It Says in The Bridge: Jan 08

This first Bridge of 2008 leads off with what it headlines as a 'murky story', the one about a group of Cross and Passion College students who investigated bugs in schoolbags.

No, not electronic bugs, bacteria. The matter was their entry into the Young Scientists Competition 2008, and they were trying to find just how clean were their classmates schoolbags. At the time of the magazine's publication it wasn't known that they had achieved a third place in their category.

The other main front page story is about the imminent opening of a new restaurant on the Market Square development, which will begin to bring that project to life very soon.

The Editorial in this issue reflects on development and green spaces and how important having access to parks and walks is to our health. 'Reduction of stress and improvement in mood' are some of the benefits.

Jim Collins meanwhile is in a mood to be concerned. In a letter voicing his views on a 'deteriorating streetscape' he notes the number of 'For Sale' signs on lower main street and wonders if the town is losing its 'commercial pulse'? It is the boarded up state of such vacant properties that worries him, which doesn't look well, and he wonders what can be done about it.

Facing that letter is an interesting map of the town which gives some indication of how much -- or little -- the shape of Kilcullen has changed in 170 years. It's an Ordnance Survey map from the 1830s, and is well worth a browse if only to see how the backbone shape of Kilcullen is still the same.

From the various schools' pages there's a letter from Pat Mooney, who first came to Kilcullen to work for the late Pat Dunlea. His move to Ballybrittas in recent years for work reasons didn't break his connection with Kilcullen as he kept his children in Scoil Bhride, and played a strong part himself on the Parents Association and Board of Management. Pat and his wife Amanda now have to bring their children closer to their County Laois home for further education, and in his letter he reflects on the good things he recalls from Kilcullen, a place he says is 'a most talked about town' amongst the Dubs of 'The Big Smoke'. We wish you and your family well, Pat, and thank you for all your own contribution to making the town what it is.

There's also a letter from Anna McCarthy to Scoil Bhride from her Cultural Canvas Thailand project which offers a very articulate insight into mountain tribe life in that country.

An article by Fergal Sloan about a visit to Krackow which he and Eilis Philips did recently is an excellent description of part of a country which has now a very strong connection with Ireland through the large number of Polish people who have settled here. Well worth a read.

Other items in this issue includes a review of 'Cash on Delivery' from Pat Behan, which he describes as a 'hilarious performance' for which all concerned deserve congratulation. There's extensive pictorial coverage of the opening Gala Night of the show too.

The New Year happened since the last Bridge and from the extensive photographic coverage it seems the place to be to ring it in was The Stray Inn, which had a fancy dress event that was obviously much enjoyed.

The New Year at another level is touched on in Robert Dunlop's Pastor's Piece where he notes that 'crossing into a fresh era will raise hopes and expectations of brighter times'.

Another regular contributor, Billy Redmond, has a double whammy of pieces for us in this issue. In one he reflects on the recent very successful 'House of Stories' event he organised in the Parish Centre, while in his 'Off the Cuff' he muses on people not having much time to talk to each other these days. When it does happen, it is a welcome surprise.

Sean Landers -- who was home from Taiwan for Christmas -- writes in his regular letter from that place about a young man of his acquaintance who wants to be an opera singer. Sean's historical piece this month is about how the English language in Kildare was spoken a hundred years ago.

The 'Looking Back' item this month shows the Dunne family's thatched house in Yellow Bog in the 70s, while there's also a picture of young faces from the Brannockstown Field Day of 1975.

The start of another year of Bridge is also the start of another year for the much younger Diary. But that will be a story for next week.

Brian Byrne.