It Says in The Bridge: October 2013
There's more congratulation recorded inside with the extra marks noted in the scores of local areas in the Tidy Towns, a report card that says Kilcullen has done well (but there still room for improvement ...). And congratulations too to the very generous response of the community to a number of fundraising events recently — the Bridge notes the upcoming presentation of the cheque for the latest 'Mac & Norman's Vintage Drive' to be held in The Stray Inn. In 'Water under the Bridge', Noel Clare adds in the achievement of Jimmy Aspell and friends in The Spout for their fundraisers for the Irish Cancer Society, Murphy Surveys' doing their thing for Crumlin Childrens Hospital, and, of course, the Ollie's Little Hearts Appeal still rolling up the score for their cause of the new Cardiac Unit in the same hospital. Philomena Breslin is reported from further afield in her fundraiser, doing a Camino walk for the RISE Foundation.
On another angle entirely, a feature on the Kilcullen Community Text Alert scheme is worth spending a little thinking time on, as developing further a very successful initiative could really help make Kilcullen less of an easy mark for the ungodly out to thieve amongst us.
Remember the old 'Safe Cross Code'? Well, it's back, and a page is devoted to the ins and outs of it. The original was very much aimed at children, but today's version is for all of us, so don't just skip by thinking the nice cartoon intro makes it a space only for the under-10s.
Other features this month include Colm McNamee telling his own story of dealing with Asperger's Syndrome. That's appropriate in an issue with another insiprational piece from James Nolan, reporting from the World Transplant Games in South Africa in the summer, where he found much hopefulness and bravery amongst his fellow competitors from around the globe.
As usual, Sean Landers is reporting on his own life from Asia, this time about a visit he took earlier in the year to Hong Kong and Macau. There's some irony in the fact that the weather theme for his stay was rain, lots of it, but then that part of the world does have monsoon summers.
All the schools report on busy starts to their new year, including the Kildare Steiner School which reports waiting lists for its Kindergarten and early classes. A new series of classes in Bushcraft offers skills in animal tracking and wilderness survival. Not maybe immediately necessary in Rathargid, but one never knows ...
St Joseph's NS looks forward to the raising of its Green Flags on Thursday next, while Scoil Bhride has some new faces in the staffroom in Odhran Lloyd, Michael McConigley and Joe Cremin, and in SNAs Emer Kilduff and Josephine McCarthy.
In Sport, that Cup Final win by AFC Ladies is rehearsed, the GAA is less happy with the relegation of its Junior As, St Bridget's Pitch & Putt celebrates 25 years, and the Badminton Club reflects on a very successful summer season.
Snippets ... the name of the dog that won 'Best in Show' at the annual Wag & Bone Dog Show was named 'Greg' ... Billy Redmond prefers Clem Ryan to Pat Kenny as an interviewer, and he hasn't much time for Labour councillors 'jumping ship' to Sinn Fein ... Kilcullen Credit Union has revived its Christmas Savings Club now that the new computer system makes it manageable ... and the biggest family years span is pictured with Granny Bridget Aspell holding her latest great grandson Odhran, son of Hazel and Derek Lawler.
As always, much happening, much to read about, way beyond what you might expect in our small town. The Bridge is available as usual in outlets around Kilcullen.
