Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Kilcullen Community Centre back in business

Kilcullen Community Centre are back in action again and here is a flavour of what’s happening this coming week, writes Centre Manager Enda O'Neill. Wednesday night Mandy and her Belly Dancing class will be back in the Connolly room from 8pm to 9.30ish. Mandy is one of the Centre's long-serving users — she has used the centre for the last 20 years and it is great to see her back after our little break! If you are interested in taking up some belly dancing why not contact Mandy on 087 2213232.

On our All Weather Pitch on Wednesday night local club St Anthonys will kick off their season with some long awaited training. Newbridge United will also be gracing our pitch with some underage training.

Kilcullen Badminton Club also start back on Tuesdays, Thursday and Friday nights. A change, however, with Division 2-5 Playing on Tuesdays, Division 6-10 on Thursdays and club nights on Fridays. Our All Weather Pitch is also busy on Thursdays with our own Kilcullen AFC Juveniles, Newbridge FC and Newbridge Utd taking slots for training.

No1 Fitness will continue to host Boot Camps on Friday nights at 7pm and Sunday mornings at 11am on our All Weather Pitch due to high demand — if you wish to try boot camp just contact coach Michael on 087 1890873 or via e-mail mickno1trainer@gmail.com. Kilcullen GAA and Newbridge Utd will also be using our facility that evening for training.

There will be no let-up in the Centre or All Weather Pitch at the weekends either. A new Gymnastics class will be held in our Connolly Room from this Saturday from 10-11. Talented Kids are also coming back to us on Saturday 12 September from 3-7pm — if interested contact Maureen at mvwtalent@gmail.com.

The Kilcullen All Weather Pitch still has a limited number of slots available if you are a coach looking for a pitch or even if you just want to have a kick around with your mates, so don’t hesitate to contact me on 087 9681040 if interested. Our All Weather Pitch and Community Centre are also a perfect venue for parties.

Finally a shout out to any traditional musicians or musicians of any kind in Kilcullen or surrounding areas — I would love to get in contact with you as we have perfect rooms for music lessons.

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Still time to buy a Pieta House candle

Candles for the Pieta House 'Lights on the Bridge' fundraiser on Saturday may still be purchased at The River Cafe.

A section on the donation form is included for the name of any loved one you want to commemorate.

Richie and Lorna will place the candles on Saturday on the bridge.

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On This Day - The Tunguska Event



On this day in 1908, an enormous explosion over the Tunguska River in sparsely populated east Siberia, flattened some 80 million trees over an area of more than 2,000 square kilometres. Generally believed to have been an air-burst of a meteoroid, it was the largest impact event on Earth in recorded history. Produced by Brian Byrne.

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Local food for this week

Armelle and Kenny in Armelle's Kitchen have published their savoury menu for take away food for the week, on their Facebook page, writes Brian Byrne.

Ham & Mushrooms Crepes, Turkey Burgers, Beef Lasagna, Chicken, Ham & Mushroom Pie and Beef Stew with Mash Potatoes as just a few of the 13 savoury options through the week.

The cakes and pastries in their usual sweet treats are all available too, of course.

Orders can be made by email at armelleskitchen@live.ie, message on their Facebook, or phone 045 480697.

Meanwhile, all local food offers for the the coming weekend can be found on from Fallons Gourmet GarageArmelle's KitchenKalbarri Cookery School (closed this weekend due to family bereavement)BardonsAlkebabishCrean's Place, and the Brown Bear. Also The River Cafe Kilcullen is again selling through the door this week 10am-2.30pm - coffees, fresh baking, breakfast baps, tray bakes, and is reopening limited inside service from Thursday. Rea's Takeaway is open for collection and delivery 045 480537. Jane Russell's Handmade Sausages can be ordered online.

Any other food provider in the Kilcullen area can be on this list by emailing details to kilcullendiary@gmail.com.


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Library open for browsing by appointment

Kilcullen Community Library is now accepting appointments for 30-minute slots for members to browse the books with a view to borrowing, writes Brian Byrne.

It's part of the gradual rollout of the Library services following the partial lifting of the coronavirus restrictions.

Appointments can be booked here. Those attending the Library are asked to bring their Library Card in order to avail of self-service options for borrowing and returning items.

Visitors are asked to adhere to public health advice on social distance, hand-washing and mask wearing.

For further local information, or to book time on the Library computer, call 045 482193.

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Ger Coyne's clean sweep

To coincide with the lifting of further restrictions for Phase 3 and the reopening of more businesses in the town, Ger Coyne from Grangebeg, who runs CSS (Clipping, Sweeping, Spraying) kindly cleaned all of our footpaths along the main street, using one of his mechanised sweepers, writes Noel Clare.

It was done free of charge at an early hour on Monday morning. "Kilcullen is a lovely town," said Ger, "and I do notice all the work done by local volunteers, so this is just my way of doing something to help."

What a lovely way to help the town get back in business! If anyone requires further information of the services offered by Ger, contact him on 085 1667622.

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Weatherday: "The sky split in two and fire appeared"

A mostly cloudy day, but likely to stay dry locally until late this evening. Best chance of sunny spells in the later afternoon.

Light variable winds and a maximum temperature of 14deg, cool for the time of year.

On this day in 1908, a fireball in the Tunguska area of Russia levelled 80 million trees in the largest impact event in recorded history.

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Monday, June 29, 2020

Walls of the Priory not reopening restaurant

There's sad news from Kilgowan that Walls of The Priory is not going to reopen as a restaurant in the present circumstances.

In a post on their Facebook page today, Michael and Teresa say it would not be viable to do so under current restrictions.

They hope to open the bar only as soon as restrictions allow.

There has been a quick commentary of response from many of their regular customers expressing sorrow and appreciation of much they had enjoyed their visits to the restaurant down the years.

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Tennis Club development in August

Kilcullen Tennis Club is starting work on building a third hard court in August, writes Brian Byrne.

In an development update, the club says it will then move to upgrading the existing courts.

It is hoped that way it will be possible to keep two courts going through the process.

It is also expected that the lights will be in place before Christmas.

Meantime, doubles games are now back in play with the beginning of Phase 3 of the country's reopening plan.

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That Was The Week - 28 June 2020



A review of some of the main stories covered on Kilcullen Diary to the week ending Sunday 28 June 2020. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne.

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Range of roads and footpath works commence today

Footpath and roads resurfacing works will be commencing this morning for a number of places in the wider Kilcullen area, thanks to representations by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer.

They include work at  Castlefish, Yellowbog Common, Old Kilcullen, Mile Mill to Knocknounce, Gilltown Cross to Gormanstown Cross, Logstown Kilcullen - road and path restoration, Brannockstown Village - path restoration, Avondale Estate - path restoration, Grangemore Estate - paths, and a footpath upgrade at the Garda Station in Kilcullen.

Cllr O'Dwyer has expressed her thanks to the Area Engineer and roads team for setting the programme, which will be carried out across the area over the coming weeks.

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River Cafe plans limited inside service from Thursday

The River Cafe plans to open its doors to a limited number of people to eat inside from Thursday next, with just 12 people at a time allowed, writes Brian Byrne.

The cafe will be open for breakfast and lunch from 9am-3pm. There will be a limited blackboard menu offering.

In the meantime, the take-out business which has sustained the business and the customers over the last 14 weeks will continue and the cafe will be adapted to make this work better.

All guidelines for safety will continue to be observed.

Paul has expressed his thanks for the support during the Covid lockdown, saying that without it the cafe might not have been in a position to reopen.

There is seating for 16 customers outside the cafe.

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Full team at Nichola Kennedy Optometrist

Nichola Kennedy Optometrist now has all team members back in the practice.

Appointments are available for any clients who feel they need a change in prescription or require new glasses or prescription sunglasses or if they are having a problem with their eyes or glasses.

More changes have been made in the practice which can now provide extended one-hour appointment slots.

Routine eye examinations should be booked from August.

Email bookings@kilcullenoptician.com, phone 045 484643 or book online.

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Weatherday: Faster than a speeding bullet!

Mostly cloudy skies. Patchy rain and drizzle will clear by afternoon.

Fresh and gusty westerly winds. Highest temperature 11deg.

On this day in 1996, a copy of the first Superman Action Comic, published in 1938, was auctioned for $61,900.

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