Busy weekend for Kilcullen upcoming

Views from the 2017 Mac and Norman rally.

This weekend is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy one in Kilcullen, with a lot of events seeking the attention of all of us, writes Brian Byrne. So it might be time to check personal calendars and make space for them.

Things kick off on Friday night in O'Connell's Bar, with a Table Quiz to raise funds towards the expenses of Ronan Foley's competing in the 2018 Canoe World Championships in Portugal in September. One of Kilcullen's best canoeists in a generation, Ronan has been winning medals at a variety of international competitions over the last couple of years. The evening begins at 8.30pm.

On Saturday, the very important Open Day at Brannoxtown Community National School should be checked out by anyone with young children in the area who are starting school or in the early years in schools further out. It is organised by The Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, who have recently been appointed as the patron group for the school. It begins at 3pm.

Sunday will be a somewhat hectic day, not least for the organisers and participants at the 16th Mac and Norman Vintage Drive, which sets off from Peter Sully's yard in Brannockstown at 1pm on Sunday. Likely to be bigger than ever — Peter has been angling to get even more trucks in the convoy — it will pass through Kilcullen from about 1.20pm on its way to The Priory Walls of Kilgowan. The usual music and craic there, and the Charity Auction that also helps bring up the day's take for the Irish Cancer Society.

Some of Joy Cullen's students performing in 2016.

During the afternoon from 3pm, students of Joy Cullen's Premiere School of Dancing will be receiving their awards for the year at an event in the Town Hall Theatre. Fourteen pupils ranging in age from 6-16 were highly successful in taking 34 medal tests in Ballet and Tap during June. The examinations were conducted by the International Dance Teachers Association.

Over in Athgarvan, the Kildare West Wicklow SPCA group is having its Open Day through the afternoon, to raise both funds and awareness of its activities in helping deal with abandoned or neglected animals. There'll be bottle and cake stalls as well as other attractions.

Further afield again, the Taste of Kildare food festival will be going on at The K Club, the Kilcullen flag there being flown by Fallons. That's an €11 entry, with tickets available online from the event's web-site.

I'm sure there's more on, but that's what the Diary has notice of for now.

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