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.
Kilcullen AFC AGM will take place next Thursday, 5 June at 8pm sharp in the Community Centre.
All players, parents and potential Alex Fergusons welcome.
The AGM this year will be the most important meeting in many years as the current committee see the next two years as pivotal in the development of the club.
Your attendance is needed if you or your children wish to participate in one of the fastest growing clubs in the town.
A meeting on suicide awareness held in the Town Hall last week heard details of how to set up a Suicide Intervention group, aimed at deflecting vulnerable people from taking their own lives.
It was organised by the Bethany Bereavement Support Group and addressed by specialists in the field psychologist Mark Fitzpatrick and Maread Smyth, pictured above with Adrienne Murphy, Fr Michael Murphy, Mary Phelan, Siobhan Murphy and Mary Dillon.
"We're hoping that people will get involved and take part in a two-day training programme run by the ASSIST organisation," Mark Fitzpatrick said. "The programme is essentially a 'first aid' for suicide intervention, with local trained people being on call for families in imminent suicide crisis."
The recent and rapid growth of Kilcullen, with a strong influx of new people, can put the community at a higher risk of having a suicide problem.
"Traditionally in Ireland people didn't move far from the family, so there was always a support there," Mark Fitzpatrick says. "There were parents, siblings, or extended family members. But now things have changed, people are moving out from the cities, and are faced with having to integrate into a new community. They may not be sure of the local resources, and who is there to help them in various issues."
In such situations, some individuals can become more isolated even in a large community, and that's a cause for concern for towns like Kilcullen, particularly those around Dublin.
"The research would indicate that this kind of isolation, or even just a percieved isolation, is one of the major factors for the increase in young male suicide," Maread Smyth says.
Brian Byrne.
A 'Walking Bus' initiative at Brannoxtown NS was designed to encourage children to have a healthier lifestyle.
The idea, which was operated for a day a week over a pilot three weeks, involved the children being brought to schoo being dropped at a point a kilometre from the school.
From there they walked to school in one group, a 'walking bus' supervised by parents and teachers.
The idea was initiated by the school's Committee to promote Healthy Eating and Healthy Lifestyles.
The Committee has also started a 'Savour a New Flavour' Day, on Wednesdays of each week. On this day children are encouraged to bring to school a new healthy snack they've never tried before.
Brian Byrne.
Nearly nine in ten people (87 percent) who responded to an online poll on the Kilcullen Diary said that Kilcullen should field a community candidate in next summer's County Council elections.
Four percent of the respondents were against the idea, while eight percent registered a 'don't care' vote.
The concerns and apparent impasse over the proposed Community Playground for Kilcullen have been solved after a meeting last Monday in Kildare County Council between officials, councillors, the Playground Committee and Fr Paddy Ryan from Kilcullen.
The Committee came away with a commitment that the 200,000 euros reserved for the project will be spent on the preferred site near the Community Centre.
In addition Cllrs Billy Hillis and Mary Glennon have promised their total Discretionary Grants will be allocated to the infrastructural costs in creating an access to the facility from the link road that runs parallel to the existing entrance road to the Centre. This private road will revert back to Scoil Bhride NS in return for a portion of its land for the playground.
The Playground Committee has offered to raise local funding if necessary to help meet the Council's costs in providing the new entrance to the Community Centre car park.
The breakthrough meeting was organised by Cllrs Willie Callaghan and JJ Power following last week's public meeting in Kilcullen, where they had heard about concerns that the funding for the playground might be reallocated in favour of a private developer's playground proposal in a more remote part of the town.
After Monday's meeting, Cllr Billy Hillis said 'at last, hopefully it has been sorted'. "The goalposts were changed a number of times over the period, but now everybody knows where it's going."
Cllr Willie Callaghan said it had been a 'very positive meeting'. "There's a fair bit of work to be done still, and letters have to be exchanged about the funding and the land transfer from the Diocese. But it is back on track, and we'll see light at the end of the tunnel sooner or later."
Brian Byrne.
The annual Bazaar in aid of the Irish Wheelchair Association, organised by Billy Redmond, will be held in the Kilcullen Parish Centre on Saturday 31 May.
The sale will take place between 9am-6pm and Billy is currently collecting material from people who want to find a home for items which they no longer need.
These include books, glassware, furniture and unwanted gifts.
Billy, whose most recent fundraising work for the IWA brought him on a sponsored hike through the Grand Canyon in the USA, has been running activities to raise funds for the organisation since 1994.
Failte Ireland is canvassing tourism product suppliers in this area to consider participating in the new version of the 'Things to Do Guide' for the East & Midlands Region.
The organisation is offering a place in the Guide for a fee of 499 euros, and lists suggestions for incentives which the tourism operator might consider including as a voucher in the publication.
These include discounts for entry to tourist attractions and retail outlets, free wine with meals in restaurants, and discounts for a certain level of purchases, and two-for-one deals at sports and activity centres.
The print run of the Guide is projected at 100,000 and it will be distributed through the Discover Ireland network, at tourism shows in the UK, through participating businesses and at regional attractions.
Further information is available by contacting Michael.brady@failteireland.ie
Brian Byrne.
Work is well under way to provide Kilcullen with a colourful floral aspect again this year.
The project last year involved the provision of floral window boxes on most first floor windows around the square and up to the Hideout corner.
The boxes were paid for by local businessman Brian Fallon, while the erection of the boxes and their contents was managed by Kilcullen Community Action. The project also involved the provision of an automatic watering system.
This year it is hoped to extend the scheme further through the town, with the inclusion of hanging baskets on buildings where the use of window boxes isn't feasible.
It is planned to have all of this year's flowers in place by the June Bank Holiday weekend. The flowers are on order and will be paid for by donations from the occupants of each house or business premises where they are located.
Local businessman Sam Cole is sponsoring the flower baskets for the bridge again this year.
Brian Byrne.
"That's probably all you'll remember of this sermon," Bishop Eamonn Walsh quipped as the wind whipped away his scarlet skull cap. The incident also caused him to lose his train of thought. "And maybe you'll remember that, too," he added ruefully.
Actually, if only those two things were remembered, his sermon would be a success. Because those comments and what he actually said in his homily showed him as the man he is, a bishop who seems suited to our time.
In one way the whole event over which he presided was a triumph of faith, in another a success of community.
If truth be told, nobody was really sure how the Cruinniu Chriost event would work out. I'm old enough to remember how the Corpus Christi Procession would bring out the whole parish, but there were less other distractions then. And probably a fair bit more belief.
But around 400 people turned out for the parish Gathering organised by the Parish Pastoral Council. There was a symbolism in the format, with groups from various areas of Kilcullen Parish converging on the town square, each following a piper and a cross. Other groups went directly there, representing schools, clubs and parish organisations.
Maybe the rendition of 'When the Saints Go Marching In' by the piper leading the contingent from the north end of town wasn't actually what the organisers had in mind, but nobody seemed to care.
When all the contingents had arrived, Fr Michael Murphy PP and Bishop Eamonn led the parade up the town and around to Scoil Bhride, where an open air mass site had been set up.
There were chairs if you wanted to sit, benches up front for the First Communion youngsters and the scouts. And several families had brought rugs for the picnic afterwards. It didn't seem out of place that they sat on them for the mass.
Everybody had a part in the afternoon. The recent First Communicants sang, as did the Family Mass Group and Philomena Breslin. The pupils of the three National Schools presented their school crests at the Offertory, and CPC provided a school uniform jumper. The Offertory was also an opportunity to delve into history, with the display of the trowel used by Cardinal Cullen to lay the foundation stone of the parish church in August 1869, and a cast of the Old Kilcullen round tower which was later presented to Bishop Eamonn as a memento of the occasion.
In the course of the mass, Scoil Bhride principal Maurice O'Mahoney remarked on the contribution to the event from the schoolchildren. "We treasure our young people," he said. "They are the face of the future of the parish of Kilcullen."
The weather was a mix of sunny spells and cloud, with a wanton breeze that probably was to cause some severe cases of windburn before the day ended.
But it was a good day. As Fr Murphy said before ending the mass, if it had helped to show the love of God for the people of His church, and had brought people out to meet their neighbours, and also had made people more aware of their potential for care for one and all, Chruinniu Chriost 'will have been worthwhile'.
He thanked all who had taken part and who had encouraged each other to take part in what was a unique event'.
Thing is, maybe it shouldn't remain unique. An annual event would be good. And comparing it to the formality of the old Corpus Christi processions, what was produced this weekend seems right in place with what all parishes need today and for a number of tomorrows.
In pictures, here's what it was like.
Brian Byrne.
Members of Kilcullen Tidy Towns committee were hoping today that CCTV footage from the Bank of Ireland would show who was reponsible for the overturning of several of the flower tubs on the footpath in front of the bank and the Heritage Centre in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Eddie Cross of Bardons has generously offered to pay for the replacement of any flowers and bulbs which were damaged in the incident.
Brian Byrne.
Kilcullen Writers Group is considering another night of readings to coincide with Mid-Summer Day, 21 June.
This follows a very successful winter season for the group, which included organising a workshop last autumn, a combined night of readings with two other groups in January, and a recent poetry revision workshop conducted by Nessa O'Mahony.
Individual members of the group also did well, with the production of John Martin's play 'Over the Top' in the Riverbank Theatre in March being just one highlight.
The group also conducts a forum and competition for local writers in The Bridge, Kilcullen's community magazine, and winners for this year include James Healy for his contributions to the Adult Section, while the Childrens Section recipients of book tokens are Cliodhna Tutty-Bardon and Colm O'Brien.
The Kilcullen Writers Group meets in An Tearmann every second Monday at 8.15pm. Enquiries to paulinefagan@yahoo.com
We have learned of the death of Sheila Bathe of Logstown. She will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.
Sheila is reposing at her residence until her removal on Monday at 2.30pm to the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Brigid, Kilcullen, arriving for 3 o'clock Requiem Mass. Burial will take place immediately afterwards in New Abbey Cemetery.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
The Diary has been informed of the death of Paul Byrne of Gormanstown, formerly of Liffey View Kilcullen, following an illness.
He will be deeply missed by his loving wife Eileen, his parents Jim and Anne, brothers Dan, James and Mark, sister Catriona, his extended family and his friends.
Paul's removal will take place from his residence this (Sunday) evening at 7pm to the Church of the Sacred Heart and St. Brigid, arriving at 7.30. Requiem Mass will be celebrated tomorrow (Monday) at 11am and will be followed by interment in Gormanstown Cemetery.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
We always have to think when publishing this kind of thing. Are we feeding further the vandals' egos? But there's the thing that if a tree falls in a forest and nobody hears, did it fall at all?
So these pictures show the kind of 'entertainment' some people got up to last night. These tubs are heavy, so it wasn't the kind of thing that just took a spontaneous kick in passing.
Other than than, we make no further comment.
Brian Byrne.
There were great celebrations yesterday morning to mark the raising of the first Green Flag awarded to Scoil Bhride.
Full report later, but here's the slideshow of the event.
Cross & Passion College's Parents Association has raised some 30,000 euros for the college over the last 10 years.
The funding was used for for items such as repairing the roof and repainting the school's refectory and renovation in the Assembly Hall.
The most recent fundraising event was the annual Summer Fair, held on a sunny afternoon in the College's Assembly Hall and grounds.
"It's our way of providing for things that simply couldn't be funded out of the Capitation Grant," says Mary Darker of the PA. "This year we're trying to raise enough to complete the provision of computers in the Computer Room."
Mary emphasised the role of her fellow parents in the organisation and running of the Summer Fair and the Christmas Draw that are the main fundraising events, and she thanks the business community for their support.
Brian Byrne.
Just a reminder again that the Celtic Choristers will perform in The Heritage Centre, Kilcullen, on tomorrow night (Saturday) in aid of St Brigid's Hospice.
The event begins at 8pm and tickets are 15 euros, available at The Heritage Centre between 10am-2pm daily.
For further information, phone 045 481613 0r 086 8724770.
It was a forensic performance with the precision of a Mahon Tribunal when Kilcullen's Community Playground Committee detailed progress, and the lack of it, at last night's public meeting in the Town Hall.
It left no room for the trademark political tactics of waffle and weave, and the only pity of it was that there were just two councillors there, and no officials from Kildare County Council.
It wasn't a packed meeting, but choosing a night when there was some football final attraction on TV didn't help. That said, the 40 or so people who turned out knew their minds.
Unanimously they said they want the playground in the location which the committee has spent three years working to identify and acquire, near the schools and the Community Centre and the other sports and social amenities on its campus.
Cllrs Willie Callaghan and JJ Power eventually got the message. They'd earlier got fleas in their ears when the committee members expressed their displeasure over the councillors' support of an alternative playground at Riverside Manor.
It wasn't a pleasant sight as the pair tried the waffle and weave approach in their defence. JJ Power was twice tripped up on lack of local knowledge. Willie Callaghan's attempts to deflect charges that he and his colleagues had, at best, been discourteous to the playground project, went down in flames against the facts.
When it was all over, and polite thanks for their attendance were delivered to the councillors, they got final food for thought from a loudly applauded comment from the audience, that 'Kilcullen needs its own councillor'.
The meeting had started with an outline of the project's genesis by chairman Noel Clare, as a survey by Transition Year pupils in Cross & Passion College to try and establish any demand for a playground and where one might be located. As a result, a committee was formed to progress the project.
Kirsten Bartells-Shortt reported how money to build the facility was found to be available from Kildare County Council but the community would have to provide a site.
"We looked at various places, at the Tennis Club, the Library, in the CPC grounds itself, but none of them were available to us," she said. "Criteria guidelines from the Council, which included advice that the playground shouldn't be associated with any particular estate, indicated that the best site was the one near the school and the Community Centre."
Tanya Sheridan noted that most of the other community facilities are also in the same area, so it really made sense to locate the playground there.
JJ Warren showed the site on a projected map and detailed the additional advantages if the project as devised by the community went through. These included providing a safe drop-off/pickup area for parents of children in the National School, coach parking, and the elimination of the current dangerous double exit onto Castlemartin Hill from the link road to Gort na Greine and from the Community Centre itself.
His presentation also showed how the proposal could be incorporated into a suggested new intersection with Castlemartin Hill when the link road goes all the way through to the Athy Road, a layout which 'has been approved in principle' by the Roads Department in Kildare County Council.
Orla O'Neill outlined the most recent situation, where local developer Brendan O'Connell had sought and been granted rezoning of part of his Riverside Manor property to facilitate a creche and a playground. Both elements are now required as part of planning permission for the next phase of the Riverside Manor development.
All this was in reference to the recently displayed and passed Kilcullen Local Area Plan. Orla O'Neill said that the Playground Committee had made a submission that the site they were negotiating with Scoil Bhride and the Dublin Diocese should be designated for the facility in the Plan.
"It didn't happen," she said. "Instead, two other proposals were made, one in Riverside Manor and the other at the back of McTernans."
She said the Playground Committee didn't know these were in train until they heard about remarks made by a couple of councillors. "However, when we tried to get information from the Council, we hit a brick wall."
When they finally did get details, the amendments had been passed by the Local Area Committee, on a proposal led by Cllr Callaghan and seconded by Cllr Billy Hillis.
"We contend that such a significant change to the plan after the public display should have been brought back to Kilcullen for further public consultation," she said. "It involves a 30-metre setback of the Liffey Linear Park, which is protected for Leisure and Amenity use. Our main point is that we weren't given the chance to discuss the proposal in relation to our original one."
She noted that the Riverbank Manor site is 'isolated', and probably won't be built and available until the second phase of the development is completed. "That could be ten years," she said.
Other downsides were the lack of toilet facilities in the area, and the proposal didn't detail any matters such as parking.
"Most of all, we were disappointed that none of the councillors who passed this rezoning didn't come back and tell us it was being proposed," Orla O'Neill concluded. JJ Warren concurred, noting that a number of the same councillors had been 'working with us' on the original plan.
He also said that the developer could apply for amendments to whatever planning permission he received which 'could delay the playground for many years'.
"Besides, putting a playground there would be a recipe for disaster -- it would be between a river and a construction traffic road."
Orla O'Neill made it clear that the meeting had been called to 'listen to the community' on the issue. "If everybody here decided that the new proposal was a better one than our original, then we'd be happy to let it go that way."
She also said that the Committee was finding it difficult to get any response from the Council to their queries. "We don't have any guarantee that the money promised will actually be spent," she said.
The meeting also heard that the only thing holding up the beginning of the transfer of the land from the Diocese was the lack of a letter for such commitment from the Council.
JJ Warren said the Council had suggested that the provision of a new entrance to the Community Centre from the link road across Pinkeen Stream could require an expenditure of up to 200,000 euros.
"We're still trying to get clarification on that," he said. "They're talking about a 'bridge', but all it needs is a simple culvert. If they gave us 10,000 euros we could build it."
When the presentation was completed, Cllr Callaghan said that there is 'no doubt' the Community Centre site is the 'ideal one'. "It would be absolutely fantastic," he said. "But the reality is that it's not going to happen. There are 200,000 euros available for the playground, but there's no money for the rest, which could cost between 400,000-500,000 euros."
And he was adamant that whatever alternative from a developer which was incorporated in the Local Area Plan 'would be delivered'. He vehemently rejected criticism that there had been any sleight of hand in the passing of the rezoning. "It was an open meeting which anyone could have attended, so don't be coming back to the councillors on it."
He also said there had been a 'long gap' waiting on a response from the Diocese over the land transfer. "Personally, I don't care where the playground is built," he added. "But the money won't be there forever."
JJ Warren retorted that Cllr Callaghan was being 'disingenuous', and that the meeting may have been open but nobody observing it could have made any input.
In subsequent discussion it was revealed that the Council official in charge of the project spending could 'probably' deliver it if the site was 'moved a certain number of yards'.
This was interpretated to mean that the National School would not get back the existing access road to the Community Centre in return for giving land for the playground. This would save the Council the expense of providing the new entrance from the link road, but Cllr Callaghan and his Green Party colleague were told bluntly that this was a 'non runner'.
Cllr Power told the meeting that Kilcullen wasn't the only town that needed playgrounds. "We have to provide them for all the other towns in the area, and we don't have enough money to do that."
He also complained that the Local Area councillors hadn't heard from the Committee 'for a long time'. "We have to look at the bigger picture," he said.
This wasn't let go uncontested. "We've been lacking support from Kildare County Council for years," Kilcullen Community Action chairman Kieron Forde bluntly told him. "You guys left Orla and her Committee out on a limb while they were trying to put together a difficult project."
Ray Kelly from Kilcullen Soccer Club said that KIldare County Council had provided 'nothing' to the various facilities built by the community itself. "Now there's a chance for the Council to be generous," he said.
Orla O'Neill recalled promises from the Council and its representatives that 'money was never going to be an issue' with the project. "But now it has become an issue because they may have to spend it on some infrastructure to make this work."
Riverside Manor resident Pat Canny said he was 'absolutely amazed' at what the councillors were supporting. "Already we have difficulties getting in and out of the estate. When the next phase is allowed, we'll have trucks going past our doors for seven years after the building commences. There's no way you could consider putting a playground there."
New Kilcullen resident Neil Taylor told the councillors that the community has done its part on this proposal. "Shoot for the stars on this," he exhorted, "rather than going for something that is a trade-off which would have a financial value for somebody else. There's money put aside for the playground. Ring fence it for what has been provided by the community."
Cllr Power reiterated that the Council has 'limited money'. "Talk to the developer -- he might be willing to spend some of his money on your site." That suggestion, clearly aimed at getting the Council and its members off the hook, didn't go down well either.
Bottom line, nobody at the meeting looked like going away with votes in mind for any of the Naas Area councillors when they come up for re-election next summer. "They showed their arrogance tonight," one member of the audience said afterwards.
"The Council officials are as bad," said another, originally a member of the Playground Committee. "When we went to them first, one told us we were just a 'Bored Housewives Club' looking for something to do."
The two councillors, on their way to another meeting, said it 'hadn't been the worst' one they had been at.
Orla O'Neill, chair of the Playground Committee, said they were very glad that the councillors had heard the 'unanimity' of the community that it definitely wanted the playground at the Community Centre site.
And nothing that had been said by the councillors had changed the mindset of the Committee over the future of the facility. "There are so many pluses in our proposal, we are convinced that if we have to fight a little harder to get it done, then that is what we will do."
Brian Byrne.
A public meeting last night unequivocally made it clear to Kildare County Council that the preferred location for the proposed Community Playground is the site identified and in the process of being acquired near the Community Centre and the schools.
Two of the six Naas Area councillors attended the meeting, at which the progress of the project since 2005 was detailed. One speaker said the project committee had come up against a 'stone wall' in Kildare County Council.
A full report will be published later today on the Diary.
Brian Byrne.
Some 200 students at Cross & Passion College have climbed Croagh Patrick in recent months.
One group was the Third Year pupils, who climbed to the top of the famous pilgrimage mountain as a sponsored event to raise funds for the 'Sacred Space' project in the college.
The others were Transition Year students who went halfway up as part of a series of outdoor activities while attending the Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Westport.
Final preparations are in progress for a community celebration in Kilcullen of the Corpus Christi feast day by a Cruinniú Chríost gathering.
The event will take place on the afternoon of Sunday 25 May and will include a mass celebrated by Bishop Eamonn Walsh. It is being organised by the Parish Leadership Team.
The gathering point will be the town square, at 2pm, and from there a procession of participants will make their way to Scoil Bhride for the mass. This will be followed by a picnic in the school grounds, for which each person is asked to bring their own light refreshments. There will also be entertainment by local musicians.
"People gathering and meeting new neighbours and doing something together with other families is what the day is all about," says Fr Michael Murphy, parish priest of Kilcullen.
Fr Murphy suggests that because of 'traffic issues', people might walk from their home to the square assembly point. And if coming as a group, he asks that they might consider having a banner.
He wants all intending to participate to encourage their neighbours to take part and make the event a 'happy memory for the people of Kilcullen'.
A rainy day 'Plan B' is in place; in such an eventuality, the mass and picnic will take pleace in the Community Centre at the rear of Scoil Bhride.
Brian Byrne.
Those taking part in the Flora Womens Mini Marathon on behalf of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund can collect their numbers at Kilcullen Parish Centre from 8-9pm each evening next Monday and Tuesday.
Those who have not already got their tee shirts and hats can collect them at the same time.
The 75 local volunteers will be joined by 25 ladies from County Mayo. Darren Cawley has arranged the Mayo group and will drive them to Dublin on the day. The bus from Kilcullen will leave from the National School on the Curragh Road at 11.30am.
The Mini Marathon volunteers will have organ donor cards to hand out to the people, who gather on the sidewalks to see the race and encourage all participants.Hopefully we'll distribute 1,000 on June 2nd.
We are very grateful for the support from the local community.To ensure the success of our efforts in aid of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund we need your continued support. Please sponsor our team.
All money goes directly to where it is needed and no money is taken out of the fund for administration costs.
On returning to Kilcullen after the race, refreshments await all in the Parish Centre. The food is kindly sponsored by James Nolan. We also thank James for the tshirts and hats. Enquiries to Phena 045-485232 or 087-9767531; Lorraine 045-481062 or 085-7604806; James Nolan at the shop.
Phena Bermingham.
The Bethany Group has organised a meeting on Suicide Awareness for Thursday 22 May, at 8pm.
The event, to be held in the Town Hall, will be addressed by psychologist Mark Fitzpatrick and Maread Smith.
The Bethany Group helps people to deal with bereavement. Further information from 086 2668228.
Kilcullen Canoe Club finally got the keys to its new premises last weekend, just in time to use the new facility as the finishing point for its annual Ballymore-Kilcullen Race.
More than 90 boats took part, representing clubs from all over the county and beyond.
The clubhouse will be officially opened in July. A slide show of the event can be seen here.
Brian Byrne.
The May edition of Ireland's Own features a two page illustrated spread on the history of Kilcullen.
It's the one with Brendan Shine on the cover.
The Kilcullen Flower & Garden Club meeting on Tuesday night is concentrating on hanging baskets and window boxes.
The demonstrations of how to make the most of your window and hanging areas is being given by horticulturist Maura Greene.
The location is the Parish Centre and time is 8pm. Admission is 5 euros and there is an opportunity also to buy plants.
Brian Byrne.
A plan to have art students use derelict and unsightly buildings for mural projects has been mooted in Kilcullen.
The idea came up following a discussion at Kilcullen Community Action on ways of making the town look better.
The problem of the bad look of closed business premises and some uninhabited residences on Main Street was raised by Noel Clare, Deputy Principal of Cross & Passion College, who said it might be possible to have the students decorate plywood panels over windows.
It was also suggested that the owners of some closed shop units might permit the premises windows to be 'dressed' by the students.
Similar projects in other towns in the area, including Newbridge and Ballymore, were cited as examples of how the idea might benefit the visual amenity of Kilcullen.
It was decided that the project would be costed and the owners of the premises approached for a donation towards the cost, which would include materials and a payment to the students working on it.
Orla O'Neill suggested that a theme might be needed, especially on one stretch on the street where there were several closed buildings in a row.
JJ Warren said that the students and members of KCA could sit down in a brainstorming session to work out the style and theme to be used.
Noel Clare said he would approach a number of current and past students who had an aptitude for art and see if he could get a 'willing group'.
Brian Byrne.
If you have a few minutes on your hands any Tuesday morning, there's an opportunity for tea, coffee and a chat in Kilcullen Parish Centre. Between 10am-12 noon.
All welcome.
The organiser of the Kilcullen participation in the upcoming Womens Mini Marathon on behalf of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund has appealed for 'spare' registrations for the event.
Phena Bermingham says that the PKRF now has some 75 participants, but a number of them came on board after the closing of registrations for the marathon.
"If anyone has a registration that they don't intend to use, we'd be very grateful for them," she told the Diary this week, following the very successful Information Evening held in the Parish Centre on Monday.
Speakers at the meeting included PKRF founder and kidney transplant recipient James Nolan, Darren Cawley from Mayo who requires regular dialysis, and Hillary Moss, coordinator of the art therapy programme in Tallaght Hospital, where the PKRF funds art in the Dialysis Unit.
James Nolan reminded those attending about the aims of the charity, of making people aware of the need to carry Organ Donor cards and supporting a number of initiatives to make life easier for those suffering from renal failure.
In addition to the art programme in Tallaght and in Waterford, the fund has bought a holiday home for dialysis patients in Tralee, provided support for cancer screening of transplant recipients, and sponsoring Irish athletes for the International Transplant Games.
The PKRF is hoping to fund a specialist doctor at Temple Street Childrens Hospital for children born with renal failure. James Nolan said he has a commitment from the HSE that if the fund supports the appointment for one year, the HSE will continue it afterwards.
Darren Cawley described how his life has been affected since his kidneys gave out ten years ago. Requiring dialysis three times a week, he has already had a transplant which failed after two years. He's still waiting for a new match. Despite the restrictions on his lifestyle, he lives a full life. Last year he achieved an ambition by being accepted as an escort for the Rose of Tralee Festival.
Hillary Moss reported how the art programme in the Dialysis Unit in Tallaght helps to alleviate the boredom of long hours hooked up to the life-saving equipment. The support provided by the PKRF had also helped shift the focus from patient to a new skill.
Ending the proceedings, James Nolan repeated the now-familiar mantra, 'don't take your organs to heaven, because heaven knows we need them here on earth'.
Donor cards are available in Nolan’s and from the charity's website.
Brian Byrne.
(From information reported by Eleanor Farmer.)
Those concerned about the recent natural disasters, and whether they represent an increased rate of catastrophe, might find the Epic Disasters website worth a look.
The Celtic Choristers will perform in The Heritage Centre, Kilcullen, on Saturday 24 May in aid of St Brigid's Hospice.
The event begins at 8pm and tickets are 15 euros, available at The Heritage Centre between 10am-2pm daily.
The concert is being promoted by the Kildare Federation of Local History Groups and also features Soprano Gifford Whittle and Concert Pianist Lina Burtorina-Kiva. The Musical Director is Ethel Glancy.
For further information, phone 045 481613 0r 086 8724770.
Brian Byrne.
Residents of the Sunnyhill Road are concerned that motorists using the road as a 'rat run' between the Athy Road and the Newbridge Road are driving too fast.
At peak times, more than 700 vehicles an hour use the road, and damage has been caused to at least four properties in recent times because of accidents. The incidents required rebuilding of walls and fences, but some residents believe that more serious incidents will happen.
"Minister Sean Power met with residents last year, and speed restrictions were extended along the road," says local man Brendan Duffy. "However, to date this has not affected drivers' attitudes. There has never been any policing of these limits, and it is only a matter of time before an incident causes serious injury."
Brian Byrne.
Kilcullen Badminton Club is celebrating a historic season after three teams won trophies in the Dublin and District competitions.
The thriving club, which has over 50 members, took the Men’s Grade 5B Cup and the Ladies Grade 6 League title in some tough games this season against the Dublin area teams.
The club also had another team in the finals and a further team reaching the semis. The Kilcullen Under 17 boys from the Juvenile Club took the Cup in their Dublin League Finals in March.
It’s the first time the club has collected three pieces of silverware in one season. The Men’s 1 team – Captain Warren Hannigan, John Healy, Daniel Wynne and Matty Twoomey – beat St Patrick’s of Greystones to claim the Cup at the Finals in Baldoyle Badminton Centre on April 26.
The Ladies 2 team – Captain Caroline Sheedy, Jennifer Monaghan, Vivienne Clifford and Pamela Kelly - played some fantastic badminton against Rush in the Grade 6 Finals on April 28, which was matched by the enthusiasm of a large gang of Kilcullen supporters travelling up to Whitehall Road Badminton Centre in Terenure, Dublin. The girls played for nearly three hours solid, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. Supporters could hardly bear to watch as the score swung backwards and forwards between the teams. The girls fought for every point and finally clinched the match 21-18 in the last game to claim the League title.
The club, which has players from beginners level to league grade 4, welcomes new members whether competitive or social players. It meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9pm at Kilcullen Community Complex, Newbridge Road, and attracts players from a wide area including Blessington, Castledermot, Newbridge, Naas and Clane. There is also a great social side with events including meals out, bowling, pub quizzes etc and a thriving Juvenile Club which meets on Saturday mornings.
If you would like to join and get fit for summer, call Jennifer on 087 2628305 or visit www.kbc.mywebweb.com. Hilary Mackin.
Would you like to find out more about the wildlife and environment of your local area? Are you interested in finding out how you can get involved in protecting our local biodiversity?
Then the new Discovering Kildare Wildlife practical workshops presented by the Kildare Heritage Forum and the Heritage Council will interest you!
“At last year's 'Discovering Kildare Wildlife' seminar series interest was expressed in discovering ways to get involved in protecting and learning more about Kildare Natural Heritage,” says Bridget Loughlin, Heritage officer with Kildare County Council.
In response to this demand Kildare County Council and Kildare Heritage Forum presents a series of practical workshops on the topic of Kildare’s Wildlife. These workshops will commence on Sat 24 May at 10am in Áras Chill Dara, Naas with a practical workshop entitled 'Identifying wild plants'.
Other workshops will explore Daubenton's bats, breeding birds & the countryside bird survey, butterfly monitoring scheme, identifying Irish trees and the nature of bogs.
Each workshop takes place on a Saturday morning, from 10am to 1pm, except the Bats workshop, which starts at 8.30pm. Each session will be primarily outdoors and venues vary depending on the workshop. Further details and booking form can be obtained from www.kildare.ie/countycouncil/heritage
Discovering Kildare’s Wildlife Workshops are aimed at anyone with a general interest in wildlife and biodiversity. They will also be useful for local development associations, Tidy Towns groups, or anyone interested in enhancing the quality of life in their own area. There will be an emphasis on practical experiences, identifying the wildlife that you will find in any area, and on enjoying the natural world as well as assistance in taking part in valuable wildlife surveys.
There is no charge for the workshops, but spaces will be limited, so advance booking is recommended. Further details and application forms are available from Bridget Loughlin, Heritage Officer, Kildare County Council, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare, phone 045 98079, E-mail heritageofficer@kildarecoco.ie
It might seem that Kilcullen is a small enough place to support a specialist boutique for childrens clothes, but that's just the business that Georgia and Scarlett Mullions have managed to make work in just 18 months.
The 'Mini Me' shop at Hillcrest has earned a reputation in and beyond the village for offering the brightest range of childrens clothes at competitive prices. The stock includes some of the best known designer brands specialising in childrens wear.
"It's going good," says Scarlett, who manages the day to day operation of the enterprise that was originally Georgia's idea. "The first year was a bit tough, trying to find out what were the right brands to stock for the customer base around here."
Neither of the sisters had a background in clothing -- Scarlett trained as a Montessori teacher and Georgia worked in another business. So the learning curve was quite steep.
"But for this season now we're quite happy that we have the right level of stock and the correct variety," Scarlett says.
The choice of Kilcullen as a location was partly because they have family living here and so they always knew the town. Scarlett is from Enniskerry while Georgia moved to Athgarvan some six years ago.
"It took a lot of planning, and time to find a premises," says Scarlett. "And though we had the benefit of advice from a friend of Georgia's who has a similar shop in Dublin, there was a lot to learn. Indeed, we're still learning!"
The brands that have worked include Me Ttoo, 3 Pomme, Lego and Alphabet. New ones which are not available elsewhere in the area are planned for this season.
The Hillcrest location is a good showcase area, as almost all of the traffic going through Kilcullen passes right by the Mini Me shop. And at peak times it can be slow traffic, so there's plenty of opportunity for those in cars to see what's in the window.
"It also helps that there are other fashion shops on Hillcrest, so that the location has become something of a fashion centre in the area."
The business caters mainly from newborn to age ten, though there are some items suitable for girls up to 12. And though there is stock for both boys and girls, Scarlett says she has 'learned the hard way' that there's only business for 'good wear' in boys clothes.
With Kilcullen and its hinterland having experienced a strong growth in population over the last five years, there are now many more young families in the village that has become a town, and this is the core customer base. But word about Mini Me has spread a fair bit further and there are regular customers from other growing settlement areas such as Calverstown.
"We also get people from Naas and Newbridge coming to us. They seem to like what we have to offer, and there's easy parking here too."
The fashion business, whether for adults of children, is always a difficult one in which to move every piece of stock, so Mini Me has similar periodic Sales as do other fashion shops, which offer extra value for those who take the opportunity to look in.
"We also have our Bargain Bins all year round, and they are very popular as there's always something in there that appeals to someone."
Mini Me has started to do a small range of childrens shoes, and the shop is planning to move into school uniforms for the next school year.
Brian Byrne.
Ask anybody in Kilcullen who Hugh Peacocke is, and the basic answer is 'The Shoemaker'. But the man who has just completed 65 years of mending and making shoes is an awful lot more.
Bionic man, even?
Yep, that last too. There aren't many people who can claim to having had five hips replaced, and two shoulder joints.
And at 79 Hugh can still be seen every day walking a regular circuit around Kilcullen. Also, he doesn't miss when he aims a hammer at a nail picked into a shoe's leather sole.
This year the Peacocke sign on Kilcullen's Main Street represents 50 years of Hugh's shoe repair business. Between himself and his son Ger they have 98 years of making and repairing shoes.
The shoe business is a major essay in itself, from the time Hugh's widowed mother got him and his twin brother Will jobs in the local National Slipper Company in Naas at the age of 14.
"Our father died when we were ten, and though I'd already got a scholarship to go on further in my education, times were tough and we both had to go to work," Hugh recalls. "The company then moved to Dun Laoghaire because they couldn't get enough workers in Naas."
Hugh and a number of other Naas employees moved with the business, and he became a foreman in the company at the age of 18.
While in Dun Laoghaire he became interested in boxing, and joined the Corinthians Boxing Club. The card with his club membership contributions is a valued item in his scrapbook of the boxing days.
"Sheila was working in the office in Tuttys, and lived in Kennycourt on the Dunlavin Road out of Kilcullen. When we got married we went to live in Ballymore first, and I got involved in training at the local Boxing Club. But I was asked to come to Kilcullen to spar with Colm McCoy, then probably the best boxer in Ireland and who went on to box in the Olympics."
The deal brought the Peacocke family to live on Hillside in Kilcullen, from which home Hugh began his own business in shoe repairs on a part-time basis. Some time later, while paying billiards with Kilcullen acquaintances, the possibility of his setting up a proper shoe repair shop was mooted.
The current Peacockes business premises was bought for £75, beaten down from an initial £80. Hugh wasn't going into a sure-fire proposition though, as there were already three well-established shoe repair operations in the town.
"But I put them all out of business," he recalls. "I gave my customers a one-day service, which wasn't usual. It meant that I worked all hours, but people got their repaired shoes back the following day."
Hugh was kept very busy in shoe repairs, but he had been trained in Tuttys as a maker of shoes and he wanted to do more of that. "I brought in somebody I had worked with in Tuttys, and gave him the repair work. That left me able to do more making."
His shoe and boot making expertise quickly became famous not just in Kilcullen, but across the country. His customers included the late Charles Haughey, then Taoiseach; and a bunch of aristocrats who included the Lords Waterford, Hemphill, and Killanin. There were also many locals who appreciated Hugh's real leather work of those day.
Like most people who work for themselves, Hugh Peacocke didn't take the luxury of retiring at 65. Not that he might have wanted to anyway ... which is maybe why he has reached the age he has, and is still able to hammer a nail unerringly to where it should be in the leather sole of a premium quality shoe.
Brian Byrne.
Calverstown residents are concerned about the quality of their public lighting, roads and footpaths, and about the need for play areas and social amenities.
These were the main things raised during the recent public meeting and workshop, organised as part of a local input into a Village Design Statement being prepared for Kildare County Council.
"Among the concerns that came up in all the workshop groups was the need for improvements to the roads and footpaths," says Andrea Lazenby-Simpson of Keith Simpson Associates, who are preparing the VDS. "In particular they want continuous footpaths through the village, and they want them properly dished for access by wheelchairs and buggies."
A need for a sports centre/community hall was also well noted, with facilities for social interaction for both the young people of the community and for the senior citizens. In addition, many people who attended the meeting wanted a dedicated central playground, and an open space adequate for playing fields.
According to Andrea Lazenby-Simpson, development concerns raised related mainly to the capacity of the existing services to cope with further growth, but by and large the participants were supportive of development in the village.
Brian Byrne.
The Kilcullen Writers Group received the 'Highly Commended' award at the Writers Group of the Year Awards held in Longford Branch Library.
The awards formed part of the INK National Writers Group Festival 2008 run by Longford Library and Longford County Council. They also marked the launch of 'Petals on a Bough', an anthology of winning entries.
In our picture, Longford Mayor and Town Councillor Peggy Nolan presents the Highly Commended award to Ilona Blunden, Kilcullen Writers Group.
(A recent piece about the link between churches in Kilcullen and Hamilton, Ontario, brought a response from Bernie Linnane, whose grandfather's uncle, William Henry Myers, left Kilcullen in 1914 to serve in the Great War. He subsequently emigrated to Canada, where he served on the Hamilton police force for many years. In this letter, Bernie details how she searched for and eventually found the other side of her family. Bernie's uncle, Nicky, still lives in Kilcullen.)
As a child growing up I heard about this mysterious uncle of my mother, who had gone to Canada and joined the Mounted Police. I thought it was wildly romantic, but then forgot about it for years. About 11 years ago, I became interested in genealogy, and decided to try to trace William's family. I did a bit of genealogical digging about on the (then quite new) internet, but hit a wall at every turn where William was concerned. A request for information from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police drew a blank, as they confirmed that he had not been a member of that force.
I took up the search again about three years ago, along with a couple of cousins, but we didn't have very much information to start with. From talking to family members we knew that William's son had been killed in WW2, but apart from his having (allegedly) been a policeman, that was the sum of our knowledge. We didn't know what part of Canada he had gone to, and as no-one had heard from there in 50 years we actually thought William's family had died out.
Then, in a stroke of luck, I found the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. I searched for Canadian WW2 casualties, and discovered that there were 17 with the name Myers. Of these, two had fathers called William Henry Myers. I had no idea which one was my cousin until, some time later, my mother stumbled across a very old postcard photograph of two children in a wicker pram. It was dated 1922, was sent from Canada to my grandparents, and was signed "Will and Ida". The name Ida was the key, as one of the young casualties I had earlier found through the CWGC had been the son of William Henry and Ida Myers of Hamilton, Ontario. His name was Henry Patrick Myers, known as Harry, born 1920, killed in Holland 1944.
I searched Canadian newspaper archives and found several clippings related to his death. One of these mentioned that Harry had a younger brother, Thomas. This must have been the second child in the wicker pram. None of the family had any idea what had happened to him, but all were convinced that William's sons had not survived the war.
I obtained a copy of Harry's death certificate, which gave me the family's address in Hamilton. From there, I searched local cemetery records on the internet, and found a headstone listing for William and Ida Myers in Hamilton. This gave their dates of death, in 1958 and 1959, and I was able to obtain copies of their obituaries from the local newspaper.
William's obituary nearly knocked me off my seat. Apart from confirming that he was indeed a policeman (although in the Hamilton police, not the RCMP) it stated that he had been survived by his son, Thomas, and four grandchildren. Thomas, the second son from the wicker pram, had survived the war. As he must have been born some time around 1921-1922, it was unlikely that he would still be alive (I found all this information in 2007), but there was a very good chance that some of his children or grandchildren would be! The only problem was how to find them.
Again, from William's obituary I knew that Thomas Myers had been living in Simcoe, Ontario in 1958. Armed with this information, I looked up the current Canadian telephone directores and found that there were only seven listings for Myers in Simcoe in 2007. I wrote to all of them. On 26th June 2007 I received an email from Nancy Myers of Simcoe. Her husband, Tom Myers, was William's third son (he and Ida had lost their first child, also named William, at six months), and my mother's first cousin. He had indeed been the second boy in the wicker pram. Best of all, he was still alive, at the age of 86, although bed-ridden due to the effects of a stroke. Over the course of the next week, I received further emails from two of Tom's sons. It turned out that three of the seven Myers families in Simcoe were related to the Myerses of Kilcullen.
We have remained in touch ever since, though unfortunately we have lost Tom. He passed away on 23rd October last. It is my great regret that I never got to meet him. Perhaps one day I'll get to meet his children or grandchildren.
The original picture of the two little boys in the wicker pram hangs in the dining room of Kathleen Myers-Savage, William's grand-daughter.
Bernie Linnane.
What could be a revival of the old Corpus Christi processions which brought out most of the community is the lead story subject this month.
It's the detailing of the Cruinniu Chriost scheduled for Sunday May 25, at which a procession will start in the square and the participants will make their way to Scoil Bhride, where Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Eamonn Walsh.
The event is devised as a whole community one, with a suggestion that those coming from the different areas of the parish converge in their own processions, possibly with banners.
All are encouraged to bring the makings of a picnic, which will take place after the 3 o'clock mass.
Pictures on the front page record the dismantling of the 50 years old gates at New Abbey graveyard, which have been damaged. The original gates were put up by Mick Brady and his nephew John is in charge of the current replacement job. Keeping it in the family in more ways than one, as Brian Neill is helping, and it was his father Matt who helped Mick a half-century ago.
Among the news inside is a planned reprise of the 'House of Stories' event organised by Billy Redmond. According to The Bridge piece, the next one, at the end of this month, will be in Fallons.
There's the usual good crop of stories from the schools, one highlighting how some 200 of students from the CPC have climbed Croagh Patrick in recent times. Another reports a Brannoxtown NS healthy living initiative that organised a 'walking bus' over three weeks, whereby children going to school were dropped off a kilometre from it and then walked the rest of the way under supervision of their parents and teachers. Scoil Bhride pupils meanwhile marked Active School Week with a Basketball Blitz, Mini Sevens and Athletics competitions. And they recorded the lot on video and in written accounts.
There's plenty of photographic coverage through the magazine of the recent Fashion Show organised in aid of Scoil Bhride. The event received lots of support from local businesses, who are properly thanked in a report on the evening.
There's plenty of Kilcullen Lions news this month too, with a full report on the very successful Community Day and Duck Race, and details of a visit from the District Governor and the Baltinglass Lions. The club is also organising a photographic competition to record Kilcullen's built structure and people.
In other news, there's lots of coverage of scouting activities, including a recent campting weekend in Donadea Forest Park.
The usual columnists are joined this month by the welcome return of Nuala Collins with one of her excellent profiles, this time on Catherine Moran, who for many of the 91 years was a dressmaker for scores, if not hundreds, of children and women of Kilcullen. Amongst the regulars, Sean Landers reports from his Taiwan base, but in a shift of tempo this time as he recounts the rise of a young male fashion model from the US who got his early breaks in Taipei.
In a separate piece he muses on old photographs of Kilcullen and asks for somebody to do something about collecting them. Somebody 'who is retired and has a lot of free time might consider the project' he suggests. Doesn't he know that nobody does retirement any more?
Which is maybe a good cue to Past Dunlop's piece for this month, titled A Clear SIgnpost to Balanced Living. But balance in the spiritual sense, and perhaps not the material helter-skelter on which we all seem to be travelling.
Another feature is about Fr David Conway's mission in Kenya. Fr David is originally from Thomastown, Kilcullen, and there's a gig in St Laurence's GAA Club Narraghmore on May 10 to support his efforts.
As always, there's far too much to mention, but buy a Bridge and see for yourself. It's always worth it.
Brian Byrne.
The Brian Brady Youth Theatre will present 'High School Musical' in the Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre for a week, beginning Tuesday 13 May.
The performances will run through to Saturday night, all at 8pm.
A matinee performance will be presented on the Saturday, at 3pm.
Tickets are €9 and are available at the theatre.
Brian Byrne.
Just a reminder that the annual Cross & Passion College Summer Fair takes place on Sunday next 11 May.
Attractions include home baking, plant stall, burgers, bric-a-brac, bottle stall, wheel of fortune, penalty shoot-out, toy stall, refreshments, book stall and lots more.
The event will be held between 2-5pm. All welcome to support this important Parents Association fundraiser for the school.
Brian Byrne.
A landmark pub and restaurant in Kilcullen has gone on the market with an asking price of 3.5 million euros.
The Priory Bar & Restaurant, Kilgowan, on the Castledermot Road, has been in continuous operation by the Wall Family since 1959. It is a many times winner of the Black & White Pub of the Year and has a renowned reputation both locally and nationally for its food and drink.
The restaurant can seat 50 people, and there's a carvery lounge with seating for additional 80 people.
The sale is being handled by Jordan Town & Country Estate Agents, Newbridge.
An Information Evening on the activities of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund will be held for participants in the forthcoming Flora Dublin City Marathon.
The evening is scheduled for May 12 in Kilcullen Parish Centre, and will be addressed by Darren Cawley, a regular kidney dialysis patient who has nevertheless managed to live a very full life despite the difficulties caused by his situation.
Hilary Moss, Arts Officer in Tallaght Hospital, will also speak on what differences the fundraising by the PKRF have made to the quality of life of those attending the Dialysis Unit in the hospital. These have included funding a number of arts initiatives in the unit itself which involved training by a professional artist for the patients.
Already 66 people have committed to completing the mini-marathon on behalf of the fund, a participation which has for several years now been organised by local woman Phena Bermingham and a bunch of friends of the PKRF.
"We have more than last year, and we could have had even more who came along after entries for the event closed," Phena says.
The participants on behalf of the fund in last year's mini-marathon raised 19,000 euros.
Brian Byrne.
Reading 'Off The Cuff' by Billy Redmond in The Bridge prompted me to take this photo on Friday May 2nd of the obstruction on the footpath at The Hideout.
It shows two green bins, more than 40 beer kegs, two big blue bins, and a door opening outwards.
School children from Scoil Bhride and their teachers had to step out on the roadway to pass by as they went to the Church. Probably the First Communion Class on their way to prepare for the big day. Will it be like this when they are going by in their white dresses and new suits?
Why has this Pub and Restaurant to use the footpath as their back yard?
Nuala Collins.
Local radio KFM's Noel Shannon had your Editor on air the other morning to highlight the situation of the crumbling wall on New Abbey Road.
The walks on the back roads around Kilcullen these days are a most pleasant experience amid profusion of wild flowers like these primroses.
And I have the feeling that there are more cowslips than usual? It's good to see them making a comeback after what seems to be like a decade of some dearth.
There's a sponsored Dog Walk at Punchestown Race Course tomorrow, Sunday, in aid of the Kildare/West Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
There will be free food vouchers and samples from the sponsors Husse. The event takes place between 2.30-4pm.
There are still places available on the parish pilgrimage to Knock, which takes place on Sunday 18 May.
Price is 40 euros which includes bus, morning refreshments and evening meal on the way home. Contact the Parish office 045 480727 or Patty Bagnell at 045 481544.
The bus leaves the church car park at 8am.
A woman from Old Kilcullen who worked with Florence Nightingale is remembered in a book recently published in Galway about the famous Sisters of Mercy order.
Her memories of the journey to Crimea and her work in that war are recorded in 'Near Quiet Water', a book written by Sr Mary De Lourdes Fahy which tells the story of the early years of the Gort house.
The chapter is entitled 'Sisters of Mercy and the Crimean War' and details Sr Aloysius's journey through the Meditteranean, the Straits of Messina, Navarino and Athen to Gallipoli.
Going through Messina their old ship, the Egyptus was badly swamped in a storm and Aloysius and her fellow sisters feared for their lives. But the captain of the French registered vessel managed to make it to Navarino.
She described the conditions in the hospitals as 'appalling' and 'dilapidated'. "Only the strongest survived their first days in hospital," she wrote. "At the front, amputations were performed without anaesthetics, bandages or sterilisation. The sick were tended by the sick, the dying were left to die."
Sr Aloysius returned to Carlow in 1857 and from there went to Gort with three companion sisters to set up the new Convent of Mercy. In 1879 she was awarded the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria. As travelling to Windsor to receive it personally would have been too hard for her, it was sent to Gort.
There are a number of grand-nieces and grand-nephews of the nun still living in the Kilcullen area, notably the Doyles of Brannockstown. Among those who went to Gort recently to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the convent were Thomas, Angela, Kathleen, Sean, Mai, Annette, Tim and Greg.
'Near Quiet Water' has been published to mark the anniversary. As a history of a religious house in Gort it has its own interest. But as a background to a local woman who saw and dealt with horrors that no one should have to it is also a commentary which still has, unfortunately, resonance today.
'Near Quiet Water' - The Story of the early years of Gort Mercy Convent and its branch houses. By Mary de Lourdes Fahy, RSM. Published by the Sisters of Mercy, Western Province, Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
Brian Byrne.
This isn't a Kilcullen story. But aspects of it might be, at least in principle.
For that alone, and because we are now very much a global community, I've been of a mind to share it.
Parents of autistic children attending the special Scoil Bhride NS autism unit have written to Cross & Passion College asking that a similar facility be put in place for the children's second level education.
The Scoil Bhride unit was established 11 years ago at the request of the Department of Education. At the time the school had spare classrooms, as development in Kilcullen had been stagnant for many years. Now it is more than full, with many temporary external classrooms and an application in for new school buildings. Fortunately, the autism unit not alone retained its accommodation, but was provided with a new special classroom last year.
The unit catered for 12 children from the beginning, with a pupil/teacher ratio of 6:1. They come from a wide area that includes Newbridge, Athy, Ballitore, Rathangan and Milltown.
Similar units have opened in Prosperous and Athy, but in the early days the Kilcullen unit even had pupils from as far away as Celbridge.
The aim of the teachers is to 'mainstream' the children as much as possible with the normal curriculum. Not an easy task in many cases, but one child who was there at the very beginning is now fully integrated into the main school classes.
Autism was first diagnosed in the 1940s, and is generally associated with socialisation and communication difficulties. Those with autism can have language difficulties, and often have problems with movement and fine motor control.
The teachers in the Scoil Bhride unit work closely with the HSE, which provides speech therapy and psychological services. Each child has an individual education plan, both short and long term, with goals and target dates for achieving them.
All are on an academic mainstream programme, but as their individual abilities in subjects don't always develop at the same rate, a child could be working at a Third Class level in English and a Junior Infants level in Maths, for instance. So, while the curriculum in the main school is generally age-related, in the autism unit it is ability-related.
Each pupil has his or her own space, a 'station' where they can work without distraction, and ideally on their own as part of a strategy to help them learn to work independently. There is also a main classroom area for activities that can be undertaken in a group.
In Scoil Bhride there's a 'buddy' system in place whereby mainstream pupils can spend time if they wish with their fellow pupils in the autism unit. Typically they might play together, or get involved in initiatives like art weeks.
Up to now, children in the unit who completed the primary cycle then went back to their home areas for second level up to age 18. Many of these went to St Anne's on the Curragh where there is a unit catering up to that age.
But now, because Kilcullen is itself getting bigger, there are already four children whose families live in the area and who need facilities here for their further education.
It makes a lot of sense that such a facility be available at a local second level school, as the main Scoil Bhride cohort would mostly be moving on to CPC, and if their autism colleagues could move with them it would help to provide the kind of constancy that is very important to people with the condition.
The ideal situation at second level would be three rooms, with a main classroom and breakout areas for individual working. Teachers trained in working with autistic children would also have to be provided.
Brian Byrne.
