Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Kilcullen in Intermediate semi

Kilcullen face Raheens in the semi-final of the Joe Fox Tool + Plant Hire Intermediate Championship on Saturday. Throw-in is at 3pm. The Rags have done brilliantly to put a poor league season behind them, to regroup and advance to this stage of the championship. Spirits are high in the camp and hopefully the whole parish will get behind the team, and make their way to St.Conleth's Park in Newbridge on Saturday to show their support.

Raheens will provide a stern test, as they defeated a strongly fancied Johnstownbridge outfit in the Quarter Final. Former Laois forward Shane Cooke has been the main man for them so far in the championship. Of course, there are strong links between Raheens and Kilcullen through Kilcullen club stalwart John O'Brien, who was on the Raheens team who were the first Kildare side to win a Leinster club championship in 1982. John's son Kevin is on the current Kilcullen team.

The game on Saturday is part of an attractive double header, with the Senior Semi-Final between Suncroft and Moorefield taking place at 4.30pm. This should be an excellent contest with a large contingent of the Kildare panel involved on either side.

Conor Gleeson.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Kevin runs for kidneys

Kevin Talbot of Kilcullen is running in the Dublin City Marathon in support of The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, on Monday 26 October 2009.

Kevin is the son of Jim and Margaret Talbot. Sponsor cards or contribution or enquiries can be arranged by contacting the Talbot Family; James Nolan, Kilcullen 045-481229; or Phena Bermingham 045-485232 or mobile 087-9767531.

On a different note, Miscellany on Sunday in aid of Michael Garry House Newbridge, will take place at Berminghams, Mooretown Kilcullen, on Sunday, 6th December 2009.

Phena Bermingham.

Pe switches off his shovel

On Friday 25th September, after 34 years and eight months, Peter Keogh from Conroy Park retired from Kilsaran Concrete (formerly Spollen).

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Pe is pictured here beside his Loading Shovel that he drove for more than half of his life.

All his family want to wish Pe all the best in his retirement.

In The Great Hall of the People

Nanchang Monday afternoon. Yesterday I was flown to Beijing along with five other foreigners who are working in education and health in this city. We were treated to a banquet in the imposing Great Hall of the People beside Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. About 1500 foreigners from various parts of China attended.

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The banquet was a thank-you from the government to all those foreign experts who have gone to work in China in various fields since the 'opening up' policy was begun in the early 1980s by Deng Xiaoping. A speech of welcome was made to the throng in one of the Great Hall's many huge meeting rooms by China's State Council Vice-premier, Li Keqiang.

Mr Li appears to be ranked number 7 among the members of the Politburo. He noted especially in the printed translation of his short speech: "The development and achievements made in New China's first 60 years have been the result of the united efforts of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, together with the hard work and dedication of numerous foreign experts, overseas Chinese experts and international friends working in China." He added that the number of overseas experts working in China keeps increasing, reaching 480,000 tours of duty in 2008.

China celebrates the 60th anniversary of Mao Tse Tung's proclamation of the Peoples Republic on 1st October. Before the banquet we were taken by our youthful and attractive interpreter on a short walking tour of Tian'anmen Square and the nearby French-designed opera performance centre. Security around the city is strict and everybody entering the square has to open bags for inspection and submit to electronic body search. The main streets are festooned with national flags and colourful bunting. Only people with permits may watch the big parade in the vicinity of the square. Everybody else can watch it on television.

We overnighted in a nice hotel and flew back today. I caught sight of the Temple of Heaven in a park en route to the hotel. Otherwise it was a tantalising visit, but I was glad to go there and savour the mounting national excitement.

Garreth Byrne.

(ED: Garreth was raised in Kilcullen and teaches English in a university in Nanchang.)

Monday, September 28, 2009

The passing of Matt Doyle

The Diary has learned of the death, in England, of Matt Doyle, late of Halverstown.

His funeral is arriving at St Joseph's Church, Plymouth Grove, Longsight, Manchester, on Thursday at 7 o'clock.

Requiem mass will be celebrated at 10am Friday, after which he will be interred in Millgate Cemetery, Cheadle, Manchester.

A Memorial Mass for the repose of his soul will take place in Kilcullen Parish Church next Sunday morning at 9 o'clock.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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Councillor's clinic times

Cllr Martin Heydon will be commencing clinics in the Kilcullen area.

Starting on 1st October, clinics will be held on the 1st Thursday of every month from 7.45 to 8.15 in Bardon's, Main St and from 8.30 in Hickeys, Calverstown.

For further details contact Martin on 087-6262546 or just drop in.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Family Cycle Day rolls off

The Brannockstown Community Family Cycle Fun Day got off to a good rolling start this afternoon, with in excess of a hundred riders of all ages taking part.



Local resident and financial guru Eddie Hobbs dropped the flag to start the event, which is raising funds for the community. When everybody got back to The Stray Inn, there was music, dancing and prize-giving.

Halverstown celebrates



On Friday night in Fallons, and and on Saturday at the school, St Joseph's NS in Halverstown celebrated its 50th anniversary and officially opened its two new classrooms.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Freddie's return

Before he finished last night's full house gig in the Town Hall Theatre, Freddie White promised that he wouldn't leave it as long to come back again, as the more than two decades since he sang last in Kilcullen, in Berney's back room.

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And he asked the organisers, Ray and Fiona Kelly, to 'keep the live music going'. "Otherwise we'll all starve," he added, with his trademark easy grin.

Though the Diary couldn't get there until the second half of the show, it was apparent that it had been a good one. And the audience were, on a smaller scale, like those who filled the O2 for the recent series of Leonard Cohen concerts. Enjoying it, appreciating the old and the new, savouring the revealed soul of the singer.

Our own Roy Thompson opened the show, and Freddie several times paid tribute to the performance of our own local troubadour.

We hope you've already booked them both again, Ray.

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Friday, September 25, 2009

To Arthur!

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At just a couple of minutes to the magic moment of 17:59 on Thursday evening, the regulars in The Spout raised their glasses in a toast 'to Arthur', courtesy of landlord Billy Dowling.

New trust for CPC

The trusteeship of Cross & Passion College was passed over to a new combined Catholic Schools Trust, Le Cheile, at a ceremony last evening in the College.

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Pictured at the event are Eilish Humphries, CEO Le Cheile Trust; Paul Tyrrell, Principal, CPC; and Sr Anne Harnett, Chair of the CPC Board of Management.

The move ended an era of over 120 years of trusteeship by the Cross & Passion sisters of education in Kilcullen.

(A full report will appear in next Wednesday's Kildare Nationalist.)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Sink a pint this evening

Possibly the best global marketing event of the century, and maybe even two and a half centuries, today is 'Arthur's Day'. Whether or not, it seems as good an excuse as any to sink a pint of the black stuff.

The time: a minute to 6pm. The venue: any pub in town.

To Arthur!

Mini Marathon presentation

The 2009 Ladies Mini Marathon team in aid of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund presentated a €17,500 cheque to James Nolan, chairman of the charity, on Tuesday night.

James thanked all the ladies and their sponsors. It was a very generous amount, especially in the current recession.

Sonia Tracey from Newbridge gave a moving and informative account of her struggle with a life of dialysis and the difficulty of getting well enough to go on the transplant list. On September 4 she got on that list and is now waiting for a kidney.

Padraig Maloney, from Kilcullen is awaiting home dialysis.

Sonia, Padraig and James appealed for organ donors. Many of us would have heard the discussion last week on Joe Duffy's 'Liveline'. Having taken the decision to be an organ donor it's necessary to make family aware, fill in a donor card or tick the relevant box on your Driving Licence.

The need is great. Our fundraiser got wonderful support. We thank all who donated or helped in any way. Kilcullen Credit Union, James and all the staff in Nolans, Vivienne and Valerie at the Parish Centre, Brian Byrne of the Kilcullen Diary and The Kildare Nationalist, Frances Clare of The Bridge, Kay Byrne of the Kildare Nationalist, Michelle Hourihane from the Leinster Leader, the group who served the meal after the race, Dermot Mitchell, and James Nolan, who provided the food.

Last but not least, the wonderful ladies who gave up their day to do the mini marathon for a local charity deserve a huge 'thank you'.

Phena Bermingham.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Phone books the new dinosaurs?

The new phone books were delivered last weekend. And reminded me how long it has been since I used one. Or, to be precise, that I can't remember the last time I did.

How quickly things change. More

Class of '81' meets up

In 1981 they were the first sixth year class to graduate from the new Scoil Bhride, and their teachers reflected three generations of their profession, Sr Lelia of the Cross & Passion Sisters, who had taught for many years in the old Girls School, Brian Keyes who had worked through from his tenure in the old Boys School, and Maurice O’Mahony, now the Scoil Bhride Principal.

Some 32 boys and 26 girls set out from the school for the next stage in their lives, building hopes and dreams. Many of them came back to a reunion in Bardons a little while back to talk about the past, and the present. They remembered too, those of their schoolmates no longer with us, Seamus Mackey and Michael Bathe.

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It was going to be a good night. It was a good night.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Ladies take time out

A new Ladies Club which started last week has the combined aim of giving local women some time to themselves and also offer a direct connection to them with local organisations and businesses.

Set up by Olivia Byrne, the club will meet every second Monday in Kilcullen Parish Centre. She has planned a series of practical talks and discussions as part of the programme, including input from The Body Shop, The Hair Emporium, and local optometrist Nichola Kennedy.

"We'll also have a chef in to talk about healthy eating, information from the Marie Keating Foundation, and lots of other things, depending on what the ladies want themselves," Olivia says.

She also hopes that the Club will act as a focus where newcomers to Kilcullen like herself can meet up with each other, and with women originally from the town, building up the sense of community. Olivia herself has become quite involved in a number of activities in the parish, and recently revamped the parish website.

"It will be a place and time of no children, none of the outside issues, but just an hour or two where the women can be themselves. I decided to start it after a number of them asked for something like this. We'll see how it develops, but I think at least if you're in a relaxed situation you'll talk to the person beside you, even if you've never met her before."

She laughs. "That's the theory, anyhow. We'll see how it works out."

Brian Byrne.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Venue change

Just a note to say that this weekend's dinner dance as part of Halverstown NS's 50th celebrations will be on Friday night in Fallons, and not Saturday night as originally planned.

Positive Ageing Week

The parish of Kilcullen in association with the Kilcullen Senior Citizens group are looking forward to promoting Positive Ageing Week (25th September-3rd October).

There will be a Coffee and Social morning in our parish centre on Thursday 1st October 10am-1pm. We are inviting everybody the age of 55 years and up to join us on this morning which promises to be filled with Music, Irish dancing, Photos, Story Telling and a celebration of the contributions which older people have made, and continue to make to our community and parish.

Advice will also be given on how to emphasise the positive aspects of ageing for older people in our community. Tea, Coffee and some edibles will also be provided on the morning.

If you would like to help or contribute to the organising or sponsoring of this morning we would be glad to hear from you. Call Hannah 0879365767.

Hannah Evans.

Freddie back this weekend

"It was the early eighties when I was last in Kilcullen. I used to play in Berneys when Pat Keane ran it. I've travelled a long way since, and I'm still travelling. But it'll be nice to be back in the town."

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Two decades on, Freddie White is a musical icon. But he's more, much more. A true self-contained musician. A modern version of the medieval troubadour, going from town to town, singing his stories. Country to country too, which was more difficult for his counterparts in the middle ages. He's currently doing a lot of work in Holland and Belgium, and, more recently, Denmark.

Over the years, Freddie doesn't think he's changed much. "I still do music basically that I love to do," he says in that native Cork accent that works so pleasantly in between sets. "I don't do music that I think people want to hear, I do music that I like to play." Whatever, it has worked for Freddie down the decades and he's still happily making a living doing simply what he loves to do. "I'm privileged in that sense."

Very much a solo performer all his life, at the moment Freddie is working with a few other musicians in Cork, a 'kind of a band', and with them building up a new album. "Again, though, it's a labour of love with me, as it always has been. But I'm strictly a solo performer, and I'll be playing solo in Kilcullen."

There are a few of Freddie's own songs on the developing album, just as there were on his most recent one launched a year ago. He's good at that, though he still maintains that he is very happy just interpreting the songs of the people in the business he admires the most, such as Randy Newman, Tom Waits, John Hiatt and Guy Clark. But he was a writer from his early days.

"I used to write my own songs when I was in school. Then I started busking in London when I was in my early 20s, playing the songs that I liked to hear. I didn't have an inkling about career motivation or anything like that, I was basically just a bum on the road, hanging around with my buddies there."

When he came back to Ireland, it was in Dublin that his career took off, playing the clubs and pubs like Toners, with musicians such as Sonny Condell. "I started playing these songs that I had been doing and they went down a bomb. So I didn't see the need to keep writing my own. And I was getting songs from the people who were the best in the world as far as I was concerned."

Freddie is still doing that today, but he has gone back to writing again. "Every record I bring up has a few. 'Stormy Lullaby' has some, including one I co-wrote with Jimmy McCarthy, who has done stuff for Mary Black and Christy and people like that."

'Jimmy Mac' is an old friend of Freddie's, they knew each other in school. And there's also Jim Barret, another local writer, and there's one on the CD written with him, as well as a few of Freddie’s own.

No more than any other business, music has been hit by the recession tsunami, but Freddie says, despite some venues 'being a bit sparse', he's 'ticking over OK'. "People say to me that recession is good for the arts, but the last recession we had here was in the 80s ... and all my audiences emigrated. They were all young, and I had to emigrate myself because of it."

His audiences these days are a wider mix, certainly in ages. "They are people who grew up with me, and their kids. They bring their kids along, and in some cases their grand-kids, so there's often a house of at least two generations, and sometimes three. Particularly around the Dublin area, where I cut my teeth over the 20 years I lived there and where my career blossomed."

It'll be interesting to see how many generations turn up in Kilcullen to hear the amiable Corkman do his much-delayed return gig in the town, in the Town Hall Theatre on Sept 25.

Kilcullen's own modern troubador, Roy Thompson, will open the show, which has been organised by local community man and music lover Ray Kelly.

Tickets are available from Berneys Chemist, Kilcullen, or by calling 087 2636375. The best of music in County Kildare's most intimate theatre venue.

Brian Byrne.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Des Travers on war crimes investigation

Local resident Lieut-Colonel Des Travers spoke at length on 'The News at One' RTE Radio News programme today about his investigation of war crimes during the most recent war between Hamas and the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza.

Des had been part of a UN Human Rights Council investigation sent to interview people affected by the three week war, which took place at the turn of the year, after which Israeli, Palestinian, and international human rights groups reported that more than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed, including more than 700 civilians.

The UN team was led by former South African judge Richard Goldstone. He said they had found that there was strong evidence to establish that numerous serious violations of international law, both humanitarian law and human rights law, were committed by Israel during the military operations in Gaza.

“The mission concluded that actions amounting to war crimes and possibly, in some respects, crimes against humanity, were committed by the Israel Defense Force,” he said.

Their report has been criticised as 'unimpartial' by the US and Israel. Des was also part of a mission that reported on alleged war crime acts during the last Israeli attack on Lebanon.

Suicide intervention course

Kilcullen Lions Club is offering a two-day training course aimed at making people more aware of suicide and how to intervene to prevent it.

The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is being run in conjunction with Aware, the national organisation for dealing with depression.

The event will be held in the KARE Centre (the former Cross & Passion Convent) on the weekend commencing October 9.

The Lions Club has circulated residents associations and other organisations in Kilcullen asking them to nominate participants.

The two-day course will run from 9am-5.15pm over the weekend, and full participation over the two days is required in order to receive an ASIST certificate.

Further information is available from Carmel Gleeson, secretary of the Club, at 087 9026102. Email gallaghergleeson@hotmail.com

Carer & Toddler Group

The Kilcullen Community Carer & Toddler Group meets every Wednesday mornings between 10.30-12.30 in the Parish Centre.

All carers and their toddlers are welcome to come and play with the toys, try arts and crafts, yoga, and other kinds of fun.

Juice and Fair Trade Coffee are provided. There's a suggested donation of €3 per family. Visit kilcullentoddlergroup.com for further information.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Sorry about that ...

Apologies for the low level of posting this past week, but your Editor was busy at the Frankfurt Motor Show and it wasn't possible to keep things up to the normal rate. BB

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The passing of Anna Coleman

The Diary has learned of the death of Anna Coleman, who died in England, late of Logstown, Kilcullen and Courttown Harbour, Co Wexford

Anna's funeral will arrive at the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Brigid, Kilcullen on Friday evening at 7.30

Requiem Mass on Saturday at 11 O' Clock and funeral afterwards to New Abbey Cemetery.

May she rest in peace.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Nuala on a Winning Streak

Nuala Egan won the the chance to spin the wheel on tonight's Winning Streak progamme on RTE TV.

With €27,000 and a holiday already won, her spin netted her a further €25,000.

The show gave away a total of €233,600.

Stagecoach meeting

The Open Meeting for the Stagecoach theatre arts school will take place in CPC next Wednesday evening beginning at 6pm.

The school is for children and teenagers aged 4-18 and the meeting will offer a flavour of the Stagecoach experience in advance of enrolment.

Further information from 045 484879 or stagecoach.ie/kildare.

It Says In The Bridge: September 09

Back from its summer break, the September Bridge catches us up on a number of local events and happenings, leading with the news that agreement has finally been reached on the public access to Carnalway issue.

For many older Kilcullen people, the 'magical' spot which has been in contention over recent years is now open to the public again after a ruling in Naas Circuit Court in July.

The local community expresses its appreciation for the cooperation of the landowner, and Brannockstown Community Committee is undertaking a regular litter cleanup, and has put up signs warning against litter and anti-social behaviour.

The magazine also notes that the annual Community Awards night is upcoming in October, and asks for nominations. The pictures at the bottom of the page may be showing some contenders, marking athletic achievements by Kathryn Weir, James Nolan and Katie Berney.

In other news, we read that the Community Directory is to be updated, get pictures from the Kilcullen event marking Heritage Week, and get a bunch of pictorial congratulations for weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. Respectively, Amanda Tyrell and Niall Howe who recently tied the knot, Ann and Peter Sully who hit their 40th anniversary, and Jack McDonald who celebrated his 60th anniversary.

(Your editor managed to tip his hat to the 65 birthday mark a week or so ago and kept it quiet!)

The main story on the Parish Page is about the Grandparents Day mass today, Saturday 12th. There are also numerous pictures from the Parish Golf Classic & Social which earned much-needed funds.

That picture of the Scoil Bhride Class of 1980/81 which we recently featured here also gets space, and we know there will be coverage of the reunion of the class next month.

The editorial this month wonders if the business community in Kilcullen is lacking in leadership to help it forge a way through the recession. It suggests a Chamber of Commerce might be an idea?

Features include a recollection of a visit by the late Senator Ted Kennedy about 30 years ago, while staying with Tony O'Reilly in Castlemartin. Billy Redmond muses on the 'devious antics' of women when they have a purchase in mind, and Bernard Berney ponders on his relationship with Jesus. He also gets in a piece about the Prayer Group, which he attended for the first time recently 'with considerable reservations'. But he'll go again.

Sean Landers writes from Taiwan on being lucky to have a job, high winds, and a slightly convoluted family connection with the late Michael Jackson. By the way, Sean too has had a quiet birthday, his 56th. Congrats, our wild goose in Asia.

Bits and pieces include the plans for the upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations at Halverstown NS, the news that a new trust which has been set up to manage the school properties of several religious congregations, Le Cheile, will now also hold the responsibility for the the CPC. There's pictorial coverage of the Class of 2009 Debs too.

Sports comes from badminton, soccer, pitch & putt and GAA. Buy the magazine. It's the tangible link of Kilcullen old and new. And if it hadn't been there almost 40 years ago, neither would the Kilcullen Diary be here today.

Brian Byrne.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Community Awards night set

Kilcullen Community Action has decided on 23rd Oct as the date for the Community Awards.

Nominations for community awards are welcome and can be sent by email

Grandparents Mass

There's a special Mass & Blessing for grandparents this coming weekend, which will include prayers for grandparents left in to the church by the children of the parish.

The day is organised in conjunction with the Grandparents Day in Knock Shrine.

Calverstown recycles

Eddie Smith of Calverstown was the winner of a home composting unit in a draw at the recent very successful WEE day organised by Calverstown Tidy Towns Committee.

Village residents had the opportunity to bring along olds waste electronic and electricial equipment to be collected at the event free of charge by professional waste management companies.

The event was sponsored by Irish Metal Refineries of Duleek, Co Meath. Greenclean Waste Management handled the battery recycling component of the day.

Brannockstown cycle fundraiser

A family Fun Cycle event is being organised by Brannockstown Community Committee for Sunday 2 September.

The fundraiser will begin at 2pm at the Stray Inn and involves a 10 kilometre circuit, with shortcuts available for those who find themselves a little too challenged by that.

There are prizes for the best turned out cyclist, best fancy dress, most unusual bicycle and for the oldest bicycle.

Sponsorship cards are available from Steve Schwer at 483691, Lance O'Brien at 483886, Mary Carter at 483966 or Jacinta Sully at 483636.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Flowers funds need help

Although there has been a very generous response to the Summer Flowers fundraising appeal, Kilcullen Community Action is still open to donations towards the €10,000 cost of the very beautiful village-wide displays.

The recent Collection Day raised over €1,500 and Kildare County Council has pledged an €800 grant. A number of businesses and individuals have also contributed to the cost. If anyone else wants to contribute they should send the money to Kieran Forde, Main Street, or to any member of KCA.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Childrens Eyecare Week

Kilcullen-based optometrist Nichola Kennedy has just sent in a reminder that next week is National Childrens Eyecare week, 14th-19th September.

It's an opportunity for parents to have their childs vision screened for any deficiency. The campaign by the Association of Optometrists (AOI) includes a special eye test its members are offering for young children to help detect any sight problems early, which enables the best treatment options. Proper levels of eye care can help prevent vision problems which can affect a child throughout their life.

AOI Optometric Advisor, Lynda McGivney Nolan, said that Irish children are missing out on early visual assessments compared to their European counterparts which is leading to many visual problems going undetected until it is too late to reverse them.

“Ideally all children should have their vision assessed by the age of three and then again at five, but many children in Ireland are not being seen until much later, if at all through the National School Screening system. This results in children being referred to the community ophthalmologist for further testing, but it can take up to two years depending on where you live to get an appointment. This delay can have huge consequences for a child's visual development."

Independent Optometrists participating in this campaign will have the 'Bright Eyes For Back to School' posters on display, and as well as offering this screening will have information leaflets for parents. The screening is available to any child of school-going age.

Call Nichola on 045-484643 and she'll give all the details.

PKRF presentation soon

The presentation of a cheque to James Nolan on Tuesday 22 September will be the highlight culmination of the effort earlier this year by the ladies who competed in the Flora Womens Mini Marathon on behalf of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund.

On the night, James will also speak on the Transplant Games in Australia, from which he recently came home with a bronze medal.

Organiser Phena Bermingham has made a final call for any outstanding sponsorship cards to be returned before the presentation.

Monday, September 07, 2009

School books for Tanzania?

Have you any old school books lying unused at home? If so, they could be very useful to a school in Tanzania which resulted from the work and vision of Brownstown-born Fr Dan Noud.

If you want to help, the books most needed are those relating to Junior and Leaving Cert Maths, English Grammar, Biology, Physics, Business Studies and Accounting.

It doesn't matter that they might be out of date in regards to the Irish curriculum.

Contact Miontini at 085 1182776.

Get involved in Daisy Days

Daisy Days takes place on September 10th, 11th and 12th 2009 and we need volunteers to help us with the collections in Newbridge and Naas

Aware is calling on all who are concerned about depression and suicide to join us on Daisy Days and help to raise funds for the vital support, information and education services that the organisation provides. This is their biggest fundraiser each year and we really need your help. Don't underestimate the difference that even an hour of your time can make. All of the funds raised during Daisy Days go directly to the organisation.

This is an ideal opportunity to do something positive: depression is something which can affect any one of us at any time in our lives, and it's important that we all work together to encourage a more open and understanding society, where anyone who is affected by depression can feel able to access the help and support available. Aware depends on fundraising events like this for over 80% of it's funding each year, and Daisy Days is their single largest annual event.

Collectors can give whatever time they can to the collections on any or all of the three days. Even one hour can help us greatly, but of course the more time you can give, the greater the opportunity for local people to contribute to the event.

Aware is making a difference, and you can too.

Please volunteer now by emailing your phone number to mariseoshouse@gmail.com or text 086 8267104 and we will phone you to make arrangements.

Damian celebrates big 40

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Damian Redmond celebrated his 40th birthday on Saturday night in Bardons. He's pictured here with his wife Fiona.

Freddie White by the Liffey

Just a reminder that Irish rock legend Freddie White plays Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre Sept 25. And our own Roy Thompson will open the show.

Tickets are available from Berneys Chemist, Kilcullen, or by calling 087 2636375. The best of music in County Kildare's most intimate theatre venue.

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Aware Table Quiz

A Table Quiz is being held in The Hideout on Monday, September 7, with the proceeds being donated to Aware.

A Table of four costs €30, payable on the night. Proceedings begin at 9pm.

Aware is a national voluntary organisation providing support through depression. The organisation undertakes to create a society where people with depression are understood and supported, are free from stigma, and have access to a broad range of appropriate therapies to enable them to reach their full potential.

Services include support groups nationwide, a loCall Helpline open 365 days a year (both services available to individuals with depression and also family members and friends) Beat the Blues secondary schools awareness programme, depression awareness and information talks and seminars, and a free information service. For more information call 01 661 7211, email info@aware.ie

Sharon celebrates



Family and friends helped Sharon Behan Dooley celebrate her birthday in O'Connells on Saturday night. Sharon lives on the Isle of Man.

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Memory Lane: The Class of '81

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The Scoil Bhride Class Photo of the 1980/81 Year above, the first class to leave the new school, include the following:

Teachers: Sr Lelia, Maurice O’Mahony and Principal Brian Keyes.
Boys: David Price, Liam Keogh, Patrick Sully, Donal Broe, John Joe McGrath, Ger O’Connell, Michael Lambe, Gavin Hegarty, Fabian O’Leary, Seamus Mackey (RIP), John Archbold, Eddie Carey, Jason Pembroke, John Cooper, Gavin O’Connor, Ciaran Curran, Niall Coleman, Kieran O’Reilly, Michael Bathe (RIP), Lorcan Birchall, Philip McEnteer, Mark McEnteer, Brian Bergin, Michael Nugent, David Jones, Willie Fitzpatrick, Jamie Berney, Myles Kenny, Richard O’Brien, David Wallace & Damien Aulsberry.
Girls: Catriona Byrne, Adrienne Barker, Jean McGrane, Trish O’Sullivan, Margaret Doran, Martina Crowe, Suzanne Dempsey, Paula Orford, Nichola McGrane, Regina Birchall, Mary O’Neill, Maria Tyrell, Elizabeth McCarton, Maeve Collins, Lorraine Broughall, Helena Emmanuel, Anita Reddy, Deirdre Groves, Caroline Hutchinson, Helena Dowling, Martina Murphy, Esther Reddy, Orla Murphy, Trish Lambe, Ann Peacocke, Siobhan Carroll.

Many of the class were involved in a reunion get-together in Bardons.

Friday, September 04, 2009

Still time to join GAA golfers

Kilcullen GAA's biggest fundraiser of the year, the annual Golf Outing, takes place in Baltinglass GC next Friday, September 11.

It's a shotgun start at 2pm, and while there has been a strong level of participation there are still slots available for teams of four at €200. Tee-box sponsorship is available at €50. Anybody seeking further info, or to take up sponsorship opportunities, contact 086 0692544.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

New parish website address

Kilcullen Parish now has a new website thanks to Olivia Byrne who, with Mary Barber, produces the weekly Parish Newsletter.

The address is kilcullenparish.net and over a period of time she will be adding in the information from the original site and the temporary blogspot which was maintained by Fr Murphy.

It is also hoped that regular podcasts will be a feature of the site.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Good turnout for Cúl Camp

Some 147 youngsters from the locality took part in the recent Kilcullen GAA VHI Cúl Summer Camp.

gaacuil

The coaching was organised by County Board Development Officer Tadgh Fennin with a number of colleagues.

Kilcullen GAA PRO Jennifer Shortt said the event had been more successful than the club had imaged, and she added that the large number of girls who took part was excellent.

"Most of them came from Scoil Bhride NS, which shows there must be very good encouragement there for girls to get involved in sport," she said.

Pictured are (front): Emily McGlinchey, Avril Glendán, Aoife Coughlan, Megan Fogarty, Martin Sully, Tiernan Fitzpatrick and (back) Jennifer Shortt, Brian Kenny, Tadgh Fennin, Darach McDonnacadha, Brendan Cawley, Adrian Dunne, Bart Blanchfield, Brian D'Arcy, Fiona Murphy, Corrine O'Hara.

First Responders seek new members

Kilcullen First Responders are seeking new volunteers for their potentially lifesaving service.

If you live or work in the Kilcullen area, you could train as a responder and deal with sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack or stroke victims, which kill thousands of people eack year at home, in the workplace, or while at leisure activities.

First responder members are trained to provide early intervention in such emergencies, while awaiting the arrival of emergency personnel.

Training by the Eastern Region Ambulance Service includes diagnosis and initial treatment for a range of emergencies, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), relief of choking, and the operation of an automated external defribrillator.

Without early intervention in the case of cardiac arrest, for instance, the chances of long-term survival decline by as much as 10 percent a minute.

If you are interested, contact 087 6791005

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Good money outcome to vintage rally

The latest Mac & Norman’s Vintage Rally organised by a group of Kennycourt people in aid of cancer services was ‘bigger and better than ever’.

Although the money taken in was down on last year, as would be expected in the current circumstances, the turnout for the event exceeded all expectations, says Ann Sully, the driving force behind the Rally.

“We had nearly 300 vehicles entered, including tractors, motorbikes, vintage cars, even an old double-decker bus. We actually ran out of plaques for entrants.”

With almost €18,000 lodged the day after the event, to be presented to the Irish Cancer Society, Ann says she is ‘happy and delighted’ with the financial outcome. “I was expecting maybe €5,000-€10,000 this year, but people are very generous even in tough times.”