Google car in Kilcullen

If you were out and about in Kilcullen today it may be that you will be immortalized on the Internet.

The Google car that photogaphs streets and buildings to provide 3D images for Google Maps was spotted in town.

So at some stage in the future, Kilcullen's streetscape, and even some of its people, are going to be part of that whole Google universe that has arguably become the Fifth Dimension.

Hope you were all smiling!

'Thanks' from Olivia

Olivia Keaveney would like to thank all those who helped with and supported her recent Tea Morning in the Parish centre, in aid of Alzheimers research.

The event raised €1,300 towards the national Alzheimers ‘Big Brew’ fundraiser.

“We were really pleased with the support,” says Olivia Keaveney, who organised the event with the help of Petra Conroy and Michael and Nancy Fitzpatrick.

Olivia runs a regular Thursday ‘getting together’ tea morning at the Centre, but for this special event really pushed out the boat with a mouth-watering selection of cakes, pavlovas, sandwiches, and, of course, copious refills of the brew itself.

GAA Feile this weekend

This coming weekend Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July, Kilcullen GAA welcomes team Coralstown/Kinnegad from Co Westmeath to Féile Peil na nÓg Chill Dara 2009.

Féile Peil na nÓg is a national festival of Gaelic football for boys and girls under 14 years of age. Each year approximately 30,000 boys and girls from each of the 32 counties, and some teams from the UK, Europe and USA, participate in Féile. A preliminary competition is held in each county for the right to represent the county at the Féile finals. The winning club then travels to the host county which is Kildare 2009, where the players and mentors are hosted by all GAA clubs in the county. This great event emphasises the importance on team participation, presentation, punctuality and sportsmanship.

The inaugural Féile Peil na nÓg took place in Cavan in 1982 with 25 visiting teams, representing 21 counties. This year Feile Chill Dara look forward to welcoming over 160 teams, their mentors, families and supporters, from every county of Ireland, especially our overseas participants. Féile has grown over the years and is without doubt one of the highlights of the sporting calendar.

It is recognised by the GAA as a major festival of great importance for the promotion of football among the youth of our country. This weekend in Kildare promises matches of great drama and quality, played in a fantastic spirit with unrivalled hospitality. This is only possible thanks to the many volunteers, parents, mentors, GAA clubs and especially host families throughout Kildare for their time and effort in preparing for Féile Chill Dara.

Kilcullen GAA club have the pleasure of hosting a boys Feile team this year from Co Westmeath, but in previous Feile competitions we hosted teams from St Brendan’s from London in 1987 and St Loman’s from Westmeath in 1988.

The Feile team will be presented with their new gear this coming Thursday night at 7.30pm in the clubhouse.

On Friday 3rd, the events start at 1.30pm with the arrival of the hosted team from Coralstown/Kinnegad and the first game is at 2.45pm. At around 5pm both teams, mentors and supporters head over to Newbridge for the main parade.

On Saturday 4th the second round of games start at 9.30am until 12.30pm at the clubhouse. Also the Skills competition will be held at 11am, where each team in their division will put forward one player to test his skills.

All are welcome to come and be part of the buzz.

Jennifer Shortt.

Fun evening at Steiner School

It was a really special evening for the pupils of the Kildare Steiner School on Friday last when they celebrated St John's Festival with music and dancing, a bonfire, barbecue and some glorious weather.



The event was equally enjoyable for their parents, friends of the school and the first time visitors who came along to see the school's facilities and how it has grown over the past year.

Threatened with some midsummer showers, the evening actually went off without any weather mishap.

Prior to the lighting of the bonfire and the provision of the food, those who were intrested had a chance to look around the school's three buildings as well as play areas for both youngest and older children.

The school also has a new covered in barbecue area with its own earth pizza oven. In addition to having goodies from that section, salads, breads, cold meats and desserts were all provided by parents and friends of the school to help make the St John's Festival a truly enjoyable evening for all.

Music on her mind

Finishing her Leaving Cert exams recently gave Rachel Rynne-Lyons from Brannockstown a chance to draw her breath and look forward to a trip to Italy at the end of next month.

But it will be a study trip, because Rachel and three musician friends will be taking part in a 10-day chamber music course, Concorda.

The trip has been made possible by a €6,000 grant from the Arts Council Young Ensembles Scheme.

Rachel, with Ella Adler, Laura Dungan and Seraphim Dempsey are the Rebelsa Quartet. They formed in 2007 and have been very successful, winning the Junior Chamber Music Cup in the 2008 Feis Ceoil, the Dublin Youth Orchestras Chamber Music Comeptition, and the DIT Chamber Music Competition last year.

All four are members of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, the Dublin Youth Orchestra’s Symphony Orchestra, and the DIT Symphony Orchestra. Among their other performances have been 'A Night of American Music', 'The Magic Flute', and several concerto concerts.

Rachel has been playing since she was about five, when she was first introduced to the violin by a cousin. For the past eight years she has studied at the Dublin Conservatoire with David O'Doherty, and she has been Leader of the Dublin Youth Symphony Orchestra for the last year.

Last year she travelled to China with the National Youth Orchestra, and at the end of this month will be part of a 10-day orchestra tour taking in Dublin, Belfast and Glasgow. On Tuesday 7 July she will be performing with the NYOI and world renowned percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie in the National Concert Hall.

Rachel's talent was recently recognised locally by Kildare County Council when they gave her a grant of €500 towards upgrading her violin.

Now that her second level studies are over, she's looking to a future either in Medicine or Music.

Brian Byrne.

(This article appeared on the Kilcullen Page of last week's Kildare Nationalist.)

Call to keep town tidy

Tidy Towns judging will be taking place over the coming weeks and we ask that all residents and businesses in the town make an extra effort to keep the town clean and tidy.

Well done to all the businesses who have painted and brightened up their premises, the resident committees who have their estates looking great. With almost all the window flowers boxes are up and the Bridge flowers in place, the town is looking good.

The Valley Park is one area where litter is a problem. Anyone using the park should use the bins in place and not leave litter lying around. The approach roads are other areas which need constant litter removal - again we ask all residents to take their litter home.



Kildare County Council's litter team are in the town on a regular basis and their efforts along with the Tidy Towns litter picks, have improved the cleanliness of the town significantly. This Council service is invaluable to the Tidy Towns effort and hopefully the funding issues we all hear about will not impact the service.



Remember it is your town so be proud of it and do your bit to keep it neat and tidy.

Ray Kelly, KCA.

Soccer Summer School

A Soccer Summer School will be run at the All-Weather pitch in the Community Centre between 6-10 July.

The times will be 10.30am-3pm, and booking can be done online at www.fai.ie, or call 1890 653653.

The school is for boys and girls aged 7-15.

Good feedback on Chruinniú

Organiser of the second Chruinniú Chríost Petra Conroy says she is very pleased with how the second event went off a couple of Sundays ago.

Beginning with the arrival of four crosses from different areas of the parish, the gathering then went in procession to an open air mass at the playing fields of Scoil Bhride NS. The mass was celebrated by Bishop Eamonn Walsh along with the local clergy.

“I was really delighted at the turnout again,” says Petra Conroy. “I had wondered if, in the second one, the novelty factor might be gone and we’d get a much reduced number. But that didn’t happen.”

And Petra has had considerable feedback from those attending that they enjoyed it, and it was a worthwhile occasion, despite the rain that eventually turned the end of the mass into an umbrella event.

With the ‘good vibes’ from this second Chruinniú, she is confident that it will be done again next year, and looks set to become a fixture in the parish calendar.

Petra is also very grateful to all who helped in the organisation of the day, and the local area gatherings which had taken place in the weeks before.

“There were so many, that I’m not going to name them individually, because somebody might be left out. But I know who they are, and I thank them very much.”

Burglars about!

Gardai disturbed raiders at the Eurospar Supermarket when they set off the alarm during a raid.

The intruders were trying to get away with cigarettes. Kilcullen gardai would like to hear from anyone who might be able to help with the investigation. Phone 045 481212

Also, Brennan's pub in Old Kilcullen was also targeted by thieves who broke a plate glass window by throwing beer kegs through it. They escaped with just some bottles of spirits.

A burned out car was later found in the area, according to local people.

CPC computer tuition praised

An initiative where local people were trained in the basic use of computers by students from Cross & Passion College's Transition Year was praised by Sean O Fearghaill TD when he visited the school recently to present certificates to participants.

Materials developed by Intel were used in a series of eight sessions where those taking part were introduced to a range of computer skills, from switching on to shopping online.

The 'Log on and Learn' programme would have a 'significant impact' on those who took part, Deputy O Fearghaill said, from both practical and social points of view.

He also presented students with certificates for taking part in Comhairle na nOg and the Model European debate, which aimed to develop the awareness of participants of politics and improve their debating skills.

Garden visit for KARE

A garden event in Old Kilcullen on the weekend of 4/5 July will raise funds for KARE, the Kildare organisation for helping people with disability.

It is being held at the Shortt residence, down the road from Old Kilcullen's medieval Round Tower, and will include a plant sale, cake stall and a raffle.

Admission for the 'Open Garden' weekend will be €6, which will include tea. For further information, contact Mary at 045 481389. The time on both the Saturday and Sunday will be from 1-6pm.

Ballysax NS raises Green Flag

St Brigid's NS in Ballysax has gained its first Green Flag, and it was raised last week in a ceremony which also showed off the artistic talents of a number of the students.



The school has a catchment area that includes sections of south-west Kilcullen, and many Kilcullen people will remember the Principal of the school, Michael Kelleher, who taught in Schoil Bhride for many years.

Making people feel good

Amy O'Connell's new business venture, The Powder Room, is something of a coming home. Because the premises where she has set up her new beauty salon is where her grandparents lived and also ran a very popular sweetshop back in the 1950s.

The sweetshop was strategically placed, directly opposite the cinema. There was always a rush to it during the interval between the 'short' and the main feature.

For its new purpose, the location is still strategic. Beside Fallons Cafe Bar, across from Ruby Shoes and not far from Paul's restaurant. Just down the hill from the Bridal Boutique and a cluster of other fashion shops in Kilcullen. The Powder Room won't be overlooked by their customers.

For a man, there's a mystique about a beauty salon. Secrets, strange words, exotic techniques. So this writer will just run them off without attempting explanation. If you use them, you'll know. Facials by Decleor. Aromaplasty. Liss Age. Swedish body massage. Waxing (ouch!). Electrolysis. Lash and Eye Treatments. Nail Care, make-up, spray and instant tan. Gel nails.

Hold on, though. There's a list of 'Mens Treatments' too. Including eyebrow care, manicure and facials. And wax for back or chest (ouch again!)

"It is mainly a women's thing," says Amy. "But over the last decade, men have been getting more into grooming and looking after themselves too. So about five percent of clients in salons and spas are men."

Amy spent five years working as a flight attendant before deciding that she wanted to get her feet on the ground again. She considered nursing, and spend some time working in a hospice before deciding that, though she liked it, it wasn't to be a career choice.

"I liked people, and I liked making people feel good, so I went and qualified as a beautician," she says. "I got a job at Killashee Hotel Spa when it was starting up, and that gave me a very good grounding not just in working in the business, but what was involved in getting a new place off the ground."

Although, she adds with a grin, on a much different scale than her own new enterprise.

Amy went on to work at Marrons Beauty Clinic in Clane, where she spent more than three years before deciding to set up on her own back in her home town.

“I absolutely loved it there and when I left it was on a good note -- they came down to wish me well when I opened.”

Her grandparents wouldn't recognise their home today, but would probably be well pleased at the transformation. The 'sweetshop' is now the Powder Room reception area, and the rest of the house incorporates three general treatment rooms, a pedicure room, a sunbed room and a room for spray tanning.

That last is taking over from the sunbed treatments which have been popular for decades, and Amy offers three different systems because everybody’s skin is different.

Amy emphasises that beauty treatments are not all about vanity, but about helping people feel good about themselves. “A lot of it is maintenance, so to speak. But there’s also an element of coming in for half an hour, or an hour, when they haven’t kids around, nobody annoying them. You could say it is a bit of an oasis.”

It is a very personal business, Amy says, and one where people need to have somebody they can trust, and not be afraid to ask questions. “I think the secret of success in this business is to give people your time, listen to them, don’t rush them in and out, and that’s how I plan to run The Power Room.”

Although her client base will be in part built up from her network of friends, many of them in Dublin, Amy reckons Kilcullen and its hinterland is now big enough to provide a good business base.

Even in a recession, though? “Well, people don’t stop looking after themselves. Maybe they extend the times between visits, which has happened in the hairdressing business, but we all budget and balance to give ourselves whatever we can afford of the good things.”

And in tough times, a little bit of pampering can do a lot to lift the gloom.

Brian Byrne.

(This article appeared on the Kilcullen Page of last week's Kildare Nationalist.)

The passing of Phoebe Morrissey

The Diary has learned of the death of Phoebe Morrissey, late of Castlemartin Stud.

Phoebe will be reposing at Anderson & Leahy's Funeral Home, Newbridge, from 10 o'clock on Monday morning. Removal will take place on Monday evening at 6.30 to St Brigid's Church, to arrive at 7 o'clock.

Her funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning and burial will take place immediately afterwards in New Abbey Cemetery.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, if desired, may be made to Kilcullen Old Folk's Association.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

Congratulations!

Sarah Nugent, daughter of Paddy and Christine Nugent, recently celebrated her 18th birthday. Pic by PJ Lydon.

Alzheimers walk

A 4-Mile Sponsored Walk organised by Josie Connolly in aid of Alzheimers leaves The Square this afternoon at 2.30, ending at The Stray Inn for Refreshments.

Meanwhile, the Stray is also the location this afternoon for a 'Summer Madness Sale' in aid of the Alzheimers Unit at St Vincents Hospital.

County Show ready to roll

With just hours to go before the Kildare County Show opens to the public on Sunday 21 June 2009 at 10.00, transformation of the Showgrounds is almost complete.

Exhibitors are setting out their stalls, ponies are getting into their stride, vintage tractors are moving into place and the gruesome exhibit of two cars - absolutely smashed and tangled up together -are ready to illustrate the road safety demonstrations that will take place tomorrow.

In a similar vein, the fire brigade are getting ready to demonstrate how to deal with chip-pan fires, one of the most common household hazards. The snakes and tarantula will not arrive until the morning but there will be demonstrations on how to feed and look after them during the day.

Ladies, get the glad rags out. It is going to be a lovely day and there is a prize for the best dressed lady at the Show.

Best of all, the entry fee is half what it was last year – only €5 and children are free.

The gates open at 10.00, giving the early bird time to get some excellent coffee and perhaps strawberries and cream before getting a good spot to watch the very fine riders from the Mounted Games Association of Ireland compete in the Pairs Competition at 11.00.

If this is not to your taste, you could attend an acupuncture demonstration instead at 11.00 in the Health Marquee.

The matchmaker is due to arrive at 12.00 and is eagerly awaited by the many volunteers prepared to sign up (purely in the interests of the Show of course) and see what he can come up with in the way of finding a partner.

Not all the events that are part of the Kildare County Show take place in the Showgrounds. One really fine initiative will begin in Athy Town Square where the Tidy Towns Committee will set about doing a special cleanup of the town in honour of the Show.

But the really serious business begins in the afternoon when the procession takes off from Minch’s at the Kilkenny end of the town with a garda escort and makes its way to the Showgrounds to arrive at 14.00. Leading the charge will be a mustang followed by at least 50 big motorbikes – mostly Harley-Davidsons.

At the same time the Dog Show begins.

From then on there is no let up. There is something for every taste and every age group (including ice cream).

For a full timetable go the the website.

Scoil Bhride Table Quiz

A Table Quiz at The Hideout on Monday June 29th will help to buy GAA strips for pupils at Scoil Bhride.

Tickets are €20 for table of four, available at the school or from Clare Boyce 087 6881331.

The event begins at 9pm.

Review: Eclipse

Eclipse, Richard North Patterson. Thriller


By coincidence, I was reading this one the week that Shell agreed to pay $15.5m in settlement of a legal action in which it was accused of having collaborated in the execution of the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other leaders of the Ogoni tribe of southern Nigeria. That legal action has been running since 1996.

I was struck with the similarities of Patterson's story, set in a fictional West Africa oil-rich country, to the Shell saga. It was at the end of the book that he revealed the real story had triggered his fictional version, which was finished in January of last year.

It is a time-honoured way of trying to make sense of a factual mystery or situation. Take the surrounding story and write in characters and see how they might have reacted to what was going on around them. Patterson researches avidly when he does this. So 'Eclipse' is a strong story. A hard story. And with savage passages that make the reader wince. Africa today is still a place of corruption, dictatorship, and cruelty. But all of those are supported by the needs, greeds, and manipulations of the rest of us in the so-called 'developed' world.

'Eclipse' is a work of fiction that veneers an uncomfortable truth, which most of the time none of us want to think about. That much of our lifestyle, what we eat and use, and our comfort, is built on the suffering, and indeed the very lives of others.

The story shows the other uncomfortable truth that good does not always win in these situations. Or, if it does, it is likely an impaired victory at best.

The key characters include an African writer educated in America but who went back to try and help his country. Then there's his American wife, and their college days best friend who comes to help them out of a terrible situation in the country that is a euphemism for Nigeria.

There's the classic African dictator and his evil henchmen. There are a couple of village massacres. There's rape, pillage and murder. There is travesty of law. There is the diplomat with a conscience, and several oil executives with none. And there are ordinary people suffering from the activities of all these.

It's a witchdoctor's brew. Patterson lets it simmer, and boils it over a couple of times. The end is predictable, particularly if the current Shell story is in the background of the reader's mind. But how it happens is not, and Patterson's skill is in taking us down the side lanes and back again, and while we're down there giving us a shock or two.

At the end, though, the story is plausible, which is the mark of a good writer of fiction. It's the facts behind them that leave us uncomfortable.

Or they should.

Brian Byrne.

Dunshane Open Day

Camphill Dunshane is holding its annual Open Day on Sunday 21st June (next Sunday).

Everybody is welcome to come and take part, look around, and join in activities.

Time 2-5pm. Parking provided.

Walk to school

A 'Walk to School' campaign has increased the numbers walking to Scoil Bhride NS by 12 percent.

The initiative is part of Scoil Bhride's Active Schools Programme.

Days for walking to school have been designated in the initiative, and the scheme is monitored by pupils themselves.

The results of the walking days are displayed on charts in the schools.

Remembering Kilcullen stalwarts

Anyone taking a walk through Kilcullen's Valley Park will notice that quite a few people are remembered there in plaques at different points.

But there's a generation of Kilcullen people who wouldn't remember these community stalwarts, and have no idea of why their names are recorded in the park. And nobody in the 'new' Kilcullen cohort, who came to live in the town during recent years, could know how much of what they have in their adopted town was due in no small measure to those named on the assorted plaques.

They include George Spiers, Landscape Consultant of Burtown Nurseries, Athy who advised free of charge on the layout of the shrubs and trees over a two-year period 1976-1978

Sylvester Barrett TD, Minister for the Environment, who performed the opening ceremony in June 1978

Michael St Leger, a Clare man who lived his entire working life in Kilcullen, and worked tirelessly as a County Councilor for all the local people. Michael was a driving force in setting up Kilcullen Development Association and from his employment on The Curragh raised a large amount of the funds for the Kilcullen Non-Stop Draw. It was his idea to build affordable houses in Bishop Rogan and Moanbane Park, which he saw completed. As chairman of Kildare County Council he had the honour of cutting the tape to open the Kildare section of the new dual carriageway. Also as chairman of KCC, he welcomed Richard Nixon, President of the USA on his visit to Kildare. The President responded by inviting Mick to visit him in The White House, which he didn’t get around to doing.

Barry Coffey, Engineer, Kildare County Council Roads Engineer and Kilcullen resident, was very involved with Kilcullen Canoe Club and advised The Valley committee on various aspects of the development from 1975-1978.

Jerry Kelly, Chairman of Kilcullen Community Council was a great community worker during his lifetime and over a period of 40 years supported community endeavors and encouraged the local residents to become involved. Jerry loved Kilcullen and his songs and poems about Kilcullen remain with us to this day.

Fr Henry Flanagan OP, Dominican College, Newbridge, carved the sculpture in Portland stone of St Brigid feeding the poor, which was unveiled by Jerry Kelly in 1977.

Paddy Brangan, resident of St Brigid’s Avenue, over a period of three years used 400 tons of stone from the Hill of Allen to build everything you see today in The Valley – walls, St Brigid’s Grotto, picnic area, pond, steps, paths etc. A quiet unassuming man, every stone had to be laid correctly in place and admired before Paddy would leave work each evening.

Mary Connolly, Chairperson of Kilcullen Community Council from 1978 to her death in 1983, was the driving force that kept us all together. Her talents for organising and leading the community were unparalleled. She led by example and wished to include everybody. She was highly respected by the local people and various statutory bodies which she dealt with during the very successful years of KCC. One of the high points for her was Kilcullen winning the Best Environmental Award in Ireland 1979 for The Valley development. The development and building of the Kilcullen Community Centre during her five year stewardship, led Kilcullen to be recognized nationwide as a leader in community development.

(The Diary is grateful to Jim Collins, known as 'Mr Valley' during the 1970s/1980s, for his work in fundraising for the purchase and building of the Valley Park, for providing the information above. As it happens, he is the only living person of all those who have their names on plaques in the park. This article originally appeared on the Kilcullen Page of the Kildare Nationalist.)

CPC into space

A group of Transition Year students from Cross & Passion College had a 'Star Trek'-type experience in Brussels recently.

Some 49 students on a five-day trip to the Belgian capital got the chance to visit the Euro Space Centre outside the city.

There they experienced a space shuttle 'flight' in a simulator, felt how it was like to 'walk on the moon' and had the opportunity to build their own rockets.

Other fun on the trip included a visit to the magical caves of Han.

School plans celebration

St Joseph's NS in Halverstown will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in September.

Plans are well underway for the celebrations, which will include a special programme of events on Saturday 26 September, culminating with a Dinner Dance.

All members of the school community, past and present, are invited to participate. Further informations from 045 485374.

Remembering Mickey Gordon

Just a reminder that tomorrow night (Friday) there will be a special night in Markeys Stray Inn, to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Mickey Gordon.

Music will be provided by John Kelly, and many stories about the popular character from Kilcullen past will likely be told.

Everybody is welcome. If you knew him, it will be nostalgic. If you didn't, it will be a different twist on whatever you know about Kilcullen heritage.

Maggie celebrates 90th

Maggie Kelly of Mile Mill celebrated her 90th birthday with family and friends at her son John’s home in Harristown.



Maggie had her five children, Elisabeth, Martha, Patrick, Joseph and John, and 13 of her 16 grandchildren with her on the occasion.

Duck names

The winners of the recent Duck Race organised by Kilcullen Lions were Carol Ivory, Catherine Smith, Rachael O'Sullivan and Max Gaynor.

The race was held as part of the Lions Community Day, this year incorporated with the start of the FBD Ras in Kilcullen.

Amy opens the Powder Room

Does anyone here remember when O'Connell's lived beside the White Horse Inn and had a sweet shop popular with local cinemagoers?



Well, in a sort of 'coming home', Amy O'Connell has now set up a beauty salon in her grandparents' former home.



You can read the full story in the Kilcullen Page of today's Kildare Nationalist.

Prizes at County Show

To add to the festivities on the 21 June, the Carlton Abbey Hotel are offering a number of prizes from their stand at the Kildare County Show.

As well as the prize for the Best Dad in the World, there is a free drink voucher for every father who calls along to the stand and is prepared to use his voucher at the Carlton Abbey Hotel on the day (just one per Dad).

There is a free draw for a three month membership of the Carlton Leisure Centre (entrants must be over 18) and, if you sign up for regular mailings, you could receive a €20 voucher to use at the Spa.

Any wedding booked on the day will receive a complimentary wedding car (terms and conditions will apply).

And last, but not least, the Best Dressed Lady at the Show will win a ‘Summer Beauty’ package in the Carlton Spa.

Ballysax NS gets Green Flag

Ballysax National School will be celebrating the acquisition of its first Green Flag this Friday, 19 June.

A ceremony to raise the flag will take place at 1pm.

Well done, all.

Lions Golf Classic

Kilcullen Lions Club is running a Golf Classic on Friday 26 June at Baltinglass Golf Club.

There will be a shotgun start at 3pm. Entry costs €200 a team, and a tee box can be sponsored for €100.

Further details available from any member of the club.

Hideout under new management

People may have noticed that the Hideout was closed for a few days last week. That was because the hostelry was in the process of changeover to new management.

Eamonn and Rory Boyce have taken over the tenancy of the well-known premises. Both have worked with the Masterchef catering company and have wide experience in providing top service to customers.

Already open for drinks, the Hideout will resume food service very soon. An official opening is planned for next month.

Another successful Chruinniú

More than 300 people turned out for the 2009 Chruinniú Chríost parish gathering yesterday, which was held in a day of mixed weather.



As before, crosses were carried in to the meeting place in the town square from four areas of the parish, each led by a piper from Lord Edward's Own Pipe Band. Representatives from the schools, the Communion and Confirmation classes, and many clubs and other organisations in Kilcullen took part.

The procession to the mass point on the Scoil Bhride playing fields included parishioners from all over the Kilcullen/Gormanstown area, as well as from neighbouring parishes in the local 'cluster'.

Mass was celebrated by Bishop Eamonn Walsh, with Frs Murphy, Ryan and Supple.

The sunshine of the early part of the day was displaced by rain during the mass, but it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of all present. Although the original plans for a group open air picnic and entertainment had to be transferred into the school.

Martin Miley says thanks

Cllr Martin Miley has sent in the following:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me for my re-election to Kildare County Council; it is an honour and a privilege for me to represent you on Kildare County Council to bring the issues of our communities and to push policies forward to support our communities.

Once again I would like to thank everyone involved and I can be contactable on 087-3998478 or at martin@martinmiley.ie

Chruinniú Chríost day

Remember, today is the occasion of the second Cruinniú Chríost parish gathering.

The event gets under way at 2pm in The Square, when the crosses from each of the areas will arrive. It finishes with a Mass behind Scoil Bhride and a family picnic, weather permitting,

Last year's Chruinniú was a fantastic success. If you have forgotten, here's the picset.

Fallons staff raise €1000 for cancer

The staff at Fallons Cafe Bar got a big 'well done' thanks from the Irish Cancer Society recently.

The kudos were for raising €1,000 in the recent Coffee Morning they held on Daffodil Day.

The 'Thanks a Bunch' accolade was well earned.

Baldonnell Singers concert

The Baldonnell Singers are presenting an evening of seasonal music in the Town Hall Theatre on Saturday June 20.

'Midsummer Melodies' will feature mezzo soprano Helen Mahon, and tenor Paul Linehan.

Accompanist is pianist Ann Cullen.

The show begins at 8pm, and tickets are available at €20 by phoning Ian at 087 9977413, or from Catherine in the Heritage Centre, open from 10am-2pm weekdays.

Break-in at McTernans

A break-in at McTernan's last weekend left popular publican Mary Masterson and her staff very upset.

The thieves broke in during the early hours of Saturday morning and rifled the contents of games machines and the pool table. They also caused extensive damage to the machines in the process.

Access to the pub was gained through a rear door, which ironically had only recently been replaced with a more substantial one.

"It's very distressing," Mary said. "Especially as we're here just ten years now."

Pilgrimage to Fatima

Fr Andrew O'Sullivan, who worked in Kilcullen Parish for seven years, is organising a pilgrimage to Fatima in September. The dates are 17-24 of the month.

Names of people interested can be left at the Parish Centre before 22 June. And Carmel Bagnall will take deposits at the Credit Union on Wednesday mornings. The cost is €779.

The passing of Donal Groves

The Diary has learned of the death of Donal Groves, Knockbounce.

Donal was a stalwart of the Kilcullen Community Council in the 1970s/1980s, and was heavily involved in the famous Kilcullen Capers from the Sunnyhill area.

He will be missed by his wife Pearl, and his daughters Anna and Deirdre, and his extended family and their many friends.

Donal will be reposing at his residence from 12.30 this afternoon. Removal will take place on Saturday morning at 10.30 to Kilcullen Parish Church for 11 o'clock Requiem Mass. Burial will be immediately afterwards in St Brigid's Cemetery.

Family flowers only please. Donations if desired may be made to Cancer Research using a box in the church.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

'No money' for path repairs

Kildare County Council has the repair of the Chapel Road and its footpath 'as a priority', but it says it can't afford to do any repairs this year.



The Council cited reduced funding from central government as the reason.

But a local man who spearheaded a campaign raise money to buy cobble lock in the 90s to repair the Kilcullen's main street footpaths says he's prepared to do that again for the Chapel Road.

"The truth is, that footpath has been in poor condition for 20 years," says Jim Collins, who was one of the corps of local people through the 70s/80s/90s that brought Kilcullen to national awareness for its community spirit. "If the Council will commit to doing the actual work, I'll lead a fundraising campaign to buy the materials."

The state of the footpath was brought home forcibly last week when a woman who had competed in the Flora Womens Mini Marathon tripped and banged her head while walking to the Parish Centre for refreshments afterwards.

The woman lost consciousness for a time, and had to be looked after on the footpath by others who had accompanied her in the Dublin marathon event earlier that afternoon. She was later treated at the K-Doc centre in Naas.

Local people have complained about the broken surfaces for some considerable time. The path is used by most people who walk to mass in Kilcullen, many of whom are elderly.

A Council spokesman noted that the poor condition of the footpath was due to cars parking on it. He said the Council is aware of the problem, but is not in a position to make any repairs this year.

Youngsters on stage

There's an old showbiz saying, 'don't perform with children or animals'. Because they'll eclipse you, is the thought.

But when all on stage are kids, it's a different dynamic altogether. As individuals and in the collective, whether they're doing poetry, monologues, singing or dancing, it's all about them becoming themselves. And showing themselves.



That's the sense that comes across at the annual finale show from Evelyn O'Sullivan's 'Drama Dynamics'. Now in her fourth year in Kilcullen encouraging, cajoling, lifting youngsters beyond what they might have believed themselves capable of.

In the Town Hall Theatre presentation they strutted their stuff in front of their proud parents. They took their certificates for completing the year, whether their first, second, or more, with a real pride of their own. And in the interval, before the youngest were taken home by their mums and dads, to leave the stage free for the older ones, many came up to Evelyn and gave her a kiss or a hug.

They were at the age when 'thank you' is a meaningful gesture, rather than mere words.

With around 70 youngsters involved at this stage of 'Drama Dynamics', aged from five to 14, Evelyn feels that there's a wrinkle etched around her eyes for each of them. "But I enjoy it. I want kids to be confident, I want them to be happy. That's my base, my ethos. After that, really, it's easy. You treat kids like they are people, and not like they're kids."

Looking back over the past four years, Evelyn reckons she has seen a 'huge' change in the children who came at the beginning. "You see the little ones who were shy now full of confidence. The ones who didn't want to come in are now naturals on the stage."

Evelyn is herself one of the 'new' Kilcullen people. And, given their ages, most of her pupils are children from the same 'incomer' people. But Evelyn is adamant that none of what has happened since she arrived could have happened without the 'old' village.

"Look at the facilities we came in to," she says. "This theatre, for instance. And the community and the goodwill that's behind it. Kilcullen is such a 'giving' place, it has made my life much easier, and it has certainly helped us to grow."

But that a village that was actually declining in population just 12 years ago is now in acceleration mode, even in a national recession, is not only due to its past and those who dreamed of its future. It is thanks to those who are already making tomorrow happen.

"We're all growing together here," Evelyn says.

Brian Byrne.

The passing of Peter O'Rourke

The Diary records, with sadness, the death of Peter O'Rourke, Avondale Drive, in St Vincent's Hospital, Athy.

Requiem Mass for Peter will be celebrated in Kilcullen Parish Church this morning at 11 o'clock.

Burial will take place afterwards in Crookstown Cemetery.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Donnelly's Arm travels again

The right arm of the 19th century pugilist Dan Donnelly, owned by the Byrne family, has gone on its travels again.



This time it is once more a key part of the 'Fighting Irishmen' exhibition in which it starred at two venues in New York and one in Boston over the last couple of years. But the exhibition has now moved to the Ulster-American Folk Museum in Omagh, Co Tyrone.

The exhibition was gathered together by New York realtor Jim Houlihan, a patron of the Irish Arts Centre in New York. Among the other artifacts and pictures on display are the legendary John L Sullivan's fur coat; a blazer specially made for Jack Dempsey; photographs from the archives of ‘Sports Illustrated’; Charlie Nash's Olympic jersey when he was fighting for Ireland; photographs of the classic Micky Ward vs Arturo Gatti trilogy; and historic photos of such memorable Irish fighters as John L Sullivan, James J Braddock, Billy Conn, Jerry Quarry, Gerry Cooney, Barry McGuigan and Bobby Cassidy, just to name a few.

The arm has been lent to the exhibition by Josephine Byrne, wife of the late Des Byrne who ran the famous Hideout for many years.

The mummified limb, which had been taken from the pugilist and preserved by a surgeon after his death, ended up in the Hideout in the early 1950s, after being in a travelling show for decades and eventually ending up in the ownership of Belfast bookmaker and publican Hugh McAlevy. He presented it to Des Byrne's father, Jim, after an An Tostal pageant recreation of Donnelly's famous fight with English bare-knuckle champion George Cooper at what has since been known as Donnelly's Hollow.

Josephine and other members of the family were at the official opening of the Omagh exhibition recently. The arm, which only came back to Kilcullen in recent months after its travels in America, will also feature in a documentary on TG4 due to be screened in September.

The production, exploring the life of Donnelly, will include interviews with Josephine, and with the fighter's biographer Pat Myler, shot recently in Bardon's pub in Kilcullen. Local saddler Jim Berney, who played the part of Donnelly in the 1950s pageants, was also interviewed for the documentary.

Baking competition for County Show

Thanks to generous sponsorship from the Clanard Court Hotel and Bluebells Florist, the Home Produce and Flower Show return to the Kildare County Show this year.

So get baking and win €100 for the best cherry Madeira cake in the Show, €75 for the six best cup cakes and there is a new Junior Section where those under 14 years can compete to produce a novelty party plate.

In the Flower Show, €100 will go to Rose of the Show and the winner of the Flowers 4 Men section.


Entry forms can be downloaded from the website.

SA colour in Kilcullen art

It’s fair to say that where we are brought up will always colour the rest of our lives, and that’s certainly true for artist Marinus Meyer.



Now living in Kilcullen, his native home is South Africa, and the colours of his original country are striking in the art he produces.

Kildare people will get a chance to see this between June 9-13 at Naas Library, where Marinus is holding his first solo exhibition.

Marinus came to Ireland seven years ago, ‘dragged’ by his then girlfriend and then, as he says himself, he ‘got stuck’ here.

“But in a very good way,” he adds with a grin. “In fact, while I had been painting at home since 1993, it was only when I came to Ireland that I became really active as an artist.”

Maybe it was because he missed the colour and bright sunshine of his homeland? Perhaps, because certainly the bright colours in his work are very much different than the more subdued way that artists from this part of the world use them.

“I’ve been told they might be too bright for here,” he muses. “And maybe I’ll eventually tone them down, but people are buying what I’m producing at the moment.”

Which is just as well, because last summer Marinus took the plunge to working as an artist full-time, and is planning to remain so if at all possible.

He makes it clear from the beginning that he never had any training in art, and that what he produces comes very much from within.

“But I would like to study some aspects, and I’m contemplating going to train at some stage in sculpture, especially using resin, where I’ve been developing some ideas recently.”

Apart from sales among people he knows, or who see his work elsewhere, Marinus is using the internet to market his work, with some success.

“The internet is really a godsend to artists, because we can show our work to a global audience,” he says. “I don’t have a website as such, but I’ve shown my work on my FaceBook page and people have bought and commissioned pieces from there.”

Marinus says he finds the wide artistic culture in Ireland, in music, writing and painting, ‘very inspiring’. “It’s a very energetic place for an artist. Years ago I would not have imagined living in Europe some day and making a living from art. This place gave that to me, and I’m so thankful for it.”

Marinus has settled in Kilcullen, for the moment anyhow, with his wive Eva. They live in a 200-year-old stone cottage in the town, which he says also provides its own inspiration.

Brian Byrne.

(This article was recently published in the Kildare Nationalist.)

Martin says 'thanks'

Successful Fine Gael candidate in the Athy area for Kildare County Council Martin Heydon has expressed his thanks to those who made his win possible.

"I am honoured and humbled at receiving such support in the locality, and I look forward to representing the people of the area to the very best of my ability," he says. "I can be contacted on 087-6262546 or martinheydonfg@gmail.com. Notice of my clinic details will follow shortly."

Martin took the third seat in the constituency, which returned two FG, one LAB and one FF coulcillors.

Callaghan elected

6.16pm: Willie Callaghan (FF) has been elected to the last seat in the Naas area. He received 600 transfers from the distribution of James Lawless's votes, giving him 2,144.

JJ Power (GP) received 217 transfers, giving him a total of 1,716.

Returning Officer Charlie Talbot declared Willie Callaghan elected without reaching the quota.

The elected representatives for the Naas area are thus Darren Scully and Anthony Lawlor for FG, Paddy McNamara for LAB, Seamie Moore (IND), and Willie Callaghan for FF.

Moore elected

5.40pm: Seamie Moore (IND) has been elected to the fourth seat in the Naas area, after receiving 20 of the 31 votes surplus from Darren Scully (FG). This brought his vote to 2,194.

Willie Callaghan (FF) now stands at 1,544, JJ Power (GP) at 1,499 and James Lawless (FF) at 1,109. Lawless's votes are now being distributed to decide the last seat.

McNamara elected

4.28pm: Paddy McNamara (LAB) has been elected to the Naas area on the fourth count. He received 490 of running mate Pat McCarthy's votes, bringing him to 2,420.

The remaining candidates are now receiving shares of his surplus of 229 votes.

Seamie Moore (IND) now has 2,086 votes. Willie Callaghan (FF) 1,526, JJ Power (GP) 1,377, and James Lawless (FF) 1,097. The quota is 2,191.

Thumbs up for FG duo

Scully, Lawlor elected

3.49pm: Two Fine Gael candidates have been elected to the Naas area of Kildare County Council. Darren Scully and Anthony Lawlor were returned on the third count after the distribution of Donal Corcoran's votes.

That leaves Seamie Moore (IND) now with 1,952, Paddy McNamara (LAB) now with 1,930, Willie Callaghan (FF) at 1,479, JJ Power (GP) 1,281, James Lawless (FF) 1,075, and Pat McCarthy (LAB) 908.

Pat McCarthy's votes are now being distributed.

Naas area: Corcoran eliminated

3.02pm: No candidate has yet been elected in the Naas area, following the end of the second count, which distributed the 442 votes of Tiernach Cassidy (FF) and David Monaghan (IND).

The distribution edged Darren Scully (FG) into lead position at 2,151, from his FG colleague Tony Lawlor at 2,140. Paddy McNamara (LAB) stands at 1,838, Seamie Moore (IND) 1,688, Willie Callaghan (FF) 1,435, JJ Power (GP) 1,201, James Lawless (FF) 1,040, Pat McCarthy (LAB) 847, and Donal Corcoran 786.

As no candidate has yet reached the quota of 2,191, the votes of Donal Corcoran are currently being distributed.

Naas count: Cassidy, Monaghan eliminated

1.56pm: At the end of the first count in the Naas area, Anthony Lawlor (FG) is leading the poll at 2,113, by just one vote from his fellow FG candidate Darren Scully on 2,112.

Paddy McNamara (LAB) is next up with 1,817, followed by Seamie Moore (IND) at 1,632. Willie Callaghan (FF) is fifth with 1,323. JJ Power (GP) comes next with 1,165. James Lawless (FF) is on 971, Pat McCarthy (LAB) is 829, Donal Corcoran (IND) 737, Tiernach Cassidy (FF) got 313, and David Monaghan (IND) bottomed the poll with 129.

No candidate reached the quota of 2,191, and Returning Officer Charlie Talbot has now instructed that Cassidy and Monaghan's votes be redistributed on their elimination.

Naas area count in progress

The Billy Hillis Legacy

There was much sympathy expressed for Billy Hillis losing his seat last evening, after a long period of service as a Fine Gael councillor.

He has also, in that capacity, served Kilcullen well and he will be remembered for his work for the community on a number of fronts, including the playground project most recently.

At a Council level he has been Mayor of Kildare, and was a member of many key committees. He was recently commended by former Fine Gael Leader Alan Dukes for his 'business and efficiency mentality' and his 'ability to get results'.

The splitting of his key base points in the constituency reshuffle made it perhaps inevitable that he would not succeed this time out. But he has left a very positive legacy to his party as he goes.

Last night, the almost perfect transfer of his votes kicked his FG running mate from Athy, Richard Daly, into the last seat ahead of FF's Mark Dalton.

And his initiative in asking Anthony Lawlor to run for the party in the Naas area already looks like having paid off in spades, with the popular former councillor leading the tallies prior to the actual count.

If you have to lose, this is the best possible way to do it.

Naas area count under way

In our roundup of the Naas area tallies last evening, we transposed a couple of numbers. It is Paddy McNamara (LAB) who has the 1,777 on the tally, and Pat McCarthy of the same party with 803.

The actual count has just started at the Punchestown count centre, and the first round is expected to be at lunchtime. The conventional wisdom at this point is that there will be two FG, one FF, one LAB and one Independent.

But anything can happen, as was shown last evening in the Athy area when Richard Daly (FG) was catapulted ahead of Mark Dalton (FF) by Billy Hillis's FG transfers to take the last seat.

We're covering the Naas area count on the Diary because part of Kilcullen north of the bridge will be represented by councillors in this area.

FG's Daly gets last area seat

Richard Daly of Fine Gael has secured the last seat in the Athy area of Kildare County Council.

Pictured above being congratulated by retiring FG councillor Rainsford Hendy, he reached 2,086 when 584 of Billy Hillis's transferable votes went to him on the fifth count.

Mark Dalton (FF) got 107 of Hillis's transfers, to a total of 1,880.

Daly was awarded the seat without reaching the quota.

The final result is Mark Wall (LAB), Martin Miley Jnr (FF), Martin Heydon (FG) and Richard Daly (FG).

Martin Heydon elected

Martin Heydon of Fine Gael has been elected to the third seat in the Athy area of Kildare County Council, after achieving 2,316 votes.

Pictured above with successful FG candidate for Newbridge Town Council Emma Kiernan, he was pushed over the line when he received 147 of the transferable votes from Independent John Lawler, who had earlier been eliminated.

Mark Dalton (FF) is on 1,773 (+193); Richard Daly is on 1,502 (+220); and Billy Hillis (FG) is on 991 (+69).

Billy Hillis's votes are now being checked for redistribution to decide the final seat.

Election: Lawler eliminated

After the third count in the Athy electoral area, Independent candidate John Lawler has been eliminated, and his 906 votes are being distributed.

The position of the remaining candidates is now as follows:

Martin Hayden (FG) 2,169; Mark Dalton (FF) 1,580; Richard Daly (FG) 1,282; and Billy Hillis (FG) 922.

Martin Miley Jnr re-elected

Martin Miley Jnr has been re-elected to Kildare County Council on the second count of the Athy area votes.

He was carried through the quota when he received 164 of previously elected Mark Wall's 996 surplus.

Martin Heydon (FG) now stands at 2,156, having received 176 of Wall's surplus.

Mark Dalton (FF) is at 1,558 (+140); Richard Daly (FG) at 1,273 (+205); Billy Hillis (FG) at 919 (+79) and John Lawler (IND) at 897 (+232).

Wall 'very happy' with result

New Labour councillor for the Athy area, Mark Wall, says he's very happy at the outcome. He headed the poll in the area and was elected on the first count.

His father Jack, a longtime councillor and a sitting TD also expressed himself to be well pleased.

Mark's success was also enjoyed by his wife Michelle and sons Cathal and Noel, who were with him at the count in Punchestown.

Meanwhile, outgoing FG councillor Rainsford Hendy is also a happy man this evening following the very strong performance of Martin Heydon.

Martin is expected to take the third seat as the count stands at the moment. He was nominated by Cllr Hendy to run for the party in his place, and the veteran FG councillor gave the new FG candidate much support.

Cllr Hendy served for 18 years on the Council, having been first elected in 1991.

Kilcullen will be represented by councillors in two areas, most of the town by Athy area, some parts north of the bridge by Naas area.

Wall elected on 1st count

Mark Wall (LAB) has been elected to Kildare County Council in the Athy area on the first count.

His surplus of 966 is currently being distributed.

Cllr Martin Miley (FF) received 2,180 votes. He was followed by Martin Heydon (FG) with 1,980, Mark Dalton (FF) 1,418; Richard Daly (FG) 1,068; Billy Hillis (FG) 840; and John Lawler (IND) 665.

The area is a 4-seater.

FG has strong lead in Naas area

In the Naas area of the KCC elections, FG candidate Anthony Lawlor leads the poll after the tally, with 2,045 recorded by the tallymen.

His running mate Darren Scully has 2,036 votes, according to the tally, with Pat McCarthy (LAB) on 1,777 votes. Seamie Moore (IND) is coming up fourth at 1,506.

The other tallies are Willie Callaghan (FF) at 1,284; JJ Power (GP) 1,158; James Lawless (FF) 951; Paddy McNamara (LAB) 803; Donal Corcoran (IND) 719; Tiernach Cassidy (FF) 309; and David Monaghan (IND) 122.

The first count hasn't yet been completed.

Parts of Kilcullen north of the bridge are in the Naas area.

Election Count 09

Tally counts of the Athy Area votes indicate that Mark Wall (LAB) has headed the poll, with the second seat likely to be taken by either Cllr Martin Miley (FF) or Martin Heydon (FG).

The fourth seat will be fought out between Richard Daly (FG), Cllr Mark Dalton (FF), Billy Hillis (FG), and John Lawler (IND).

On the tallies, Dalton is reported to have 12.5% of the vote, Daly 9.5%, Heydon 17%, Hillis 7.5%, Lawler 5.5%, Miley 19%, Wall 29%. Martin Heydon may have got up to 30% of the Kilcullen vote.

The Naas Area tallies, which are also of interest to parts of Kilcullen north of the bridge, had not been done up to lunchtime.

Thanks for the marathon!

Monday, June 1st was a day of sunshine as the Ladies Mini Marathon team, in aid of The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, set off for Dublin. Andy's Of Naas transported us in safety and comfort.

James Nolan, chairman PKRF, and his fiancee Emma greeted us on arrival at the Mespil Hotel. The hotel catered very well, soup /sandwiches etc and the staff were helpful and efficient.

The sun blazed down, but the shady trees by the canal, across the street provided a cool relaxing place to wait for the race to start.The crowd was enormous, the biggest ever.The official figure of 40,000 does not include the thousands who do not register.

The atmosphere was brilliant. Seeing all those women, with the various charitys printed on the tshirts was awesome. All very worthy causes. Everyone was there for a good reason. It was a privilage to be part of it.

We had runners, joggers and walkers. Despite the heat and crowds we all finished and got home safely to a welcome meal, at Kilcullen Parish Centre.

Thanks to our wonderful friends, who came in, on a sunny holiday evening to prepare and present the meal.

James, thank you for providing the meat and salads and to Dermot who every year gives up his day off to freshly slice the meat. He brought it all to the Centre and stayed to help.

Thanks to Jim Talbot, Catherine Ryan, Olivia James and Ger Kelly, Katelyn and Holly and Nicole, who generously gave up their evening To prepare and serve the meal and tidy up afterwards.

Many people helped behind the scenes to a very successful fundraiser. Brian Byrne, the Bridge Magazine, Kay Byrne, Michelle Hourihan, Kay Lawler (they are reporters with The Kildare Nationalist and The Leader),The Ballymore Bugle, all our sponsors and people who took sponsor cards.

Last but not least to our gallant team. Well done.

We are at Kilcullen Parish Centre 7-8pm, on Tuesday 9th June to collect money. When all the money is in, a presentation will be arranged.

Phena Bermingham.

No funds for footpath fix

The rapidly deteriorating surfaces of the footpath and the road on Chapel Road won't be repaired any time soon, according to Kildare County Council.

Commenting on our report of a woman being injured when she tripped on the footpath last Monday, the Council says the footpath from the traffic lights to Nolans' yard has been damaged by vehicles being parked on it.

"We agree that it is in poor condition, and its repair together with restoration of the adjacent road are priorities for us," a spokesman told the Diary yesterday. "Regrettably our funds for road and footpath work this year have been reduced and will not extend to the desired repairs."

Badminton Summer Club

The Kilcullen Juvenile Badminton Club are running a Summer Club, starting this Saturday 6 June in the Community Centre.

The Summer Club will run for five Saturdays, starting at 10am.

It's great value at €5 per session or €20 for all five.

Coach Sheila Smyth will be joined by Leinster Senior player Clare Flood

All welcome.

Woman falls on atrocious footpath

The atrocious state of the Chapel Road footpath claimed another victim last evening, when a woman returning from the Womens Mini Marathon in Dublin tripped and fell, injuring her head.



The incident highlights a situation which has been the focus of much critical comment locally. The state of the footpath, along which many elderly people have to go to mass, has been raised at meetings of Kilcullen Community Action. It has also been raised by candidates for this week's local elections.



The women who was injured last evening lost consciousness for a time and had to be cared for by other members of her Mini Marathon group before being brought for attention to the K-Doc facility in Naas. She had fallen after being dropped off the bus which brought marathon participants home from their fundraising walk and run, in aid of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund.



The Chapel Road itself is also in very bad condition, as is a stone wall further along which Kildare County Council says it 'doesn't have the resources' to repair, due to financial cutbacks.



The Council says the condition of the wall, which was already an issue a year ago, doesn't represent any danger. That stretch of road, on which there is no footpath, is used by people walking out to visit the two Kilcullen cemeteries.

Brian Byrne.

Health Fair on Saturday

There are more details of the Kilcullen Lions Club Health Fair taking place next Saturday.

The location is the former Nolan Auctioneers building on Main Street. The event will run from 10am-4pm.

Tests include Diabetes, Blood Pressure & Eye Care.

All are welcome to this free event.

GAA out in the sunshine

Kilcullen GAA's Family Day today brought out the families of members and friends out in large numbers, taking advantage of the super sunshine.

Blooming in the sunshine

Sometimes we get a taste of what this country could be like if we had real summers.

This weekend is one. Not just the best weather we've had for years, but it was accurately flagged by our forecasters. For once they didn't have to apologise as they faced us through the TV screens. It was coming, they promised, and it did come.

And if you wanted to see that we're well capable of enjoying glorious sunshine and all that it means, no better place was the Bloom Festival in Dublin's Phoenix Park.

Gardens or course. And gardening stuff. And gardening advice. And food of all kinds, the speciality stuff. Good breads, cheeses, relishes, meats. You can buy enough food for the day, and more, at the Bord Bia-sponsored marquee. Or you can go for the more traditional fare from all kinds of food vans.

There's also the super facility that is the Phoenix Park. Down here in Kilcullen we have our own rural advantages, places to walk, places to relax. And the river runs through us.

But Dublin's summer lung is the park, and the OPW once again provided a superb location for the Bloom festival.



So, just in case you didn't get to it yet, the Diary presents a set of pictures that might just give you a flavour of the event.

And for today, if you go yourself, here's a hint: the hottest spot in the place is outside the south wall of the Kitchen Garden. Bring your own picnic, including water bottle which you can refill free. A rug, and sunscreen. Y'see, we're always optimists at the Diary. (Besides, the weather forecasters already told us.)