A matter of respect

"It's a lifetime thing, and you never know it all."



At the level of 7th Dan, Paddy Doyle can't go much further in Karate -- he knows of one 8th Dan Master in these islands, a Japanese gentleman living in London. But it's not about achievement, it is about discipline, respect, and a way of life.

Contrary to the popular image of Karate, it isn't a fighting thing, either. "In fact, we call it the 'Wado-Ryu', the 'Way of Peace'," says this quiet Dubliner, who teaches the discipline every Tuesday night in Kilcullen's Community Centre.

He got into it more than three decades ago, when a friend suggested he come along to the Dojo of Peter Suzuki in Parnell Square. "I had been doing a bit of boxing, but I was very impressed with what I saw Mr Suzuki doing, and decided to take it up," he recalls. "It took me about five years to reach the level of 1st Dan, and maybe three years more to get to the next level."

The Dan system is not related to the 'Belt' grades, of which there are six, culminating in the well-known Black Belt. These are achievements of expertise, whereas moving through the Dan levels is a reflection of age and experience.

It takes commitment, something which Paddy Dunne emphasises when a new group starts learning with him. And not everyone has that.

"If you attend classes regularly, you'll progress, and after six and 12 months you'll see quite an improvement. But there are the youngsters who come in and want to learn Karate in a day, and that's just ridiculous."

The key benefits of learning Karate are instilling discipline and gaining self-confidence. And perhaps that's the underpinning of the 'Way of Peace' idea, as people with self confidence rarely get involved in fighting or other problems.

"It is also a sport that keeps you very fit, and you learn how to be absolutely in control of what you do. The exercise is brilliant, and no matter what age you are, it keeps you feeling young."

Paddy has been involved in Karate for some 36 years now, teaching for many of those years. And learning, still.

"All your life in Karate, you are learning. You never know it all, and you never will. From time to time we have Masters coming over to Ireland from Japan, and you realise it then, that there's always more."

It's never too young, either. The children's sessions on Tuesday nights are for youngsters from the age of five upwards. For whatever age they start, the first lesson is the one that those who stick with it will continue to benefit most from. Having respect, for the teacher, for the others in the class, for themselves.

It is a good foundation for any calling in life.

NOTE, November 2014: Paddy Doyle has now retired from instructing.

Brian Byrne.

Catherine replaces Cathy

A new manager for the Kilcullen Heritage Centre takes up her position today.

She's Catherine Mackey, and she replaces Cathy Flynn, who retired from the position last month.

The position is supported by FAS.

Blessing of the graves

There was a large turnout of parishioners yesterday for the annual blessing of the graves in the parish cemeteries.



The occasion included celebration of mass in New Abbey Cemetery, by Frs Michael Murphy, Paddy Ryan and Desmond Supple.

Our slide show above is from the blessing ceremony in St Brigid's.

Line dancers

A sociable way to warm up for the weekend could be by taking up line dancing.

Sessions are held each Friday evening in the Community Sports Complex from 7.30-9pm.

Absolute beginners are welcome, and professional help is available. It's a fun night out, and no partners are needed. The motto is 'you're never too old and never too young' to line-dance.

It's a pay as you go business, at €9 a session. More information from Tony at 085 2033229 or 045 485696.

Anniversary year for Flower & Garden

The Kilcullen Flower & Garden Club's first session of the autumn/winter last week was quietly special. Almost to the day it was the tenth anniversary meeting.



Although they still meet in the same place, it has changed over that decade, from a rather run-down former Girls School to the sparkling Parish Centre which the building is today.

But the interest remains the same, when the darkening evenings encourage members to get together and keep the winter at bay by discussing and learning about flowers, about growing them and arranging them.

"It's also a very sociable thing," says Mary Shortt, who has been one of the stalwarts of the club for eight of those ten years. "And it isn't just sitting and watching demonstrations, some of the most enjoyable nights are the 'hands-on' ones where
people bring their own stuff and do their own arrangements. We can compare and develop different ways of doing things."

Mary acknowledges that a significant part of the enjoyment is in the conversation over a cup of tea at the end of a session. "Everybody brings something, and the craic can be mighty for an hour or longer, with the yarns and stories and chat."

Each Christmas there's an outing for a Christmas dinner, and during the summer the group travel together to see good gardens around the county and the province.

Last week's opening meeting of the season had Carlow woman Helen Lucas demonstrating. The next meeting is the third Tuesday in October, when Marie O'Leary will demonstrate the quiet craft of posy-making.

Brian Byrne.

Siobhan takes leave of KCA

Siobhan Tutty Bardon has resigned from Kilcullen Community Action, for personal reasons.

A longtime member of KCA, Siobhan said in her resignation letter that she fully supported the work of the organisation, but family commitments and her work with Kilcullen Lions Club meant she had to leave.

Appreciation for her input into the activities of KCA over the years was expressed at a recent meeting.

Parishioners and Pope at Lourdes

The parish pilgrimage to Lourdes turned out to be a very special event for the 25 people from the area who came home last week from the famous French town.

By coincidence, they were sharing their time at the shrine with Pope Benedict, who was making his own rather more high-powered pilgrimage to the location where St Bernadette is believed to have had visions of Mary, Mother of God.

The parish group, which was away between 12-17 September, was led by Fr Michael Murphy PP.

New season badminton

Kilcullen's very successful Badminton Club is back in the autumn/winter sessions again, with a big welcome for all new members who might come along.

Sessions are in the Community Complex on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11pm. Further information available from 087 2628305.

Last chance to click

The closing date for the Kilcullen Lions Summer Photographic Project is looming fast.

September 30 is the final date for entries in the competition, which has sections for adults and under-18s.

The categories in each section are Landscape, Buildings/Objects, and Personalities ... all of which must relate to Kilcullen.

Entries may be left in Berneys Pharmacy, where submission rules are available, or digital pictures, which must not be enhanced, can be emailed to photos@kilcullenlionsclub.

Bringing the calories home

Calories Temptation is back!

The luscious cakes and pastries which were produced by Liam and Deirdre Horan in past years downtown are now available again.

After a break from main street retail -- in the premises now occupied by Emerald Bloodstock -- they have opened again in the new Kevin Kelly retail/offices development beside Dunlea's Garage.

Sacred Space project progresses

Planning permission for the Sacred Space in Kilcullen's Cross & Passion College has been approved, and a steering group set up by the school's Board of Management is now in place to progress the project further.

The Sacred Space will be a built in an area of the College ground which is currently just an open grassy space. The idea is that it will provide for the students and staff a place for quiet reflection.

The plans for the project have been in gestation for a number of years, and further movement is expected in the relatively near future.

It is envisaged that the facility will be built by direct contract labour, with professional input from a number of parents and friends of the College.

Donations of time and materials have been pledged, and those behind the project are hopeful of continuing community involvement.

It is understood that there were a number of issues to be sorted out, such as insurance, and these have now been dealt with.

Brian Byrne.

Christmas lights to be greener

The Christmas lights display will cost less to maintain and run this year, Kilcullen Community action has been told.

At the recent meeting of the organisation, J J Warren said there would be more extensive use of LEDs this year, eliminating the traditional tungsten bulbs.

"This is much better for the environment too," Noel Clare commented at the news. "The old bulbs are going to be illegal soon anyhow."

There was some discussion on the need for more 'profile' lights, with J J Warren estimating some 4-6 more should be bought.

Chairman Kieran Forde wondered if they couldn't make some of the profiles themselves, putting LED strings around appropriate shapes. This thought led to a suggestion that some of the existing old profiles might be updated by the same method.

Brian Byrne.

Marathon cheque presented

A cheque for €20,000 was presented last night to James Nolan by Siobhan Mitchell and Margaret Talbot on behalf of the ladies who did the Flora Women's Mini Marathon 2008.

James is the founder of the The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, which has been the beneficiary of local women's efforts in the Mini Marathon for several years.

James thanked everyone who contributed in any way, especially all the sponsors and the ladies who participated, and their families.

"This money is once again being used to fund the Art Therapy programmes in the Dialysis Units at Tallaght and Waterford hospitals," he said, and then recounted how a nurse in the Dialysis Unit in Tallaght summed up the success of the programme by saying that it gave the patients 'a real sense of purpose' to their time spent on dialysis.

"He saw a sense of achievement -- that they were not just passing time. He also noted that the programme offered a 'huge distraction from worry'."

Darren Cawley from Mayo, who is awaiting a transplant, also organised a group of 24 ladies from his part of the country who joined the Kilcullen group. They raised €5,800 and this money goes the Temple Street Children's Hospital Project.

Finally, James encouraged those present to spread the word and get people thinking 'organ donor cards'. "The most important thing I want to do is to make people aware of the amazing power that we all have to give the gift of life," he said.

James and Emma McHenry got engaged this year and Martina Carey presented them with a card signed by all the ladies, and scrapbook of photographs and memorabilia of the three mini marathons done in aid of PKRF. The book was compiled by Lorraine Hegarty-Kelly.

A plaque was presented to Teresa Meaney, who has completed 20 mini marathons, the last three for PKRF.

A voucher given by James Nolan was won by Eileen Mc Mahon.

Phena Bermingham.

CPC students to learn resucitation

Kilcullen First Responders (KFR), supported by trainers from Calverstown, have offered to conduct Emergency Resuscitation training for transition students in the Cross & Passion College this year.

The first two hour session took place with 27 students last week and it was a great success. All students showed themselves to be very positive and enthusiastic about the programme.

The balance of the students will be trained on successive Wednesdays starting on 1 October and continuing on 8 October and concluding on 15 October.

The training starts at 2pm and concludes at 4pm. It is conducted in the Refectory Hall.

Computer for art students

Now that Cross & Passion College students are back to the educational grindstone, those doing Art have the benefit of a new computer.

The Dell machine was presented to the school's Art Department during the summer by the outgoing Student Council.

Toddlers move

The Kilcullen Carer and Toddler Group has both moved home and changed its name.

Now the 'Stay and Play' Group, it meets every Thursday morning in the Community Centre. Further information from Clare Boyce on 087 6881331.

Pastoral worker for Kilcullen

A Parish Pastoral Worker will be seconded to Kilcullen as part of a programme being rolled out across the Archdiocese of Dublin.

The concept was launched at Easter by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, and the first group of 'candidate' workers have been recruited and this week began a Formation Programme at the Mater Dei Institute. This will take up two days a week, and they will be seconded to parishes for 20 hours a week as part of their programme.

Kilcullen's worker will be introduced next Sunday. There's further information on the Parish Website.

In the frame

The picture framing business formerly operated by Dermot Gale in Kilcullen's industrial park has now been moved by his daughter Tara to a more visible premises on the Curragh Road.

Dermot originally operated from the shop beside Bank of Ireland -- now Ruby Shoes -- and subsequently located in Newbridge.

Brian makes sergeant

Brian Foley, formerly of Bishop Rogan Park, was recently promoted to Sergeant in the Garda.

Brian joined the force in 1996 and is now stationed in Blessington. He previously served in Kilkenny, Youghal, and Donnybrook in Dublin.

New FG office opens tomorrow

A new Fine Gael Constituency Office for Kildare South will be opened in Newbridge tomorrow (Tuesday) by party Leader Enda Kenny TD.

The 'drop-in' centre on Moorefield Road is intended to be more than a venue where political concerns can be voiced and questions answered. "The intention is to provide an informal and relaxed setting," says Shane O’Dwyer, Management Board Chairman for Kildare South, "where – in addition to the usual Fine Gael clinics and services – community focussed events and local initiatives important to the people of Kildare South can be supported."

Kenya project Gala Ball

Many Kilcullen people, led by Gerry O'Donoghue, are involved with Operation Maintain Hope which has supported a children's shelter near Nairobi, Kenya. The organisation has built accommodation, and provided a bus as well as clothing and footwear for those helped by the shelter.

A new stage of aid by the organisation is a programme to support orphan children through school and college. To this end, fundraising includes a Gala Ball on Saturday October 18 in Kilashee House, which will be hosted by TV presenter Ray D'Arcy.

Tickets are available from Sue at 086 2856497 or Cathy D'Arcy at 087 2252847. Further information on Operation Maintain Hope is available from Gerry O'Donoghue on 086 2856497.

Brian Byrne.

Appeal for Family Mass members

The Family Mass Group is looking for new members to take part in the weekly celebration of Mass on Saturday evenings.

Musicians, singers and readers from the age of eight years upwards are all welcome.

The group practices for one hour each Wednesday evening in the Parish Church, from 7pm.

Dun Ailinne, where next?

The success of the recent dedication weekend for the Dun Ailinne Interpretive Park has left a question about where the project should go from here?

Kilcullen Community Action chairman Kieran Forde outlined a couple of possibilities at the organisation's recent meeting. KCA and Kilcullen Heritage Group were the joint organisers of the very successful July event.

He said that Des Travers of the Heritage Group was investigating the possibility of putting together a school educational package that would include information on the ancient royal site along with replicas of artefacts found during excavations of the site in the late 60s and early 70s.

It would be a 'hands-on' kind of package, which could be lent on rotation to schools around County Kildare.

"The idea is to provide more than just a book of information, with elements such as flint axe heads and other items that could be passed around among the students. Somthing physical, that they would remember more."

He said that another possibility would be to have another weekend next year, which could combine a 'fun' element with a more serious archaeological part where academics in the field could discuss aspects of the period represented by Dun Ailinne.

J J Warren said that there were 'a couple of dozen' people in Kilcullen interested in taking part in a festival based around a Dun Ailinne event, although he doubted that there wasn't 'one in 20' in Kilcullen who know anything about the site.

But there was a strong disagreement with his suggestion that the interest in Dun Ailinne had so far been from an elite class. Kieran Forde pointed out that a key part of the event had been the fact that the theatre was filled without the benefit of any ticket sales. "It certainly wasn't elitist," he said.

Esther Kiely mentioned that the Kilcullen Lions Club was considering changing the date of its very successful annual Duck Race and Community Day to later in the summer, and she wondered if maybe the two groups might combine.

Ray Kelly said that whatever format was chosen, it would be important to keep the academic side to the fore.

Brian Byrne.

Check your eyes!

It doesn't seem like a year since we reported on the subject before, (actually, when we check, it's not) but AMD Week begins next Monday.

The letters stand for Age-related Macular Degeneration, a condition that can affect eyes as a person gets older.

Kilcullen optometrist Nichola Kennedy has given us a note that a new website offers full information on the issue.

Nichola has also bought a new piece of equipment, a Fundus Camera, particularly useful in cases of diabetes, glaucoma, AMD and other conditions which require close monitoring for changes.

It costs €30. The quick and painless test is not covered by PRSI or Medical Card, but is well worth while to help protect what is probably the most important of the five senses we use every day.

Brian Byrne.

Return of the Christmas tree?

A number of businesses in the Market Square area are to be approached to see if they would collectively sponsor a Christmas Tree for the town.

The recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action discussed the idea, with a view to a tree being planted for the Christmas season in the central flower bed in the square.

It was recalled that the last town Christmas Tree had been presented by local singing duo Phil and Una McGrath, who had won it on the Joe Duffy Show. The tree had been set up outside the then Town Hall Cinema, on the grounds now occupied by the Heritage Centre where the KCA currently holds its bi-weekly meetings.

Brian Byrne.

John's surprise party

John Brady was given a surprise 70th birthday party last night by his family and friends.



The Diary was unable to attend, as your editor was abroad, but the pictures above come courtesy of Noel Clare.

Moon & Sixpence for Kilcullen gig

The 'Moon & Sixpence' band will play in Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre on Saturday 4 October.



The band, of which the late Des Byrne was a founder member, was set up in 1994 and raises money for charitable causes in a limited number of gigs each year.

The band will be appearing at the Irish Arts Centre in New York later in October, in two performances aimed at raising $50,000 for the Centre. The prior Kilcullen performance is to raise funds to defray expenses for the trip, which the band members are covering themselves.

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

A cheque for €5,000 was handed over earlier this year to Dr Dillion of the Kildare Hospice by the band. The money was the proceeds from two concerts held last year in Kilcullen and from one held in Andrews Lane Theatre in Dublin before Christmas.

Over the years, The Moon & Sixpence has raised many tens of thousands of euro for various charities around Kildare, including the Michael Garry House shelter for the homeless in Newbridge.

They released one CD album, ‘Better Late than Never’, in 2002. The other current members are solicitor John Reidy, Aer Lingus chief pilot Henry Donohoe, restaurant owner Siobhan Hurley - all from Newbridge - Peter Coe, and Kilcullen-born doctor Michael O’Connell.

Presentation for kidney fund

A cheque for €20,000 will be presented to James Nolan, chairman of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, at a function in Kilcullen Parish Centre on 23 September.

The presentation, on behalf of the women who took part in the Flora Womens Mini Marathon for the fund, will take place at 8pm.

All who were involved are welcome to come along.

Kilcullen improves in Tidy Towns

Kilcullen achieved 259 marks out of a possible 400 in the 2008 Tidy Towns Competition, an eight-point improvement on last year.

But the town slipped a few rungs on the county ladder, which local Tidy Towns leader Noel Clare said was due to improved performances by other towns.

The pride of place this year, the adjudicators said, is the new Dun Ailinne Interpretive Park, which they describe as a 'significant and successful presentation' of a very historic site.

They commended the campaign by Kilcullen and others towns to involve Kildare County Council in litter control and street cleaning, which they said has yielded 'rich dividends' for Kilcullen and the other towns.

Other elements by which the Kilcullen performance improved included the success of the primary school in achieving Green Flag Status and the second place achieved by Cross & Passion College in the national Power Of One Competition

The judges also praised the installation of the window boxes and the associated automatic sprinkling system.

Initiatives such as the window paintings in some unused main street premises are commended as 'welcome' short-term treatment. The adjudicators described as 'unfortunate' the reflective bands placed on the 'fine, robust black bollards' of the streetscape.

The full report is available here as a download.

Brian Byrne.

Biodiversity Plan for public comment

The Heritage Office of the Kildare County Council has prepared the first Draft Biodiversity Plan for County Kildare and are now inviting you to comments on it.



Dick Warner will give a presentation on 'Kildare’s Wild Places' and Dr Janice Fuller will present the Draft Biodiversity Plan and invite comments from the general public, at a public consultation meeting in the Kildare County Council Offices, Aras, Chill Dara, Naas at 8pm on Thursday 18 September.

If you would like to find out more about biodiversity in Kildare and what you can do to help conserve it then come along to this meeting.

The draft Biodiversity Plan lists actions and projects to be undertaken over the next 5 years to conserve and enhance the biodiversity of County Kildare. Submissions from expert groups and organisations, and from members of the public have been included in the plan. The plan was prepared under the guidance of the Kildare Forum, and with financial support from the Heritage Council.



Bridget Loughlin

Newbridge goes Batty!

Where do bats live? Are they blind? What food do they eat? What are the myths about bats? How can bats help humans? What is echolocation? Do bats really suck blood?

Find the answer to all these questions and more bat related information at Newbridge Library on Wed 17 September at 7.30pm. Newbridge Tidy Towns will host a talk by Dr Tina Aughney from Bat Conservation Ireland. Then come for a walk along the Liffey to see if you can spot some bats.

Hospice fundraising morning

A Coffee Morning in aid of St Brigid's Hospice on the Curragh will be held in the Heritage Centre on Thursday.

The event will operate from 10am-1pm, and in addition to raising funds for a really worthwhile cause, it offers an opportunity for those taking part to take a look at the wide range of memorabilia of Kilcullen's far and recent past.

All are welcome.

Billy keeps park right

If you're wondering how the new Dun Ailinne Interpretive Park is looking so consistently well, local man Billy Redmond is the man to thank.

Soon after it was dedicated in July, Billy volunteered to keep the grass in the park, which is a miniature replica of the Dun Ailinne ancient royal site south-west of the town, trimmed for the remainder of the growth season.

His efforts were unanimously commended at the recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action.

Billy, who does an international charity walk each year on behalf of the Irish Wheelchair Association, also maintains the grass areas around Kilcullen's Parish Church.



Meanwhile, there was an exercised discussion at the KCA meeting on how best to deal with the horsetail fern which is also growing wild at the Interpretive Park.

The fern, which is considered a weed and which can over-run a grassy area is left unchecked, can be dealt with by a herbicide such as Roundup.

Suggestions of applying the liquid most effectively included putting wallpaper paste in the spray, so that the pesticide would cling more effectively to the weed.

During the discussion, KCA chairman Kieran Forde brought in a sample of the fern from one of the flower tubs on the street outside.

Noel Clare, who taught Botany for many years at Cross & Passion College, noted that the plant, also known as 'Mare's Tail' and 'Foxtail', is 'very ancient' and evolved long before the modern fern.

Brian Byrne.

Flower Club back for winter

A new season of Kilcullen Flower & Garden Club gets under way this week with a starting demonstration by Helen Lucas on Tuesday night at 8pm.

The meetings are once again in Kilcullen Parish Centre.

Membership is €30 per annum, and light refreshments are served at each meeting.

New members are always welcome.

The passing of Lazerian Kelly

The Diary has learned of the death of Lazerian Kelly, Yellow Bog, and late of Pairc Mhuire, Newbridge.

Lazerian is reposing at his residence from Tuesday, until removal at 6.30pm on Wednesday to Kilcullen Parish Church, arriving at 7 o'clock.

The funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday morning at 11am and burial will take place immediately afterwards in St Brigid's Cemetery, Kilcullen.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Group in Lourdes

The Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes is under way at present.

Led by Fr Michael Murphy, the 25-strong group are fortunate to be at the shrine on the same weekend as Pope Benedict is there.

They will return on Wednesday.

The passing of Andy O'Connor

The Diary has learned of the death of Andy O'Connor, Castlefish.

Andy is reposing at his residence from 6 o'clock this evening and removal will take place on Tuesday morning at 10.30 to St Joseph's Church, Gormanstown.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 11 o'clock and interment will take place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

We express our condolences to his family and friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Traffic calming improved

Changes to the speed bump ramps on the road outside Scoil Bhride have been welcomed in Kilcullen.



The ramps were first installed three years ago, but were only on the roads, and didn't continue across parking bays into the footpath.

The result was that many motorists 'bypassed' the ramps by zig-zagging in through the parking bays at speeds which would not have been possible over the ramps (inset in picture above).

When a Senior Engineer from Kildare County Council was recently inspecting the nearby access to the planned new playground, his attention was drawn to the too-short traffic calming devices. A Council crew subsequently came along and extended the ramps.

Brian Byrne.

The passing of Bob Hutton

The Diary has learned of the death of Bob Hutton Snr, of Ballyshannon.

Predeceased by his wife Rachel and his daughter Anne, Bob will be sadly missed by his son Robert, his daughter-in-law Beth, his grandchildren Rebecca, Barry and Audrey, his sister-in-law Frances, his nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbours.

Bob was buried in Ballyshannon Churchyard yesterday.

Abide with me.

Litter posters to be changed

The posters placed prominently around Kilcullen during the town's campaign to get Kildare County Council to play its part in keeping litter at bay are in the process of being replaced.

The original posters highlighted the fact that Kildare County Council was not providing an adequate street cleaning service in the town. The protest campaign culminated last summer in the presentation of a bag of litter to officials and members of Kildare County Council at the Council's headquarters in Arus Cill Dara.

Since then, the Council has undertaken a pilot programme of street cleaning in Kilcullen and a number of other towns in the area, sharing a dedicated cleaning crew. The results have been quite marked.

Now the organisers of the original protest, Kilcullen Community Action, have commissioned a new set of posters. These will use the original very effective graphics but with slogans noting that Kildare County Council IS helping to clean Kilcullen's streets, and asking for the support of the people by taking their litter home.

At KCA's most recent meeting, it was also decided to organise another 'litter event' at the Council's HQ, but this time to thank the Council for its street-cleaning initiative.

"We were quick enough to criticise them, now we should be proactive about complimenting them too," J J Warren said at the meeting. (As a result, members and officials of Kildare County Council were presented with an empty litter bag last Monday.)

In a further discussion about the street-cleaning, compliments were also paid to how quickly the Council crew removed the clippings during a recent cutting of hedges on the road opposite Brigid's Avenue.

Brian Byrne.

Donations grow for flowers

Several businesses and many individuals have already given in their donations towards the flowers which have brightened up Kilcullen in an otherwise miserable summer.

Almost €8,000 has been given so far towards the estimated €10,000 cost of the floral displays, including the window-boxes which lined the first floors of most Main Street premises, the hanging baskets, and the various tubs on the footpaths.

"There were very few gaps in the street this year," KCA chairman Kieran Forde noted at the recent meeting of the organisation, the first of the autumn/winter season.

"They looked very well," Esther Kiely added, a sentiment that was echoed around the table.

There are still quite a number of Main Street premises occupiers who have yet to respond to the appeal for donations, but Kieran Forde said he was confident that the total cost would be achieved with the help of these people.

Brian Byrne.

Litter progress appreciation

Kilcullen Community Action presented an empty litter bag to officials and members of Kildare County Council yesterday, to mark the community's appreciation for the work the Council has done in helping keep the town tidy this year.



Pictured are Ray Kelly, KCA; John Fallon, in charge of the street cleaning operations; Orla O'Neill, KCA, with her daughter Siofra; JJ Warren, KCA; Cllr Billy Hillis, KCC; Cllr Willie Callaghan, KCC; Joe Boland, Director of Services, KCC; and Kieran Forde, chairman KCA.

Brian Byrne.

Community Awards

Kilcullen's annual Community Awards will be presented on Friday October 10.

Nominations close on Friday 24 November. Anyone who thinks a person or organisation in Kilcullen is deserving of special recognition, for any reason, can nominate them to Kilcullen Community Action, which is organising the awards.

Meantime, judging is currently taking place for the local tidy town awards, which will be presented on the same evening.

Dun Ailinne DVD completed

The master copy of a DVD about the recent Dun Ailinne weekend has been delivered to Kilcullen Community Action by Michelle Ryan Videography. It will be available for sale soon in limited numbers.

The DVD, which is about two hours in length, details the parade from the Square, the dedication of the Dun Ailinne Interpretive Park and its centerpiece sculpture, the subsequent presentations by Professor Wailes and others who took part in the excavations, and the premiere performance by traditional musician Liam O'Flynn of the music specially commissioned from him to mark the occasion.

Further details of the DVD's availability and distribution will be given when known.

James wins Transplants gold

Kilcullen businessman James Nolan, who just recently celebrated the 21st anniversary of his kidney transplant, won gold in golf at the European Transplant Games yesterday in in Wurzburg, Germany.

He marked his gold medal triumph by telephoning the woman who gave him the gift of life -- his sister Catherine.

“Twenty-one years ago, Catherine donated one of her kidneys to me. It gave me a new lease of life,” said James, who plays off a 23 handicap, and is a member of Rathsallagh Golf Club in Co. Kildare.

“It was a forgiving course for a handicap golfer like me, and I was very happy with how I played.”

The ladies tournament was won by Marie O’Connor, the 12-handicapper from Lahinch, Co. Clare, who earlier this year won the ladies Captain’s Prize in her own club.

Liam Horan

Clouds have a wellies lining

The 'summer' weather we've been suffering through has dampened spirits fairly thoroughly, but there's a silver lining to every cloud ... isn't there?



Well for Michelle Kirwan, who runs Ruby Shoes in Kilcullen, the confluence of a fashion trendiness in wellingtons and the wet, wet, wet results of the stream of low pressure systems over the country has been a bright spot in business.

"There's been a great run on wellingtons, which are now very colourful," she says. "I got them in for Oxygen, though a little late and I kind of missed the boat there. But then came the scouts Jamboree, and I sold a lot for that. The youngsters came in, and so did their parents."

The rain coincided with wellingtons becoming a fashion item in their own right in recent times. "At the international shoe trade shows, everyone has them," says Michelle, who set up Ruby Shoes in April of last year. "They come with all sorts of colours and patterns, even for men."

There was a short-term downside when the scores of pairs of wellies arrived. "The smell of rubber was unreal for a while," Michelle remembers.

Setting up a shop in Kilcullen just for fashion shoes and handbags was a risk for Michelle. But one which has paid off, in no small measure because there are also an increasing number of other specialist fashion shops in the village, which complement each other.

"Kilcullen has become a place to find all kinds of fashion, with Michelle Graham's Irish Bridal Boutique on Hillside, and Mini Me's childrens boutique, for instance. Overall, Kilcullen has a reputation for quality, and not just in clothing ... I have customers who come specifically to the town to shop for their meat in Nolans, and then come down to me to browse the shoes and handbags."

Well aware of the competition from Newbridge's Whitewater, Michelle makes a point of stocking items which don't feature in the more mainstream shops. "You have to give them a reason to come out here for something different."

Meantime, though, when it's raining in Kilcullen, it is pouring. Pouring wellies business for Ruby Shoes.

Brian Byrne.

Miah's strong TV debut

Miah Phelan-Sweeney's performance this afternoon on 'The Den' Star Search item received the height of praise from the guest judges, Emma O'Driscoll and Mickey Harte.



Emma, formerly a pop singer herself, noted that in performing her own composition, 'Ain't no Way', as well as singing and playing the piano, Miah had given herself a 'huge' amount of work to cope with, but she had done 'an amazing job'.

You're a Star winner singer/song writer Mickey Harte was equally fulsome in his praise, saying that Miah being a singer-songwriter herself 'was right up my street'.

"Your song was a lot like Kate Nash's stuff, and that's good," he said. "With a bit of work and some production it could easily get into the charts."

Emma added that both the song and its performance were 'very believable', and very much telling a story. Mickey said 'keep writing'.

Moving to the next level depends on text voting, which concludes on Friday at 4.40pm. To vote for Miah, text ACT C to 51101.



Brian Byrne.

Agents jib at donations request

Three responses have been received following letters sent to area auctioneers about property sale signs found dumped in Pinkeen Stream.



The letters, sent last March, asked for donations towards the cost of cleaning up the stream. As well as many dumped auctioneers' signs, Pinkeen was also clogged with other rubbish, including 700kg of leaves, litter, supermarket trollies and builders’ rubbish -- left there since nearby estates were built.

But even these three responses required follow-up phone calls from local Tidy Towns activist Ray Kelly, to the letters.

And only one, from Jordan Estates in Newbridge, contained a cheque. The company rebutted direct responsibility for the signs, which were contracted out, but 'understood' the Kilcullen community's feelings.

"The other letter was negative, and I got a phone call from a third saying they had come looking for their sign after the sale, and couldn't find it," Ray Kelly told last night's meeting of Kilcullen Community action, within which the Tidy Towns operation in Kilcullen is managed. "But all they had to do was look over the fence into the stream."

He said he had subsequently contacted Kildare County Council's Litter Warden, Noel Geoghegan, who confirmed that any estate agent sign erected in a public place IS the responsibility of the agent.

"Technically, all such signs are supposed to be erected only on the private property concerned, and otherwise could require planning permission," Ray Kelly said, adding that while KCA was just looking for a donation of €50, if the Litter Warden had picked it up, it would have meant a prosecution and a €150 fine.

Brian Byrne.

(Ed Note: Just to clarify the above, as far as we know there were no Kilcullen-based agents involved in this story. In particular, we've had a note from Dowling Fitzsimons DNG asking us to mention they didn't have signs in the stream, and consequently didn't get any donation request.)

Depicted world values 'unreliable'

The world's values as found in popular magazines are 'unreliable' as guidelines to spiritual growth and decent human living, Fr Paddy Ryan said yesterday.

In his homily at Sunday Mass, he added that those depicted values are often 'the very opposite' of decent living.

He also said that the pressure to go along with fashion and fads is 'enormous'. "Peer pressure doesn't stop at childhood," he cautioned. "Even as adults we often feel the urge to go along with the crowd."

Noting that some of the values we are offered are 'basically selfish', he said that those, such as Christians, who spend their lives for others 'will gain lives'. "We don't set out to look for happiness, we set out to serve, and because we do, happiness comes as a natural result."

He asked those present to take some time in the coming days to look at their own lives, and see whether they evaluate their successes in terms of the Gospel, or in the consumer society's 'offerings of fads and fashions'?

Brian Byrne.

Scouts achieve high standard

Following on from their success in the South Kildare Shield in May, The Kilcullen Badger Patrol teamed up with a 4-scout Mountain Skills team from Naas Scouts to represent South Kildare in the National Phoenix Challenge in Larch Hill from 21-24t August.



The combined patrol set a very high standard throughout the challenge weekend and was awarded the Silver Standard, entitling each member of the patrol to wear the Silver Standard Award on the uniform.

Meanwhile, registrations for 2008/09 are this week at the Den between 7-8 pm.

The troop's own pictures are available in a slide show here.

Beavers - Mon 1st Sept
Cubs - Tues 2nd Sept
Scouts - Thurs 4th Sept

Roy Champ.