Friday, February 28, 2014

Brigid gets her first 104th birthday present

Judy O'Halloran, who holds Book No 1 of Kilcullen Credit Union, making a presentation to the CU's oldest member, 104 years old Brigid Aspell, to mark her latest birthday. Brigid is pictured below with her family (back) Terri, Nuala and Breda, and (front) Dolly and Molly.

Brigid's actual birthday is Monday, but she's already got a head start on the celebrations.



Big smiles from James

I have just returned from Kenya where all is well with the children in Shelter, writes Gerry O'Donoghue. I have attached a picture of a smiling James' (not his real name).

Your readers may recall James's story. An undetected injury incurred during the post election violence in 2008 left him unable to speak or eat properly. I witnessed a visitor to Shelter distributing boiled sweets to the children in Shelter last July. James took his quota of the hard sweets and his friend automatically crushed them between two spoons so that James could put the fragments in his mouth.

Look at him now. Following a successful operation in December, James is now eating, speaking, singing and smiling. He is top of Class 5 in the school which we built at the Shelter and he has been appointed Acting Head-Boy. This transformation in his life and in his life chances has come about through the generosity of the good people who support Maintain Hope. Kilcullen take a bow!

Operation Transformation Kenya style! There are many girls and boys like James, and there is much to be done. But let us pause and celebrate this little boy and above all let us give thanks. More information from maintainhope@gmail.com and 087 2642887. Best wishes to all.


Workshops for emerging writers

An Emerging Writers Workshop series in Naas Library is open free to all interested in finding out how to improve their work.

The event will be on Saturday March 8th and Saturday April 12th and will conducted by Vanessa O'Loughlin of Writing.ie. Vanessa is also the Vice Chair of Irish PEN and the Irish and Eurozone Adviser to the international organisation The Alliance of Independent Authors. Listen out for her monthly writing slot on Sunshine 106.8fm’s Andrea Hayes Saturday Morning Live.

The details — March 8th: 11am-12:30pm - Tips on getting your work published; 2:00pm-3:30pm - Self Publishing. April 12th: 11am-12:30pm - Web Resources for Writers; 2:00pm-3:30pm - Social Media for Writers. Participants are encouraged to attend all four workshops. Further details from 045 879111.

Ger Wolfe in the BAG



Ger Wolfe is live in Mick Murphys next Monday night, 3 March, writes Roy Thompson.

Touring in support of his current CD — 'I Have Been Loved'
Monday — Cork singer/songwriter Ger has been coming to Ballymore Eustace for many years. Each visit he brings a bag of songs that paint images of real, and simple folk, in their places; their towns; their landscapes. He speaks to the heart of the matter; to the truths that bind us all to the lives we lead, and to the dreams we follow.

Ger's lyrics read as pieces of poetry: accessible poetry, that has meaning and relevance to every reader.

Musically, Ger's individual style of fingerstyle playing is at once, rich, and delicate. In there, are nods to a traditional Irish music sound; to folk, blues, and even Reggae!

A truly unique and wonderful singer, and songwriter, Ger is someone you really ought to see live.

Doors 8:30pm; Gig: 9:15pm sharp. Admission: €12.


Happy 104th Birthday, Granny Aspell!



A big Happy Birthday to Brigid 'Granny' Aspell, who is celebrating her 104th birthday this weekend. Kilcullen Credit Union is hosting a special party for her this afternoon to kick off what will likely be a long few days of family celebration. The Diary will be there.

(Note: We updated this post in the light of more accurate information on Brigid's actual birthday ... it's next Monday, in fact, but her friends in the Credit Union decided to kick things off a little early. When we're talking about 37,986 days, one or two or three don't make much difference.)

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Castlemartin Lodge AGM

Castlemartin Lodge Residents Association are holding their AGM on 5 March in O’Connells Bar in Kilcullen.

If residents have any issues they would like discussed at the AGM please feel free to either contact one of the committee or send a message on the association's Facebook page.

Issues already on the agenda include grass cutting fees and whether or not there will be another family fun day this year.

Signage in place for recycling facility

Direction and information signs have now been put in place at the bottle and can recycling facility on the Curragh Road, writes Brian Byrne.

The facility was opened some weeks ago with the cooperation of Leinster Marts and Kildare County Council's Environment Department.

"People are using the facility, which is great," says Frances Clare of Kilcullen Lions Club. The Club was instrumental in having the facility put in place.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

New Librarian in Ballitore

Kildare Library Services has appointed a new branch Librarian to Ballitore Library & Museum, Alan Butler. He will begin work on Wednesday, 5 March 2014.

Ballitore community will now enjoy a late night and Saturday opening. The enhanced Ballitore Library and Museum opening hours are as follows - Wednesday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm; Thursday 12.30pm-4pm and 4.45pm-8pm; Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5 pm; and Saturday 10am-1 pm and 2pm-5pm.

Text Alert on car, missing dog

Kilcullen Community Text Alert has reported the movements of an Opel car with a CE registration in the Old Kilcullen area this morning. A report of a missing Pom dog has also been made in the area.

CPC on TV in 1968: who are they?

Mark Reid has tipped the Diary off about this query from the Stills Library in RTE, writes Brian Byrne.

The three girls are pupils of CPC who appeared on the RTE TV quiz programme 'Mark Time' in 1968. And the station wants to know who they are.

Contact archives@rte.ie if you can help. Your editor recognises one of them, maybe a second, but awaits confirmation.

Record of Folklore Exhibition in Library

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In November 2013, Kilcullen Library hosted a commemorative event to mark the 75th anniversary of the Schools Folklore Collection, writes Mary Orford.

From 1937 to 1938, pupils in two local schools — Kilcullen Girls National School (now the Parish Centre) and Brannockstown National School — contributed material on local history to a national collection which today is housed in the Department of Folklore in University College, Dublin.

With the kind permission of the National Folklore Collection, there is now a folder of the material from the exhibition available in Kilcullen Library. You can marvel at the beautiful handwriting, find out what life was like in the 1930s, and read about local place names, cures, proverbs, games children played, and ghost stories.

Call in to the library and take a walk down memory lane.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Kilcullen Parish Lotto

The numbers drawn in the Parish Lotto Draw held on Tuesday 25th February 2014 were 5, 6, 10 and 27.

There was no Jackpot winner and next week's main prize will be €6,200.

The winners of the €50 Open Draws were Miriam McDonnell (Promoter Miriam McDonnell), Dermot Mitchell (Dayna Mitchell), and Kilcullen Badminton Club (PJ Lydon).

The winners of the €50 Promoters Draws were Mary Behan and Miriam McDonnell, and Miriam McDonnell also won the Draw for those present on the night.


Our unfortunate sons

A group of local history enthusiasts and descendants of men who fought in World War One held a meeting in February to discuss how to organise a commemoration of the lives and times of the ordinary men who left this town one hundred years ago to fight a war in Europe, writes Julie O'Donoghue. According to initial research, 24 of them never returned.

The history of Ireland in the years following the Great War has overshadowed and silenced the legacy of Irish war veterans. Their stories, and the story of our town in 1914, have remained untold until now. This year — the centenary year of the start of WW1 — is an opportunity to explore and remember this forgotten chapter of our colonial past and our shared history. We do not seek to glorify or condemn but to share our families' stories and to remember.

If you are interested in becoming involved in the commemoration or if you have any medals, letters, photographs, or other memorabilia from the era that you would be willing to display in an exhibition please email: kilcullen1914@gmail.com or call or visit Kilcullen Community Library (482193 and kilcullenlib@kildarecoco.ie).

The next meeting of the group, to which everybody with an interest is welcome, is on Wednesday 12 March, at 8pm in Fallons.

Want to be in a Gospel Choir?

A call has been made for expressions of interest in forming a Kilcullen Gospel Choir.

Anyone who has an interest in music, can sing or play and instrument, is invited to get involved.

Contact Frances on 087 9746000.

Christmas cheque from Lions



A cheque was recently presented to Kilcullen St Vincent de Paul Society by Kilcullen Lions Club. The funds were collected during the Lions' Christmas Street Collection.

Pictured at the event are Maurice O'Mahony of the Lions Club, with Charlie Talbot, Mary Kelly, Josephine Larkin and Henk van Zegveld. (Picture courtesy The Bridge Magazine.)

Eyes are windows to general health

The eyes are a very important diagnostic window into the workings of our body, writes Kilcullen's EyeZone optometrist Nichola Kennedy. In addition to capturing millions of images per day and allowing the brain to do such complex tasks as configuring shapes and images to alphabet letters, they are the start of the journey into speech and the thought process.

Regardless of age, health or visual needs an eye exam reveals a lot more information to your Optometrist than just determining your prescription for your glasses or contact lenses. They also check your eyes for common eye diseases, assess how your eyes work together as a team and evaluate your eyes as an indicator of your overall health. Your optometrist is a front line of defence for other health care professionals in detecting chronic systemic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes and other diseases.

Now consider how do you take care of your eyes? A routine eye exam at least every two years is important. In Ireland this is FREE with your PPS or medical cards.

Also imagine the importance of vision to children. Learning is all visual, how we teach children letter and shape association, learning their letters like S for the snake, associating the picture with a shape and word — the sound of a snake ssssssss. This is vital to your child, even more than for us 'grown-ups'.

Many times, a child performing poorly in tests may just be the result of a visual problem. Caught early, we can prevent this from stunting a child’s growth. Last year we demonstrated it with the EyeZone Gaps campaign, and we will do something similar this year.

Please have your eyes and your child’s eyes tested regularly.

PREVIOUSLY
Dry Eye Syndrome, a treatable condition

(This is a sponsored post from Nichola Kennedy FAOI, based at the crossroads on Kilcullen's Main Street. Though the building she occupies is for sale, her practice will be remaining there. She can be contacted at 045 484643.)

Monday, February 24, 2014

The passing of Rose Fay

The Diary has learned of the death of Rose Fay, nee Sammon, The Green, Old Kilcullen.

Rose will be removed from McWey’s Funeral Home, Abbey View, Kildare tomorrow, Tuesday, at 10.15am, via Ballysax, to arrive at the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Brigid, Kilcullen, for 11 Mass.

Her burial will take place afterwards in New Abbey Cemetery.

We extend our condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.

Kilcullen LAP discussion deferred

Kildare councillors have agreed to defer discussion on the Kilcullen Draft Local Area Plan until the next meeting of the Council, writes Brian Byrne.

This reflects a proposal made by Cllr Ivan Keatley at this afternoon's monthly meeting of the Council, which had been due to consider the working document for the Kilcullen and Monasterevin LAPs.

Cllr Keatley said that since part of Kilcullen was being moved back to the Naas Electoral Area for the May local elections, it would better serve the people of Kilcullen that the Plan be considered by the new Council, in particular the Councillors who would be elected to the new Naas Municipal Area to which all of Kilcullen will belong.

His proposal was seconded by Cllr Martin Miley, who noted also that it was too early to discuss the working document in detail, as it had only been made available to councillors last Thursday. He suggested that common sense dictated the matter should be put back until after the May elections. "We're here to serve the people of Kilcullen, and they would be better served if the matter was put back," he said.

Cllr Mark Wall said he agreed with his fellow Athy Electoral Area councillors, and that deferring the matter would also give the people of Kilcullen more time to consider the issues in the draft Plan.

The County Manager said he could argue that there would be ample time to consider the draft Plan when it went on public display, but he suggested the matter could be tabled for the next meeting of the Athy Area. If the councillors still felt it should be deferred, then that could be discussed at the next monthly meeting of the Council.

Cllr Keatley, who is chairman of the Athy Area Committee, said that would be helpful. It would also mean that the consultation period could be extended into the next Council.

The Council agreed to the proposal without a vote.

Council to consider 'working' LAP document

Kildare's councillors will consider the working document of the Kilcullen Draft Local Area Plan today before the document goes to public consultation on 19 March, writes Brian Byrne.

IMG_3757The Athy Area councillors have been perusing the document since last week, and the Area chairman Ivan Keatley will be briefed in advance of today's full Council meeting by the county's planners on the implications of detail of the working draft.

Public consultation will finish on April 29, after which time all submissions will be considered. Following a Manager's Report, the Draft LAP will be brought back to the Council in July.

The LAP sets out the planning and development objectives of the Council for the designated area, in line with the objectives of the County Development Plan 2011-2017.

The last Kilcullen LAP was adopted in 2008. It can be downloaded here by anyone who wants to compare it to the Draft which will go on view in March.

Badminton update

There are four club matches to report on this week for KBC, writes Enda O'Neill, PRO of Kilcullen Badminton Club. The first match we cover was Tuesday's Mix 1 match at home to Ailsbury in the division 3 Dublin District League. Mix 1 continued their league campaign with another 4-0 victory only dropping one set in the match. Well done to Gareth, Norrie, Caroline and Paddy an impressive win from our division 3 cup finalists.

Also on Tuesday night, Mix 4 played away to local rivals St Laurences in a hard-fought match. This close affair ended up in a 2-2 draw and is an excellent result for the team. Mix 4 are well on track to get out of their group and progress to the next round of the league. Well done to Captain Nicole and her team mates Meave, Kasi and Olivier.

Wednesday the 19th of Febuary saw Dave and his Mix 2 team travel to An Caislean Nua, where they managed to get a two all draw. Dave's team were out again on Friday night in their second outing in two nights. In a close home encounter Mix 2 unfortunately lost out 3-1 in a entertaining match. Hard luck to Dave, Alastor, Lynsey and Aoife.

Also out in a division 6 DDL match were Mix 3 who played the unbeaten table toppers PBAI at home. Mix 3 went down 7-1 but this result does not reflect how close the match was. When all the points were added up at the end, PBAI managed to score just 38 points more than KBC, showing that KBC only lost their individual games by 5 points or less. There were some thrilling 3-setters played and with a bit more experience and composure KBC could have come out on top.

All is not lost however for Enda and his team who with two matches remaining can make the quarter finals if they beat St Judes at home and away. Hard luck to Jen, Helen, Sarah, Fintan, John and super subs Tara and Sean.

Finally KBC won more silverware with doubles pairings of Gareth and Paddy who won the PSLC Grade 3 Mens Doubles competion in Portmarnock. This competition was played on Saturday 22 of February. Out of the eight sets of badminton the lads played they managed to win seven and scoring a massive 335 points between them. Well done to Paddy and Gareth.

Remember you can check up on all the news on our Facebook page Kilcullen Badminton Club or on our club website www.kilcullenbadmintonclub.com.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Community Games swimming competition

Kilcullen Community Games are holding their local swimming competition on Monday 10 March in the Curragh Swimming Pool.

Registration is from 6.15pm and the competition is for U/8-U/16 Boys and Girls.

Competitors must be able to swim one length of pool (25m) unaided. The entry cost is €2.

Calligraphy, painting classes

A series of Art courses scheduled for the Josephine Hardiman Studio at Punchestown kicks off with a Calligraphy course commencing on January 25.

Other courses include a Painting with Watercolours starting on March 1, and Drawing with Pastels from April 26.

Each course has five studio classes, held on Saturdays from 11.30am-2pm and the fees include materials and studio facilities.

Only six participants will be in any class. Information on costs and booking from 086 2452765 or 045 866708 or email josephinehardiman@eircom.net.

Looking down Main Street



The Lawrence Collection photograph taken from the top of the hill at the crossroads is an iconic time capsule of that part of the village near the turn of the 19th century, writes Brian Byrne.

According to the late James Kelly, the tailor whose business was in the square and who was a great local historian, the buildings which can be seen on the left side of the street were occupied as follows:

The house on the corner was the home of Mrs Bridget Brennan (who later married for a second time and became Mrs Dowling). Next was the dwelling of Dominic Cooper, down from which was the premises of saddler John Coogan. Next was Michael O'Neill, cattle dealer; James Byrne, merchant, undertaker and publican; Maggie Sheridan, grocer; Kate Dowling, draper; Pat Berney, saddler; the Courthouse where William Kennedy was the clerk; the RIC barracks, with Sgt Curry in charge; the residence of Pat Lambe; the drapery shop of Mrs Lucy Dowling; and Peter Bardon's Hotel. On the right side of the road, coming back up towards the crossroads, is the premises of Andy Nolan, butcher; the private house of Mrs Doran; the premises of Tom Foley, leather cutter; and Kitty Foley's grocery.

By 1930, those buildings had the following occupants, again beginning at the corner on the left side of the road: PG Dowling's cycle shop; Mrs Quinn's newsagent; the private houses of Mrs Poole and Mrs Bolger; the hardware shop of James Byrne; the four Misses Byrnes' grocery shop and bar; Peg Kenny, grocery and draper; Mrs Gallagher, draper; fishmonger Tom Orford; the home of Pat Rourke, postman; Sgt Griffin, retired RIC officer; the home of James 'Red' Byrne; the premises of saddler Pat Farrell; and Peter Bardon's Hotel. On the right, coming back towards the crossroads, were James (Gee) Nolan, butcher; Mrs Peter Downing, draper; postman Pat Malone; and James Nolan, butcher.

In 1980, again from the left downhill, it was first the dry cleaning operation of Brendan Dowling; JJ Dowling, newsagent and gift shop; Byrne's Supermarket; Peg Kenny, grocer and draper; Ellen Dowling, draper; Tim Orford's shop; the home of Ned Rourke, barman in O'Connells; retired Garda Joe O'Neill's home; the office of Pat Reidy, solicitor; the home of Nick Bardon and his family, and Bardon's bar and grocery. On the other side were Andy Nolan, butcher; Miss Mod ladies fashions; O'Connells Chemist; and the Post Office operated by Mrs Dixon.

In 2014, the occupants are (on left) Nichola Kennedy, optometrist; John Dowling, auctioneer & valuer; Valu€ Zone; the Post Office operated by Noeleen Eston; Eurospar supermarket; Cafe Coulan; Hair by Eilis; Ger's Fruit & Veg; Armelle's Kitchen; the O'Rourke and O'Neill homes; Kieran Forde's premises; The Bridge Barber; Five Star Takeaway; Eddie Cross's Bardons Pub & Restaurant. On the right today are Amanda Finn's The Hair Emporium; Bernard Berney, chemist; James Nolan, butcher; and Evelyn McKenzie's No 10 Design. (In buildings not visible in the original photograph are today Rose O'Donoghue's The Cottonwood Tree; Ellen's Hair Salon; and The Spout Bar operated by Tommy Dignam.)

Among the interesting things from this writer's point of view is the presence of the Byrne family in business on Main Street from that first photograph. My great-grandfather James came from Myshall in County Carlow as a carpenter to run a business where part of Eurospar is now. As a carpenter he made coffins, becoming an undertaker and a publican. He also built houses, two of them in Brownstown north of Kilcullen, and he built what is now Nolans Butchers incorporating the old Post Office on the other side of the arch. That latter was also one of my great grandfather's builds, where one of his daughters, Peg, was postmistress for much of her life.

Today, we Byrnes are no longer in business on Main Street.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Great turnout to GAA Juveniles registration



Registration of the Kilcullen GAA Juvenile division was very busy today with over 120 youngsters aged 5-10 showing up, writes Jim Buckley.

There were lots of new children joining from Kilcullen, Brannockstown and Halverstown schools. We have already had registration for our U/14s and U/16s so we have over 170 new Juveniles so far and the season just starting.

Training is on Saturdays at 2.30pm until further notice If you missed today you can still register next Saturday. New members welcome.




On the campaign trail ... 40 years ago



With the campaigns for Election 2014 now getting underway, it seems an appropriate time to revisit my own personal local elections foray four decades ago, writes Brian Byrne.

I ran as a Fine Gael candidate, but very early on in the campaign it was clear that I wasn't getting a lot of support from my more experienced fellow party candidates in the area. Understandably, they were more interested in picking up transfers from this first-timer than helping me to perhaps take their own seats.

I ended up running a very personal campaign, canvassing primarily in the greater Kilcullen area where I had a better chance of picking up enough first preferences to kick-start the numbers.

I have some interesting memories, and some funny stories from that period. In the end, though, I was narrowly beaten on the 10th count for the last seat by Paddy Aspell, for Fianna Fail, who served as a highly-respected councillor for decades afterwards. I was told by the tally people that ten or a dozen more first preferences would have made the difference to my position.

Every time I met Paddy since, I thanked him for winning. It was fairly clear that if I had taken that Fine Gael seat, I'd probably have won an election for TD in the following years. Look at all the fun I've had in life, and am still having, that I'd have missed if my career had continued on the political road.

Anyhow, we'll take a look at the new political field in the coming weeks, and see where Kilcullen lies in the spectrum of policies of the various candidates in the Naas Area to which we have now been returned.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Nature Trail victim of heavy rains



The amount of rain which has fallen in recent weeks is now very evident in the high floods being released from Poulaphuca, writes Brian Byrne.

One result has been a periodic flooding of the pathway along the old weir which is a key section of the Nature Trail developed two years ago by the Bridge Camphill Community.

The Trail is closed at the moment for safety reasons. It remains to be seen how much serious damage has been done to the section which is underwater at peak flood times now.

Community Text Alerts

Kilcullen Community Text Alert has advised of a 'tarmac man' calling to homes.

The alert, posted at midday, is related to Old Kilcullen area, and describes the vehicle involved as a 'dark van'.

Earlier this week, the system alerted subscribers to a crashed Honda car in the area, and also to a SEAT car with C registration plates but on a yellow background, acting 'suspiciously' in the Old Kilcullen area.

Work continues on church



Repair work is continuing on the church, with roof maintenance and drains repair the main focus now.

(Does anyone remember when the late Willy Baxter used to climb that roof on ladders to repair and replace the slates ... and he fell off it once, too, and survived.)


GAA to host Cheltenham Preview Night

Kilcullen Ladies GAA are hosting a Cheltenham Preview Night in The Spout, in association with Paddy Power on Sunday March 2nd at 8pm, writes Aidan Gleeson. The Panel is Noel O'Brien (Senior Handicapper), Robbie McNamara (Jockey), Danny Mullins (Jockey), Kevin O'Ryan (At The Races). Admission €15 (including €5 Paddy Power bet & Finger food).

There will also be a presentation of jerseys on the night from our new Senior Ladies Sponsor, The Spout, and a raffle with some excellent prizes.

Senior Ladies training has resumed. Our next training is on Tuesday night (25 Feb) from 8-9 pm on the astro pitch. €4 per player. New players welcome.

Kilcullen Mens Seniors are at home to Ballykelly in the Dowling Cup at 2.30pm on Saturday March 1st. All support appreciated!


Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Henry Girls in the BAG and Cunninghams next week



The Henry Girls (The McLoughlin sisters) from Donegal, are about to release their new album 'Louder Than Words', writes Roy Thompson of the Ballymore Acoustic Gigs. To promote this fine collection of music and songs, they are embarking on a 13-date Irish tour.

I'm delighted to be hosting two of those dates next Monday and Tuesday, February 24 & 25. Monday's show is in Mick Murphy's Bar, Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare. Doors open at 8:30pm; showtime is 9:15pm. Admission is €12 at the door. Tuesday's show happens Upstairs at Cunninghams, Kildare Town - www.cunninghamskildare.com. Doors open at 8pm for a 9pm show. Admission is €12 on the door.

Here's what the press said: ‘A full bodied and powerfully dynamic collection..High buoyant vocal harmonies and ebullient instrumental attack make for stellar moments aplenty.’ fRoots Magazine (UK)

‘What gossamer voices came whisping out of our speakers? Who are these lovely voices that bewitch us? The Henry Girls are more like the three Graces: Splendor, Mirth, and Cheer. If indeed there are angels among us, here be them.’ New Folk Radio (UK)

‘…shimmering harmonies…this winsome Irish trio weaves a continuous spell, adorning a fresh sounding and varied set with their beguiling and versatile vocal chemistry’ Roots Music Report (USA).

Beautiful Barretstown video



One of the most beautiful and uplifting performances of a song I've heard in a long time, writes Brian Byrne.

Listen, and help if you feel you want to.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Heritage Grants 2014 applications open

Kildare County Council is pleased has announced the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2014, writes Bridget Loughlin, Kildare County Council Heritage Officer.

Applications are invited from groups/organisations or individuals who are carrying out local heritage projects. The closing date for applications is Friday 14th March 2014. Applications forms can be downloaded from http://kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/Heritage/Grants/.

Heritage can include monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objects, architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, geology, heritage gardens, parks and inland waterways. All projects funded must have a community benefit and applicants must organise an event during Heritage Week 2014 (23rd August-31st August 2014).

Projects which have been funded in the past have included the creation of a wildflower meadow in Castledermot, habitat survey, Clane Heritage Seminar, Conservators assessment of collection, development of bog walk archaeological research, heritage signage and canal biodiversity boards.

For further information including application forms visit http://kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/Heritage/Grants/ or contact Celine O’Neill at coneill@kildarecoco.ie or 045 980239.

This article is reposted because of an error in the closing date for applications — Editor.

Busy men's groups in the area

A Healthy Food Made Easy course is being organised by the Teach Dara Men's Group in Kildare.

The Group meets every Tuesday morning between 10am-12pm at Teach Dara, and further information on activities can be had by calling Paul Brady on 087 7777463.

The aim of the Group is to provide personal and skills development and a social outlet while contributing to the community.

Courses in Digital Photography and Basic Computers have already been organised for members.

Meanwhile, the Newbridge Men's Shed meets on Mondays between 2-5pm and offers an interesting selection of activities. It is always open to new ideas and members. Contact Fergus on 086 4091712.

The Athy Men's Group meets on Tuesdays at 7.30pm and its members are involved in cycling, pottery, Irish classes, dancing, photograph, golf, theatre, cooking and more. Contact Mick on 083 3931291.