Launch of 'Kilcullen Before our Time'

The book Kilcullen Before our Time, based on the heritage talks and events of the Kilcullen 700 celebration in 2019, was officially launched today by Noel Clare of Kilcullen Community Action, at a low-key socially-distanced event held outside Woodbine Books, writes Brian Byrne.

Noel said it was very strange to be organising an event to which they had to be careful not to invite too many people, and that it would be held outside a bookshop by a group of people 'with strange hairstyles'. "The book should have been launched last March, but for obvious reasons that didn't happen."

He recalled what a wonderful year of events 2019 was. "I don't think anyone could have foreseen that it would have been quite as successful, and that it would have so many individuals, groups and organisations involved. All did their bit to make the event the success it was."

Noel reminded those present of the beginning event, the launch of the Photography Club's first Calendar, and the closing event of the 'Walk with the Light' from Old Kilcullen to the Town Hall. "But right through the year there were so many other events that were so memorable in their own way, too many to go through today."

On the development of the book, Noel noted that because Kilcullen was looking back 700 years, it seemed fitting that there would be talks on different aspects of the town as it grew and changed. "Thanks to Nessa Dunlea's connections with the County Kildare Local History Group, we got an amazing group of speakers, with so much knowledge about the various places around."

He name-checked them as Ger McCarthy of the Naas Local History Group, Nessa Dunlea herself of the Kilcullen 700 Committee, historian Liam Kenny, the Shackleton Committee's Kevin Kenny, historian and author James Durney, Colette Jordan from the History Department in Maynooth University, Brian McCabe from the Kill Local History Group, Oliver Fallon Bailey of the Bailey and Blake videographer company, and Kilcullen-based local memories enthusiast Mary Orford.

"Those talks were amazing, it is great to be able to have a record of their content, and it is wonderful to have this book, going forward into the future, with all that knowledge."

Noel also thanked in her absence Bridget Loughlin, Heritage Officer with Kildare County Council, who provided the initial sponsorship which made the publication possible. Other key sponsorship was given by Kilcullen Development Association. He highlighted too the work of the Kilcullen 700 Committee, which made the whole year of celebration happen, under the direction of committee chair Nessa Dunlea.

Kilcullen Before our Time is primarily a series of articles based on the heritage talks, interspersed with photographic memories of many of the other events which were held as part of Kilcullen 700. It is now on sale in Woodbine Books at a cost of €10.

"Spread the word around," Noel urged those present, noting that the publication would be an ideal gift also to send to anyone from Kilcullen who is living abroad.

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