
You can email for further information.
Brian Byrne.
Just to mark the matter, during May of last year we had less than 5,000 pages read; during May of 2007 there were more than 8,000 page impressions.
In case you were interested. Thanks to all our readers, many of whom contact us in one way or another to enourage us to keep it up.
Happy bank holiday weekend.
Brian Byrne.
A 'hands-on' Art Camp is being held in the Community Centre from 9-13 July.
Aimed at 5-12 year-olds, the workshops will cater for those who want to attend morning or afternoon, as well as all-day participants.
All materials are supplied, and the disciplines covered include painting, drawing, face painting and clay modelling.
The prices range from 60-95 euros. Further information from 087 9729611.
Brian Byrne.
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