'My Very Own Story'

The Drama Dynamics Teen Theatre will be presenting Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘My Very Own Story’ between 21-24 April.

Written in 1991, the production is about three storytellers, Peter, Paul and Percy. Because they have been triple-booked to the same venue, they arrive simultaneously each to tell his own story.

In the end, after some wrangling, they all get to tell, and feature in, their own and each other’s stories.

“It’s a show for all the family, that is sure to leave you with a twinkle in your eye, a smile on your face, and laughter in your soul,” says Evelyn O’Sullivan, who runs Drama Dynamics.

Full booking details later.

Open Mic night at The Hideout

Singers and bands from all genres will get a chance to strut their stuff in The Hideout on Thursday 8 April, and help to support cancer research.

The event is in aid of the Bob Champion Cancer Fund, and artistes can get involved for a small donation, anything they can afford.

The organisers in The Hideout just need to know how many of you are in a band, or if participants perform solo. Also let them know what equipment is needed.

There are no limits on the number of acts performing, but the organisers would like to create a basic line up prior to the night.

Contact The Hideout if you’re interested.

Tenders out for playground

Tenders for the Kilcullen Playground Project have been called for by Kildare County Council, moving the realisation of the facility a step further.

The notice of tender went out on 16 March on the eTender website www.etenders.gov.ie. The work will consist of the design and installation of a playground and ancillary works associated with it. The CPV is 37535200 and the Notice Deadline date is 12/05/2010.

The plans for the playground have been on display for some time in the Community Centre.

"We're working on the Leader application to help with the €50,000 external funding requirement,” says Playground Committee chair Orla O’Neill. “We're still aiming for a completion date by the end of the summer."

Baptist services for Easter

Brannockstown Baptist Church will be holding a Good Friday Communion Service at 7pm, and Easter Sunday Service will be held at 11am.

All are very welcome to attend. For more information, visit www.BrannockstownBaptist.ie or telephone 045 420 811.

Kilcullen 'apostles' in rehearsal

Members of Kilcullen Drama Group will be re-enacting a story from the Gospels at all masses on Easter Sunday.



The story relates to the confusion and fears of the apostles after the crucifixion of Jesus.

Hats off to Council

Full marks to Kildare County Council for planting two or three thousand daffodils from Nicholastown to the motorway. They will certainly brighten the place up in the coming weeks.



(Pics by Ray Kelly/KCA)

Work proceeds on Sacred Space

Work on the CPC Sacred Space is proceeding apace, and it is now hoped that the building will be in use by the time students come back to the College after the summer.



Since Christmas the foundations and steelwork are in place, and the project is now ready for the blockwork.

The plans for the project have been in gestation for a number of years, and
the sod for the building was turned on a snowy day in October 2008.

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

The facility is being built by direct contract labour, with professional input from a number of parents and friends of the College.

Donations of time and materials were also provided by parents and friends, and those behind the project are hopeful of continuing community involvement.

An evening with Tom Doorley at Riverside

In a way, it was the night that 'The Restaurant' TV programme came to Kilcullen, without the cameras, the microphones, or the need for some celebrity amateur chef or other to be awarded stars.



Food and drink are important in all our lives. We can't live without them. But sometimes they are more than just mere sustenance. They can be part of what makes life worth living a little more than just for the daily breakfast, lunch and dinner at home ... or dinner and tea in place of those last two, if that's the way you do it. They are treats. They are craft. They can even be art.

Sometimes they make for a special occasion. Like the 'Evening with Tom Doorley' which was presented by the Riverbank Restaurant last Thursday. It was a promotional event, designed to showcase the restaurant, its staff under the management of Alan Haynesworth for the Dunlea family, and the culinary skills of Chef Ronny Wolf. All with wine from the local Good Food Gallery, and celebrity wine writer Tom Doorley to link the lot together in words.

The keynote guest made it clear from the beginning that it was an evening in which local produce was going to be championed, where possible, and that he took his hat off to the restaurant for that. "This has never been more important now in terms of our economy," he said.

There were over 80 there for the evening, pretty well a full house for the Riverside. Some were obviously regulars. Others were probably there for the first time, at least for the fine dining side of the business. There was a good mix of locals and out-of-Kilculleners. Peter Dunlea and Nessa, and all their staff, made everyone feel very welcome.

Chef Ronny Wolf is apparently a very shy man, and so Tom Doorley took on the role of explaining the food as well as the wines which they had chosen to complement it. He did both tasks with a sense of the ordinary which really suited the occasion. Making it 'fancy', even if some of the presentations were actually that, would have been inappropriate.

The 'Wild Mushroom Beer' mise en bouche was a little glass of semi-clear soup with a froth on top. Tasty. The first appetiser of 'Carpaccio of Prawns six ways' involved pressed prawns with salad bits and a lime zest. The 'Study of Beetroot' and its accessories was sweet, and perhaps more interesting than the shellfish.

The Domaine Mittnacht Reisling which accompanied would have been a revelation to those raised in the 60s and 70s in Ireland on sticky sweet Liebfraumilch and its equivalents in other labels. It offered, for this writer who prefers his wines in reds, a very palatable excursion into white with character.

The fish course was 'Pan Roasted Wild Irish Sea Bass', which Tom Doorley mentioned had actually been caught outside Ireland's southern territorial waters in the French sea sector, because it is illegal to do so in Irish waters. But that was OK, because he noted that a big proportion of sea bass used in Ireland comes from fish farms in Chile. And what we ate on the night, 'Irish or French', was superb.

The Les Fumes Blanches Sauvignon Blanc served with the fish didn't suit my palate as well as had the Reisling. Mainly because of the long-lingering acidic aftertaste.

Main courses, or if you insist, entrees, were a choice from fillet steak or organic chicken, both sourced in the Kilcullen area. The Tornado Rossi, cooked in my own medium-rare preference to perfection, came with seared fois gras and white truffle, both of which I can personally do without but which were in their own rights excellent. The sauteed potato was buried under the fillet and its gravy, and I really do prefer my spuds on their own section of the plate. But it all ate nicely.

The chicken was served with asparagus, fondant potatoes and a light brandy cream sauce. It tasted as good as it sounds.

The Windy Peak Pinot Noir from Australia with the entrees was right on point with my own wine preference. A second glass thankfully found its way to my table.

There were two desserts, one a Warm Chocolate Moose (no, not a mispell), which I recorded in my notes with no less than three exclamation marks after the word 'magnificent'. The other was Poached Riesling Pear, with plum confit and vanilla and star anise syrup. Maybe two exclamation marks!! Which both reflect that Chef Ronny's original skills were focused on pastries and desserts.

The Warre's Optima 10-year-old Port served with the desert may have been blessedly light to most people there, and it was excellent of its kind. But it did prompt me to recall with some nostalgia the vintage ports to which my late dad introduced me at an early age, when The Hideout was our family's nationally known place for good food and drink. But that was yesterday, and in a totally different way and time to the Riverside Restaurant of this millenium into which we have already travelled a decade.

The cost per person for the event was €50, and we suspect that, when everything involved was costed, it probably wasn't a directly profitable evening. But it certainly did do what Tom Doorley presented it as, a really excellent showcase for the restaurant under its current management.

It did more. The experience gave us the chance to see that, in value for money terms, this is no longer a restaurant for the Celtic Tigers, but for all of us who live in Kilcullen and its environs. When we want to live a little more than just breakfast, lunch and whatever else we're having at home ... and when the occasion seems right.

Brian Byrne.

The Beauty Queen of Leenane. A review.

When someone uses Kimberley biscuits and Complan as instruments of torture, you should be scared. Very scared indeed.

And by the time this run of 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane' by Kilcullen Drama Group closes, I expect that Siobhan Murphy, who plays Mag Foley in Martin McDonagh's west of Ireland tragedy, will never want to see either of those food items, or porridge, ever again.

'Beauty Queen' raises some laughs. But they are in most cases laughter of the nervous kind. Because the audience was drawn into this production by the Kilcullen group more than in any other play I have seen them do over many a year. The undercurrent of menace is made evident from the outset, and even in our Volvo leather seats we were very quickly uncomfortable.

Drama on stage generally depends on a continuity of conversation to keep things moving, in contrast to television where judicious use of close-up and panning, as well as music and other non-verbal techniques, can often power the narrative with few words. And there is that conversational flow in 'Beauty Queen'. But the play, and its interpretation by the Kilcullen group and its director Eilis Phillips, is often marked by silences which punctuate the dialogue more than usually. Silences which are carried wonderfully by the expressions presented by various of the players.



The plot is straightforward Irish rural relationships. Maureen, played by Eilis Phillips, is a single woman in her forties looking after her aged and hypochondriac mother Mag. They exist in a life of mutual dislike, even hate. Maureen gets a chance of a night's fling with neighbour Pato Dooley (Roy Thompson), from which comes the possibility of a romantic escape to America. But Mag is determined not to lose her skivvy daughter. Does she succeed? You'll have to go to find out.

Siobhan Murphy's performance as the mother which every mother in the country is deathly afraid of becoming is just a tour de force worthy of the best of Ireland's professional actors. Eilis Phillips gives us a brilliant range of projections, from the daughter soured by circumstance through the giddiness of a girl in love to the final, awful realisation that she has become her mother.

Always in such a play there is need for a messenger, a character in the middle who is not necessarily a principal of action. In 'Beauty Queen' this is Pato's brother Ray, played by Pat Cullen with an absolutely magnificent mix of doltish humour, throwaway misinterpretations, and almost-concealed compassion. Like Mag, his facial expressions and spatial interaction with the others are superbly presented.



Roy Thompson's Pato is surprisingly serious and gentle, a man of more soul than might be expected from a raw village of the west. But then, working in the anonymity and loneliness of English building sites will make you either that or a weekly payday drunken flotsam. His most powerful moments on stage are when writing to Maureen a missive which he knows may be of doomed hope.

Kilcullen Drama Group had powerful material in this play to begin with. But they have moved it on and made it their own in this production. It runs until next Thursday night, and if you haven't been, take the opportunity and book now.

There are unlikely to be extra performances. Siobhan Murphy simply couldn't possibly take the Kimberley, Complan or porridge even one night more than the scheduled run.

Brian Byrne.

Harristown on Facebook

Harristown House has set up its own Facebook page, to showcase its qualities as a venue for special events.

Worth keeping an eye on.

Buy a daff for cancer care

Over 3,000 volunteers will be taking to the streets of Ireland today to help raise funds for Daffodil Day! You'll also see them on the streets of Kilcullen.

Daffodil Day is the Irish Cancer Society’s main annual fundraising campaign supporting its free cancer information services and patient care across the country.

Please buy a Daffodil silk, lapel pin, keyring or fresh daffodils and show your support for people affected by cancer in Ireland.

Every cent raised will make a huge difference to people who will be diagnosed with cancer this year and those who will be diagnosed in the future.

Visit www.plantadaff.ie, the Irish Cancer Society's virtual Garden, where you can make a donation online and leave a dedication for a loved one touched by cancer.

Does someone really need to be killed, first?

While Kildare County Council and the National Roads Authority continue to say, more or less, 'nothing to do with us', there has been yet another potentially fatal accident at Thompson's Cross.

Sabina Reddy, a local resident who has previously expressed her concern on the poorly designed junction, reports this morning that that around 7.30pm last evening a Transit van was travelling from the old Carlow road smashed into an Audi coming from the Athy direction. Both vehicles were apparently written off, but thankfully all persons involved - who included two children - were uninjured.

"It now looks like someone will have to be killed before, if any, action from the Council will take place," Sabina says.

CPC TYs do 'Grease'

Pictures from the opening night of CPC TY's 2010 production of 'Grease'. All three nights were sellouts. Brian Byrne/Kilcullen Diary.

Manna Market Day

Pictures from last weekend's Manna Market Day at Bridge Camphill. Brian Byrne/Kilcullen Diary.

The passing of Josie English

The Diary has learned of the death of Josie English (nee Kealy), Old Kilcullen.

She is reposing at Doyle's Funeral Home, Ballymount until removal this Thursday evening at 6pm. Arrival at Kilcullen Parish Church is scheduled for 6.30pm.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated tomorrow, Friday, at 11am, and will be followed immediately afterwards by Josie's funeral to New Abbey Cemetery.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Restaurant critic in Kilcullen tonight

Restaurant critic and wine expert Tom Doorley will be co-hosting a special night in the Riverside Restaurant this evening.

The event, which begins at 7.30pm, will feature a five course menu devised by Chef Ronny Wolf, accompanied by a special wine selection. Each course will be introduced by Ronny with Tom then describing the wine chosen and explaining why he chose it.

For booking contact details, click on the Riverside icon on this page.

Local KARE clients shows they care

Day residents of the KARE McMahon Centre in Kilcullen have clubbed together to raise funds towards the Touch Ireland charity, which supports vulnerable children around the world.

The €400 they raised was presented last week to the charity’s founder, Seamus Gleeson, from Naas.

The organisation supports projects in Zambia, Cameroon, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Brazil. The projects include orphanages, drop in centres, school, health centres.

Pictured above is Donna Martin from the McMahon Centre presenting a cheque to Seamus Gleeson.

Maintain Hope fundraisers abound

A Cake Sale will be held in Kilcullen Parish Centre on Sunday 4 April in aid of funds for the ‘Operation Maintain Hope’ initiative in Kenya.

The event is one of a series being run for the operation, which involves local people going out in August to help with a building project.

Another on Monday next, March 29, is a Table Quiz in Bardons organised by Lorraine Schwer. And a concert by ‘The Moon & Sixpence’ on 10 April will also help top up Lorraine’s fundraising.

The details of Pte James Keogh's family

The organisers of a commemoration ceremony for the four Irish soldiers killed in the Cullenstown Strand mine explosion in 1941 now have all the details of Pte James Keogh's relatives in Kilcullen.

Pte Keogh was buried with a military firing party on 29 January 1941, in New Abbey Cemetery.

Last evening, John and Annamay Brady provided the Diary with the burial record of Pte Keogh, and the location of the grave with the memorial stone erected by his parents, James and Ellen. They lived on the Castlemartin Estate, then owned by the Blacker family.

Thanks to Maureen Barker, his niece, we now have details of the relatives of Pte Keogh, who was known within the family as 'Sonny', possibly to differentiate him from his father.

Sonny had three brothers, Pat, Tommy and Michael, the latter two who died in England. He also had two sisters, Brigid Bolger and Molly Barker, both of whom lived in Kilcullen until they passed away.

Pat's sons Jim and Paddy live in Kilcullen and Newbridge respectively, and his daughter Sheila lives in Rathangan. Tommy's sons Jimmy and Garry live in England. Michael's sons Jimmy and Michael, and one daughter, Anne, live in England and another daughter, Elisabeth, is in Canada.

Bridget's daughters Mary and Eileen live in Ballysax, Angela is in Carlow and Patricia is in Wexford. The late Bea lived in Athy.

Molly's children Kathleen, Jim, Helen, Anne and Maureen all live in Kilcullen, and Paddy is in Tipperary.

Maureen told the Diary last night that they all knew about 'Uncle Jimmy' growing up, but that not a lot was said about the tragedy. "In those days, families didn't talk so much about the past," she said.

Maurice Curran, who contacted the Diary last week on behalf of Bill Tinsley, Atlanta, USA, one of the organisers of the commemoration planned for June, said this morning that, with all the families of the four dead soldiers on board, there will now be 'one hell of a memorial gathering'.

Ruby Shoes bridal event

Bridal Event this Saturday in Ruby Shoes, with suppliers from Weddings Online, Candle Light Weddings and Farrel and Chase and lots more.

Hand made fascinators. Lots of offers on the day too, you can check out our shoe Dying service. Now doing handbags! Visit www.rubyshoes.ie and RSVP.

The family of Private James Keogh found

UPDATE: In relation to the story below, posted earlier this morning, the family members of Pte Keogh have been found. Full details tomorrow.

A call for relatives of a Kilcullen soldier killed in a mine explosion at Cullenstown Strand in 1941 has been made by the organisers of a memorial to the four members of the Defence Forces who died in the incident.

The Kilcullen man was Private James Keogh, who was described in newspaper articles of the time as a 'popular member of a well known and respected family resident of Castlemartin, Kilcullen'.

Private Keogh is reported buried with military honours from an LDF party led by Group Leader W Donegan.

His mourning relatives are named as his father, also James, his mother, his brothers Patrick, Michael and Thomas; and his sisters Mrs J Barker and Miss D Keogh.

Letters to six people named Keogh in Kilcullen have so far failed to establish either the dead man's relatives here, or where he was buried.

Relatives of the other soldiers killed in the incident have organised a memorial which will be unveiled in the summer at the Curragh Camp. They are very anxious that any remaining relatives of Private Keogh should be part of the event.

Anyone with relevant information can contact the Diary in the first instance.

Library offers digital books

Kildare County Library members can now download eBooks into their computer as part of the Library service.



The electronic versions of the books are read on screen, or can be transferred to some e-readers from manufacturers such as Sony. Some smartphones are also supported by the system, while both PC and Mac computers can be used.

Access to the system is through digitallibrary.kildare.ie and those wishing to use the service need to have a valid Library membership and a PIN number that comes with their membership card.

Two pieces of free basic software need to be downloaded, and the website provides full instructions for this.

Your editor, who uses the Kilcullen Library regularly, took the time last night to download his first book from the service. Though I have always used Apple Macs, I do also have a Dell Mini laptop and because I travel with it, I used it to set up the system for myself. It took about an hour to get everything in place, and now means that the next time I travel I won't have to bring a physical book with me. As I travel only with a carry-on rucksack, every half kilo saved counts.

The reading is done through a window that shows half a page at a time. Because I spend most of my working time at a computer screen, reading off screen is not an issue for me. It may be for some.

I'll report further in due course. I don't expect it to take over from my use of real books from what is a really excellent local Library, but it does provide another option. For people who can't easily get to the Library it also looks to be useful.

Full marks the the County Kildare Library Service for keeping right up with the technological times.

The volcano finally blows

As we read news this morning of the eruption of a volcano under the Eyjafallajoekull glacier in Iceland, some of you may recall this post back in 2005 when I reported how, during an adventure trip to Iceland, I drove across the glacier itself.

And I wondered about that volcano at the time, knowing then that it was already some years beyond its forecast date for the next eruption!

Sun teased, and then didn't appear

We didn't bother on Friday morning, with the rain and all. But on Sunday morning it just seemed we might get the sun to perform at the Dun Ailinne monument. It teased us, but then the clouds intervened before it could get up over the hills. Ah well, the autumn equinox, or next year?

Is the Pope a Catholic?

The Catholic Church in Ireland is going through a rough patch, to put it mildly.

It is certainly difficult, and understandably so, for Catholics to deal with the constant barrage of revelations and charges which threaten to undermine the very foundation of their beliefs.

While the Diary doesn't get involved in matters of religion beyond reporting community events relating to religious groups in Kilcullen, we would recommend a thoughtfully written, and perceptive website, 'Is the Pope a Catholic?'.

The writer says the idea of the site, established in January, is to address current issues 'from the perspective of a (reasonably!) rational Catholic woman'.

"Since I live in Ireland, the topics dealt with will usually be whatever is current here," she says. "I think the media do a really essential job in our world but I also think that you rarely get an accurate view of the Catholic world vision. I’m done shouting at the radio – here’s my best shot at what the Catholic Church really says about just about everything."

It is well worth reading, and bookmarking.

Rugby greats open Home Instead office

Several legends of Irish rugby attended the official opening of the Home Instead Senior Care (Kildare) HQ in Kilcullen on Friday afternoon. The honours were done by Ciaran Fitzgerald, in the company of Moss Keane and the event recalled especially the late Mick Doyle, the father of Amanda Bohan, MD of the Home Instead franchise for Kildare.

Also among the attendance was Minister of State Aine Brady TD.

The voices under the pictures above are Ed Murphy of Home Instead Ireland, Amanda Bohan of Home Instead Kildare, and Ciaran Fitzgerald.

Welcome the spring tomorrow morning

Just a reminder that a gathering is planned for tomorrow morning at sunrise at the Dun Ailinne sculpture on the Athy Road to celebrate the Spring Equinox.

The time of year is traditionally the time to welcome the better days coming after a long hard winter, which we have certainly had this year.

The sculpture by local artist Noel Scullion, which was installed in 2008, is designed to have the equinoctal dawning sun's rays shine through its 'mouth'. It was seen to tremendous effect in 2008, but weather got in the way last year.
We live in hope in 2010 ... for the sun and a lot more besides.

Be there about 6.20am. (Look out the window first. If it's cloudy or rainy, don't bother until Sunday morning, which has a better weather forecast.)

Work on road being considered

The section of Main Street from the Liffey Bridge to Hillcrest is to be 'considered' for repair in a revised draft Restoration Improvement Programme to be submitted to Kildare County Council.

This news came in response to a question from local FG councillor Martin Heydon, by the Naas Area Engineer. Cllr Heydon had asked if there were any plans to repair the road in 2010.

The engineer's report noted that Kilcullen's Main Street had not been included in the RI programme that was submitted last year. But because the section mentioned above had 'deteriorated since then', the engineer proposed to make a revised programme when the grant allocations are announced.

Modern doctoring with old fashioned values

Although many of the town’s present day population might not realise it, the Kilcullen Family Practice on Main Street is now 22 years on from when Dr Michael Kelly first put his name outside the door.

And it is a sign of the change in Kilcullen itself since then that the practice now comprises four doctors, a nurse, and two receptionists.


Partners in the Kilcullen Family Practice - Drs Deirdre Collins, Michael Kelly and Susanne Francke.

From last October, the practice has become a partnership between its founder and the two doctors who have worked with him the longest, Deirdre Collins and Susanne Francke.

Deirdre, daughter of well-known local community man Jim Collins and Nuala, joined Michael Kelly in 1994, after her graduation. Susanne, who was in College with Deirdre, came to the practice in 2002. And when Michael became ill in 2007 and had to take a year out, Dr Lotter de Witt was brought on board.

Eva Kelly, Michael’s wife, has been a practice nurse since the beginning, and nurse Marie Sullivan joined in 2001. Georgina Mitchell has been receptionist since the practice was founded, while Chloe Sheehan has been with them since 2002. Dayna Mitchell has recently begun working part-time.

A multi-doctor GP practice can have some odd characteristics, as Deirdre Collins found when Michael had to take a year out in 2007, and she took over some of his work. “I had already been there for 13 years, but it was amazing the number of people who asked me if I had just come,” she says with a grin.

Part of that was because many of Michael’s patients had never gone beyond his front surgery area, and didn’t realise how far back the overall facility goes. There are in fact five surgery/treatment rooms, and two waiting areas.

The whole premises has been recently refreshed, with the help of interior designer Maria Fenelon from Ballyshannon. She managed the project from October through to January of this year, juggling the work with the needs of the doctors and their patients. The result is a bright and newly-furnished facility.

“One of the things she suggested was turning a waste piece of ground in the middle into a little garden,” Deirdre says. “It isn’t something we would have thought of ourselves, but it makes such a difference to the waiting room area beside it, and relaxes patients while they wait.”

One of the reasons that the structure was changed to a partnership was the need for continuity. “There has been research which suggests that there is a problem with continuity of care in GP services these days,” says Deirdre Collins. “But if you add up the years which Michael, myself and Susanne have put in here, there’s a massive amount of time that we have spent with our patients.”

It is a matter which all concerned in the Kilcullen Family Practice are anxious to emphasise, in a time when it might be believed -- largely incorrectly -- that the close knowledge of local doctors with their patients has disappeared in the formation of so many private medical clinics.

“People need to know that we are here, that we’re not going anywhere,” says Susanne Francke. “We know them, we know their parents, we know their children. There is a continuity here that a general practice can offer uniquely, in contrast to private clinics. They can do a certain job, but they don’t offer a lifetime service.”

Michael Kelly recalls that when he started up he was expected to deal with all the myriad medical needs of his patients, in the traditional GP manner, even some which he says he mightn’t have been very good at. “One of the reasons that I wanted to expand the practice back in the mid-90s was because I needed to be able to provide the diversity of service with people who had their own special skills.”

And he quotes as the most recent example, Dr de Witt, who came from South Africa with the skills of minor surgery which are a particular feature of where he was trained.

“It is also good that by having several doctors, our patients get used to dealing with the different ones according to their specialities. So if I’m not here, they’re already likely to know Deirde, or Susanne, or Lotter. They’re now never in a situation of having to see a stranger.”

Deirdre Collins stresses that all doctors in the practice come from the GP tradition of ‘care within the family’. “It means that everyone is taken in the context of where they are in their life, in their family. There are situations where somebody presents with a particular problem, and we might already know that somebody else in their extended family might have something similar. We can pool information, and get a better result.”

As Susanne Francke puts it, ‘we don’t just treat a symptom, we deal with a whole person, because we have over time dealt with all of their problems. This gives us a unique advantage in treating somebody, because there can be other factors around that particular symptom. A hospital consultant, or a consultant in a private clinic, might not have that insight available to them. That’s the beauty of a general practice.”

The Kilcullen Family Practice offers pretty well all the services which a private clinic does, and quite often at significantly less cost. What’s not on the very comprehensive list is what comes out of the foregoing part of this piece, personal care from family knowledge.

Or, good old-fashioned community doctoring.

Brian Byrne.


This piece appeared originally on the Kilcullen Page of the Kildare Nationalist.

Dangerous junction described as 'daft'

KFM's morning show presenter Clem Ryan described the situation at Thompson's Cross as 'daft, daft, daft' this morning and warned that a major accident there is inevitable unless the matter is sorted out.

He was discussing the issue with Cllr Martin Heydon, who raised it at yesterday's Athy Electoral Area meeting in Kildare County Council. The councillor noted that there have been five accidents at the junction since September, and when he had raised with the National Roads Design Office one in which a driver had written off his car, he said his concerned 'fell on deaf ears'.

Clem Ryan, who passes the junction every day, noted that as late as yesterday he had seen 'another near miss'. "I'm not an engineer, but I am a road user," he said. "And if I was face to face with the design person, I'd say the same thing as I am now, it is daft, daft, daft, and there is going to be a major smash there."

Cllr Heydon said that, with other local councillors, he had attended a meeting they had requested with the NRDO, and that a number of worrying items had resulted from that meeting.

"In particular, there has been no safety audit completed on the junction," he said. "The NRDO also said that there is no requirement for further delineation work or public lighting and that there was no contact with Gardaí re accidents’ at this same site." (See the councillor's full statement in the previous post.)

A month ago, your editor highlighted the situation in an article in the Kildare Nationalist, which is reproduced below.

KILCULLEN RESIDENTS RAISE FEARS OF FATALITIES AT JUNCTION

by Brian Byrne.

Angry local residents are calling for a petition to be raised in protest at what is turning out to be a very dangerous new road junction near Old Kilcullen.

The junction at Thompson's Cross links the old N9 Carlow Road to the Athy Road, and was built as part of the works for the new length of M9 motorway recently opened between Kilcullen and Castledermot.

Since it was constructed there have been numerous accidents, the latest just last week when a car was written off after overshooting the junction and crashing into a ditch across the Athy Road.

Residents want the intersection changed, preferably with a roundabout, which they say will make it much safer for all concerned.

Local FG councillor Martin Heydon is backing them in their efforts and has already raised the matter with the Council's Roads Department. However, he has been told that the matter is the responsibility of the National Roads Authority.

Sabina Reddy, who lives nearby, has written a strong letter of complaint to the Council, in which she says the junction leaves motorists 'like Bosco swinging his head in all directions' trying to see what traffic is coming.

"Not for the first time, someone drove straight across the Athy road and into the ditch just over the hedge from Robert Thompson's house," she said in regard to one recent accident. "I guess himself and his family are just waiting for an articulated lorry to clear the hedge some day."

And Maureen O'Neill, who also lives in the area, asks if it will 'take a fatality' before anything is done.

The residents claim that the crossing is very badly signposted and there are no road markings on the Athy road to indicate a junction, or when turning left from the Athy road coming out of Kilcullen.

"At night time it is extremely difficult to see exactly when to turn left when driving from Kilcullen," says Sabina Reddy. "All other roads off main roads have green reflector cones to see but this one does not. Last Friday week a van drove up from the Sunnyhill Road and straight into a car that was travelling into Kilcullen from the Athy direction. The van did not stop. These are two incidents where on both roads that join the Athy road the vehicles did not stop."

There are also complaints that the junction is 'lethal' for anyone walking or cycling because there is no continuous hard shoulder on the new turn. "I know budgets are tight but safety must come first and it will not be long before someone is killed," Sabina Reddy has told the Council. "This area is very popular with walkers and at the moment it is not walker or cyclist friendly."

The new road is also very wide, and traffic coming from the Carlow direction is not inclined to slow down when coming up to the Athy Road, where traffic has priority. There is also an issue with visibility of oncoming traffic from the Athy direction.

Cllr Martin Heydon notes that there is no lighting on the junction since the temporary ones during construction were taken away. "There are no reflector posts to indicate the junction when driving on the main Athy road. I also have been approached by a number of drivers who have came upon this junction without realising it and nearly overshot it."

Finally, there seems to be an inconsistency in giving the Athy Road (R418 on the NRA's map of the junction) precedence at this point, as the Castledermot/Carlow Road (R448 on the map) continues on into Kilcullen. Putting the stop sign on the Athy Road would both make more sense, and solve much of the problem. But that would also necessitate a new alignment of the junction to 'soften' the resulting bend on the R448.

Dangerous junction to be highlighted

The dangerous junction at Knockbounce, where there have been at least five accidents in recent times, will be discussed on KFM radio this morning on the Clem Ryan show.

The matter was raised yesterday at the Athy Local Area Meeting by Cllr Martin Heydon. The following is a statement he made after the meeting.

‘Urgent action needs to be taken if a fatal accident is to be avoided,’ that is according to Cllr Martin Heydon who was referring to the dangerous junction of the R448 and R418 (where the old N9 Carlow rd meets the old N78 Athy rd) at Knockbounce, south of Kilcullen.

Speaking at the March monthly Athy area meeting, Cllr Heydon outlined how there had been five car accidents reported to the Gardaí for this area on September 18th, October 21st, November 9th and 20th along with December 19th last. This contradicts claims from the National Roads Design Office at a special meeting the week before last that ‘there was no requirement for further delineation work or public lighting and that there was no contact with Gardaí re accidents’ at this same site.

The NRDO have stated that the new junction forms part of the N9 Phase 3 Works and the design and construction are the responsibility of the Contractor. When the Certificate of Completion is issued, that particular stretch of road will fall under the jurisdiction of KCC. However Roadbridge (the contractors) contend that they have handed control of the road over to Kildare County Council already.

Heydon continued, ‘I was shocked to learn that the final safety audit for this stretch of road has not yet been carried out by the contractors. Kildare County Council need to take control of this situation immediately and ensure that the final safety audit is carried out in conjunction with the Gardaí and the local area roads engineer and whatever remedial work that is deemed necessary from a safety point of view, is carried out straight away.’

‘I have received numerous calls from people who have had near misses at this junction, the contractors admitted that the temporary lighting that was present during construction was for the safety of their workers however the NRDO now contend that there is no need for this junction to have such public lighting on an ongoing basis’, concluded Heydon.

Food & Craft Fair planned

A Food & Craft Fair is being planned by the parish for 10 April.

It will run from 10am-2pm and there are places available for stalls both inside the Parish Centre and in the church grounds.

The fee for a stall is €15. Anybody who wants to take part can contact Olivia at 086 8524045.

Mark and Alisha well settled in Brannockstown

"I've never felt more at home, with the church, with the Brannockstown community, with the whole area."

Pastor Mark Hamblen and his wife Alisha have been in Ireland just three years, and have been associated with Brannockstown Baptist Church for around two of those. But, no more than they have made their own impact on their new community, the people of their church and their adopted village have equally affected them.

Mark was told by someone that he had 'big shoes to fill' when word came that he had been asked to take over the position vacated by Robert Dunlop. "I haven't even tried," he says with a grin. "But the graciousness and support which Robert showed towards me has been a great help."

Living in Athy at first and working as a 'public supply' pastor with a church in Newbridge, as well as with the drugs rehab group Teen Challenge, Mark had preached occasionally in Brannockstown during the early part of 2008.

"I realised that I wanted the position there, and I prayed specifically for it," he admits. "But I didn't want to ask straight out. I wanted to see if they would come to me, that way I'd know we were playing on the same pitch."

Which is what happened. There were meetings with individuals and families in the Brannockstown Baptist community. There was a bit of mutual getting-to-know-you, and then the hoped-for request came.

"It was different to some of the places where I had been back home. This time we knew the people, they knew us. And what happened here was just brilliant."

Mark recalls that he and Alisha 'hit the ground running' when he took up the position at Brannockstown. It has been a busy time, especially with the complete renovation of the church building itself being the major task of 2009.

"We have also established a new monthly evening service that is totally different from the ordinary one. It's dark, with candles and is very informal. The extraordinary thing is that things like this were embraced by the community with absolutely no issues. For instance, having me just sitting on a stool in casual clothes, with the pulpit removed for the evening service ... I have been in churches where that kind of thing would have been a big problem."

Included in the renovation was 'turning the church around', physically reversing the way people sat. "Which actually was how the church was originally, so we were only going back to that."

There's more music too, and the organ has been replaced with a digital piano, another move which has been easily accepted. "We have other musicians too, including some who hadn't played together before, so we regularly have violins and flute in addition to the piano."

The Baptist community in Brannockstown is growing too, with six new families added last year, and two babies on the way. "I find it more diverse than other churches I have been with. We don't seem to have any people in their 40s, or teenagers, but otherwise it's quite varied. And the families are always doing things together -- there are very strong connections."

But what the Hamblens find absolutely charming is something Mark describes as a 'unified energy'. "It is just amazing. When we were doing the renovations, different people would just turn up on different days, and put in 12-hour stints of work. I never asked how they got the time, who looked after the children, they just came."

Mark made it clear from the beginning that the renovations were not just about the church community itself, but that the building would be a resource for the whole community of Brannockstown. And that's how it is already turning out to be. "The local school used it for their Christmas carols, with around a hundred children on stage and as many parents watching. I never thought that 200 people could fit in that church."

Mark acknowledges the help that came from other Baptist congregations in the area, and he looks forward to a future where Brannockstown's resources will be used to give back to them.

The Hamblens were aware that coming to Ireland would be a bit of a culture change, and it was so. But in a good way. "I guess I came with a 'check-list' expectation, that we would be straight into the work of church just as I would have back home. I thought that I would be 'growing' as many people as I could, as fast as I could. But I found that it is much more about relationships, about examining things that we need to take care of. And we found that interactions are longer here, that an invitation to lunch is not just a half-hour and then leaving before you feel you have outstayed your welcome."

Turning 40 this year, Mark also found that coming to Brannockstown gave him and Alisha an opportunity to reflect on their own church beliefs. "We spent a lot of time, many late nights, just talking. I was able to try and sort out what parts of my faith were cultural and what parts are authentic. It has been a time of pruning, of cutting away a lot of things that are not really part of our faith."

Against his experiences in his homeland, which for many years embraced the concept of 'mega-churches', the Brannockstown Baptist community reflects something which he feels there is a discernable returning to. "I think that people want community, and they're trying to get back to it."

Although there is a general air of crisis in most churches, Mark doesn't spend much time thinking about it. "What I do understand is that most people believe in a higher power, and most people want to live good lives. They may want to kick against structures, and against performance, but there's no shortage of spirituality. Just look in any bookstore, and the section on the subject is huge."

For the coming year, there's no physical project, which means that Mark and Alisha can give some time to building on the relationships which have already become such a part of their life in Brannockstown.

After all, that's what church, any church, and all of life is, isn't it? People.

Brian Byrne.


This article originally appeared on the Kilcullen Page of the Kildare Nationalist.

Halverstown school bus mooted

St Joseph's National School in Halverstown is currently exploring the option of running a bus service from Kilcullen Town to the school, commencing September 2010.

If you are interested in availing of this service, or would be interested in the bus detouring by your house/creche, please contact the school on 045 485374.

Padre Pio's glove in Kilcullen

Padre Pio's glove will be at 44 Bishop Rogan Park today from 1-6pm. All are welcome.

Other parish events this week include the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation next Friday by Fr Peter Garvey, the Abbot of Moone, at 11am.

With the ending of the Swine Flu situation, the normal practice of including the Sign of Peace and Communion under both kinds has been reinstituted at Mass.

Storyteller at Library

Storyteller Julie Duane was at Kilcullen Library recently.

Burglaries in Kilcullen

Two burglaries in Kilcullen in the early hours of yesterday morning resulted in the thefts of laptops, cameras, games and a car.

The thieves broke into the ground floors of the homes concerned while the occupants slept upstairs.

Gardai want any information on two men who may have left town after the incidents, in a green Micra.

Tom Doorley to be host at Riverside

The Riverside Restaurant is running a very special evening which will be hosted by restaurant critic Tom Doorley on Thursday March 25th at 7.30pm.

The evening will feature a five course menu devised by Chef Ronny Wolf, accompanied by a special wine selection. Each course will be introduced by Ronny with Tom then describing the wine chosen and explaining why he chose it.

Tom Doorley is one of Irelands leading food writers whose career spans over 20 years with The Irish Independent, The Sunday Tribune and the Irish Times.

Head Chef at The Riverside Restaurant, Ronny Wolf, started his career working in various Michelin Star Restaurants in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Ronny has worked in some of the best known Irish Hotels including Aghadoe Heights, The K Club, Killashee House and has also worked with the late Michelin Starred chef Michael Clifford.

Beauty Queen rehearsals

Rehearsals for 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane', which begins 22 March.

Help wanted for County Show

Following on from its huge success last year as a great day out for the family, the Kildare County Show is planning another great day on the 20 June 2010 at the Showgrounds in Athy, Co Kildare.

The theme for this year’s show is “The Fun Starts Here”.

These may be difficult times, but the Show Committee intends to pull out all the stops to give all its patrons a day of entertainment, fun and excitement.

If you would like to be involved in the preparations and in the day itself, why not join the very active Committee in putting the Show together.

You can come and talk to us on the Kildare County Show stand during the St Patrick’s Day parade in Athy on 17 March 2010, or you can give us a ring. We would love to hear from you. The main qualification is to be able to pull your weight as a cheerful member of a great team.

For further information, please contact: Liam Dunne, 086 2429863 or 087 7436028. The website is at: www.kildarecountyshow.ie

Another mini marathon call

The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund needs ladies to participate in The Flora Women's Mini Marathon on June 7th in Dublin.

This may be the motivation you need to get started after the long hard winter. Let us go forward into spring with optimism and resolve. Join us. If you are new to the area this a perfect way to meet people.

Over the past five years we had lots of fun and enjoyment. If you have never done the mini marathon before, do it this year. You will experience a wonderful feeling of belonging to a group exceeding 40,000 women of all ages, backgrounds, levels of fitness but all there for a good reason. Generosity, fun,and kindness fills the atmosphere.

Your chance to experience all that and more is at hand. We need runners, joggers and walkers. Contact Phena Bermingham 045-485232 or 087-9767531 or Caroline Dempsey 087-2562563.

Phena Bermingham.

Hot Cross Mum hits one

Just a note to say that local writer Hazel Gaynor is celebrating the first birthday of her Hot Cross Mum blog today.

Hazel is into baking and anything to do with being a mum raising a family. She also writes freelance and has a blog on the Hello site.

We wrote about her here some time ago.

Congrats on reaching the first anniversary, Hazel. Persistence is the first rule in this business.

Transplant Games day out progresses

The National Stud and Kildare Village are to offer free entry, lunch and vouchers to the participants in the European Transplant & Dialysis Games who will be coming on the Day Out to Kildare being organised by a group of Kilcullen volunteers.

This was confirmed at the recent meeting of the local organising group, which was also told that Kildare Failte will have a representative on the coach when it travels from the Games HQ in Dublin.

St Bridget's Crosses are to be provided as mementoes.

The next meeting of the group is on March 18.

Moon & Sixpence to perform for Lorraine

We hear the The Moon & Sixpence will be performing in the Town Hall Theatre on April 10 in aid of Lorraine Schwer's fundraising for 'Operation Maintain Hope'.

They're always worth a listen, but then those of you who know me also know why I'd think that way.

The ticket costs €20, but remember the cause if that sounds a little steep.

'Beauty Queen' rehearsals

The Gala Night for the 'Beauty Queen of Leenane' by Kilcullen Drama Group is on Friday 26 March, and not the previous Tuesday as earlier reported.

The Diary went down town last evening to see a bit of the rehearsal, and it's really good stuff. It's worth booking the tickets now, because we think this will be a full house every night affair.

Volunteering on the up

The number of people getting involved in volunteer work in County Kildare has been climbing, a recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action heard.



In a presentation to KCA, Mick Power of the Kildare Volunteer Centre also said that the reasons for volunteering have changed significantly.

“In the Celtic Tiger years, it was a case of people wanting to give something back,” he said. “Now we have people who are interested in learning new skills or gain experience, or simply who have time available because perhaps they have lost their jobs.”

The Kildare Volunteer Centre acts as a form of ‘broker’ for volunteers in the county. Those who register with the organisation are matched to needs for volunteers expressed by a range of groups throughout Kildare.

KVC also runs training courses for groups who use volunteers, so that they can make the experience as good as possible for the volunteer, as well as making the best use of their skills.

Mick Power said that about two-thirds of volunteers on his organisation’s books are under 35, which he felt belied the belief that young people weren’t interested in doing volunteer work.

There is a strong gender imbalance, though, with three women for every man registering to volunteer.

At the moment there are around 1,800 volunteers registered with KVC, and some 200 organisations use the service.

Kilcullen Community Action decided to send representatives on the next training course run by KVC.

Pictured are Celia Travers, Noel Clare, JJ Warren, Mick Power of the Kildare Volunteer Centre, KCA chairman Kieran Forde, Ray Kelly and Orla O'Neill.

'Beauty Queen' bookings open

Tickets are now on sale for the Kilcullen Drama Group's next production, Martin McDonagh's 'The Beauty Queen of Lenane.



The play will be performed from Monday 22 March to Thursday 1 April and bookings may be made by phoning 045 481497 or by calling personally to Bernard Berney's chemist shop.

The play concerns the relationship between an elderly mother and her middle-aged spinster daughter, who cares for her. The plot is further complicated by the return from England of the daughter’s former boy-friend. The sadly hilarious consequences of their interactions makes for a great night’s entertainment. The boy-friend’s younger brother adds considerably to what is already a very complicated situation.

The Gala night is Friday 26 March, with proceeds to be given to St Joseph's NS, Halverstown.

Further progress on No Name Club

A planned Youth Cafe and a mooted No Name Club for Kilcullen would not be in opposition to each other, members of Kilcullen Lions Club heard at a meeting to consider the second facility.



No Name Clubs of Ireland representative Anthony McCormack said both facilities could be ‘complementary’ to each other, as they offer somewhat different things for young people.

“The No Name Clubs are tightly focussed on a segment of teenagers, from 15-18,” he said. “It is also based on having organised events, such as outings and participating in the regional and national events that are part of the organisation. These include table quizzes, our National Youth Awards, and the Super Talent Competition, as well as taking in whatever local opportunities there are in an area.”

The Youth Cafe, which has been a project of Kilcullen Lions for the last two years, is now close to opening, with difficulties over a lease on the Tennis Club building now overcome.

Anthony McCormack, a former National Chairman of the No Name Clubs and now working full time for them, said the possibility of setting up in Kilcullen had received direct support from the local Garda, led by Sergeant Eddie Relihan.

“Garda Joanne O’Sullivan says she is prepared to be directly involved,” he told those present at the latest information meeting. “We have found from experience that the involvement of a garda in clubs is very beneficial.”

He emphasised that sufficient adult volunteers to oversee the activities of such a club are an essential for its creation and continuance. He noted that the national organisation provided training for volunteers, including the mandatory course in child protection.

He also detailed how the club can be funded, noting that each club has to be self-sufficient. VEC club grants, grants for the club’s Health Promotion activities, and local initiatives like bag-packing at supermarkets are all possibilities for funding, he said.

At the moment there are some 42 No Name Clubs affiliated to the national organisation.

A further meeting is planned, at which it is hoped a committee can be formed to progress the idea to an actual club.

Pictured above with Anthony McCormack are Ellen Behan, Claire Walsh and Gail O’Dwyer.

Brian Byrne.

This article originally appeared on the Kilcullen Page of the Kildare Nationalist.

Gardening back to the future

"We have to go back to the future in our gardening," KFM gardening expert Yvonne O'Connor told a recent full house at the Kilcullen Flower & Garden Club.



'Back to the Future' was the title of her talk, which referred to using growing methods which came before the modern use of fertilisers and pesticides.

"A lot of the chemicals are banned now, so we're going back to the old biologicial controls," she said. "For instance, rhubarb leaves make a great insecticide, and onion leaves make a great fungicide."

Tea leaves have a role too, making a great fertiliser. All things which are great for the revival in home growing of vegetables.

"All this has kind of skipped a generation, and we're in some ways lucky that the recession came," Yvonne remarks. "There are people getting a new enjoyment out of growing their own stuff, instead of going down to the shop to buy it for instant use. Now they buy a packet of seeds instead, and there's no better enjoyment than growing a plant from a seed."

The only question is, will there be a surge in sales of loose tea now, instead of teabags, with all this need for a natural fertiliser?

Pictured with Yvonne (second from left) are Margaret Brennan, Mary Shortt, and Adrienne Thompson, chair of the club.

Brian Byrne.

This article originally appeared on the Kilcullen Page of the Kildare Nationalist.

World Glaucoma Week

World Glaucoma Week runs from today, Monday 8 March, and is aimed at both increasing awareness of this dangerous eye condition and screening people at a local level.

Around half of those living with glaucoma do not realise they have it. It is the name given to a series of devastating diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and effects peripheral, or side vision. Since vision loss is permanent, glaucoma needs to be diagnosed and appropriately treated as early as possible to prevent further damage.

Studies have shown that glaucoma is becoming increasingly more common in older people and, with the number of people aged over 65 in Ireland predicted to increase by almost two-fifths by 2016, and to treble by 2041 it is vital that these are caught early.

The drive to increase awareness of glaucoma is being supported in partnership by the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI), the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO), the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) and Pfizer Healthcare Ireland.

The evidence indicates that if a patient can be diagnosed in the early stage of the disease, then there is every likelihood that treatment will prevent the condition from progressing.

Most patients are well treated with eye-drops alone, though some may require laser or surgery to control the eye pressure. Regular eye examinations are vital to ensure eye conditions are identified early and appropriately managed.

The test is quick, a painless puff of air in the eye, and gives an immediate result.

The primary risk factors for glaucoma include, increasing age, a family history of glaucoma, high intraocular pressure (IOP), marked nearsightedness. People of African and Asian descent are prone to particular types of glaucoma.

Nichola Kennedy, Kilcullen's optrometist, is offering free glaucoma screening tests all this week.

Brannockstown NS for Haiti

The children of Brannockstown NS who raised more than €3,800 for the Haiti earthquake disaster relief.

Lorraine plans building in Kenya

Lorraine Schwer is holding a Table Quiz in Bardons on March 29 to help raise funds for a trip to Kenya under the 'Maintain Hope' programme.

Lorraine works in Bernard Berney's Chemist Shop and plans to travel with the group in August. She will be part of a building group which aims to build a school in Mombasa during the two weeks out there.

The 'Maintain Hope' involvement in Kenya is organised locally by Gerry O'Donoghue and Susan Riehn.

Market Day planned for Manna

In the 11th year since the Manna organic shop was set up at the Bridge Camphill Community, it has been given a 'bit of a spruce-up' according to Pauline Fagan.

And there's to be a special Market Day to relaunch it to past customers and hopefully make it known to new ones.

The event is Sunday March 21, between 11.30am-3pm, and Pauline and Siodhna will welcome all and sundry to their offering of the best in best in organic wholefood, fruit and veg and ever-lovely organic free-range eggs.

"On the day, we’ll have stalls with produce from our bakery and weaving workshops, complimentary teas and coffees and there’ll be bowls of Martha’s soup," Pauline says. "Bernie will offer guided walks through the garden and the small ones will have the chance to visit Arthur’s chicks. There’ll be face painting too. We’re delighted that our sister communities of Dunshane and Grangebeg will be joining us on the day with beautiful work from their own craft workshops."

She also expresses her thanks to Sean, Ciaran, Moritz and Mischa for the 'spruce-up'.

Short takes

The CPC Transition Year will present their production of 'Grease' from 23-25 March.

Kilcullen Scout Troop and St Joseph's NS will jointly hold a Race Night in the Hideout on 12 March.

Michelle's wedding event

Local fashion shoes retailer Michelle Kirwan's Ruby Shoes is hosting a wedding event on 27 March from 10am-5.30pm.

Participants include suppliers from Weddings OnLine, Farrell & Chase, and Candle Light Weddings.

Offers and discounts on the day. ... and some freebies.

More information from info@rubyshoes.ie

Motoring in Geneva

The Diary made its annual pilgrimage to Geneva this week for the Motor Show. Which is one reason not much happened on this site.

But if you're interested in cars (and who isn't?), here are some of our views and news from the event.

Get your eyes tested for glaucoma

Next week is World Glaucoma Week and will highlight the importance of early diagnosis in avoiding vision loss.

Supported by Pfizer, the week is being run by the Association of Optometrists, Ireland and The National Council for the Blind (NCBI).

At Nichola Kennedy FAOI Optometrist, Kilcullen, anyone interested in the opportunity to have their eye pressures measured can have the test carried out for free. It only involves a painless puff of air in the eye and is one of a number of glaucoma screening tests carried out at the practice.

Nichola can also carry out the test on people diagnosed with glaucoma and currently on treatment for it.

Dan Donnelly goes to Croker

Dan Donnelly's Arm is heading off in its travels again in May, this time to Croke Park.

The mummified right arm of the famous pugilist, which has been in the Byrne family's ownership since the early 1950s, has been loaned to an exhibition on 'Fighting Irishmen' organised by New York realtor Jim Houlihan.

The exhibition has attracted large audiences in New York, Boston, and the Irish-American Folk Museum in Omagh.

The Croke Park event runs from May 18-August 31 and will be located in the GAA Museum.

GAA News

Well done to the Senior team who defeated Straffan on a scoreline of 1-14 to 1-10 in the Keogh Cup last Saturday. Next up is Sallins on saturday at 2.30 in Kilcullen.
Well done to the Minor team who defeated St Mochu on Sunday in the MinorLleague on a scoreline of 2-09 to 0-04.
Hard luck to the u-16s who were defeated by Round Towers in League on Saturady, losing on a scoreline of 3-08 to 1-10

Could all team mentors please send in match reports and results to h.j.barrett@hotmail.com after all club games.

No lotto winner, numbers drawn were4, 8, 10,14. €50 winner Ciaran McMahon, €20 winner Bobby Walker.

Membership now overdue for 2010.

Kilcullen GAA this week launch their headshave and waxing night which will take place in O`Connell's bar on Saturday 27th March. Over the coming weeks, players, trainers and club officers will be looking for sponsorship for the night and we greatly appreciate your support for the lads. Also anybody looking for the 'ultimate makeover' that would like to take part on the night can contact Warren on 0861991637.

Kilcullen Ladies
Well done to the Minor girls on making the final panel to represent our club at county level, Claire Mulrennan,Sinead Maher and Jayne Peacocke.

Five of our girls put in a massive effort at the trials over the past two weekends and we are extremely proud of how they represented the club and themselves. Well done to all. Under 14 training has now started for the Kilgarvan girls. All new players are welcome to attend training which takes place on Mondays from 7pm to 8pm.

A big thanks to Aishling Lambe and Brian Willis who are training the under 14s and also to Jason Morris for his work in getting the panel back together. Under 16 training will commence next week and all players, new and old, are asked to attend. Training details to be announced. For any further info on the Ladies section please contact Warren Kelly on 0861991637.

Henry Barrett
086 1677829

Evenings@Brannockstown

Evenings @Brannockstown are held at Brannockstown Baptist Church on the 2nd Sunday evening of each month, and all are very welcome to attend this casual evening worship service, which includes praise music, a short devotional, scripture reading and meditation.

Our next evening service will be on 14 March, 7:00pm and will last about an hour. For more information, visit www.BrannockstownBaptist.ie or tel. 045 420 811.

Hospitals trolley problem 'more serious' in Kildare

The situation for patients waiting on trolleys in hospital is 'significantly more serious' in Kildare than in other parts of the country.

That was highlighted this weekend by Cllr Martin Heydon (FG), who said it is time for a complete overhaul of the nation's health system.

He said the emotional story told by one such patient, 'Mary', to Clem Ryan on KFM radio last week brought home in a very real way the suffering, stress, and trauma that lying on trolleys can cause to already seriously ill patients.

According to the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation the number of patients on trolleys at Naas General Hospital during the month of January was seven times the number in the same period three years ago.

Cllr Heydon chaired a public meeting in Newbridge last Thursday where Fine Gael health spokesperson Dr James Reilly TD presented Fine Gael's new Faircare health reform programme.

Stuck in the game

Billy Dowling and Robbie Delaney concentrating on their Bingo cards during the Matt Brown Fun Night in The Hideout in aid of REHAB.

Live by The Liffey on the web

Ray Kelly's music project, which he started only last September but has been 'thinking about' for years, now has its own website.

The site provides information about upcoming gigs, and a gallery of past ones, the latest of which was Luka Bloom's super night on Friday.

The next gig features Ger Wolfe, on 19 March. We'll keep you posted.

Illustrator exhibits at GFG

A display of the work of illustrator Annie West has just started in The Good Food Gallery and is well worth a look.

Born in Scotland, Annie graduated from Dun Laoghaire College of Art & Design. She has worked in the Design Department at RTE, at Tyne Tees Television and on various independent TV productions for Channel Four.

She spent a decade working in the art departments on feature films in Ireland, Britain and America and also directed the art on music video specials for Robert Plant, The Style Council and the Hothouse Flowers. She has worked on the development of artwork for music CDs for many bands including among others, The Waterboys, Sharon Shannon and Matt Molloy.

Annie specialises in highly detailed line and ink drawings, with the emphasis on detail. Examples of her work are on her website. She also has an illustrated blog.

GFG exhibition

Sligo-based artist Annie West with Suzanne Carey, at the recent opening of Annie's exhibition in the Good Food Gallery.