Scoil Bhríde has the ‘KFM Factor’

The children of Scoil Bhríde Choir were buzzing yesterday following their performance for KFM’s Christmas Programme, writes Marguerite Power.

Clem Ryan and his assistant Dymphna came to record the choir with their renditions of 'Hark The Herald', 'Away in a Manger', 'Silent Night' and 'Somewhere only we know'. They were very impressed with the performance and agreed that they definitely had the 'KFM Factor'.

Broadcast times will be circulated to us next week – from 8 December and will be included on the schools broadcast on Christmas Day.

Mart presents cheque to hospice Friends

A cheque for €2,300 was handed over yesterday to the Friends of St Brigid's Hospice, the proceeds of a special bullock sale at Kilcullen Livestock Mart, writes Brian Byrne.

The bullock was sold during the 50th anniversary sale last month. It was bought by a regular client of the mart, Michael Heffernan of Stradbally. The auctioneer was John Osbourne. The sponsors of the bullock were Russell Brennan Keane, Auditors; Liffey Mills; Moss Veterinary; Hanlon Concrete; Dunne Farm Buildings; and SWS Forestry Services.

Thanking the Mart for organising the fundraiser, Eileen McDonnell, Chairperson of the Friends of St Brigid's Hospice, said every such donation goes to helping with the cost of the new building, which is estimated to finish out at €6m.

Ger Smith, Chairman of Leinster Cooperative Marts, said it was fitting that during the 50th anniversary celebrations they recognised the service that the Hospice gives to the community.

Pictured above are Patricia Lawlor, Kilcullen Mart; Jimmy Walsh, Manager, Kilcullen Mart; Ger Smith, Chairman of Leinster Cooperative Marts; Eileen McDonnell, Friends of St Brigid's Hospice; auctioneer John Osbourne; and Michael Kelly, Secretary of Leinster Marts.

Evelyn performs with Colman Pearce

Evelyn with Stuart O'Sullivan and Colman Pearce. (Pic from Evelyn's Facebook page.)

Kilcullen's own Evelyn O'Sullivan performed with Irish legendary composer Colman Pearce last Sunday at the Hugh Lane Gallery, writes Brian Byrne.

She narrated Oscar Wilde's 'The Selfish Giant' to original incidental music composed by Coleman, accompanied by pianist Stuart O'Sullivan.

Evelyn has described it as 'an absolute honour' to perform with the once principal conductor of the RTE National Symphony Orchestra.

GAA grant from Sports Capital Scheme

Kilcullen GAA has been granted €9,500 under the Sports Capital Grants Scheme 2017, writes Brian Byrne.

It is one of 73 sports clubs in County Kildare which share €2.8m under the Scheme.

The result has been welcomed by Kildare South's Martin Heydon TD, who worked with many clubs in the constituency on their applications to the Scheme.

"I look forward to continue to work with many of these clubs as they draw down these funds," he said, following confirmation by Minister Brendan Griffin of the allocations in the Scheme.

Kilcullen GAA have expressed their thanks to Deputy Heydon for his help with their application.

Truck blocked road

A broken down truck blocked the New Abbey Road at the crossroads in Kilcullen earlier this evening.

The situation was dealt with by An Garda.

AA Roadwatch reported the incident cleared about an hour ago.

Objection campaign against Kilsaran tile factory plans

Residents of Kilcullen are urging neighbours to lodge objections to a proposed tile manufacturing plant at Kilsaran's Brownstown Quarry site, writes Brian Byrne.

The company has lodged a planning application for developments at their property in the adjacent townlands of Brownstown, Corbally and Silliott Hill.

In addition to seeking a continuance of their existing sand and gravel extraction and processing work at the site for a further 20 years, the application requests permission for the provision of new works including an office building and two proprietary sewage effluent treatment systems, dry batch mortar plant extension including plant and machinery, and a 'tile manufacturing plant'. All these along with associated switch-house, car parking, provision of two weighbridges, covered storage sheds, rerouting of internal access road to plant site, and the demolition of a storage shed and weighbridge.

Kilsaran also wants to extract sand and gravel to the south-west of previously permitted extraction area and an extension to the existing overburden storage mound, and the provision of landscaped screening berms and overburden storage mounds along perimeter of the site.

Residents of Lui na Greine, Moanbane, and Kilcullen generally have activated a campaign of objection to the application, on the basis that the site is not zoned for industry, the planned factory would run for 20 hours a day, that there would be increased noise, dust and traffic.

In addition, the requested extension and new facility would increase HGV traffic, and the residents are also concerned about the increased possibility of contamination of the water table, and increased air pollution from the tile factory.

Objections must be made by 6 December to the application, which has the file number 171224.

Grants available for DIY food growing

Applications from local community and voluntary groups are now open for grants from the 'Get Ireland Growing' initiative which has a €75,000 fund available, writes Brian Byrne.

In partnership with the Grow it Yourself (GIY) movement, the Energia Get Ireland Growing Fund will be split across three categories ‘Sow', ‘Grow' and ‘Harvest' with awards ranging from €500 to €2,000. One very special group will receive a €5,000 grant for their project.

Together GIY and Energia will support at least 85 community food growing groups in 2018.

Applications must be in by 19 January 2018, and will be considered from any community group, school, NGO or Not for Profit, community garden or allotment group, GIY group, hospital, crèche, direct provision centre, men's shed or similar.

In the last five years, the initiative has provided €340,000 to groups all across the country.

Pictured is Karen O’Donohoe, GIY Community Manager; Amy O’Shaughnessy, Energia Sponsorship Manager; with Saoirse Harvey (4) and Nathan Cullen-Delsol (3) at the launch of the initiative.

Figure dancing classes in Kilcullen

A new Irish Figure Dancing Class has been started in Kilcullen, for both children and adults, writes Brian Byrne.

The first class has already been held in the Community Centre. The initiative is the work of a couple of people who emphasise it is a not for profit endeavour.

The class is scheduled for every Monday evening between 7-8pm and costs just €4 per session.

The age range is four to 30, and further information is available by calling Sue on 087 1653187 or Charlene on 085 8430185.

The group is affiliating with the Kildare Irish Figure Dancing Council — a voluntary body comprising representatives from classes from Kilmead, Naas, Newbridge, Brownstown and Nurney.

Parish Lotto Draw results

The numbers drawn in the Kilcullen & Gormanstown Parish Lotto Draw held on Tuesday 28 November 2017 were 2, 13, 16 and 26. There was no Jackpot winner and next week's main prize will be €13,000.

The winners of the €50 Open Draws were Ashling O’Connor (Promoter Adrienne Byrne), Carmel Black (The Parish), and Seamus Dempsey (May Coyne).

The winners of the Promoters Draw were Ger’s Fruit & Veg Shop and Ger Kelly, and the winner of the Draw for those in the Parish Centre on the night was Bernie Kirby.

The Parish thanks all those who support the Lotto.

On the scaffold

Pics: Fr Niall Mackey.

The scaffolding on the church was completed today to facilitate repair of the damage done to the Parish Church roof during hurricane Ophelia, writes Brian Byrne.

The roofers can now access the areas where the slates were stripped. It's the third time in recent years that the church has suffered this kind of damage, in this event opening up the roof in a new section.

The Diary understands that a more comprehensive programme of work on the roof may be considered for next spring.

Thank you, Kilcullen, from Maintain Hope

The support of the people of Kilcullen and that of all our well-wishers is really paying dividends here in Ngong Kenya, writes Gerry O'Donoghue of Maintain Hope.

This family, which spans three generations, live in a 10'x10' corrugated iron house in Mathare Slum. We are supporting five children from this family through school and we also take care of their medical needs. A food donation once a month helps with the household budget.

This family really wants to stay together and despite their tough living conditions, they are very positive and a good education for the children is their top priority. Without our intervention, the only alternative would be to split up the family and place the youngest children in a residential home.

Having to give up your children to a home, and for the children to have to enter one, is viewed with the same dread and sorrow as Irish people once looked on the prospect of the Workhouse. There is a welcome move here in Kenya to supporting destitute children in their community rather than in the often unregulated Children’s Homes. Maintain Hope is taking a leading part in implementing this policy in Ngong.

So deep is the poverty sometimes, that parents present their children as orphans so that they at least receive some support. Through a network of Social Workers and community based organisations, we are able to keep families together and ensure that their vulnerable children are given a chance. We have established valuable links with the schools which our 40-odd children attend and we receive regular updates on their progress and achievements.

One of our 'old boys' from the earliest days of Maintain Hope, Julius Arega, spearheads our intervention in the Ngong area. Having been raised in a Children’s Home, he is determined to keep families together if at all possible. While, with our help, he graduated from college and has prospered, he believes that nothing can replace family life, even if that life is lived in very humble circumstances.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who supports our work. I wish that I could find the words to tell how much your help is appreciated here and how much of a difference it makes.

CD proceeds to McVerry Trust

The proceeds of a debut album by Deirdre Hegarty and Raymond McGee are being donated to the Peter McVerry Trust, writes Brian Byrne.

It's 'Shining Through', a mixture of old and new country and ballads, a number written by Raymond McGee.

The duo have funded the project themselves, and all sales will go to the charity until €3,000 has been achieved. Subsequent sales will have 80pc going to the Trust.

A sample track can be heard here, it's 'When we dance', written by Ray.

The album was produced by Graham Watson, founder of Floodplain Studios in Dublin. A musician himself, Watson is also an audio engineer with a Masters in Music Technology from University of Limerick.

Deirdre and Ray perform regularly at a number of local sessions, including Sunday night in Fallons' Snug and at the monthly Red Hat Acoustic Music Club in the Harbour Hotel in Naas. Ray has decades of clubs and sessions experience, and began accompanying Deirdre two years ago. "Late last year we decided to put together our favourite tracks, and 'Shining Through' is the result," Deirdre says.

The CD is available for purchase directly from them at sessions, and also by phoning Deirdre at 087 9621234.

Malojian in the BAG

Photo: Colm Laverty.

Malojian, or Stevie Scullion to his friends, is a young singer/songwriter from Lurgan, near Belfast who has been making real waves in the past few years," writes Roy Thompson of the Ballymore Acoustic Gigs, "and I'm delighted to present him for his debut BAG appearance on 27 November.

Joining him on the night will be Mark McCausland — better known as one half of The Lost Brothers — to open the show, and back Stevie on guitars and harmony vocals. This will be a real treat of a gig, and is likely to live long in the BAG memory.

Over the last few years, Malojian has released four stunning solo albums, along the way collaborating with some musical legends, including Steve Albini, who earned his chops producing Nirvana, The Pixies and more.

Mick Murphy's Bar, Ballymore Eustace, Monday, 27 November, Doors: 8:30pm, Admission: €12.

Upcoming: Monday 4 December — Paddy Casey; Friday 8 December — 7th Annual 'Vibe for Larry'; Monday 11 December — Luka Bloom.