April Bridge call for contributions

There will be no print version of the April Bridge, writes Brian Byrne, for the same reasons that everything else is in Limbo. But in order to keep continuity, we are planning to provide the electronic version which will be available to anyone for download.

A number of the regular contributors have already sent in material, and wearing my other hat as the current editor of the magazine, I'm asking for any other contributions in words and photographic formats.

Please submit them to kilcullenbridge@gmail.com. It is helpful if photographs are NOT inserted in Word documents but are provided as separate attachments.

As there is no sports going on, we're not likely to have any current sports contributions, but if there are heritage type sports articles and photographs out there, it's a good opportunity to look back at them.

Schools are also closed, but schooling is going on, and any contributions in this regard will be very welcome. Brannoxtown CNS have already provided their article and pics.

As this is also the 50th year of The Bridge, we will include some pieces relating to that.

So, all contributions welcome. Preferably by this weekend?

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Kilcullen Mart in RTE marts story

Kilcullen's Leinster Marts operation was the background on RTE News today in a story about marts being allowed to facilitate animals sales in restricted circumstances, writes Brian Byrne.

The station's Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Correspondent Fran McNulty outlined the protocols agreed last night that will allow a limited range of services from the marts at the traditionally busiest time of the year.

They can match buyers and sellers and provide weighing of animals. No public auctions will be held, and no crowds are allowed attend.

The new measures took effect this morning. Leinster Marts operates in Kilcullen on Wednesdays.

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Protective gloves is the new litter

Picture for illustration only.

Residents of Old Kilcullen and Castlefish have noted a disturbing new form of littering, disposable and surgical gloves thrown from cars, writes Brian Byrne.

Apart from the littering and the potential health dangers to anyone picking them up, it's a terribly wasteful use of Personal Protective Equipment that is in very short supply where it is most needed — in the hospitals, health centres, and nursing homes where medical and care staff are in the front line of the fight against Covid-19.

Anyone observing someone doing this should take the registration number and inform the Kildare County Council Litter Warden service.

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Safe shopping in the Covid-19 situation

This guide to safe shopping during the Covid-19 situations answers the questions very many people have on this concern.

It has been produced by the Environmental Health Association of Ireland, in association with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), and Irish Global Health Network (IGHN).

Our thanks to Glenda Groome of CPC for directing it our way.

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Two minutes of peace ...

For those of you who have been following my Weatherday items on the Diary, here's a selection of the photographs I've taken to illustrate the series, writes Brian Byrne.

The Easy Lemon theme from Kevin MacLeod helps to make them a short interval of peace in our turbulent times.

Enjoy.

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Tom's new bag on the family leathercraft

When Tom Berney Jr was about six, his playground was often the workshop in Berney Bros Saddlers in Kilcullen, messing around with bits of discarded leather, writes Brian Byrne. Understandable, as he was in the sixth generation of a dynasty of saddlers which was established in 1880.

By the time he was eleven or twelve, in his spare time after school, he was learning the intricacies of saddle- and equine tack-making under the guidance of his own father Thomas, and his grandfather and uncle. Another layer of proof, perhaps, that skills can come through the genes.

It was maybe inevitable that the weight of five generations of tradition would push him towards the same business, but he says he never found that to be a burden. "I always liked working with my hands, and have always enjoyed working with leather, and I decided I wanted to take the craft and put it to new and creative uses."

The opportunity to do just that came by accident four or five months ago when he decided to craft himself a tote bag from the material he so loves. "I'm in my final year of Business and Entrepreneurship studies at Maynooth University, and the trend among students is tote bags to carry their stuff, usually made of canvas. I designed one in leather, and made two, one for myself and I put one in the shop."

The one in the shop sold immediately, and after he put a picture on his Instagram page his friends in college began looking for versions for themselves. "From one post I put out, I got a load of orders." Suddenly young Tom had an embryo new business, albeit with one product.

He gave that business a name, Buan, an Irish word meaning 'lasting', which he says is the ethos of the business. "I'm trying to make my leather goods like they were in previous generations, sourcing quality materials locally and using traditional techniques and craftsmanship which have been passed down to me."

That original tote bag has now been joined by a crossbody in a plain but distinctive design, as well as a coin purse, and an envelope wallet that incorporates spaces for coins, cards and cash. All Tom's Buan designs are minimalist, which appeals to him, and clearly to his customers. The tote and crossbody bag are available in a range of colours.

Apart from the tote, which is unigender, the other products are aimed at women customers. But Tom has plans to expand his designs to include bags aimed at men, including briefcase styles. Given the amount of time and craft that goes into each item, his pricing is surprisingly affordable.

His clients to date have been very good at giving Tom feedback, including suggestions as to how to improve any of the designs in practical terms.

The positive in any craft is that products are handmade, especially in leatherwork. The downside, of course, is that there is a physical limit of output, which makes any handcraft business hard to scale up. "I'd love the idea of bringing on one or two people with me to help with the manufacture, but I always want the products to be handcrafted. At the moment I'm doing everything myself, which isn't very sustainable."

Also, while still studying at college, 'my foot is only halfway down on the gas', so output is further limited for the moment. "When I graduate, I can go at it properly."

He is very thankful for the support from his father and grandfather. "They think it is great, and anything I learn from this I can always bring back to the family business."

This article was first published in the Kildare Nationalist.

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Weatherday: Remembering the Reign of Terror

Mostly dry, some bright spells. Little likelihood of rain.

Highest temperatures 9deg, in light to moderate north to northeast breezes.

On this day in 1889, the 300-metre Eiffel Tower was inaugurated in Paris. It was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

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Does your closed business have protective gear?

If any business which uses protective gear like rubber gloves and masks is closed due to the Covid-19 situation, their supplies would be very much appreciated by the health professionals now dealing with patients, writes Brian Byrne.

Any local company with such availability can contact Kilcullen Garda Station on 045 481212 and they will arrange collection and delivery to where they are most needed.

If your local station is nearer, contact them.

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KCC Covid-19 Community Response Forum now active

The Kildare Covid-19 Community Response Forum is now in place and is available to contact from 9am-5pm seven days a week.

A dedicated community support helpline has been established to assist vulnerable members of the public — 045 980202.

The Forum asks people who are not in vulnerable groups TO NOT call the helpline as they could be delaying an urgent response to a person in great need.

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Respect fishing closure — Kilcullen anglers

Kilcullen Trout & Salmon Anglers have asked all members to respect their decision to close their water to fishing until 12 April, writes Brian Byrne.

In a statement, the club's Committee said it was a 'difficult decision' that was not taken lightly, but as everyone has been asked to stay at home and not make non-essential movements it can not, and should not, promote such movements.

They also say the decision was made out of respect for the landowners who grant permission to be on their land.

"If we all work together, hopefully we will back to normal soon," the statement concludes.

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Kilcullen is centre of area Garda service for essential home deliveries

Kilcullen Garda Station is the control centre for managing a community help service in both Naas and Kildare Garda Districts during the Covid-19 situation, writes Brian Byrne.

They are providing assistance for those confined to their homes, by making deliveries of food or medicine.

A Mercedes Sprinter Van is based at the station, with four gardai assigned to the effort in shifts — Gda Jon Brien, Gda Sean O'Mahony from Athy, Sgt Gavin Dunphy from Kildare, and Gda Gary Coogan from Naas.

A dedicated phone number 086 8582822 is manned from 8am-8pm. Anybody restricted to their homes by virtue of age or vulnerability is welcome to use the service, which also has the advantage of keeping isolated people in touch with the community gardai. If there's any difficulty accessing that number, the 045 481212 main number of Kilcullen Garda Station can be called, as can Naas Garda Station 045 884300.

The van and crew will collect pre-ordered grocery or pharmacy items from relevant stores in the two districts and deliver them to homes of people who cannot get out themselves. The service only picks up orders ready for delivery — the gardai are NOT doing actual shopping for people.

"It is very important that when people call us they provide their Eircode," Sgt Tom O'Donoghue from Kilcullen says. "It makes it much easier for us to deliver."

Normal serious medical emergencies should still use the 999 number.

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Pathways through memory — Frances Moloney time travels

On the far bank of the river, pathways of memory are hidden in development and nature's growth.

Following on from my post about the 'Domino Trail' yesterday morning, I received the following memoir from Frances Moloney, writes Brian Byrne. Quite apart from being a splendid recollection of the Kilcullen of her own childhood, it provided memories that are very akin to my own, maybe in slightly different places — I was a 'the other side of the bridge' kid, though I certainly did regularly cross over and follow many of the trails she describes — and on slightly different paths and time. Frances kindly gave me permission to post it here.

Your conversation about your laps of the garden was brilliant: instead of moaning about limitation, you have come up with a workable strategy and shared it. 'Cocooning' presented as a life affirming activity and dominoes as were never used by old Italian men, drinking bitter espressos in Italian cafes that may be visited when this is over ... 

My initial reaction to your piece was to remember the path in the grass from my back door in Logstown to the back door of my neighbour, Maura Dowdall, patted out one short doggy leg after another by Ruby, the brown corgi-labradors mix who was the dog of my children's childhood and a dog, who though unequivocally loyal to our family, could always share her largesse with anyone who would give her a tasty tit-bit. Breakfast was shared upstairs with Dolly Lynch in her bedroom, and Pat in the kitchen below always put on an extra rasher for Ruby. No physical evidence in the landscape but in the shared anecdotes of neighbours. 

When Ruby died, we held a wake, and she rested overnight in her bed in the corner of our kitchen for one final night before taking up her final place of rest, in the back corner of our garden. 

As the weeks passed, her path disappeared, and it was only when it was gone I realised we had no photo of it, but it is forever in my head, a testimony to ten years of shared canine love and an indelible connection between neighbours. 

And now, with my brain free to wander, as I am detached from the normal quotidian tasks that no longer have me running up and down the dual carriageway to deliver my own brand of education to the lads of Dublin 12, and restrictions prohibit me from physically visiting the homes of my family members, I find myself with time to remember and think. The pathway that may or may not be in your garden has brought me to so many pathways: 

From the back of Sunnyside, my grandparents' house, there was a path worn out by my Grandfather's cattle, that meandered across in front of Kinloch Brae, Aunty Mary and Uncle Bernard's house, through the Long Field, across the Five Acres, turning right at the ruins of the cottage at Logstown. Straight ahead would lead to the Meadow Field, where haymaking has gone on for my entire life, originally by my Grandad (Tom 'The Boss' Berney) and after him, my cousin Howard. The path continues across the top of the Inch, where through a gappy hedge lay Mrs Brennan's inch, which was another land (in which there was by repute a fairy fort but never in childhood did I go there) and finally down through Berney's Inch, past the marsh that in spring is full of frogspawn, to the water's edge, where the imprints of the cows in the mud captured the cool river water such that it was warm when we as children walked through it, to get to the river to paddle or swim.  

At the river's edge, the path diverged. Fishermen went left, we tended to go to the right, liking to sit high on the river bank, where the rapids catch the glint of sunlight and create a pleasant cacophony of sound. Slightly further along, beside a hawthorn tree, was the place where my Grandfather swam, the water deep and dark. In our family album, there is a picture of my Grandfather in his late seventies, mid dive into the water, a precious moment in time captured by my Uncle Bernard. The image is all the more precious to us because of the absence of the beloved man who was captured in the photograph and the beloved man who knew enough to capture it. As I follow the path in my childhood head, heading back towards town, the graveyard — then innocently empty of any I loved —would be across the river to your left, while in front, the massive edifice of the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Brigid. There are some who find this grey, forbidding, and reflective of the Catholic church's involvement in their lives. For me it is simply part of home and fond memories of time spent in the girls school behind it.

Leaving the Inch, I arrive in my mind's eye into Lawlor's field, where there was a hidden spring coming out at the river's edge, channelled by unknown hands through a piece of guttering, sticking out of a moss-covered leafy bank. The next field was O'Connell's, where the kids from our end of town were taught to swim by older children, and finally away from the River, back up past the John F Kennedy Hall, where Geraldine Clifford ran Saturday morning dancing classes for a very small fee, paid weekly. The final leg of the journey went past Lander's house on the left, and the side of what was 'The Shamrock Bar' or 'Uncle Patrick's' or 'The Sinking Ship', subsequently Berneys and now Fallons. I have an impression of walking into sunshine as I rejoin the living town.

As a child of the town there are also paths through town in my head. Along the side of the bridge before it was widened, there was a little trail in the dust. Depending on the time of the year, occasional weeds would poke their heads up and the memory can be provisionally dated, as a young child, by size and company. Young children would have their hands held, as the bridge was being crossed, the young child always placed between the wall and the adult for safety, until old enough to go to school alone and one could finally see over the top of the wall. (I was very small so I actually don't think I could ever see over the wall of the bridge, in its original form.) 

Great adventures were had in the old Valley, when there was just a single path through the 'Jungle', entered at Molloy's farm gate. Some adventurous did stray far from the path. This path through the Valley led to the Mass Path to New Abbey, a path that goes straight from today right back through centuries. 

Further adventures were to be had in the 'Crocks', a patch of land behind the Ball Alley, where, if you knew your way through the jagged metal, there were cocoons of safety: a tiny path in the middle where one child could sit on soft grass and look up at the sky. For me it was 50 yards from home and yet a universe away. If you made your way through the Crocks, there was a patch of grass about six feet wide, overlooking the stream of water, diverted to turn the mill wheel, the edifice of the Mill on your left. 

At the back of Miss O'Kelly's Liffey Bank, there was a very little-known path that started through a door in the corner of her garden, that led past the old sewage works, through the field across from Castlemartin, and the swimming place called 'The Rocks' to a place in the woods called Poolmoorish (as Miss O'Kelly called it in her very Anglo-Irish way). I suspect it was possibly Pol Mor Usice, and was in fact some vestige on the landscape from Ice Age times. 

There was also another path through those same woods, called Brennan's Woods by my parents, accessed through Jim and Anne Byrne's farmyard, (where there is still a stile though access is no longer available). But as children we often never went further than the woods because there was such magic in them.

Pathways, life ways, links to our past, links to our future. My life is a tapestry of metaphoric and real pathways, a safety net that has always kept me where I needed to be. 

Thank you for a morning spent in fond reminiscence, with the Mass in Irish from Cul Aodh in the background, 

Regards, 

Frances Moloney.

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