So that was 2020 in Kilcullen: Part 2
JULY
A partial end to the 'drought of the pints' came to pass with the reopening of 'gastro' pubs following the latest easing of restrictions. This pint being pulled by Des in Bardons looked really inviting.
A 'Light the Bridge' event for Pieta House took the place of the usual town fundraiser, with a musical start at the Dun Ailinne monument and then a lantern walk to the bridge where candles bought by upwards of 500 people were lit.
The pandemic made no difference to a lot of natural events, and the swan family on the Kilcullen Liffey took their latest brood of six on river outings regularly, delighting those on the bridge or on the riverbank lucky enough to see them.
The Cycle for Crumlin which had been organised by Murphy Surveys for six years was cancelled for this year. The company instead donated to CMRF Crumlin directly from its own resources and internal events.
The annual Mac and Norman Vintage Rally was postponed by the organisers, with the possibility of holding a video virtual one mooted. As part of this, a short and condensed local drive was held for the Brannockstown contribution to this.
In the light of the continuing pandemic situation, Kilcullen Community Action decided that there would be no Community Awards this year. The next ones will be November 2021.
New Covid-19 regulations required that face coverings must be worn in all retail premises. The message on the door of the CarryOut reflected similar through the town's shops.
Some volunteer spadework at the site of the Community Garden got things started in the grounds of Kilcullen Library. It's an estimated three-year project.
Pat Lynch of Logstown celebrated his 95th birthday. He's pictured here with Tony Gahan, taken by Geraldine Gahan, when they walked up to Logstown to wish him well.
A bit of motoring history was made when some 20 old cars completed the full round of the Gordon Bennett course used in 1903, the first time that had happened since the original race, according to Kilcullen based vintage and veteran car enthusiast Sean O'Gorman, pictured here with his father Benny and family members.
A market experiment at the Kilcullen Community Centre brought out a good attendance of both stallholders and customers. It was officially opened by environmentalist Duncan Stewart, who said such markets can be 'at the heart of a community'.
Madge Clarke celebrated her 93rd birthday. She is pictured with a few members of the family, son Vivian and his wife Pat, daughter Joan and her husband Ronan Murphy and their sons Harry and Peter.
AUGUST
A decision for the second time by Government not to allow non-food pubs to reopen was described as 'foolish' by co-owner of The Spout Tommy Dignam as 'splitting the industry'. Reflecting the views of many of his colleagues around the country, he said it could mean the permanent loss of a fifth of the ordinary pubs in Ireland.
An Energy Master Plan for Kilcullen moved closer with the submission of documentation to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland by the Kilcullen Sustainable Energy Community group.
Local author Hazel Gaynor's latest book was published. The Bird in the Bamboo Cage was to go on to be yet another best-seller on both sides of the Atlantic, in the US with its alternate title When we were Young and Brave.
For National Heritage Week, Kilcullen's contribution was the Camino Cill Chuilinn, an online dedicated web journey through 16kms in and around Kilcullen, showing and explaining the highlight points of past and present. It was well received, and a shorter version was presented later in the week.
After five months closed, Mary Masterson decided to reopen her pub as a popup boutique for a weekend. "A way for some of the ladies to beat the covid blues," she said. "A bit of brightness for all of us … in a dark time."
A fundraiser undertaken by Roy Thompson was a cycling challenge against himself, a mixture of road rides and sessions on his exercise bicycle at home. Ten days before his 250kms target date he had reached that figure and was still pedalling. At this point almost €600 had been donated, three times his original figure.
A first step back towards normality when Scoil Bhride reopened, was very much welcomed by both children and their parents. There was strong praise for how much effort the school's teachers and management board had put into making the return safe for all.
It had taken a great length of time to get agreement on having the crumbling Valley wall repaired, then, agreement got, everything had stopped for Covid. So it was a welcome week in August when the job was finally done.
Another sign that we were all more used to living with the pandemic was the news that the Local Link bus service between Kilcullen and Newbridge, operated by Kavanaghs but ceased since March, was restarting. It was confirmed by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer.
A final brush-up to Kilcullen by KCA taking advantage of a sunny Sunday morning, when there were no less than four teams around town with paint cans. Pandemic or no, the work of making Kilcullen a pretty place just doesn't stop.
SEPTEMBER
A new locally-based business enterprise was debuted by James Byrne and Eoin Houlihan. Marketed on their website fairly.ie, they provide a wide range of household and lifestyle items which are sustainable, eco-friendly, plastic-free and ethically produced.
Two new bike shelters were installed in Scoil Bhride and CPC, with funding from the Local Property Tax provision in Kildare County Council. The initiative was to encourage the use of bicycles in getting to and from school.
At last, in an appropriate Indian summer, Kilcullen's non-food pubs were allowed reopen. With appropriate precautions, The Spout, McTernans and O'Connells welcomed back customers. The happiness on both sides of the counters was to be only a matter of weeks, however.
Again, the seasons were turning through their circle, regardless of the difficulties of the pandemic, and the Dun Ailinne Equinox magic shone through again on the autumn date.
A 'drive-by' Coffee Morning organised by Ruth Brand in the Cnoc na Greine estate raised €640 for St Brigid's Hospice. Supporters were given pre-packed boxes with coffee, tea or herbal tea and boxes of home baked goodies. The coffee and tea would be made at home, for safety reasons.
Dawn and Aidan and the team at Woodbine Books marked their fourth year in business. Obviously their most difficult year, but with support for their web sales and click and delivery they had made it through to being open again. Covid had shown how essential a social part of Kilcullen the shop had become.
OCTOBER
After just a couple of weeks, the non-food pubs were forced to close indoor service. Some continued for a period serving in their outdoor spaces, but later had to close completely again.
The Lui na Greine estate got its own biodiversity project going with the help of funding from Kildare Credit Union. They planted barrels with pollinator-friendly spring bulbs and winter bedding plants, and installed a bird feeder, bird table and a hedgehog box.
Kilcullen Community Action got the town into the Halloween theme early with a range of appropriate displays around the town.
Hedgehog boxes were distributed around the community by members of the Biodiversity Plan for Kilcullen 2020+ group. They were bought from the Naas Mens Shed.
Downtown Kilcullen got a new splash of colour with the installation of umbrellas in the lane between the Heritage Centre and Martin Murphy's new office. They were sponsored by John Berney.
Work continued on the Community Garden planned for the grounds of the town's Library. Volunteers of all ages got involved.
A streamed interview with Hazel Gaynor by Dawn Behan from Woodbine Books showed how lockdown hadn't stopped independent bookshops from conducting events for their customers. The event was in association with Antonia's Bookstore in Trim, Co Meath and The Maynooth Bookshop.
Cllr Robert Power committed €2,250 of his discretionary budget towards the cost of a Town Design Statement for Kilcullen. This meant that the local portion for the €22,000 was in place, allowing the Kilcullen Community Action group to apply for 90pc funding from the Kildare Leader Partnership.
Transition Year students at CPC gave day-service clients of the nearby KARE facility a Halloween treat by decorating a garden in seasonal motifs and giving them small Halloween presents.
For people who take a little more interest than most in their bicycles, local resident Sean Clissman had turned a hobby into a growing small business. His BeSpoke Bike Care offers a deep clean and ceramic coating to his growing list of customers.
A traffic management plan for the Kilcullen Community Centre Campus is to be implemented in the new year. Funding help came from Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer's discretionary LPT budget, from which she had previously also committed money towards the construction of a pedestrian bridge over Pinkeen Stream.
Planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanala for 54 homes by Knoxpark Developments at Naas Road. The original application in April of this year had been refused by Kildare County Council.
Despite the lockdown situation, there was a strong Halloween spirit this year. In particular, residents of Hermitage Park mounted spirited displays on their garden walls which were very much appreciated in 'walk-bys' by local families.
NOVEMBER
A Senior Alert Scheme which provides monitored alarm units to older or vulnerable people became available through the Community Text Alert Scheme, with the support of our local gardai.
Ruth Birchall from Gilltown was the winner of the 2020 Chris Kelly Education Bursary presented by Kildare Credit Union.
A commemoration of Bloody Sunday in 1920 by pupils of Scoil Bhride brought home one of the many dark periods in our recent history. The Kilcullen connection was that the referee at the ill-fated Croke Park game where 31 people lost their lives was Mick Sammon, who had lived and worked here.
Nicholastown-raised Professor Teresa Lambe, one of the leads in the development of the AstraZeneca/University of Oxford vaccine against Covid-19, made it to the national airways on RTE radio and TV.
The Kilcullen Photography Club launched its annual Calendar, under the new umbrellas which also featured on the publication's cover.
Two Kilcullen-connected companies were featured in a series of Kilcullen Diary Podcasts for an online Climate Action Weekend event organised by the Kildare Public Participation Network. They were Passive Housing which provides ultra-efficient homes, and Range Therapy of Narraghmore which fits extra betteries to older electric cars.
The full funding for the Kilcullen Design Statement fell into place with the approval by the Kildare Leader Partnership of the 90pc grant of the €21,881 cost. "A major achievement for Kilcullen, it's really big for the town," KCA chair Ann Cashman said.
Kilcullen got a new hairdressing salon, on Hillcrest, opened by Lisa Doyle and Lisa Considine. Kosa Hair and Beauty is a brave step in the middle of a pandemic.
Another eatery casualty of the pandemic, news that The Final Furlong Cafe operated by Ruth O'Neill for the past five years would not be reopening. She cited uncertainty and the time for renewing the lease among the reasons.
CPC student Aideen Stein had her project accepted for the BT Young Scientists 2021 competition. It related to development of an app to check whether food was safe for pets to eat.
Deer warning signs were installed by Kildare County Council on the Naas Road near Silliot Hill, following a campaign led by Paul Leighton and two local councillors, Tracey O'Dwyer and Fiona McLoughlin Healy. "The power of local representation in the community," Paul said.
It was a year when the buzz of the traditional queue outside Nolans in the last days before the big day was not to be, rather it was transferred to a more socially distanced entity at the back of the shop.
A Senior Alert Scheme which provides monitored alarm units to older or vulnerable people became available through the Community Text Alert Scheme, with the support of our local gardai.
Ruth Birchall from Gilltown was the winner of the 2020 Chris Kelly Education Bursary presented by Kildare Credit Union.
A commemoration of Bloody Sunday in 1920 by pupils of Scoil Bhride brought home one of the many dark periods in our recent history. The Kilcullen connection was that the referee at the ill-fated Croke Park game where 31 people lost their lives was Mick Sammon, who had lived and worked here.
Nicholastown-raised Professor Teresa Lambe, one of the leads in the development of the AstraZeneca/University of Oxford vaccine against Covid-19, made it to the national airways on RTE radio and TV.
The Kilcullen Photography Club launched its annual Calendar, under the new umbrellas which also featured on the publication's cover.
Two Kilcullen-connected companies were featured in a series of Kilcullen Diary Podcasts for an online Climate Action Weekend event organised by the Kildare Public Participation Network. They were Passive Housing which provides ultra-efficient homes, and Range Therapy of Narraghmore which fits extra betteries to older electric cars.
The full funding for the Kilcullen Design Statement fell into place with the approval by the Kildare Leader Partnership of the 90pc grant of the €21,881 cost. "A major achievement for Kilcullen, it's really big for the town," KCA chair Ann Cashman said.
Kilcullen got a new hairdressing salon, on Hillcrest, opened by Lisa Doyle and Lisa Considine. Kosa Hair and Beauty is a brave step in the middle of a pandemic.
Another eatery casualty of the pandemic, news that The Final Furlong Cafe operated by Ruth O'Neill for the past five years would not be reopening. She cited uncertainty and the time for renewing the lease among the reasons.
CPC student Aideen Stein had her project accepted for the BT Young Scientists 2021 competition. It related to development of an app to check whether food was safe for pets to eat.
Deer warning signs were installed by Kildare County Council on the Naas Road near Silliot Hill, following a campaign led by Paul Leighton and two local councillors, Tracey O'Dwyer and Fiona McLoughlin Healy. "The power of local representation in the community," Paul said.
DECEMBER
December started with the switch-on of Kilcullen's Christmas Lights, once again the result of hard work by volunteers and CE workers attached to Kilcullen Community Action. Support from businesses, individuals, and Kildare County Council made possible the best display ever seen in the town.
The Kilcullen Christmas Market, relocated this year to the car park at Leinster Marts was a success, with a real pre-Christmas buzz, lots of stalls, and plenty of customers.
The Old Kilcullen Area Community Association quietly continued with its restoration of local heritage sites, the latest being the pump across from Brennans Pub.
A Gallery of Nativities was staged in Kilcullen Parish Centre, with more than 20 exhibits collected by Lorraine and Ger Kelly. Donations by visitors were divided between Parish Funds and the Maintain Hope charity.
A photobook produced by the Brannockstown community became a snapshot in time of some 120 families of the area. A 'lockdown project', 'Brannockstown at Home' also raised more than €2,000 for Pieta House.
Almost 1,500 trees and shrubs supplied as part of the KCA Biodiversity Action Plan 2020/2021 were planted at various areas around town.
Closing out the year of Covid, students of the Drama Dynamics Speech and Drama School performed their various Christmas shows across Zoom, with those involved doing their own dressing and makeup at home, with suitable backdrops, and clicking in and out of the virtual 'stage' as required.
December started with the switch-on of Kilcullen's Christmas Lights, once again the result of hard work by volunteers and CE workers attached to Kilcullen Community Action. Support from businesses, individuals, and Kildare County Council made possible the best display ever seen in the town.
The Kilcullen Christmas Market, relocated this year to the car park at Leinster Marts was a success, with a real pre-Christmas buzz, lots of stalls, and plenty of customers.
The Old Kilcullen Area Community Association quietly continued with its restoration of local heritage sites, the latest being the pump across from Brennans Pub.
A Gallery of Nativities was staged in Kilcullen Parish Centre, with more than 20 exhibits collected by Lorraine and Ger Kelly. Donations by visitors were divided between Parish Funds and the Maintain Hope charity.
A photobook produced by the Brannockstown community became a snapshot in time of some 120 families of the area. A 'lockdown project', 'Brannockstown at Home' also raised more than €2,000 for Pieta House.
Almost 1,500 trees and shrubs supplied as part of the KCA Biodiversity Action Plan 2020/2021 were planted at various areas around town.
Closing out the year of Covid, students of the Drama Dynamics Speech and Drama School performed their various Christmas shows across Zoom, with those involved doing their own dressing and makeup at home, with suitable backdrops, and clicking in and out of the virtual 'stage' as required.
It was a year when the buzz of the traditional queue outside Nolans in the last days before the big day was not to be, rather it was transferred to a more socially distanced entity at the back of the shop.
Then it was Christmas and the end of 2020 which despite the underlying sadnesses and difficulty, had also brought out the best in communities. We missed all the traditional conviviality and person-to-person encounters in the final run down of the year, and many of the usual associated events including the Bridge Community Sleigh Ride and the An Tearmann Bell Ringing. But for 2021 there's solid hope that we will get back to that place again.
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