Community Games rugby success

The U11 Kilcullen Community Games rugby team won their finals on Sunday, beating Tullow in the semis and then Stradbally in the final. Pics by Neil Fogarty.

The passing of Tom Kelly

It is with great sadness that the Kelly family announce the passing of Thomas J Kelly of Athy, Co Kildare (formerly Naas Road, Kilcullen). Tom is survived by his partner Tharsella Kennedy and sons, Noel, Kevin and Kieran. He will be sadly missed by his two sisters and so many relatives and friends.

His Requiem Mass will take place in St Michael's Church, Athy on Tuesday, the 1st of May at 11am. The family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff for the wonderful care they provided during Tom's time in Naas General Hospital.

Since Tom kindly donated his remains for scientific research, there will be no coffin present at the Mass.

May he rest in peace.

From Pinkeen Stream to Crean's Place, diversity in Kilcullen

Some recent work by Kilcullen Community Action on Pinkeen Stream has included placing rocks strategically in order to provide eddies and other suitable conditions for water life, writes Brian Byrne.

The work was done under the supervision of river life expert Dr Jan Baars, who has done much himself to clean up the stream in recent years.

Some planting has also been carried out along the bank, such as the Sprouting Broccoli here. Having a variety of plants near the stream is good for insects, which in turn provide food for the frogs that will form from tadpoles in the stream.

Jan will be conducting his annual 'Biodiversity in the Liffey' talk and demonstration on Saturday 19 May, from the back of the Town Hall, as part of National Biodiversity Week. Always a fascinating event, especially for children.

Meantime, back in the Liffey, our heron is looking hopeful for some late supper of his own (a grab shot with a small camera from a distance, so apologies for the quality). Another sign that our waterways in Kilcullen are in fair good shape.

And speaking of food, I have to say that we had a really superb meal in Crean's Place on Saturday evening (on the way home from which is when I got the shot of the heron). Their Friday and Saturday evening service is well worth a try, and I heartily recommend the steak and the cod.

Meanwhile, the scaffolders arrived on Friday to the church, at the behest of Paddy Sheridan of Wild Kildare, and raised one bar (the big yellow one) a bit so that a few of the swift nesting places which had been blocked are now accessible to the birds. There will be a 'Walk and Talk' about swifts in Kilcullen on 22 May, also part of National Biodiversity Week.

Finally, a note about the weekend on the Diary, if it has seemed less busy than usual it is because I was buried in putting the next Bridge Magazine together. Watch out for it next weekend ...

Stressed? Try Tai Chi and slow down

It helps you keep fit. It dissipates stress. It allows you focus on yourself. And though it looks to be only movement in slow motion, writes Brian Byrne, Tai Chi is a discipline which brings to anyone the ability to improve their lives in many ways.

Yuki Kobayashi has been teaching Tai Chi in Kilcullen Parish Centre for several years, as well as in other centres within reasonable distance from her home in Moone. An acupuncturist by profession, her interest in Tai Chi was triggered when it was recommended to her for dealing with back pain while she was living in London.

It's actually based on martial arts, with the movements slowed down. "That makes it look as if it is effortless, but in fact it takes a considerable degree of concentration and work," she says. "It makes you focus on different parts of your body while practicing it, and by doing so you forget about day to day issues." The advantage is that it doesn't require the fast physical movements of the martial arts it is based on.

Tai Chi is not just for a weekly class. Like all physical and mental disciplines it works best when practiced every day. It can even be done during breaks at work, as there are five-minute routines which are designed to be done at a desk. "It's also really good on airplanes during long-haul travel," Yuki says.

In Kilcullen, the classes are on Wednesday mornings in the Parish Centre, from 10 o'clock. Yuki also offers special 'Gentle Tai Chi' sessions for people with arthritis from 11.30am, so Tai Chi really is available to everyone, regardless of age or physical abilities.

Yuki runs what she describes as a 'Balancing Clinic' from her home on Moyle Abbey in Ballitore, where her husband is an organic farmer. This is based on her expertise with acupuncture, which views that all the ailments are the result of physical/mental imbalances and aims to restore harmony. It can be used either by itself or in conjunction with other medical treatments to help a wide variety of conditions.

You can contact her on 086 3412006 or email yukimoyleabbey@gmail.com.

The passing of Paul O'Neill

The Diary has learned of the death of Paul O'Neill of Conroy Park.

He is sadly missed by his loving parents Matt and May, brothers Matt 'Jnr', Brian, Fergus and Stephen, sisters Mary, Jennifer and Susan and partners, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends.

Paul will be reposing at his family home from 2pm on Tuesday, with prayers at 8pm.

Removal on Wednesday morning to the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Brigid, arriving for Requiem Mass at 11am.

Funeral afterwards to St Brigid’s Cemetery, via his residence.

House private on Wednesday morning.

May he rest in peace.

Teach project progressing

Good to see work resumed on the Teach na nDaoine building after a winter hiatus and an unfortunate slap from storm Ophelia, writes Brian Byrne.

It's also a reminder of the upcoming 5K Fun Run in aid of the project which will take place on Sunday 6 May.

It will be based at Kilcullen Community Centre, with registration available now on JustRunsEvents.com.

The run will be chip-timed, and there are prizes for 1st 2nd 3rd Male & Female, 1st Under 16 Girl, and 1st Under 16 Boy.

The Run begins at 11am, and entry is €12.

Sarah McQuaid in the BAG

Sarah McQuaid returns to Mick Murphy's Stage Inn Bar for the fourth time on Monday 30 April, writes Roy Thompson of the Ballymore Acoustic Gigs.

Recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ards International Guitar Festival in Northern Ireland, Sarah has also drawn critical praise for her voice (which has been variously likened to malt whiskey and melted chocolate) and her engaging rapport with audiences.

With the release of her new album, the Madrid-born, Chicago-raised, Cornwall-based singer/songwriter has expanded her battery of instruments to include piano, electric guitar and drum, and the album has drawn critical raves internationally — Dutch music magazine Heaven hailed it as 'an early contender for folk album of 2018'.

Doors open at 8:30pm for a 9pm show. Admission is €12 at the door. Patrons are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Remembering the Saint and Punchestown

Pics: Dave Byrne.

A special group dinner in Fallons last night had a bitter-sweet flavour, remembering the late Donal St Leger, writes Brian Byrne.

It was organised by Ger Peacocke, and the assembly included Vinny Berney, Dave Byrne, Jim Collins, Michael Lambe, Aidan Sherry, Charlie Dowling and Niall Coleman, all longtime friends of Donal's.

"The guest of honour was Fr Martin Harte, who was a great friend of Donal's too," says Dave Byrne. "Last year they were at Punchestown together, neither knowing that it would be Donal's last one."

Punchestown was one of the times of the year that the late 'Saint' came home, and his absence was marked at this year's festival in the Naas Traders Tent, where Jim Collins had put a photograph on a Guinness cooler.

"We had a great night in Fallons, and many a yarn was told ... and Brian Fallon gave it a nice touch by having Donal's photo on the menus."

GAA completes LipSync money development works

The development works have been completed on the GAA Training Pitch, a direct result of the LipSync fundraiser activities, writes Dara Clarke. The upgrade has brought a face-lift to the area and opened up the training pitch for all to see as they enter Kilcullen, not to mention the benefits to both the Juvenile and Senior teams in the club.

The improvements include dressing rooms with heaters and lights; toilet cubicles with new water and sewer connections; old containers removed, allowing extra parking; the provision of an external drinking water tap; a First Aid station; new signage to dressing rooms; external sensor lighting to the car park and over all doors; and the evergreen trees on the Athy Road end removed with the old gate painted and the stone wall repointed.

There's also new signage to the Scoil Bhride pitch identifying it as our third pitch, and all low-lying branches on trees along the path have been cut back for safety.

Thank you to the local contractors who helped complete the works — Iomar Kelly Groundworks, Elite Electrical, Michael The Signmaker, and MFL Steel.

Usk private road gets repair funding

A 480-metre stretch of road in Usk will benefit from funding allocated to eight private rural roads in County Kildare, writes Brian Byrne.

The overall funding from the Local Improvement Scheme for Kildare is €249,999, from which €25,920 is being provided for the road in Usk.

Deputy Martin Heydon says the scheme is a 'lifeline' for people living in rural areas because it directly improves their access to and from their homes.

“Investing in the improvement of these roads really makes a positive impact on people’s quality of life in rural areas," he says, noting that many lanes and boreens which link private homes and farms are not on the public road network and so are not maintained by the Local Authorities.

Some 1,100 rural access roads around the country will have been improved last year and through 2018 from €27m allocated under the scheme.

Date for Hideout 'At Your Service'

Pic: Noel Clare.

The refurbishment of The Hideout pub and restaurant will be featured on the 'At Your Service' RTE TV series on Sunday 20 May, writes Brian Byrne.

Filmed during the renovation works carried out through last year, the programme features Francis Brennan and his brother John from the Park Hotel in Kenmare as they follow progress and advise Jonathan Keogh on the direction to take with his vision of the famous Kilcullen landmark.

It is the tenth series of the programme, first aired in 2008. Since then the Brennan brothers have participated in makeovers of hotels, pubs, restaurants, B&Bs, golf clubs, hostels and tourism-related enterprises the length and breadth of the country.

In addition to the inside story on the ups and downs of the work to bring The Hideout to the place it is today, Kilcullen viewers will get see many familiar local faces at the 'wrap' party, filmed in December.

Some will even be seeing themselves on TV for the first time. A date for your viewing diary.

Audrey Dowling's son graduates as lawyer

Keeping in touch with the Kilcullen Wild Geese with this one, it's Sean and Audrey McMahon and their son Max who has just graduated as a lawyer from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, writes Brian Byrne.

Audrey is originally a Dowling from Kilcullen, and her sister Sinead Conroy tipped off the Diary about Max's achievement.

They have been living in New Zealand for the last ten years, but friends here are looking forward to seeing them in July when they come home for a holiday.

Kilcullen solicitor sworn in as judge

Kilcullen Solicitor Geraldine Carthy, formerly of Reidy Stafford, was sworn in as a Judge of the District Court in the Supreme Court yesterday (25th of April 2018)

Judge Carthy is pictured with her former partners Patrick Reidy, Andrew Cody, Elaine Cox, Tome Stafford and Eva O'Brien.

Meeting to organise 2018-2023 Centenary Programme

An open meeting for people and organisations interested in taking part in Kildare County Council's Ireland 2018-2023 Centenary Programme and Decade of Commemoration strategy will be held in Newbridge on Wednesday 9 May, writes Brian Byrne.

The Decade of Commemorations team will be in attendance to hear views of participants at the meeting, in Hotel Keadeen, from 7.30pm-9.30pm.

The coming years see the centenaries of some of the most significant and also divisive events in the history of modern Ireland, according to the Expert Advisory Group which organised the 1916 commemorations. The Group emphasises that widespread public engagement in this second phase of commemoration is necessary and welcome.

"Commemorating the period 1917-1923 raises particular challenges, requiring imaginative, thoughtful, innovative and authentic interpretations to appeal to a discerning and expectant public and to stay true to the intricate and controversial sequence of events of that time."

In order to facilitate numbers, prospective participants are asked to register their interest to attend by emailing cilldara2016@gmail.com before 4 May 2018. Light refreshments will be provided. More information from 045 448350 and Facebook.

Glendalough Dawn Chorus Walk

Photo: The Wicklow Way.

Well, summer may still be teasing us before freezing us again, but the birds are busy getting ready for nesting and noisier in the early morning, writes Brian Byrne.

It's getting close to big dawn chorus time, and if you feel like an early hike and an informative morning, you might consider the Dawn Chorus Walk hosted by Irish Hillwalkers and The Wicklow Way on Sunday 13 May, starting at 5am in Glendalough.

Organised by Wicklow Mountains National Park, it's a free event and no booking is required, just turn up to the Upper Lake Car Park for the 1.5 hours trek. All ages welcome, but no dogs, and Wicklow County Council charges €4 for car parking.

On the guided walk, listen to the birds. Learn their songs. Glendalough is home to one of Ireland’s newest species of breeding birds, the Great Spotted Woodpecker, and it is hoped to hear them drumming. Bring a flask for afterwards.

For more information, please phone the National Park Information Office 0404 45425 or Education Centre 0404 45656.

Community Games U11 rugby team in Leinster finals

Kilcullen Community Games would like to wish their U11 rugby team the very best of luck at the Leinster rugby finals this Sunday 29 April, writes Papillon Rabbitte.

The team are pictured below after receiving their new training tops which have been very kindly sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care.

Pictured with the team are Donna Hoey from Kilcullen Community Games and Enda Bohan of Home Instead Senior Care.

Aoibhin is a Trinity Scholar

Congratulations to Aoibhin Tutty-Bardon who was recently enrolled as a Trinity College Scholar. Aoibhin is a second year medical student and past pupil of Scoil Bhride, Kilcullen and Newbridge College.

Trinity College has always had its Scholars, students who are selected on merit and given certain benefits during their time in College.

At present Scholarships are awarded in all courses to students showing outstanding achievement in a set of non-compulsory exams that are typically taken in their Senior Freshman year.