Forms for joining the Kilcullen Garda District Text Alert scheme are available from The Grocery in Calverstown, Kilcullen Garda Station, Kilcullen Credit Union, and scheme committee members. Please encourage neighbours and friends to join.
There has been major traffic disruption this evening on the southbound carriageway of the M9 at Halverstown.
Initial reports say a lorry was involved, apparently carrying furniture because it was spread all over the road.
Another vehicle, a car, was reported as being on the embankment.
More details if they come in.
The way has been cleared for Kilcullen Boxing Club to move to its new premises at Kilcullen Community Centre, writes Brian Byrne.
This follows the completion of several years of negotiation and legal work.
The move will mark the end of an era that began in the early 1960s when the club built its JFK Hall.
The full story can be read in this week's Kildare Nationalist.
Ceramics artist Grainne Watts with Suzanne Carey of The Good Food Gallery at the opening of Grainne's exhibition in the Gallery. A profile of the artist will be published later.
The Community Directory which has been published in print form a number of times by Kilcullen Community Action may be going digital.
The idea was discussed at a recent meeting of KCA, at which it was mooted that the online Directory might be the core of a website portal for KCA itself.
A sampler quilt course series is being run at The Cottonwood Tree beginning Saturday 2 April.
The courses can be attended on Saturdays either morning or afternoon, or on Wednesdays morning or evening.
The participants will make a series of 12" sampler blocks which can become a quilt of whatever size is wanted.
All techniques will be taught and no prior knowledge of quilting or sewing is needed. Sewing machines are available free if required.
A class fee of €35 includes supplies. Further information from 045 484482.
A children's knitting workshop is being offered on Tuesday 19 April, during the Easter holidays. The class is limited to five, and costs €20, deposit €10.
Booking and further information from 087 2628305.
The evening at the Workout Express premises on Hillcrest was very much a women's night out, writes Brian Byrne. There was lots of pink about, soft drinks and nibbles, catalogues and samples.
It was 'Avon Lady' Elaine Burke's latest Avon Party. And there was great buzz around the place. An escape from recession, maybe? And also the prospect of a few drinks and music in The Hideout afterwards, because that well-known pub had donated a €5 voucher for every customer who bought something from Avon, to be spent later that evening at the pub's Customer Appreciation Night.
This is the 125th anniversary of the Avon Lady. The business was actually started by an Irishman, David McConnell from Co Cavan, so it has a strong Irish heritage.
Area Manager Josephine Lee has been working around this region for the last 13 years, but since September the official Kilcullen Avon Lady has been Elaine Burke.
Formerly a kitchen designer, Elaine's job was one of the casulaties of the construction recession. "I needed to do something to keep me sane," she says. "I saw Josephine's phone number on her van and decided to take the plunge."
There was a certain family history in the move, as Elaine's grandmother used to be an Avon Lady. "And I always liked the products myself. I always bought them, but I hadn't seen a rep for a long time. I wanted to buy Avon products and I ended up becoming a rep."
Avon is possibly best known for cosmetics, but Elaine says it is much more than that. "We do makeup, fragrances, jewellery, lingerie, gifts for men and children, seasonal products for times like Christmas. And we have a huge range of clothes as well."
There must be a good demand in Kilcullen, because after a very short few months Elaine is already in line to make it into Avon's 'President's Cllub' for high-achievers.
Avon says its products are at the top of the league in quality, developed by their own dedicated research laboratories in New York. Indeed, they suggest that many high-end brand names license their products to market as their own. But the competitive prices means that Avon does well in recessionary times.
"Women will not give up their lipsticks in a recession," Elaine says. "In fact, the sale of lipsticks go up in a recession."
The Avon sales system is very much based on networking. Elaine began by selling to friends, the friends told other friends, and the message spreads. The Avon Parties are a key element, especially at the latter end of the year.
"I enjoy the selling one to one, and that's how Avon has operated since 1886. We don't do shops, we don't have high overheads, and we can pass on those savings in value to our individual customers. The personal contact is what makes Avon."
A significant number of Avon customers are in the elderly age group, and the regular visit of the Avon Lady can be an important social contact for them. "They might not be able to get out to the shops very much, and they like the one-on-one contact, even if it is just a 5-minute chat at the door. And they are also aware of the endorsements of our creams by celebrities from their own age group. Jacqueline Bisset is a good example, she's 68 now and a great ambassador for Avon."
There are currently about 10,000 Avon representatives in Ireland.
Pictured above at the event are Nora Burke, Catherine Enright, Elaine Burke, Josephine Lee, Helen Lee, Claire Brunkard, Natalie Dunne, and Norah Skehan.
This story was published in last week's Kildare Nationalist.
The Kildare Badminton Association held their annual Graded Open in Kilcullen Complex on the weekends of March 19th/26th, writes Ronan Murphy.
Mens Women and Mixed events were run over both weekends with a large entry in all grades and a fine standard of play.
Congratulations to all competitors many whom travelled from neighbouring counties to compete, and of course well done to all our winners.
Thanks to the committee and Sheila and Clare for their help and to all who helped out over the weekend.
Following our inter club juvenile league competition, the top two teams in each league met in the League Finals which were held in Kilcullen Complex on Sunday 27th March.
Ten teams from all clubs around the county reached the finals at U11/13/15 and 17 grades. Boys, Girls & mixed and a Blitz was held for u10s.
A large crowd of supporters and family members added to the friendly atmosphere as the kids gave their best on the courts.
St Joseph's NS has joined the 'Schools Hall of Fame' in the National Gifted Awareness Day scheduled for Friday 8 April.
The day is being observed for the first time in conjunction with the EU Talent Day being marked on Saturday 9 April.
The idea came from Hungary, which has had for many years a national day of talent to mark composer and pianist Béla Bartók's birthday. This year, with talent support as the central theme of their presidency of the EU, they have invited the rest of Europe to join them on Saturday 9th April to mark EU Talent Day.
The goal of this event is to promote awareness among teachers of the special needs of Exceptionally Able and Twice Exceptional (2e) children in classrooms across Ireland and to recognise those schools that have already developed policies to help meet the special educational needs of gifted children.
St Joseph’s National School in Halverstown is the smallest in Kilcullen Parish. It is the policy of the school to provide an atmosphere where the children will receive maximum benefit from the education system by being exposed to a broad curriculum and Christian ethos.
Kilcullen is probably the 'only town in the county' not to have proper town signs at its limits, a recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action heard.
And it seems that the only way to get them is by way of a Community Grant, Noel Clare told the group.
He said an application for such a grant had been submitted to Kildare County Council.
The monthly Kilcullen Ciorcal Gaeilge, organised by KCA, takes place next Tuesday, 3u Aibréain ag a 8i.n. in The Hideout. Má tá suim agat sa Gaeilge, beidh fáilte romhat teacht.
An mà seo, béimid ag caint faoi scéalta greannmhar - this month we'll hear a few funny stories as Gaeilge.
The Irish Circle is for anyone with an interest in speaking an teanga, and fluency is not necessary. The objective is craic a bheith againn and to have an opportunity to use the cúpla focail and improve through speaking with others.
Although some daybreaks over the last week were good for viewing the effects of sunrise on the Dun Ailinne Interpretive Park monument, last Sunday wasn't one of them. Still, a group of people young and old made the early pilgrimage to the spear, as these pictures from Kieran Behan show.
The annual Kilcullen Community Action Quiz Night has been changed from next Monday to Monday 4 April.
The event will be held in Bardons, with tables for four costing €40.
The Kilcullen Trout & Salmon Anglers Association has opened up membership this year to new members and is actively trying to encourage people to join the club, writes Liam Stenson.
The fishing season is now under way and goes from 1st March right up until 30 September.
Permits & Day Tickets can be purchased in Fraser Oil, of Steve's Daybreak, or an application form can be sent out by emailing kilcullenanglers@gmail.com
An Adult Season Ticket is €15. A Juvenile Season Ticket is €7. Day Tickets are €7 per day.
The KTSAA has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kilcullenanglers and a Twitter service at www.twitter.com/KilcullenTSAA
More information on how the river has been fishing can be found on my blog which is www.irishflyfisher.ie
We only brought your attention yesterday to the inordinate length of time it was taking Kildare County Council to repair the vandalised basket standards on the bridge.
The job has now been done. Go figure, again.
Local writer Hazel Gaynor went back in time recently to the 1930s, and took a try at working the way a housewife (we allowed use that term now?) had to do things in that period.
Well worth a look on her Hot Cross Mum blog. We could embed it here, but if you don't know the blog, you should take the opportunity to go through it too.
Two Pilates courses are being organised by Physiotherapy Works on Hillcrest, to be run by Gillian Quinn and Eadaoin Ponisi.
Gillian's classes begin on Wednesday 6 April, for beginners at 6pm, beginners/improvers at 7.15pm, and improvers/intermediate at 8.30pm.
Eadaoin's course begins on Tuesday 19 April, for beginners at 6.30pm, and intermediate at 7.15pm and 8.30pm.
Both courses last for seven weeks, and cost €110.
It’s our first birthday, writes Alisha Hamblen, and everybody's invited to celebrate with the Vincents Charity Shop in Kilcullen on Friday 8 April, 10am-5.30pm.
We can’t believe a year has flown by already, so call into the shop for a cup of coffee or tea and some snacks throughout the day. While you’re in the shop, take a look at our great selection of gently-used clothing for the entire family, jewellery, toys, books, games, DVDs and household goods.
Then on Sunday 10 April we’ll be holding a Car Boot Sale in aid of St Vincent de Paul, beginning at 8am. €10 for a table outside, €12-15 for a table inside.
Have you considered volunteering just four hours a week to help at our Kilcullen shop? We’re still in need of volunteers, especially for afternoons and Saturdays. Running the till, pressing clothes and sorting donations — there’s always something to keep you busy and help a worthy cause at the same time.
No experience necessary; training is provided.
Any questions, call into the shop Monday through Saturday or phone 045 480785.
Two days after CPC put up a sign on the college gates advertising the coming Transition Year musical 'Fame', the school got a phone call from Kildare County Council warning them to take it down or face fines, writes Brian Byrne.
On the second day of work being carried out recently on behalf of Kilcullen Community Action to power wash the railings of the bridge, and varnish the wooden top of the rails, a KCC official told the worker to stop.
More than four weeks after two flower basket uprights were torn from their positions on the bridge, Kildare County Council has done nothing to fix them. And the cones 'protecting' passers-by from tripping over them have been put there by a local private citizen.
Go figure...
The Diary has learned of the death of Martina 'Tina' Keogh of Monasterevin, formerly of Logstown.
Tina's requiem mass will be celebrated this morning at 9.30 in Kilcullen Parish Church.
Her funeral will take place immediately afterwards to Newlands Crematorium.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
There's been a rash of graffiti in the Kilcullen area lately, much of it obliterating road signs. But the perpetrators are also endangering themselves and motorists along the M9 motorway by carrying out their activities on the high-speed road, as this picture by Kieran Behan illustrates.
This is an activity that needs to be stopped for lots of reasons, but not least because it is vandalism and malicious defacement. In Australia, you will be fined if found in possession of a can of spray paint in a public place.
A new Kilcullen rock band is beginning to make a name for itself, and not just in the local area, writes Brian Byrne.
The Flock of Budgies was formed last September, and took its name from the one rejected by the embryo band in The Commitments movie.
"We've gone from strength to strength," says guitarist Ken Byrne, whose brother Gavin plays bass. Trevor McEvoy from Nicholastown does the percussion side of things, while the rest of the gang is made up of Hook Kelly and Aidan O'Carroll, both from Avondale.
Since forming the 'Budgies', the lads have been playing regularly in the area, including Naas and Newbridge. And the word is already beginning to spread, with recent gigs in Bunclody and the offer of playing at a biker rally in Mayo.
Their sound is pure rock, but there's something not quite rock when you look at them. No electric guitars, no electric drum kit, and yet they can outperform many bands with all the gear.
They have long term high hopes, but the gigging in small pub venues is an essential start, Ken believes. And it's different in a place like mid-Kildare than in his native Dublin. "In the city you're expected to bring your crowd with you, whereas in country gigs you come in and entertain whoever is there. When we played in Bunclody it was the first time we had played away from home, and it was a tough gig. But towards the end of the second half we knew we had them."
And, just like the story of the band that rejected their name, that's how it goes.
This story appeared in last week's Kildare Nationalist.
It's very much Kilcullen's week for TV mention.
Hot on the heels of last Monday's piece on RTE 1's 'Nationwide' featuring the Good Food Gallery, a programme which also had a piece on the operators of the newest business in town, 'The Dresser Shop', the Dun Ailinne monument will be showcased tonight.
The piece will be part of the 'iWitness' slot, just after the late news on RTE 1.
The Kilcullen adult and youth choirs are currently seeking new members, as also is the Family Mass Group.
Contact the Parish Office for further information, 045 480727.
Kilcullen GAA are holding a scrap metal collection at their club premises car park on Wednesday-Saturday 23-26 March.
The initiative is a fundraiser and is being carried out in conjunction with A1 Waste Recycling of Mountmellick.
The collection will accept household items and farm equipment of a very wide variety, provided the items are partly metal of some kind. This includes some electrical items including cable, but NO TVs, fridges or tyres will be accepted.
The club has asked that donations be brought to the car park ONLY between 9.30am-3pm on the dates mentioned.
Larger items such as cars and tractors can be collected free of charge from donors' homes. Contact Albert Keenan 087 2168045 or Dan Bell 086 2590314.
A Logstown resident last night foiled an attempt to break into her home by a pair of young men.
The incident happened at around 9pm. The resident heard noises at her front door, and when she opened the inner main door she saw the two men running away.
It wasn't until this morning that she realised that they had already managed to seriously damage the outer door in their attempt to break in.
The Grangebeg Camphill Community are holding a Spring Fair on Sunday 27 March.
The timing is 2-5pm and the attractions include tea, coffee, home baking, farm walks and crafts.
There will also be music and a raffle. Camphill works with people who need support, so come along and support their work too.
Grangebeg is out the Dunlavin Road.
It's always good to see a 'dead' shop coming back to life, writes Brian Byrne, more especially in the times that are in it. And the latest one is 'The Dresser Shop', opposite Bardons pub.
Operated by Brendan and Mairead Talbot, the opening of the shop is a story for the times, reflecting a return to traditional tastes and values. As its name suggests, Brendan and Mairead sell kitchen dressers.
Better again, they are Brendan's own work, made in his joinery at Kilmead near Athy.
"I'm the third generation of cabinet makers in my family," he told the Diary. "I think that Ireland went all ultra modern during the Boom, went for crazy straight lines. Now though, just like the knitting and the baking has come back, so is the interest in traditional style furniture."
Brendan says the old dressers 'went extinct' for a while. But his father in Sallins used to make them, and they sold off the side of the road.
He's tapping into a perceptible shift, where people are now putting their money into improving their existing homes instead of trading up, as was the case at the height of the rampaging Celtic Tiger.
"For instance, anyone selling paint will tell you that business is doing fairly well at the moment," he says.
He and Mairead picked Kilcullen to showcase their products because they like it. "It's a decent little town, and we have a good window here on a good street, so it's worth giving it a shot."
If nothing else, the 'Dresser Shop' name has excited curiosity as Brendan and Mairead have been doing it up over recent weeks. They hope that same curiosity will encourage local people to have a look when they open on Friday.
In this week's Kildare Nationalist, Kilcullen stories include a profile of the 'Flock of Budgies' local band; a report from the recent talk by Christy Kenneally on grieving and bereavement; and the visit by new local TD Martin Heydon to his alma mater, Cross & Passion College.
The Kildare Nationalist is the only local paper that gives full Kilcullen coverage every week.
The St Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club was named 'Club of the Year' at the National Convention of the Pitch & Putt Union of Ireland.
It was the first time the Union has presented such a prize, which was accepted on behalf of the club by Christy Sweeney.
Also at the Convention, club member Liam Sherry was elected Coaching & Development Officer of the Union's National Executive Committee 2011. And Chrissie Byrne was awarded Ireland's top-ranked Lady Player 2010.
