Bees taking advantage of CPC garden by CES workers

The pollinator-friendly garden built by Kilcullen CES workers in the grounds of CPC has matured well, and is attracting lots of bees, writes Brian Byrne.

The garden was built by 11 participants in the scheme and completed in May of 2018.

The plants include lavender, rudbeckia, and buxus ball.

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No Community Enhancement funds for garden project

Ways of fundraising for the proposed Community Garden in the grounds of the Library are to be examined by Kilcullen Community Action, writes Brian Byrne.

This follows news that funds for the project will not be available to KCA from the Community Enhancement Programme 2019.

A revised plan for the has been prepared by KCA members and sent to relevant Library Service and KCC representatives.

The group hopes to put in place raised vegetable beds, hedging, fruit trees, and a reflection area with a variety of plants. A wildflower area is also planned.

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KAFC women's team for Carlow League

Kilcullen AFC will be entering a team in the Carlow & District Football League Women’s Division for the coming season.

The team will be managed by Tadgh Shanahan and David Mitchell. A meeting of players and managers will be held next Wednesday 7 August at 7.30pm in the Clubhouse.

Training will commence Wednesday 14 August at 7.30pm at the Avondale training area and is open to all girls over the age of 15 years.

The committee and all at the club wish the team every success for the coming season.

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Parish Lotto Draw results

The numbers drawn in the Kilcullen and Gormanstown Parish Lotto Draw held on Tuesday 30 July 2019 were 9, 13, 26 and 27. There was no Jackpot winner and next week's main prize will again be €18,000.

The winners of the €50 Open Draw were Anne Bath (Promoter: Credit Union), Tom Rafferty (Ger's Fruit and Veg), and Sean Kelly (New Abbey Bridge).

The winners of the Promoters Draw were PJ Lydon and Barry O'Sullivan, and the winner of the Draw for those in the Parish Centre on the night was Josie Connolly.

The Parish thanks all who support the Lotto.

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History talk in BME for local church funds

A river walk and history talk at the Old Woolen Mills in Ballymore Eustace will be held on Saturday 3 August, to raise funds for St John's Church.

The event begins at 2:15pm with participants meeting at Chris and Isa Dowling’s House (The Bridge), and the River Walk commences at 2.30pm sharp.

The Woollen Mills are now under restoration and the owner Harvey Appelbe will give a brief history and outline future plans for the building. Refreshments will be served afterwards, including tea, coffee, sandwiches and home baking.

The cost for the fundraiser is €10 per person, and there will also be a raffle. For bookings contact Grania Glancy on 087 1253190. Everyone is guaranteed a very enjoyable afternoon, and all are welcome.

(Pic and information from Ballymore Eustace News.)

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New entrance to Church Car Park

The new entrance to the Church Car Park is now in use, and work is taking place on rebuilding the wall through which was the old access.

Moving the entrance was a condition of the planning permission for the Millstream Court development, so as to avoid havinge two exits onto the New Abbey Road beside each other.

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Planning application by shopfitting company

Pic by Google.

A planning application has been lodged for a light industrial workshop at the Kilcullen Business Campus by a shopfitting business, writes Brian Byrne.

The application by Elite Shopfitters & Interiors Ltd is for Site No 4 on the Campus, which is owned by Kildare County Council.

The proposed development includes workshop facilities, staff canteen, ancillary office and WC accommodation; enclosed rear yard with gate access from the south-east; illuminated signage to the north-west elevation and all associated site and landscaping works.

Submissions may be made until 1 September 2019, and the planning number is 19848. The application is at pre-validation stage.

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'Clarifications' to Market Square plans 'in September'

The consultants and Kildare County Council officials involved with the proposed Market Square redevelopment project will provide further details and clarifications of the plan to councillors in September, writes Brian Byrne.

According to Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, this was promised at a briefing to councillors yesterday by Council officials, at which 'a range' of issues relating to the project was discussed.

Cllr O'Dwyer also says that at that stage, a decision on whether to commence the formal Part 8 process to move the project on 'will be further considered'.

So far, the plans developed by the consultants have never been shown to the people of Kilcullen, or to the residents and businesses in the area of Market Square who will be directly affected by the redevelopment. They have been shown to councillors.

Following an application supported by Kildare County Council, the redevelopment project was last year awarded an initial €200,000 from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2018 towards the estimated €500,000 cost.

The Market Square redevelopment got under way after a public meeting organised by Kilcullen Community Action in July 2017. A public consultation day in September of the same year garnered 217 submissions on the day and afterwards online.

A Concept Plan produced by the Paul Hogarth Company on commission from Kildare County Council was shown to the project committee in April 2018. That plan was then shown to councillors of the Naas MD in June last year, and in October the grant of €200,000 was announced. The people of Kilcullen will not get view of the plan until the Part 8 application proceeds.

A full public consultation period under this process was originally expected before Christmas, but no date has yet been announced. It now seems that a decision on the Part 8 will only be 'considered' this September, according to yesterday's briefing to councillors.

In April 2019, in response to concerns on parking raised by businesses, KCA said it had been told by the Council that Part 8 plans and documentation had 'largely been completed' and 'planning reports' should be completed by the end of April. The KCA statement also said its Market Square Committee was, in conjunction with the Council, 'looking at allocating parking spaces nearby'. In her election campaign for the recent local elections, Tracey O'Dwyer committed, if elected, to helping the local businesses in their concerns with the square parking issue.

In May of this year, the Council had surveys of parking spaces in the downtown Kilcullen area carried out, along with relevant traffic counts.

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Community Warden position in KCC

Kildare County Council has an opening for a Community Warden.

The position pays between €666.61-€726.17 a week.

Posts will be filled subject to sanction from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Panels may be formed as a result of this competition.

Candidates may be short-listed on the basis of information supplied in their application. Kildare County Council is an equal opportunities employer.

Application forms and full particulars are available on our website,  or from Human Resources Section, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas.

Phone (045) 980740 or Email jobs@kildarecoco.ie for further information.

The latest date for receipt of a completed signed original of the application form is Thursday, 15 August 2019, 4pm.

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Teach na nDaoine planning application

The Teach na nDaoine Committee has applied for planning permission for a new vehicular entrance to serve the existing development at the Former Health Care Centre.

They have also applied for Retention Permission for the development as constructed and all associated site works.

Submissions by 29 August 2019, and the planning file number is 19839.

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Ground works done for new running track

Martin Murphy has provided these pictures of the work done to date on the new sprint and running tracks being built at Scoil Bhride.

"All work should be complete for late August," he told the Diary, "just in time for our future track stars back in school!"


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CPC temporary accommodation work going well

Work is proceeding apace at Cross and Passion College on the second phase of Temporary Accommodation to provide for an additional Technology Room and an Agricultural Science Laboratory, writes Brian Byrne.

This will facilitate the introduction of the two additional Leaving Certificate subjects at the College.

From September 2019, Senior Cycle students will have the opportunity to study Agricultural Science and Technology for Leaving Certificate examination in June 2021.

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Local MD councillors' motions for discussion today

Water filling stations, flashing speed signs, rural town depopulation, cycle initiatives and concerns about making 'shotguns in Ireland obsolete' are among motions from councillors of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District scheduled for discussion at this afternoon's full meeting of Kildare County Council, writes Brian Byrne.

Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer (FG) is asking that Kildare County Council pilot a scheme to install water bottle filling stations to encourage people to refill, thereby reducing plastic waste.

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer (FG) wants flashing speed signals installation at schools throughout the county to be a priority for the Council, due to their 'proven success'.

A request that Strategic Policy Meetings of the Council be held later in the day, to improve the participation of working people in local government, is the subject of a motion by Cllr Chris Pender (SD).

A review of the Council's rural housing development policy is being called for by Cllr Kevin Duffy (FG), who says that depopulation of rural towns and communities is having a significant impact on their long-term viability. He wants a commitment to rural housing, as part of a 'balance' to the development of towns in the county.

An identification of projects in each municipal district that would enhance cycling as a means of transport is the subject of a motion by Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy (I). This is against the background of the 'welcome' announcement in the Climate Action Plan that 10pc of transport expenditure will be allocated to cycle funding.

Finally, Cllr Patricia Ryan (SF) wants the Council to ask the Government to undertake a 'robust consultation process' with game clubs, farming bodies, and conservation organisations before supporting or legislating for an EU proposal to ban lead in shooting and fishing. She says such a ban would make over 100,000 shotguns obsolete in Ireland.

The Council meeting begins at 2pm in the Council Chamber at Aras Chill Dara in Naas.

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Report from KCA/Tidy Towns meeting

Kilcullen Community Action/Tidy Towns had its fortnightly meeting in the Hide Out on Thursday night last, writes Eoin Houlihan, the group's PRO. There was a good turnout and many issues were discussed.

1. A big poplar tree in The Valley was topped on Saturday 20th August and made safe thanks to Rod Jones, who is a local tree surgeon. The work cost €964 and was funded from money provided to KCA by Nuala Collins and the family of the late Jim Collins. With the remainder of the money it is envisaged that KCA will buy some new bins for The Valley.

2. People are encouraged to use and engage with the new website www.kilcullentown.com. It is a fantastic website with lots of information about Kilcullen. The KCA Instagram account kilcullencommunityaction has been documenting the various activities of the town over the past few months.

3. Pollinator Plan – Paul Leighton gave an update. He suggested that we develop a 3–4 year planting plan for the four approach roads into Kilcullen. He said that we should be considering planting plants that attract bees and in doing so the town will get credit towards our pollinator plan. Paul also suggested that perhaps the housing estates in the town might link with Tidy Towns and dedicate areas in their estates for bees.

Antoinette Buckley suggested that we network with other towns in Ireland who have successfully integrated their pollinator plan with the towns planting. She suggested that a group from Kilcullen might visit Clonmel in Tipperary who have been winning a number of pollinator awards over the past few years.

Glanbia CountryLife Monasterevin, was thanked for their generous donation of bee-friendly plants towards our pollinator plan. Martin Sheridan will plant these on the Naas road coming into the town. Anyone who is interested in helping with this project is welcome to do so and can contact Tidy Towns via our email kilcullencommunityaction@gmail.com

4. CCTV – This KCA project is being led by Pat Mangan. Pat wanted to stress that the possible introduction of CCTV. was not a Big Brother type of surveillance but rather a matter for public safety. We will keep the community up-to-date of any further developments of this project.

5. Polytunnel – KCA/Tidy Towns purchased a second hand polytunnel and a suitable site has been generously provided by Geraldine and Tony Gahan. A new plastic covering will be purchased and fitted by a professional polytunnel company. Tidy Towns will also consider buying a second tunnel. It is envisaged that the tunnels will be used to ‘bring on’ next year's flowers for Kilcullen in Bloom before they are put up around the town.

6. KCA would like to thank all the people involved in this year’s Kilcullen in Bloom. From those who planted window boxes and hanging baskets, to those involved in putting them up and those who are watering the planters that are not attached to the automatic watering systems. The group would also like to thank Ray Kelly and his helpers who maintain the automatic watering system on an annual and weekly basis. KCA would also like to thank local businesses and residents of Kilcullen who have given so generously to this project. We would also like to thank Bord na Móna who donated the peat free compost and to CountryLife Monasterevin who supplied this year’s flowers.

7. Mary Rae brought up an issue regarding the footpath from Cnoc na Greine to Sunny Hill. She observed that the footpath is in very bad condition, a point echoed by Ann Cashman who noted that there are a lot of weeds and nettles on this stretch of the footpath. At the meeting it was asked why Kildare County Council are not maintaining the footpaths. It was noted that the Newbridge engineer is now looking after the Kilcullen area and that we should make contact to get this issue addressed.

8. Martin Sheridan asked if a street sweeper could be used more frequently in the town. The footpaths and sides of the roads in the town are not being maintained properly. Eoin Houlihan suggested that perhaps businesses and residents could be asked to keep the footpaths cleaned outside of their property. It was also suggested that perhaps this could be done on the days that Tidy Town volunteers are out cleaning and this would aid their work considerably.

The next meeting of KCA/Tidy Towns will be in the Hide Out at 8.15pm on August 8th. All are welcome to attend these public meetings.

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'Ghosts, dragons and evil incantations', all help to show local history

There was a full house yesterday in Woodbine Books for the illustration workshop for children and teenagers conducted by David Butler, writes Brian Byrne.

The full complement of 12 places for the event had been snapped up early, and would-be participants phoning in as late as yesterday morning were unable to be accommodated.

David shared with those there the basic skills used by illustrators and animators, using examples of characters and drawings from books he has worked on, notably the comic novel of Shackleton: The Voyage of the James Caird, which he published with writer Gavin McCumiskey.

Afterwards he and Mario Corrigan signed copies of their latest co-production for young people, Ghosts from The Other Realm. Set in Kildare town, the book is the latest in a series written with the help of school children and published with the support of the Kildare Library and Arts Service.

Dawn Behan of Woodbine Books with Mario Corrigan and David Butler.

In a unique way of developing a story for a locality, librarian and historian Mario spends time with school classes, talking about the local stories, myths and history, and comes away with what he calls 'the vocabulary' for a proposed book. "It all started with Do Fish Wear Pyjamas?, where I went into Scoil Bhride Naofa and Scoil na Mainistreach in Kildare town with a title and the name of a character. I worked up a full story based on that, David came up with the illustrations. We ran it by a few readers to make sure it wasn't useless, and then asked the Library to be nice to us and help publish it."

The concept was such a success that they later used it in Kerry for Listowel: The Writer's Revenge, with children from Knockanure NS, Scoil Réalta na Maidine and Dromclough NS, launched at Writers Week in 2014. A similar project in Roscommon with the pupils from Castleplunkett NS and Abbey NS resulted in The Battle for Coman's Wood. Ghosts from The Other Realm was developed with the help of students at St Brigid's Primary School.

"It's a great way of getting young people to look at their own area," Mario says. "We put the names of all of the pupils involved at the back, so when the book is published they all feel a part of it. It may even trigger one or two of them to go on to be writers."

David Butler explaining some graphics detail to Glenda Groome and her sons Daniel and James.

The stories can mix together dragons, Vikings, spirits and various historical happenings and local sights — "it's the great thing about children, they have no problem coming up with space invaders and vikings in the same breath". Mario recalls the story of a young reading fan from another part of the country who was enthralled when he came to Kildare and found that the round tower, Grey Abbey and Black Abbey in the story were actually real places. "I used those and threw in the ghostly knights, dragons, and evil incantations and other stuff. It's not tricking them into local history, but it puts it in front of them."

There's a school of thought that by setting books in a real local place you might be limiting the readership to that area. But Mario doesn't worry about that. "To anyone who doesn't know Kildare, or Roscommon, or Listowel, especially if they're from outside the country in the US or wherever, any of those places might as well be Hogwarts."

There's even a Kilcullen connection in the latest book — one of the 'ghosts' in the story lived in Old Kilcullen before he became a spirit.

Mario says he does his writing 'late at night when everyone else has gone to bed'. He has been involved in authoring history since 1998, and is currently the Executive Librarian at Kildare County Council. He has worked with the service since 1991. An avid local history buff, his Masters thesis was about Kildare in 1798.

Mario and David are currently collaborating on a graphic novel about Michael Collins.

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