It Says In The Bridge: June 10
The front page stories this month both relate to roads. In the main case, the FBD Ras cycle road race which had a stage end and start during the last month, and illustrated in a picture of a bunch of competitors pumping up Hillside to the finish. Also pictured is Pat Berney, KIlcullen's 'best known cyclist', looking on.
The other 'road' item is the painted road 'improvements' at Thompson's Cross, following the recent spate of accidents at the new junction. That previews a piece inside from local councillor Martin Heydon, who notes that he hasn't been able to see the Safety Audit for the M9 extension and the associated works which include Thompsons Cross because it was the National Road Design Office recommendation that it not be published.
The really big news in this issue takes up half the pages of the June Bridge, and is the 'It Takes a Village' guide to parenting resources produced by the Carer & Toddler Group (which has been highlighted on the Diary here). It was, of course, officially launched at a function in The Hideout, by Mary Berney, one of the key founders of the group.
Other news stories in this issue include the banning by Kildare County Council of notices being posted on the Convent Gates at the crossroads. It seems that there's a regulation that such notices not be posted 'within 100 metres' of traffic lights. The writer notes that, sure, the gates will probably look better, but wonders if the threat of prosecution issued by the Council to Cross & Passion College is a case of 'the nanny state going too far'?
Celebratory notes are posted to many this month, including Mary Halloran on her 50th birthday, Harry Sully on his 70th, and similarly to Bridie Steed. Wedding anniversaries recorded include Gred & Eileen Doyle's 40th, and Rovert and Olive Dunlop's 50th.
The Business Bridge gives prominence to the opening of The Cottonwood Tree by Rose Doherty, a virtual treasure throve of sewing materials and becoming a focus for learning many of the sewing crafst.
In the regular features, Billy Redmond's Off the Cuff is about his niece Niamh Kavanagh and a local family evening where she sang for a couple of hours. Tongue in cheek, Billy wonders how he managed to miss out on selling tickets to the gig and making a bit of pocket money.
Sean Landers is leaving his Landlady from Hell in Taiwan, but other news is that he has signed another contract of employment with the school where he teaches. Still, he's in a bit of a blue period just now, so maybe a few cheerful emails from home might be in order?
There's a review of the Poetry and Song evening recently held in the Town Hall Theatre for the Maintain Hope charity in Kenya. Bernard Berney, one of the participants, also finds time this month to exhort the faithful to deal with the 'tsunami of change' currently engulfing the Catholic Church. A report from Ray Kelly on Kilcullen participation in the recent Kildare Half Marathon encourages a more fit lifestyle, and there are the usual inputs from the Canoe Club, the GAA, the Soccer Club, Pitch & Putt et al. All three national schools get their space too.
And finally, as does the Bridge itself, let's promote the two festivals upcoming in the area. The Brannockstown Community Festival is on the weekend of July 9-11 while the Kilcullen River Festival will be on 22 August. Diary these, please.
