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.
