Aidan Ingoldsby in the BAG Mk3

Well, dear readers, this is the last email from me as the curator of Ballymore Acoustic Gigs, affectionately known as BAG for the past eight years, writes Roy Thompson. I wound it up last May, and hung up my leads for the last time. Knowing the demand there is for the gig, I was fairly sure that, just as I had done all those years ago, someone would step up to keep the gig going.

And so it has come to pass. Rebranded and re-launched as BAG Mk3, Monday night music in Mick Murphy's is indeed set to continue. Long-time music fan and supporter of the gig, Aidan Ingoldsby, is the new man in charge, and I think he's a really good fit.

He'll be setting up a new mailing list, and if you want to subscribe, send him an email to BagMk3@gmail.com and he'll add you.

The first gig of the new era is booked — see below. Do please continue to give the great support you always have, and let's keep live music alive.

Next gig: Catfish Keith, Monday November 4th, Doors 8:30pm, Gig 9pm sharp, Adm: €15.

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Crean's Place reopens after break

Just a quick note to say that Crean's Place is open again this morning, after a two-week closure for staff holidays and some gentle refurbishment.

Brunch and lunch back on the Kilcullen morning menu.

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Free passes again to The Hurling Experience

The Hurling Experience is again offering free passes to Kilcullen people for the attractions sessions today and tomorrow, writes Brian Byrne.

Ten passes are available by going to the Kilcullen-based initiative's website, and going to the Book Now section. Only the 2.30 sessions are applicable to this offer.

The coupon code KilcullenFree31Aug01Sep19 should be used, and passes are limited to five per person. The coupon will expire tomorrow.

No credit card details are required.

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Solar farm permission granted

Permission was recently granted for the construction of a solar farm at the restored landfill at Brownstown, writes Brian Byrne.

The installation, on the site of the former KTK landfill, will have an export capacity of approximately 3MW and will be built by the Irish arm of a company that provides renewable energy, recycling collection, green fuels and energy recovery, and commercial waste management services across Ireland and the UK.

The panels will be constructed on ground mounted frames and the system will be connected to the existing ESB sub-station.

Depending on average sunshine levels, 3MW of electricity could service between 1,200-2,700 homes, though the calculations are complex.

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Final heritage winner presentation

The remaining presentation to the winners of the Kilcullen 700/Heritage Week competition was made this afternoon to Sharon's Perfect Image, writes Brian Byrne.

The salon's display of nostalgic memorabilia garnered them one of the four €250 prizes in the Bank of Ireland Kilcullen sponsored competition.

The business joined Armelle's Kitchen, Ger's Fruit & Veg, and Kilcullen Drama Group in the winners' group.

Pictured are Sharon McDonnell of Sharon's Perfect Image, with Tom Shaw of Bank of Ireland Kilcullen, and Sharon's mother Ann Clarke, from whose home most of the memorabilia in the display came.

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Surprise bouquet for Emma

A surprise presentation was made in The Final Furlong today to Emma Stokes, who has worked for 13 years in the cafe for three owners, writes Brian Byrne.

A bouquet was presented by the current proprietor, Ruth O'Neill, who has operated the business for the past four years.

Before her, Emma worked with Patsy Simion, and before her with Maura Dowling. She is leaving to do a course in Social Care.

Pictured are Afiqah Ruslan, Rose Burke, Emma Stokes and Ruth O'Neill.

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Parish Book Club being set up

A parish book club will start on 20 September as part of a new programme of events initiated by the Parish Pastoral Council, writes Brian Byrne.

The Friday Book Club will meet twice on the third Friday of each month, after mass at 11am and at 7.30pm, to discuss a chosen book read during the month.

The Friday evening session is for participants in their 20s and 30s only, in response to suggestions that there is a need for more activities in the parish for that age group.

Suggestions for books to read are now being sought, and nominations should be made to Suzanne Cummins (087 2977794) or Niamh Traynor (086 1758458). A Facebook page has been set up for the initiative.

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Some very agricultural parking ...

John Mulhall was forced to drive his mobility scooter out on the road this morning when farm contractors decided to park up on the footpath at Hillcrest, while they went for coffee.

Picture sent by a regular reader, who has since updated us with the information that he contacted the company concerned, and they have promised to address the matter.

Further update: The operators of the machinery have contacted the Diary and apologised for any inconvenience, and requested that we take down the picture. In the light of the apology, we have accommodated their request.

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Kildare Business Awards 2019 open for application

Applications have opened for the 2019 Kildare Business Awards organised by the County Kildare Chamber, writes Brian Byrne.

The awards, which are in association with Kildare County Council and LEO Kildare, will be announced on Friday 29 November, at a gala night in Kilashee House Hotel in Naas.

There are 15 category awards in the programme, and the Overall Business of the Year Award will be selected from among the category winners.

The categories and sponsors are SME 1-5 Employees Award (sponsored by O’Kelly Sutton), SME 6-20 Employees Award (Hanahoe and Hanahoe Solicitors), SME 21+ Employees Award (Kealy Mehigan Accountants), Digital Marketing Award (Permanent TSB), E Commerce Award (Graphedia), Employee of the Year Award (Ladytown Business Park), International Trade Award (T&I Fitouts), Green Business of the Year Award (AIB), Networker of the Year Award (Kildare Post), Start Up Business of the Year Award (Volkswagen – Sheehy Motors), Excellence in CSR Award (Colourtrend), Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality Award (JF Dunne Insurances), Innovation & Technology Award (KERRY), Customer Excellence Award (Naas Town Centre Shopping Centre), Diversity & Inclusion Award (Grant Thornton).

The Overall Business of the Year Award is sponsored by Queally Group.

Tickets for the awards night are €125 + VAT pp or €1,250 + VAT for a table of ten, and can be booked through jennifer@countykildarechamber.ie.

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Volunteers wanted for child reading help programme

Photo by mentatdgt on pexels.

Volunteers to help children with their reading are being sought by a programme organised by the County Kildare LEADER Partnership, writes Brian Byrne.

Under the Better Basics - Boosting Reading programme, trained volunteers support children in primary school to improve their reading. It is aimed at children who require some additional assistance to improve their reading, but who are not in receipt of mainstream learning supports in school.

Volunteers will have two days of training and will then be asked to give a 15-week commitment for one hour a day, two days a week.

Anyone who would like to register for the programme should contact Áine Byrne, either by email aine@countykildarelp.ie or 045 895450. Closing date for registration is 10 September.

The programme has been running in Kildare since 2014 and last year was extended to six schools in the county.

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Signage project progressing, but 'slowly'

Work on the provision of new signage in the town is progressing, ‘but very slowly’, Noel Clare told the recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action.

He said that a number of property owners around the town had to be contacted to gain their permission for signs to be erected on their premises.

In relation to funding for signage, notably for the approach roads and in the town to indicate various roads and laneways, he said the committee had made a number of applications to Kildare County Council.

Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy, one of three councillors attending the meeting, noted that she was assisting with the project and had made a number of enquiries on behalf of the committee.


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Coffee morning in Dunshane Friday

A reminder that the Summer Coffee Morning will be held in Camphill Community Dunshane tomorrow, Friday 30 August, from 10am until noon.

There will be coffee, tea, cakes and home-made crafts available on the morning.

All are welcome. Directions to the Community will be signposted - watch out for them closer to the day.


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Alpacas on loan at Bridge Community

If you haven't been around the Bridge Community Farm and Nature Trail lately, it might be a good time to do it now.

The Community has a pair of Alpacas on the farm, on loan from their sister community at Grangebeg.

And the walk is always good ...

(NOTE: This story was edited to correct the original 'Llamas' to 'Alpacas'.)

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Kilcullen 700/Heritage Week Competition winners

Kilcullen Drama Group's Joan Clarke, John Martin, and Eilis Phillips, with Nessa Dunlea of Kilcullen 700.

The winners in the Kilcullen 700/Heritage Week competition sponsored by Bank of Ireland Kilcullen were Perfect Images, Ger's Fruit and Veg, Armelle's Kitchen, and Kilcullen Drama Group, writes Brian Byrne. Each received €250 from the Bank, and the cheques were presented by Nessa Dunlea, chair of the Kilcullen 700 Committee.

The judges were Lucina Russell, Arts Officer from Kildare County Council; and Clodagh Hughes, East Midlands Area Manager for Bank of Ireland.

Special Commendations were awarded to Kilcullen Community Library for the display on inclusion and diversity of woman in the workforce; and to Scoil Bhride for involvement of youth in the town's heritage during its 700th anniversary celebrations.

Brennan's Hardware and The Final Furlong were also commended for their family and heritage displays.

(Note: There was no representative available from Perfect Images for their presentation, which will be made tomorrow.)

Armelle Siomboing with Nessa Dunlea.

Nessa Dunlea presents the prize to Ger Wixted of Ger's Fruit and Veg.

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Final organ concert in Kildare tomorrow

The final performance in this year's International Summer Concert Series at St Brigid's Cathedral takes place tomorrow night, writes Brian Byrne.

It will be 'The Lone Piper', with music from the last four centuries played by organist Simon Harden.

The concert will begin at 8pm, and tickets are €15/€12, available at eventbrite.ie, from the Cathedral, or from Kildare Heritage Centre.

The series is sponsored by Keadeen Hotel, Kildare County Council, Kildare Village, and Paddy Jordan Town and Country Estates.

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