Tunisia calling ...

It's getting monotonous I suppose, writes Brian Byrne, but the scammers are really on a busy day. I just got another of those 'missed calls' from Tunisia ... and if I'd rung it back it would be clocking up euros out of my phone bill. Getting a lot of these now.

And earlier today, a friend detailed how she had just answered one of those 'Social Welfare' 083 calls to be told 'in a posh English voice' that her account was being used to 'launder money and deal in drugs'. She was, of course, 'going to be prosecuted ... unless' ... at that point she broke the call. The 'unless' would be an attempt to get her bank details to pay a charge to make the thing go away.

She's savvy about these. But there are probably still people out there who don't know what's going on ... and would be so scared that they'd give out the information.

When you're talking with your friends, especially the older ones, tell them about it. Being on guard is being safe.

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Busy downtown Kilcullen today

It's all go at downtown Kilcullen this afternoon, writes Brian Byrne. The County Council is replacing the bollards that were recently damaged by a motor vehicle, and outside O'Connells Bar the new 'parklet' type outdoor service area on the street is being put in place.

When the pubs and restaurants reopen next Monday for outdoor service, the White Horse Inn will be able to accommodate in excess of a hundred patrons between front street, rear yard, and upstairs beer garden seating.

Meanwhile, Bardons will also be serving in their outdoor space at the back, simply called 'Ned's'. Table bookings there will open this week on bardons.ie.

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The Daily Cast: The Callow Land

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Monday the 31st of May 2021.

Today's Person of Interest is Richard Lovell Edgeworth, an inventor and educator before his time. Our Feature of the Day is a conversation with Fiona Billie Lawlor about her first novel, The Callow Land. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and national online news outlets. 

Produced by Brian Byrne.

NOTE: This is the last in the present series of The Daily Cast. For the month of June I'll be doing a less-frequent Summer Cast series.

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Weatherday: Death at North Strand

Looking good for another fine summer day. A little high cloud will clear by lunchtime leaving it mostly sunny through the afternoon and evening.

Temperature will rise rapidly to around 19deg in moderate breezes from the south-east.

On this day in 1941, German bombs fell on the North Strand in Dublin, killing 34 and injuring 90.

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It's a feel-good day for a green spaces walk

On this arguably first day of feeling really summer, there's a real surge of wild growth around the town's green areas, writes Brian Byrne.

A walk through the Valley, along the river and the New Abbey mass path to the Kilcullen 700 trees, and stopping off to look at progress in the Library Garden, gives a very positive feeling.

For that alone, the walk is worth it. 

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Weatherday: Build it and they will come

A mostly dry day with good sunny spells. High light cloud in the morning will clear to a bright afternoon.

Highest local temperature 19deg, but feeling much warmer in the sun. Light south-easterly breezes.

On this day in 1986, Connaught International Airport was officially opened by Taoiseach Charles Haughey. Previously known as Horan International, it is today called Ireland West.

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Has your Labrador strayed? UPDATE: OWNER FOUND

This male chocolate brown Labrador has been found near Mile Mill.

He is wearing a collar used to keep dogs in a 'wired' area ... but obviously escaped it.

The owner can get details for retrieval by calling Kilcullen Garda Station, or contacting the Diary on 086 8267104.

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First novel from Kilcullen writer debuts

A first novel from a Kilcullen writer has just debuted on Amazon as a Kindle download and is also available in paperback, writes Brian Byrne.

The Callow Land by Fiona Billie Lawlor is a tale of two families set in a part of Kildare that will be very familiar to local readers.

The two main characters in 2014, Ruth and Brigid, don't know each other until a chance meeting, but then find that they have connections going back through generations. These are links of family, grief, joy and hope, and told in a way that take us into the hearts and minds of those involved who have shaped who Ruth and Brigid are today.

Fiona Billie Lawlor will feature on Monday's Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, talking about her book.

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Drama Dynamics End of Year Show

Some 61 students participated in the recent End of Year Show from the Drama Dynamics School of Speech and Drama, writes Brian Byrne.

As with so many other productions and events, the show had to be presented virtually and was streamed on Zoom via links which had been sent in advance to the families.

The presentations included prose, poetry, dramatic performances and mime, which had been recorded by the students in their own homes in April, for their exams. In all, 70 students took exams this year.

The event was hosted live by Drama Dynamics Director Evelyn O'Sullivan, who announced the awards for the past two years. One of the awardees, Sarah Hennessy, spoke live into the event about the impact on her life which the years of going to Drama Dynamics had. You can listen to Sarah on the video clip above. Sarah is getting ready for her Leaving Cert exams in coming weeks.

Honourees for the last two years were Jenny Dillon, Grade 8 2020; Sarah Hennessey, Grade 8 2020; Seamus Gervin, Grade 7 2020; Caitlin Keogh, Grade 8 2021, Seán Ó'Sullivan, Grade 8 2021; and Aoife Tyrrell, Grade 8 2021.

All going well, Evelyn hopes to resume live classes in the Community Centre from September.

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War of Independence booklet now available in Kilcullen

A booklet on Kildare's involvement in the War of Independence is now available free from Kilcullen Library and Kilcullen Heritage Centre, writes Brian Byrne.

A Timeline of the War of Independence in Co. Kildare 1919-1922 has been authored by Mario Corrigan, James Durney, and Kevin O'Kelly. (You can listen to a Daily Cast podcast here with Mario Corrigan talking about the background to the publication.) 

One of the first engagements in Kildare was in Kilcullen on the night of  25-26 May when the RIC Barracks here was fired on at three different times. That particular incident will be featured in the June issue of The Bridge in an article by James Durney.

A Timeline of the War of Independence in Co. Kildare 1919-1922 will be of interest to anyone curious about the history of County Kildare, particularly local history groups and secondary school students.

The publication is part of the Kildare Decade of Commemorations programme.

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Window boxes ready for planting

Pic: KCA.

Getting ready to brighten up Kilcullen — these are some of the 200  window-boxes ready to be planted up by KCA for this year's Kilcullen in Bloom.

A GoFundMe page to enable donations to the project is available here. 

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Weatherday: Goddess of Democracy

A mix of cloud and sunny spells through the day, getting brighter in the afternoon.

Temperatures up to 18deg in light variable breezes.

On this day in 1989, protesting students constructed a replica of the Statue of Liberty in Tiananmen Square in China as a symbol of democracy.

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Dog missing from Calverstown

A small Pug-type dog has been missing from Calverstown since yesterday evening.

He is white and answers to Alfie and his owner's phone number is on his tag. He is chipped.

Any sightings or information can be communicated to Kilcullen Gardai 045 481212 086 8582822.

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High flood destroys swans' nest

We've heard the sad news from Frank Mitchell's Kilcullen Wildlife Awareness & Protection Facebook page that the nest built recently by swans opposite Riverside Manor was destroyed in a very high flood three days ago.

Frank is hopeful that they will rebuild. His video here of the pair working together to gather materials for their nest is a beautiful thing to watch. 

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