Philosopher in the pharmacy

Bernard Berney isn't quite happy with his new state of the art pharmacy on Main Street, back into which he and his colleagues have moved following a major rebuild of the original 'Chemist's Shop'.



"It seems to me to be a bit impersonal, a rather sterile place," muses the man who has served the pharmacy needs of Kilcullen people for more than three decades. "I have this idea that I'll find a quiet corner and put up In Memoriam cards of people who have passed through over the years. I have quite a collection of them."

This is no morbid notion. No, it's the thinking of a man who simply loves his town and its people, and who firmly believes it is a 'beautiful thing' that he has been allowed by so many of them to share joys and sorrows in their individual journeys through life. To quietly but publicly remember those who have passed on, and in the process add their humanity to a 'sterile place', is typical of Bernard Berney. It is one of the reasons that he in turn is loved by his people as much as he loves them.

Going into pharmacy wasn't a deeply considered thing for Bernard when he finished his Leaving Cert and was 'cogitating' on what he might do. "The thought was planted by a brother-in-law, Tom Healy. I hadn't an idea of the possibilities, but I simply said 'why not?'."

At the time, pharmacy was a diploma course, but his class was the last one before the subject became a degree endeavour. The system was a year of basic study, then three years as an 'apprentice' to a practicing retail chemist, followed by one final year of study. Bernard's mentor was one Richard Killian Deevy in Morehampton Road in Dublin.

"He was a lovely man, and I learned much from him. At the time there was a lot more 'manufacturing' of medicines in the shops themselves, making up cough mixtures and stomach treatments and the like. So there was that great deal of practical work, and we also learned fascinating things like the properties of plants and their extracts."

It was also a more innocent time in the world of drugs, and Bernard recalls how simple it was for anybody to buy amphetamines over the counter. "You could come in and ask for half a dozen of those 'Purple Hearts'. There was no control, and not many people bothered with them, except, for instance, a few who might want to stay awake while doing some prolonged study. But that all changed over a period of about 15 years, to the point when they were all withdrawn and locked in a big safe in St James's Hospital."

After qualifying, Bernard didn't immediately go into the business directly, but landed a job as a rep for J D Searle, an American company providing drugs to psychiatric hospitals at the time.

"That was an extraordinary experience. I was driving thousands of miles all around the 32 counties. My day's work might consist of two hours visiting a hospital, and then spending the rest of the day tootling along in my car to overnight before my next day's appointment. It was great -- I read a lot, ate in the best hotels. Looking back, I probably didn't make the most of it, but I had a lovely time."

After about five years or so he moved into a new job at St James's Hospital, where he was the first 'ward pharmacist' in Ireland. "This was an idea that had come in from England, where instead of a pharmacist being locked away in a dark place and managing orders sent down from the wards, he worked directly in a ward. The notion was that he could control overstocking and any abuse, and also give the nurses information on situations that could arise with combinations of drugs."

Bernard would be the first to admit that he has never worked to a life plan, but life has tended to do its own planning for him. So when Kilcullen chemist Eugene Gilsenan got married and left town to set up his own business elsewhere in the late 70s, Dr Dan O'Connell, proprietor of the shop, asked Bernard would he be interested in filling his shoes.

"Trying to fit into Eugene's boots was an impossible task. He was larger than life, and had developed a large veterinary supplies business simply from listening to farmers who knew far more than they realised. I had just three days with him before he left, and after that I was in at the deep end."

Now working for himself, business was to be for Bernard a road with many potholes for a man who says that he has always been a 'hopeless' businessman. "I never did get the hang of dealing properly with farmers," he recalls wryly, "and it wasn't until the veterinary stuff disappeared that I began to make any money."

Not that money has ever been that important to Bernard. But he does know that even at an age when he might consider taking things easier, the recent investment in the new premises was necessary for the future of the business itself. Local man John Coleman, who qualified four years ago, is now looking after the pharmacy end of the work, while Bernard's son John is the business manager.

Apart from the pharmacy, Bernard is well known for his acting with the Kilcullen Drama Group, particularly in the farces for which they are famous. His stories about those years are for a different time, but are often more hilarious than some of the plays themselves.

And though he wouldn't say it himself, he is regarded with considerable justification as something of a philosopher. Typical is his attitude to his customers.

"I believe we're all in this together, and if somebody calls me in the middle of the night or over Christmas because they need something out of hours, I don't have a problem. It is a beautiful thing to sometimes be able to relieve pain or sorrow in some small way. It's what I call the Simon of Cyrene experience. You can just help to carry their cross for a little while, then they go on. They're still carrying the cross, but they know there was somebody prepared to help them with it on a little part of their journey."

In an era when the hustle of making the big bucks is arguably the new God, that's the kind of thinking that can bring us back to earth again.

Brian Byrne.

Magic Midsummer Writers night

It was a night of gentle 'E's, the Midsummer Night's Reading event organised by the Kilcullen Writing Group. Eclectic, Elegant, and Enjoyable.



And if there wasn't a full house in the Town Hall Theatre to hear the writers from four mid-Kildare groups reading their work, it was those who didn't come to fill the empty seats who missed out.

Short stories, poems, memoirs and travelogue, there was nothing pretentious or arty about the mix. But there was plenty of fun and consequent laughter, leavened a little by pathos and the perception that the small and ordinary things about life are often the most important.

It was the second such event organised by Kilcullen, hosting in this instance the Clane Writers Group, along with the Bower and Harbour groups from Naas.

There were award winners among those who read, but in truth all who took to the stage for their respective groups could be judged equally good if judgement was happening. But it wasn't a night of judgement, just enjoyment and the pleasure of many differences.



From Clane, Eileen Keane's usual gentle and wry delivery entertained in two pieces inspired by her computer itself. One told of a writer interacting with a recalcitrant character on the screen, the other played cleverly on the possible parallels between computer and human memory. Eileen excels at using herself as a canvas on which to paint endearingly shortcomings that are universal to us all.

From the same group, Frances Cline mixed a couple of children's tales together with modern times to provide a heady cocktail with a sting in the tail for a debauched teddy bears picnic. Josie Devine on the other hand reached into her youth for an inspired teenage rite of passage piece based on 'In the Mood' and her very humorous attempts to catch the notice of a band member. Marie Gallagher's 'Zookie's' tale of cohabitation with a blunt male instrument and her attempts to find out what made him tick was deftly drawn, while Lilian Webb's essay from an Antarctic adventure cruise gave us insights into the ups and downs of 'shared facilities' and rocking bunks.

A recollection from a cooking class when he was a boy was the main ingredient of Liam Power's opening piece from the Bower group. From the same bunch Gina McMahon's 'Going Home' at first seemed an ordinary tale of a chance meeting on a park bench, but subtly dragged us all into the 'Twilight Zone' before she finished. Julia Reynolds told a curious story, 'Locked Out', of a middle child sent to live with another family and finding on her eventual return that there was nobody there for her.

From the Harbour writers, Margaret Scott D'Arcy offered a brace of quite delightful poems, one about her thoughts coming home from her honeymoon, the other wondering what had she let herself into on the birth of her first child? Poetry was also the medium chosen by her Harbour colleague Maria Murphy to explore her envy of birds gathering to fly away for the winter in 'Cleared for Takeoff', and some thoughts on reincarnation with 'Are You Sure I haven't Heard You Before?'

For Kilcullen, Mary Barber managed once again to make the ordinary interesting in her humorous discourse about the 'warfare' that takes place in a family kitchen around mealtime. Emma Foley's 'A Midsummer Night's Awakening' was a lush, savage and magical account of two lovers meeting over a drink, and John Martin provided a pair of poems, 'Mincing her Words' on phrases and maxims in everyday use, the other -- the title of which I don't recall -- relating to a report that Elvis had been seen working in a butchers in Newbridge and bringing into it many of the titles of 'The King's classics.

Finally, Sylvia Hickey's memoir of 'The Dando', otherwise the Dandelion Market, was yet another of her intriguing recollections from her very interesting life -- the line to remember is that when they closed it, 'they took away a piece of what made Dublin special'.

All in all, this latest initiative from Kilcullen Writing Group was itself another very special occasion. And the other nice thing about it is that there's a promise of more in the autumn.

Appreciation: Jimmy Phillips

There was sadness across a wide swathe of Kilcullen last week following the sudden death of Jimmy Phillips.

A quiet man in his seventies, Jimmy was a very popular figure around the town. He originally came from the townland of Kinneagh on the edge of The Curragh and spent some time in England before settling down.

His first love was horses and he spent all his working life amongst them, mostly working for the late Charlie Weld and subsequently his son Dermot. Pride of place in his home in Avondale Drive was a frame containing two pictures, one of which shows him winning the Glengariff Maiden Stakes in the Phoenix Park in 1972, on Klairlone.



"He was particularly fond of that because the date was April 1st and the horse's number was 13," a friend recalled last week.

Before going to be an apprentice jockey, Jimmy also boxed as a young lad, with the Kilcullen Boxing Club. "He was a neat kind of a boxer, very stylish," says Pat Lynch, who trained with the club at the time. "He gave it up when he went to the horses."

He was keen on other sports too, and was a regular on the sidelines at any of the Gaelic or soccer games played on the local pitches.

Jimmy's wife Lily died about three years ago, and he is survived by his brother Christy, and his children Seamus, Paul, Fergal, Nigel, Eilis, Caroline and Siobhan.

May his friendly soul rest in peace.

Brian Byrne.

Berney birthdays reunion

There was a big reunion of members of the Berney family recently to celebrate the birthdays of two of them.



Pictured are (front) Madge, who lives in Bagnelstown, Co Carlow, one of the birthday celebrants; Breda, who emigrated to Toronto in the 1960s; Kathleen, also celebrating; Mary, who lives in Mexico with her two children; and Gay, also celebrating, who still lives locally. At the back are Ralph, who emigrated to Canada in the late 1950s; Patrick, from Hillsid, Kilcullen; and David, who lives in Australia.

Brian Byrne.

White Horse races again

The famous White Horse Inn in Kilcullen has now been reopened after being 'dark' for some time. It is under the direction of popular local man Charlie Dowling.



Charlie is pictured here with staff members Stephanie Murphy, Lindsey Bird, Amanda Murphy and Nicole Murphy. on his opening night last Thursday.

The White Horse Inn was operated by the O'Connell family for many years.

Brian Byrne.

Badminton Summer Camp

International badminton coach Claire Flood is leading a Badminton Summer Camp in Kilcullen for youngsters aged seven to 17.

The summer camp, located at the Kilcullen Community Centre Complex will feature demonstrations by top players and other Badminton Ireland-qualified coaches.

In each session also includes three hours of coaching, footwork, tactics, competitions, games, plus fun and friendship (and a free t-shirt!). The summer camp is open to players of all levels including complete beginners.

The dates are July 5, 6, 12, 19 and 20 from 10am to 1pm. The cost is €8 per session or €36 for all five.

Book now by contacting Sheila on 087 225 7930.

Halverstown NS on the web

St Joseph's NS in Halverstown now has its own presence on the world wide web, at halverstownschool.net

The website was set up in a coordinated project involving many of the pupils of the school, who took and edited their own photographs for the site.

Steiner School looks to future

A Coffee Afternoon held recently in the Kildare Steiner School, at Rathargid outside Kilcullen, was aimed at providing parents of prospective pupils with an overview of what the very individual school system is all about.



In particular the event targeted the kindergarten level, the foundation stone of an educational movement that believes it has a more holistic attitude to the development of children than perhaps the standard school system does.

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.

The school currently has 19 kindergarten pupils and about 25 in the second level, equivalent to primary school. It completed its first permanent facility last summer, a building being used for the second level pupils since September.

Steiner school parents are quite committed people, not least because they have to fund the education of their children themselves. The only Steiner school in the State so far accepted for Government funding is in Raheen Wood in Co Clare, and that only happened recently.

That commitment is also reflected in the catchment area of the Kildare Steiner School, which has pupils from as far away as Prosperous, Baltinglass, Newbridge, Athy, Straffan as well as from parts of Wicklow.

Indeed, the only other large Steiner School is the one in Raheen Wood, while there's a Steiner kindergarten in Tallaght in Dublin. The only High School on the island is in Holywood in Northern Ireland.

So what's the attraction? Well, at kindergarten level the Steiner system doesn't put an immediate emphasis on what Americans rather illiterally call the '3 R's' -- reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic.

"Ordinary schools emphasise reading and writing from a very early age, whereas we don't concentrate on this until the age of six," says local kindergarten teacher Viola Laumans, pictured above on the right with colleague Sophia Pedersen. "We don't ignore it, but what our pupils learn first is the physicality around them, how their bodies work and balance, and social interaction and boundaries. We also deal with what they see in nature, like the seasons. There's so much happening out there that they can learn from."

Viola admits it's difficult for parents to consider the Steiner system, because standard education can be more geared to ensuring that children keep up in a competitive world. "Our way is at a much slower pace. At Christmas, for instance, a project might be that each child makes a Christmas stocking. It isn't an issue who makes the best stocking, the important thing is that they are all making the stockings."

But the really important thing is that the school at Rathargid is actually there. "And we are growing. It's a good thing that we can concentrate on that, in getting our new buildings up. We're trying to follow the school in Clare in planning to have our own recognition from the State by next year. They worked hard for it, and proved that it can be done."

The Kildare school is working towards getting a grant from the Childcare Committee of Kildare County Council, to extend further. "If we get that, then we can provide another building," Viola says. "There's a joy in creating a new school, but we can't do it without the parents. When we hold an event that brings them here, like a barbecue, everybody who comes helps, like doing a little weeding, or building a swing that we might need. We have the same dream, the same vision."

Brian Byrne.

Street cleaners working

After an absence of many years, Kilcullen now has a regular street cleaning presence from Kildare County Council. This follows several years of campaigning by Kilcullen Community Action, including the special delivery of a bag of litter to Arus Cill Dara last year.

The new service is the result of a shift in responsibility for litter collection from the Roads Department to Environment in the Council. In a pilot scheme, a litter crew based at the Silliot Hill Recycling Centre will provide a regular cleaning service to seven towns in the area, including Kilcullen and Brannockstown.

The service includes litter collection, weeds removal and street sweeping. In the meantime, though, the summer Monday evenings town cleanup efforts coordinated by KCA will continue.

Golds for Kilcullen swimmers

The following were the Kilcullen medal winners at the Community Games County Swimming Finals. Pictured are Laura Quigley (2nd U/10 Freestyle), Alannah Murphy (2nd U/10 Backstroke), Lisa Aspel (1st U/10 Backstroke); Front - Emma Keane (1st U/8 Freestyle).

All gold medal winners will represent Kildare at the National Finals in Mosney.

Girls u/8 Freestyle: Gold - Emma Keane; Girls u/10 Backstroke: Gold - Lisa Aspel; Boys u/12 Breaststroke: Gold - Michael O'Shea. Other Kilcullen medal winners -- Girls u/10 Freestyle: Silver - Laura Quigley; Girls u/10 Backstroke: Silver - Alannah Murphy; Boys u/10 Backstroke: Bronze - Jack Collins; Boys u/12 Breaststroke: Bronze - Brendan Aspel; Boys u/14 Breaststroke: Bronze - Tony Aspel; Girls u/10 Backstroke: 4th Place Cert - Nika Carey; Boys u/10 Freestyle : 4th Place Cert - Sean Murphy; Boys u/12 Backstroke : 4th Place Cert - Stephen Murphy; Girls u/13 Relay : 4th Place Cert - Laura Quigley, Lisa Aspel, Aoife Murphy, Daniella Traynor; Boys u/13 Relay : 4th Place Cert - Tony Aspel, Brendan Aspel, Michael O'Shea, Stephen Murphy.

The County Athletics Results also provided golds for Kilcullen particpants. Girls u/10 100m: Gold - Katie Quigley; Girls u/12 100m: Gold - Katie Berney; Girls u/14 Shot Putt: Gold - Kathryn Weir; Boys u/16 Discus: Gold - Keelin Hegarty Kelly; Girls u/12 Relay: Gold - Cliodhna O'Connor, Niamh O'Connor, Eadaoin Fenlon, Katie Berney, and Nicola Dowling.

Other Kilcullen Medal Winners in Athletics were -- Boys u/14 100m: Silver - Philip Moran; Girls u/10 200m: Silver - Laura Quigley; Boys u/16 Discus: Silver - Charles Weir. Mixed u/10 Relay: Silver - Katie Quigley, Niall O'Connor, Jack Fitzgerald, Laura Quigley, Enda Dowling, Lisa Aspel. Girls u/10 100m: Bronze - Lisa Aspel. Boys u/12 Ball Throw: Bronze - Dean Clifford. Boys u/14 Long Jump: Bronze - Tony Aspel. Girls u/10 Relay: Bronze - Katelyn Hegarty Kelly, Grace O'Toole, Hannah Talt, Ellie O'Toole, Kate Timmon. Boys u/10 100m: 4th Place Cert - Enda Dowling.

Pitch & Putt champ

Congratulations to Tara Dillon, who won the All Ireland Pitch & Putt Matchplay competition.

Tara is a member of St Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club in Kilcullen, and it is a double celebration for the club as Tara's club-mate Chrissie Byrne was runner up in the competition.

The busy club had a very busy month of May, running its own Scratch Cup, as well as participating in the National Scramble Competition in Lucan. In the Leinster Strokeplay Championships, the club had another success with the winning of the Seniors section by Eddie Carey.. In the Kildare Strokeplay Championships in Poulaphuca, St Bridget's took three titles and two runner-up spots.

Camphill Open Day

The annual Camphill Dunshane Open Day is being held today, Sunday June 22.

The event is from 2-5pm and offers an opportunity for the wider community to see the actitivities at Dunshane. There will be food, crafts and games, and admission is free.

For those not familiar with the location of Dunshane, there will be ample signage on the road between Naas and Kilcullen.

Monica goes out on her own

After a number of years working in the retail business, local woman Monica Clifford has set up shop on her own.



"I've wanted to do this for some time," she says of the homeware and gifts operation she has set up in the former Tyrrells Family Drapers location, strategically close to Kilcullen's shopping focus of the Eurospar Supermarket, Nolans Victuallers and Berneys Pharmacy.

"I'm starting small," Monica smiles. "And I know it's not easy to do something like this. But I would rather be able to say I've tried than look back and wish that I had."

Monica, who previously worked in the former XL forecourt shop now operated by Fraser Oil, says she's already getting a lot of positive support from local people. She has plenty of experience dealing with customers on a wide ranging basis as she previously worked in Atlantic Homecare in Newbridge.

"I feel there's a small shopping gap in the town, such as a place where people need to get a present for a birthday. As a mother and a shopper myself, I knew it was needed. Whether they want to spend ten euros or 80 euros, they have a choice here."

Monica is listening carefully to what people coming into the shop are saying, and looking for. "Whatever I find they want, I'll go with," she says, adding that when it comes to seasonal needs, like Christmas, she'll be catering for that business too.

Brian Byrne.

Bible Camp

The Annual Bible Summer Camp organised by Brannockstown Baptist Church will take place this year from 7-11 July.

The sessions will be from 10am-3pm and the camp is for children aged 6-12 years. The cost is 30 euros per child and further information is available from Deirdre at 087 2809917 or Margaret at 086 1663335.

John wins story award

Kilcullen's John Martin was awarded the prize for the Best Short Story at last night's opening of the 26th Dunlavin Festival of the Arts.



He was presented with the award by RTE's Ingrid Miley, who is pictured below officially opening the festival.



The story -- 'One Way Ticket' -- is the 'backstory' to one of the characters in his recent play 'Over The Top'.

Brian Byrne.

CPC awards

Pupils at Cross & Passion College were recently presented with achievement awards for a number of disciplines.

The winners included Neus Kell, Academic; Clare Kelly, Sport; Rebecca Domican, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Edel Walshe, Art; Fionn Dowling, Junior Sport; Jenny Murphy, Principal's Award for Contribution to School Life; Eoin Grace, English; Eddie Ball, Chaplain's Award and Geography; Brigid Snell, Chemistry; Caoimhe O'Halloran, Econimics, Irish, Biology; Niall Stafford, Biology, History, Accounting; Lisa O'Connell, Business; Louise Gorman and Rebecca Domican, Home Economics; Damian Hanlon, Physics; Peter O'Connell, Roisin O'Connor, Neus Kell, Music; and Richard Wixtead, History, Geography;

The awards are sponsored by Bank of Ireland and were presented by Paula Murray from the local branch.

Centra gets award

The new Centra store at Hillcrest has achieved a Hygiene Award from Excellence Ireland.

The store is operated by Andrew Cross, who took the former Gala business over from the Jackman brothers. Andrew has has other Centra stores in Naas and Newbridge. His brother Eddie is the mine host at Bardons Pub in Kilcullen.

The Passing of Jimmy Phillips

The Diary has learned with sadness of the death of Jimmy Phillips, Avondale Drive, Kilcullen.

He is reposing at his residence until 10.30 tomorrow morning, when he will be brought to Kilcullen Parish Church for 11 o'clock Requiem Mass.

Jimmy will be laid to rest afterwards in St Brigid's Cemetery.

To his family and friends we extend our deepest condolences.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Writers read on Saturday

Two of the readers for the Mid-Summer Night readings event on Saturday 21 June, organised by the Kilcullen Writing Group, have won major prizes.

They are Eileen Keane of the Clane Writers Group, who won the Listowel Writers' Week Original Humorous Essay Award, and Marie Gallagher of the same group who won the Swift Festival Competition for Satirical Work held by Boyne Writers Group in Trim, Co Meath. Her theme was the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

The Kilcullen event is at 8pm in the Town Hall Theatre. Admission is free, but audience space is limited to 110, so come early.

Kids walk for playgroup

A local sponsored walk undertaken by the children of Naomh Bhride Community Playschool raised 683 euros towards the school's upkeep and funding for the new premises.

The playschool is currently taking enrolments for September. It caters for children between 30 months and five years. Further information from 087 2178217.

Fun Club dates

The annual Fun Club organised by the Toddlers & Wobblers playschool at Nicholastown will run each week from 7 July to 22 August.

Sessions are 10am-2pm and a lunch is provided. Places are limited, and bookings can be made by contacting Imelda or Eve at 481918.

Bardons serving lunch

There's now a new choice for lunch in Kilcullen with the launch of a food service in Bardons.

The menu offers soups, 'doorstep' and open sandwiches, wraps and paninis and a choice of salads. There's also a hot dish Special each day as well as home-made desserts.

Food is served between midday and 3pm at the moment.

The menu itself is a beautiful piece of design by Eamon Sinott & Partners of Naas.

Brian Byrne.

Jack Gorman, King of Greenhills

The old man sat by the fire burning on the ground. He watched the smoke rise across the stones of the roof, and make its way out through the opening to the sky. The smell from the burning logs filled his nostrils and he coughed softly as the smoke caught in his throat. The wind rising outside pushed it momentarily back in and his eyes smarted. As a draught ran up his back, he shivered and thought of the fast-approaching winter.

A man sitting in his cave a million years ago? No, an old man living today in the ruins of what was once the home of the Bishop of Kildare. Jack Gorman has lived in a corner of the old ruined castle in Greenhills for the last 25 years. The smoke from some 9,000 fires has blackened the stones of the romm to an almost tarry texture. Describing his home as a ruin is perhaps a bit grand, because it is more of a hole in the wall. There are no doors or windows, just an opening into a darkness that your eyes take a bit of getting used to. When you can see in the gloom, the first thing that strikes you is the orderliness of what little material wealth that Jack Gorman does have. A niche for a tobacco tin; a shelf for a frying pan; and stones carefully laid on the lids of two buckets of water, so they won't be knocked over by the seven cats that share the ruin.

Most people would express shock and pity that a man in his seventies lives in such circumstances, within just half an hour's walk from Kilcullen. Many would say that he must be rescued from the hovel that he lives in, and be placed where he could be taken care of. But Jack Gorman can take care of himself, and he has a definite independence, not only of people, but of many of the trappings of civilisation that most of us take for granted, and indeed regard as essential to living. He doesn't need television, "... if there's something that I want to see, I can watch it in the pub in the town ...". He doesn't want to be put in an old peoples' home, "... I couldn't live in an institution, where I had to be in on time, and couldn't smoke my pipe in case it made the place smelly ..." and he resists any attempt to put him in one, "... Dr M tried to get me to go to Athy, saying I wouldn't live much longer in this smoke, but that was ten years ago, and many that went in then are dead now ... when these legs of mine can't carry me any more and I can't look after myself, then maybe I'll go in ...". He doesn't envy anyone better off than him, "... when Ari Onassis died, his family just squabbled about his money, and anyway it didn't stop him from dying ...".

People may laugh at Jack Gorman, and think him crazy to live where he does, but he's nobody's fool. He keeps in touch with what's happening in the world by listening to an old transistor radio that somebody gave him, and can hold his own in any conversation about what's happening. An old man, not too proud to accept the help that he gets from organisations and individuals, but with the principle to be his own man, regardless of how he may be looked on by others. We must always repect the right of a man to be himself.

Brian Byrne.

(First published in The Bridge, Kilcullen's Community Magazine, in November 1975.)

Kilcullen hosts GAA Feile finals

More than 400 young people took part in the Leinster Feile GAA Finals which were recently hosted in Kilcullen GAA Club (the club's own squad is pictured below).



The teams were the winners of the respective feiles in their own counties from Leinster, plus an extra team from each club in the host county, Kildare.

In all there were 32 teams, a dozen of which were Kildare based.

"It was a great day, helped by the weather and, of course, the many volunteer helpers we had," a club spokesman said.

Kilcullen itself fields 18 teams between girls and boys, with the girls teams doing particularly well at the moment. In all, 14 of the teams are in the under-16 levels.

The club is always happy to welcome new members and help from parents, especially from amongst the new families who have moved to town in the recent growth years of Kilcullen.

Marathon fund passes 11,000 euros

The money collected by the ladies who ran in the Womens Mini Marathon on behalf of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund has now reached 11,400 euros.

The next occasion to hand in sponsorship cards is Tuesday 24 June, at Kilcullen Parish Centre, from 8-9pm. Or arrangements can be made by phoning Phena Bermingham at 045-485232 or 087-9767531, Lorraine at 045-481062 or 085-7268116.

Moon & Sixpence for NYC

The Moon & Sixpence band is to perform in New York on 17/18 October.



The band, of which the late Des Byrne was a founder member, raises money for charitable causes in a limited number of gigs each year.

The band will be appearing at the Irish Arts Centre, and their performances are in aid of the Centre, which has Liam Neeson as its patron.

The connection with the IAC came about when Dan Donnelly's Arm, owned by Des Byrne's family, was lent as part of an exhibition of Fighting Irishmen in 2006. The exhibition subsequently moved to the South Street Museum in Lower Manhattan, and is now on display in Boston University.

Brian Byrne.

Cemetery gates completed

The new main gate to the New Abbey cemetery is now finished, thanks to the provision of the gates by Ger Kearins and voluntary work by a number of local craftsmen, including Matt Doran (pictured below on left with Ger).



The gates incorporate a cross design that is common on the old graves in the cemetery and which can also be found on the new gates installed at the parish church some years ago. They are also features on the limestone piers of the church gateways.

The new gate also has a Sacred Heart motif, which is also common on the old gravestones.

There's a scatter of local history in some of the other materials used in the rebuilding of the gates. The stones were originally in the old schoolhouse in Two Mile House, The recycled bricks were provided by Kennedys of Ballyshannon.

Meanwhile, a finishing touch to the recent refurbishments only requires the finding of about 18,000 euros for a tarmacadam job.

"It could be divided between three, with maybe a County Council grant taking up part of it," John Brady told the Diary.

Brian Byrne.

Lions host seniors party

Kilcullen Lions Club hosted a party for the town's senior citizens in the last week. There's a picture show from the event here.

Review: Stephen King's Cell

Cell. Stephen King. Apocalyptic horror thriller.

Stephen King doesn't own a mobile phone, or in the American vernacular, a cellphone.

And after reading this one, I paused for a while before answering mine the next time it rang.

Consider the fact that it is probably the most common personal device in the world, with virtually everyone aged from seven to 70 in developed and even developing countries using one. Suppose, as Stephen King suggests, somebody managed to harness this fact to make every user in the world stark, raving, homicidally mad?

It is a King trademark to go beyond the imaginable, and in this fast-paced yarn he does so again with aplomb, skill, and gringe-making savagery in parts. The setting is his own New England, the characters as usual very ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. Yet it is again a mark of the author's style in that we feel an empathy with the small ordinary details of their journey through the book and to a hoped-for salvation.

Whether there is salvation, I'll leave to other readers to decide. Suffice to say that I read this one through in just over a day, with the usual breaks to eat, sleep, and recover from particularly heart-thumping scenes of horror.

It takes a certain kind of reader to like Stephen King. And there are an awful lot of us.

Brian Byrne.

Biodiversity Plan being made

The Heritage Office in Kildare County Council is looking for submissions from the public as part of the process of preparing a County Biodiversity Plan.

Biodiversity is another term for nature, natural heritage, wildlife or the natural world. Biodiversity or biological diversity simply means the variety of all living things on earth - including people, plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms. Biodiversity is everywhere and all around us, from gardens to hedgerows, woodlands to wetlands, rivers to bogs. We all depend on biodiversity to provide clean air and water, healthy soils, food, building materials, and medicines.

This plan will provide a framework for the conservation, management and enhancement of the rich natural heritage and biodiversity in the county.

The views of all members of the community are important in putting together the Kildare Biodiversity Plan. Consultation with the general public, stakeholders and all interested parties is an essential part of the process.

You can have your say by making a submission to the Heritage Office of Kildare County Council (Kildare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park) before the deadline of the 31st of July 2008. A consultation form has been prepared to assist in the formulation of submissions but general comments and submissions are also welcome.

Some of the questions the consultation process aims to address include: What are the most important issues concerning biodiversity or nature conservation in Kildare? What are the main threats to Kildare’s natural heritage? What are the most important actions that need to be taken to conserve and enhance nature and biodiversity of Kildare?

The Biodiversity Plan consultation form can be down loaded from the Kildare County Council website (see the Heritage Section of the Kildare County Council website. It is also available from local libraries and the Planning Office of Kildare County Council.

When all submissions to the Kildare Biodiversity Plan have been received, the draft plan will be put on public display and additional comments will be welcomed. A public meeting will be held in September 2008 to discuss draft Biodiversity Plan and to seek further input. If you would like to get involved in the preparation of the plan, complete a consultation form and attend the public meeting.

Bridget Loughlin.

It Says in The Bridge: Jun 08

This month's Bridge has a celebratory feel all through it, leading off with Tara Dillon's winning of the All-Ireland Pitch and Putt National Matchplay competition, and also front-paging the raising of the Green Flag awarded to Scoil Bhride for its anti-litter and recycling programme.

Another environmental celebration noted on that front-page celebrates the start of an official street cleaning crew for Kilcullen. Inside we're told we're sharing the crew with a number of other towns, but the results are already evident on the street. The point is made that this doesn't get local effort off the hook, and the KCA-led Monday night town clean-up activities are still in place for the rest of the summer.

There's more than a hint of political gunpowder being ignited this month, with the Editorial looking ahead to the prospect of the local elections next summer. Depending on the results of a review of the local electoral area boundaries, Kilcullen may or may not be shifted to the Athy area. Whichever, the writer suggests that a local community candidate running in the election could 'send a message' that the town merits closer attention than it currently receives from its public representatives.

Pastoral celebrations receive very strong photographic attention this month, with large spreads of Pat Foley pictures from the Chruinniu Chriost parish gathering. It certainly was an event that brought out the community in force.

Other photographic coverage includes the CPC Awards Day, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, and the Sixth Year Graduation Night. The Scouts have extended their space in the Bridge too, and there's good coverage of recent scouting events including the South Kildare Shield and the National Beaver Centenery Picnic.

In the schools pages, Brannoxtown NS representatives are pictured getting their own Green Flag, and it will be raised sometime this month. There's a lot of news from St Joseph's NS in Halverstown, including a report on the school garden work, and the building of the school's website. The Steiner School welcomed the summer in with an outing to Altemont Gardens, an orienteering event near Athy, and a Sports Day and Festival in the school's own grounds.

Business matters include the achievement of a Hygiene Award for Andrew Cross's Centra Store at Hillcrest, and Monica Clifford's new enterprise in the former Tyrrell's Drapery, a gifts and toys shop.

There's a two-page spread on the Rugby and Athletics sections of the local Community Games, while a report from St Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club details what has been a very busy month. The Badminton Club celebrates a triple success in a 'historic' season, and there's the usual comprehensive report from a very busy GAA Club.

In news features, Pat Behan provides a comprehensive report on the Saga of the Playground, detailing the tos and fros at the recent public meeting in the Town Hall. Billy Redmond amongst the regular columnnists muses on how he was accused of giving scandal while working in the church grounds in his shorts, the need for a little more TLC to be given to the grounds of the Garda Station, the possibility of finding a real Public Representative in our midst, and how a man came to his door with a bottle of Black Grouse just because he enjoy's Billy's 'Off the Cuff' remarks every month, living as he does in London for more than half a century.

In his Pastor's Piece, Robert Dunlop gives us some Scriptural and other views on our duty to care for our planet, while Sean Landers provides more detail of his daily life and times in Taiwan. That same writer's regular local history series is about the Long Stone at Kilgowan. The Spout outlet for Kilcullen writers has a birthday account from Siodhna Kavanagh, and poems from Robert Dunlop and Siobhan Dunlea.

From which last we'll end this review, with a line that is perhaps more important now than ever it was in the history of our time on this planet: 'Every one of us needs nature'.

Brian Byrne.

Chruinniu for next year?

The organisers of the recent Chruinniu Chriost parish gathering in Kilcullen say they are very happy with the way the event turned out.

"Already, people are asking us if we will be repeating it next year," says Howard Berney of Kilcullen Pastoral Council. "It was as much a community event as it was a religious event. That was our focus, that it would be a community celebration."

The gathering involved groups of parishioners walking from various points on the outskirts of town to a central staging area in the town square. In each case the groups were led by a piper from the Narraghmore Pipe Band and a cross symbolising the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Many community organisations also joined in the gathering.

The mass was celebrated by Bishop Eamonn Walsh.

Brian Byrne.

Ballyshannon NS fundraiser

A Summer Tasting Sensations evening is being held The Ivy, Feighcullen, Rathangan, on June 12 in aid of Ballyshannon NS.

The event is at 7pm and features cocktails, wine and food prepared by Ballymaloe-trained chef Niamh Flanagan.

Tickets cost 40 euros and are available from the school at 045 485309, from Clare at 087 6473306, and from Margaret at 087 984538.

Steiner coffee afternoon

A coffee afternoon is being held at the Kildare Steiner School at Rathargid on Wednesday, June 11.

The event is from 2-4pm, and all parents of pre-school and school-age children are welcome to come and see the facilities.

Paul releases new CD

A Kilcullen man who makes his living busking in Germany has released a new CD. Paul Durney, aka Saoirse Mhór, penned five of the 11 tracks himself. The CD title, 'Thursday Asks', is one of those.

Paul was musical even when he lived in Kilcullen, singing as a youngster in the Kilcullen Community Capers back in the 70s. In 1980 he left Ireland and busked his way across England and Germany, where he settled in 1987. After a period working with various local bands, fronting them and writing many songs, he collaborated with producer, sound engineer and singer/songwriter Andy Horn in ‘The Dolldrums’ CD featuring Paul's songs ‘Skin’ and ‘Mirror’.

On a trip to Ireland in 2004, after hearing Luka Bloom playing in The Riverbank in Newbridge, he picked his pseudonym Saoirse Mhór and began his current life of entertaining on the streets and on the Irish pub scene in Germany.

In 2006 his CD 'Skin' was released, featuring Belgian busker flute player Tom Drost. Late last year Paul joined the Irish folk band Fleadh as singer/guitarist. Brian Byrne.

Lisbon referendum, a personal view

Decision time is coming up for all of us with a vote, but the whole Lisbon Treaty thing has degenerated into a shouting match which makes it even more difficult to understand the already confused issues.

When obviously intelligent people on both sides of the divide come up with passionately opposing interpretations of various aspects of the Treaty, clearly there is something wrong with the whole thing?

And I'm just talking about the rational people. The ones who can make reasoned arguments, and don't have a hobby horse to flog to death. I don't take any account of faculties-challenged monkeys, or hijacked turkeys, or opportunistic naysayers like Sinn Fein.

I don't have a problem with many of the more hyped fears. I believe the neutrality issue is well copper-fastened, and anyhow I figure we should punch our weight in any defence of our EU neighbours that might conceivably be necessary. We could be asking them to come to our help. I don't expect the EU to be a belligerent in any conflict, and if it was we're already able to opt out of any involvement.

The abortion thing is a perennial local flag waved against any major EU-related vote. Again I think the situation is reasonably well protected, although even without Lisbon there are probably ways to try to change it. But why would the EU want to? If there's any challenge to the current situation, it will be from within Ireland, not outside.

Even the prospect of losing our Commissioner for five out of every 15 years doesn't cause me serious angst in principle. After all, we don't directly elect them, and anyhow once somebody goes to Brussels in that capacity, they are duty bound to serve the EU, not their own home country. Besides, every member state is being treated the same way. The 'yes' side makes the valid point that passing Lisbon puts off this change, already due to be implemented next year, for a further period.

OK, the Commission is only one side of a duality that actually gets laws made and implemented, the other being the European Parliament. But it is the place where policy is developed, and it is human nature that any Commissioner won't forget where he or she came from when ideas under discussion might advantage or disadvantage the folks back home. On balance, I'd like all member countries to have a permanent place at that particular table, but that's not going to happen.

This whole thing about Qualified Majority Voting is a bit of a mystery to me. And I guess to everyone else except the Machiavellian minds who devised it. Maybe it works. It must, because it is already used. The devil is in the detail of extending it, and nobody seems to agree on just what that detail is. But it isn't hard to believe that the larger countries in the Union can make the most hay with it.

I'm bemused about claims that we'll be 'unpopular' in Europe if we don't allow this one through. Politics is only a popularity contest at grass roots level. Once it gets beyond the people we can directly elect, it is all about deal-making in the corridors of power. And those deals will be made, one way or another, between people who don't give a fiddlers about how well or not they like the home country of the people they're making the deal with.

There's a whole bunch of other stuff making up what we'll be asked on Thursday next to say 'yes' or 'no' to. I've tried to read the full Treaty text, and failed to make any sense of legalese that is clearly designed to keep international lawyers in clover for decades to come. I've gone through the Referendum Commission's booklet several times, and find their effort almost too simplistic. Besides, that they had to hold a press conference for further clarification, and even then weren't able to answer all questions, is worrying to say the least.

I'm downright scornful of the various special interest groups -- farmers and some unions in particular -- which held out on backing for a 'yes' until they got certain promises from the Government. Everybody has the right to change their mind, but could I respect a call for a 'yes' from a group that was so definitely 'no' just a few days ago?

I have another uneasiness. The Government parties are the largest part of the political 'yes' camp. The dangling participles of the Coalition did a direct volte face on this issue when they managed to grab hold of the tail of the horse of power. I can't bring myself to trust their newly glossed lip-service to the 'yes' side. Besides, smelly stuff rubs off when you're so close to a horse's behind.

As for the Horse of Destiny itself, the way its various ministerial riders are urging 'yes' is quite nauseating, given that they are the self-same ministers who continually chorused their defence of Bertie Ahern's financial shenanigans when he was 'De Man', but now are remarkably busy elsewhere since they gave him the final hollow ovation on the steps of his resignation. They are also the ones who insisted that there were no upcoming economic difficulties for Ireland as we galloped towards a water-jump which was so obviously waiting to give us a very wet and chastening experience. Why do I think that they have their own interests at heart rather than yours and mine?

About the main opposition parties, I simply think they are mistaken to blindly clutch the coat-tails of a Government which just wants to strut on the Brussels vaudeville, to applause from technocrats and uber-politicos whom Ireland will have helped perpetuate ad infinitum, if not ad nauseam. Perhaps the recent drop in Fine Gael satisfaction ratings that has so surprised its leader, Enda Kenny, reflects how many of us think this way?

I consider myself a true European in the best sense of the word. I admire the experiment which the Treaty of Rome got under way, and I'm grateful for both the help that we received by virtue of joining the EEC and the long-term peace in Europe that followed from the development of a largely successful Common Market. I'm a firm fan of the Euro, and though we're outside the Shengen area, I'm comfortable with the relatively free way I can travel between the member countries of the Union.

I'm not so happy with the level of authority over our daily lives and businesses which an increasingly powerful bureaucracy in Brussels has been allowed take to itself. I don't think we should be heading for a United States of Europe, which is what those in charge of the EU are doing their best to convince us is the best course. It's a kind of 'a little more power is never enough' thing. Every little extra we give them only encourages an appetite for a bit more. Let it go on, however benign the whole monolith might try to appear, and we'll end up with the kind of centralised system that once was the Soviet Union.

Remember, that 'Union' was a forced together collection of formerly independent countries, and look at the shambles it became. The USA is a different animal altogether, as its component states were never independent countries in their own right. That said, the individual states guard carefully their own degrees of autonomy from the Federal Government, though even that has become increasingly difficult when the country has been led by an administration that shows more the attributes of an African dictatorship than a modern democracy.

All in all, I was of a mind for some last while to say 'no' to Lisbon. Not least because we in Ireland have the absolute constitutional right to vote on matters such as this. My 'no' vote was going to be as much for all those millions in the rest of the Union who didn't get a chance to have their say as it was for me.

Then the little information leaflet giving the actual wording of the Constitutional Amendment dropped through my letter slot last week. As I read it, I finally made up my mind.

I'm a communicator by trade. Have been for more than three decades. In large part my job is to make the obscure clear, to help give voice to those without the ability or the platform to so do, to tell the truth in as far as I can understand it. I hope I've done this all my journalistic career to the best of my ability.

That last little leaflet reflected perfectly the kernel of this Lisbon Treaty Referendum. What we are being asked to vote into our Constitution is absolute gibberish. Words from the topmost level of the fabled tower in Babel. No wonder what we've been hearing lately from the political rabble has itself become a babble.

I'm voting no. If they come back with something I can understand, I'll reconsider. I'm not looking for a 'Plan B', or a renegotiation. I just want it said like it is.

Like I'm saying it. No. Níl, if you like, in our other official language.

Or Ne, Nej, Nein, Õih, Ochi, Non, Nem, Le, Nee, Nie, Não, Nu, and Ei, as they might say in the other official languages of the EU if those who speak them had gotten the chance.

Brian Byrne.

The €50,000 man

When Billy Redmond held his annual Bring and Buy Bazaar last weekend at Kilcullen Parish Centre, he was on the latest leg of a fundraising mission in which he has raised some €50,000 for the Irish Wheelchair Association.

Billy got involved with the IWA in 1994 at the request of John Brady, then regional organiser for the charity. He decided to raise money for their fundraising walks.

The walks for which Billy raised the money have brought him to China, Egypt, Thailand, Cambodia and New Zealand, and most recently to Las Vegas, Nevada and the Grand Canyon.

In previous years he had the use of Main Street premises for his sales, and he found this worked well because he was visible to passing friends and neighbours in the town.

But none of his regular spots were available this year, so the Parish Centre became the new venue.

Brian Byrne.

Special music for javelin event

Sir Anthony and Lady O'Reilly of Castlemartin have provided sponsorship for a specially composed piece of music which will get its inaugural performance at the official opening of the Dun Ailinne Interpretive Park on July 13.

The piece is being written by uileann piper Liam O Floinn, a founder member of the famous Planxty group. It is described as a 'musical celebration' of the ancient Royal site at Dun Ailinne, just south of Kilcullen.

Items found in archaeological excavations during the 1960/1970s are the inspiration for the Noel Scullion javelin sculpture which is the key element of the Interpretive Park. It was commissioned by Kilcullen Community Action and paid for with the help of grants from KELT and Kildare County Council. An explanatory sign at the site was funded by the Heritage Council.

The director of the archaeological digs at Dun Ailinne, Professor Bernard Wailes, will be the main guest of the opening.

In addition, the occasion will incorporate the Irish launch of the Report on the Dun Ailinne excavations, edited by Dr Susan Johnston, a colleague of Professor Wailes.

Brian Byrne.

Good job on Medical Centre

What a terrific difference to a whole streetscape that a coat of paint makes.



Well done to the owners of the Medical Centre and Second Edition premises for the job done over the Bank Holiday weekend ... a really excellent improvement made.

Meanwhile, Noel Clare of Kilcullen Tidy Towns says he has a few artists lined up to do some murals in the windows of some other vacant business premises on Main Street.

"We just need to get some sponsorship," he says.

The idea to brighten up the unused buildings was raised at a recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action.

Brian Byrne.

Drama course week

Drama Dynamics are presenting Summer Stage 2008 from July 7-11 in the Town Hall Theatre.

The sessions run from 9am-2pm, and the cost is 100 euros for the week, with discounts available for second and subsequent children from the same family.

Contact Evelyn O'Sullivan at 087 6441504.

Scouts win shield

The Badger Patrol of Kilcullen Scouts, 9th Kildare Troop, won the senior section of the recent South Kildare Shield competition at Forest Farm in Athy, beating a strong Naas patrol.



In addition, on their first County Shield competition, the Wolf Patrol competing in a very strong novice section was runner-up to a Naas patrol. The Hawk patrol was awarded the Spirit of Scouting for demonstrating the best scouting spirit over the weekend.



The Badger Patrol also won the Campcraft trophy and the Wolf Patrol was awarded the Novice Spirit of Scouting and the trophy for the best Novice Test Meal.

Roy Champ.

Mean theft in pub

Cruel thieves stole the Childrens Charity Bottle in Bardons last week.

It happened the day of the Champions League Final, and the theft is believed to have occurred sometime after 5pm while staff in the bar were busy.

A number of people who had been drinking in the area of the bar where the bottle was located left without finishing their drinks.

The money collected was always given to the Crumlin Childrens Hospital, where a young nephew of Bardons owner Eddie Cross died some years ago.

The last time the bottle was emptied, more than 2,000 euros was given to the hospital.

Brian Byrne.

School friends!

Pictured at the recent 70th birthday bash for Jim Collins are four friends from their schooldays, Jim Kelly, Sean Keogh, Jim Collins and John Brady.

Another successful mini marathon

Some 70 women from the area took part in yesterday's Flora Womens Mini Marathon, walking in aid of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund.



The event was organised as usual by Phena Bermingham, and she described it as a 'very successful' day.

The Diary didn't travel with them, but there are some 'before and after' pictures here.

Brian Byrne.

New property business

Michael Doran has just opened a brand new Property Team franchise on Main Street, and expects to be in a good position to develop the business as the current situation settles and business steadies.



"Things in the private house market may be a bit static at the moment, and I see people building extensions rather than moving, something I haven't seen much of in a decade. But it will come back, and in addition there's still a lot of growth left in Kilcullen."

Michael originally hails from Ballitore and previously worked with Murphy Auctioneers in Baltinglass, subsequently working with a Remax franchise in the Celbridge/Lucan area. A spell in Dunlavin worked in parallel with his studying for a degree in DIT, and with that under his belt he felt ready to go out on his own.



"With IAVI membership, I had the opportunity to get into the Property Team franchise, and I knew Kilcullen well so I decided to set up here."

Michael is planning an official launch event in the coming months, but in the meantime his office door is open for business.

GAA summer camps

The GAA is organising Cul Camps in clubs across the county during the coming summer. They'll run from 5-8 August.

The camps will run from 10am-2.30pm and the cost is 60 euros per child, with a reduction for subsequent children from the same family.

Further information is available from David Murphy at 087 2661438.

Lions photo project

Kilcullen Lions Club is organising a photographic competition as a means of recording the built environment and the people of the town for future perusal.

The competition is planned to begin mid-summer and is envisaged as a 'record-keeping' of the changing scenes and personalities who make the town what it is over the years.

The idea is that the the best efforts from those taking part would be kept in albums in Kilcullen Heritage Centre, and really interesting ones would be framed and humg for public display.

The person behind the idea is Angela Murray-Hayden, who says that the emphasis will be on subjects and compositions that are 'uniquely Kilcullen' in the viewfinders of the photographers.

She has also appealed for offers of photos from ten, 20 or more years ago to fill back reference volumes.

"Hopefully, together we will build a photographic, social, architectural and environmental history of Kilcullen," she says.

Brian Byrne.

Daybreak planning application

Stephen Clayton has applied for planning permission to extend his Daybreak shop, opposite Cross & Passion College.

The work includes a single-storey extension at the back of the existing premises, and changes to the frontage to provide for double doors.