Full house for Tidy Towns and Community Awards

There was probably the biggest attendance ever at last night's presentation of the Kilcullen Tidy Towns and Community Awards, writes Brian Byrne, with an absolutely full house in the Town Hall Theatre.

The event was introduced by Evelyn O'Sullivan (above) of Kilcullen Community Action, who described how she had come one day to help with some planting, and was immediately taken by the enthusiasm and camaraderie of the Tidy Towns group. "That's how they get you," she warned the audience with her trademark impish grin, but it was clear that she was encouraging rather than dissuading involvement by anyone who might be so inclined.

During the evening, KCA members spoke about completed, current, and upcoming projects under the aegis of the organisation. These include the work on Pinkeen Stream during the past year, for which local resident environmental expert Dr Jan Baars was complimented as well as the members of the CE Scheme who helped out with the cleaning and planting work that has transformed it from a rubbish-clogged hazard to a healthy waterway. The overall contribution to the tidy towns effort by the current CES members — Joe Winder, Nigel Phillips and Matthew McGuirk — was highlighted, and appreciation was also expressed to Claire Lydon, who recently retired after many years of managing the Scheme in Kilcullen.

The success of the 'Kilcullen in Bloom' upgrade to the Summer Flowers project was also noted, as was the in-progress re-imagining of the market square. On that last, Kildare County Council Director of Services Joe Boland said the initiative was an example of the enterprising community spirit of Kilcullen and that he hoped there would be a plan soon on which an application for funding could be made.

Jack Kelly accepting the award for the Best Green Area, on behalf of Nicholastown, from Ann Cashman and Noel Clare.

Pat Kelly (centre) accepting the award for Best Large Estate, on behalf of Bishop Rogan Park, from Joe Kelly and Ray Kelly.

For the awards, in the Tidy Towns section the Best Green Area went to Nicholastown, the Best Large Estate to Bishop Rogan Park, and the Best Small Estate was won by Esker Lea. The Best Business Premises was given to Woodbine Books, the Most Improved Business to Crean’s Place and the Best Window Display to Vincent’s.

Tom Jones of Crean's Place accepting Most Improved Business award from Markus Pedersen.

Aidan Cunnane and Dawn Behan accepting the Best Business Premises award from Noel Clare.

Maureen Middleton and colleagues from Vincent's accepting the Best Window Display award from Padraig Maloney.

Residents of Esker Lea accepting the Best Small Estate award from Noel Clare.

Eamonn O'Toole of Kilcullen Tennis Club (right) accepting his Community award from Niall McDonnell. 

Ger Wixted of Ger's Fruit & Veg receiving her Community award from Martin Sheridan.

Pupils from Scoil Bhride and their teacher accepting a Community award from Noel Clare.

Miriam McDonnell (right) accepting a Community award from Claire Boyce.

Mary Maguire accepting her Community award from Eoin Houlihan.

The Community Awards were divided this year into categories for Community and for Achievement. Under Community, awards were given to Eamonn O'Toole and the reformed Tennis Club, to Ger's Fruit & Vegetable for the Contribution of a Business to the Community, to the Sixth Class of Scoil Bhride for collecting money for KCA, to Miriam McDonnell for her work on the Oblates Pilgrimage to Lourdes over 50 years, and to Mary Maguire for a lifetime of being a Good Neighbour.

JB Murphy accepting an Achievement award from Claire Boyce.

Hazel Gaynor accepting an Achievement award from Noel Clare and Evelyn O'Sullivan.

Ann Kennedy and young camogie players Clodagh Kennedy, Holly Cahill, Grace Sheridan, Grace Crowley and Erica Brunkard accepting an Achievent award from Tony Gahan.

Achievement awards were given to JB Murphy of Kilcullen Cycling Club, best-selling author Hazel Gaynor, screenwriter Damien Aulsberry, and Ann Kennedy for re-introducing Camogie to Kilcullen GAA.

Ray Kelly accepting a surprise Community award from Martin Sheridan.

Damien Aulsberry (right) accepting his Achievement award from Ray Kelly.

Closing the event, it was Evelyn O'Sullivan who announced the surprise award of the evening, catching unawares current KCA chairman and longtime underpinning member of the Tidy Towns effort in Kilcullen Ray Kelly. "If you're up early, or out late, you might see him going quietly about his work, strimming grass verges, picking litter, or up a ladder making sure the technology behind the watering system for the flowers is working properly," Evelyn said. And that's only a part of Ray's involvement in a myriad of Kilcullen matters, which everyone would agree merited the unexpected award.

By unanimous decision, it was one of those special Kilcullen nights. All the pictures can be seen here.