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.