The passing of Kathleen Lucey (née Deegan)

The Diary has learned of the death of Kathleen Lucey (née Deegan) Elm Park, Fairgreen, Kildare Town, and formerly of Milemill, Kilcullen.

Kathleen passed away peacefully on Wednesday 29 September in the wonderful care of the staff of Ashley Lodge Nursing Home.

Wife of the late Jimmy (formerly of Killorglin, Co Kerry) and mother of the late Seamus, she is sadly missed by her loving brothers Michael and John, sisters in law Margaret, Lil and Dina, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Removal on Friday to arrive at St Brigid's Parish Church, Kildare Town, for Requiem Mass at 11am. Mass will be live streamed on mcnmedia.tv. Burial afterwards in St Conleth's Cemetery, Kildare Town. Please respect HSE and Government guidelines at all times.

May she rest in peace.

KWWSPCA Bazaar, Pets Blessing events upcoming

There will be an open air Bazaar at the Kildare West Wicklow SPCA Animal Shelter in Athgarvan on Sunday 10 October, from 12 noon to 3pm.

There will be lots of stalls selling items that have been donated to the KWWSPCA: small household items, unwanted gifts, bric a brac, small pieces of furniture, paintings, mirrors, books, pet products, clothes and accessories and much more. Light refreshments will be available too. 

Entry is free and there will be plenty of free parking.  The Shelter is on the Athgarvan/Two Mile House road, just beyond Corbally crossroads, on the right if you are heading in the Athgarvan direction. The Eircode is W12 EV60. Call 086 3413017 or 087 6803295 for more information.

This event is very much weather dependent so if the weather is very wet, it will be postponed to the following Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Pet Blessing Service will be held outdoors on Saturday next, 2 October, at 3pm outside Christ Church, Church of Ireland, Celbridge, (beside Castletown gates). The Offering at the Service will go to the KWWSPCA.

Refreshments will be available for all pets. If for whatever reason you cannot bring your pet, you can bring a photo (unframed) which will be placed on a display board and your pet will be included in the blessing prayers. If you want deceased pets to be remembered you may also bring a photo and they will be remembered in the Service.

In the interests of safety, all dogs should be kept on a lead and smaller animals in appropriate pet carriers to prevent escape or distress to some pets who may be nervous in the company of a large number of other pets. For further information, please call 087 6803295.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Spout starts stand-up comedy tonight

Stand up comedy will feature tonight in The Spout in the first of a series of comedy nights.

Starting at 8pm, Joe Dowlin and Derek Mullen will be the headline acts, with more promised.

Plenty of laughs guaranteed. Free entry.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Weatherday: Society of the Gaels

Afternoon street scene, Montpelier, France, 2005.

A lot of cloud with occasional bright or sunny spells. Some rain showers which will become heavier later tonight.

Highest temperatures 14deg with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.

On this day in 1900, politician and writer Arthur Griffith founded the Cumann na nGaedheal political party. Three decades later it would merge with other groups to form Fine Gael.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Community Centre fires up on wood pellets

Kilcullen Community Centre has taken a big step in its bid to become more friendly to the environment, writes Centre Manager Enda O'Neill.

With the completion of installing our new Wood Pellet boiler we are now a carbon-neutral fuel burning Centre. The boiler was successfully installed by Moore Plumbing and was fired up yesterday for the first time. 

The wood pellets we use are small in size, and the boiler is fed through an automated system producing a minimal amount of ash. Our automated system has a 180kg capacity which is the equivalent to 12 15Kg bags. Converting from oil to wood pellets will also reduce our heating costs by 25pc-35pc over the year.

Our wood pellets will be supplied by Leinster Pellets Ltd who are a nationwide distributor, founded in County Wicklow in 2006. Leinster Pellets Ltd source 95pc of their wood fuel within an 100Km radius of their plant, which promotes a sustainable long-term Irish bio-economy.

All of the pellets supplied to us at the centre are Forest Stewardship Council and Wood Fuel Quality Assurance certified and meet all National Standard Authority of Ireland Technical specification.

So it’s goodbye to the old oil burner which has served us well since opening in 1982 and hello to the new eco-friendly, carbon neutral wood pellet burner, not as bulky but just as powerful!

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Parish Lotto Draw results

The numbers drawn in the Kilcullen & Gormanstown Parish Lotto Draw held on Tuesday 28 September 2021 were 4, 16, 18 and 22. There was no Jackpot winner and next week's main prize will again be €18,000. The value of the follow up Draw stands at €10,200.

The winners of the €50 Open Draws were Sue Goulding (Promoter Ger's Fruit & Veg), Mary Broughall (Miriam McDonnell), and Jenny Sweeney (Mick Dunne).

The winners of the Promoters Draw were Toby Phelan, twice. The winner of the Draw for those in the Parish Centre on the night was Breda McCormack.

The Parish thanks all who support the Lotto.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Weatherday: Washington's Leinster House

13th century Palace of St George, Genoa, Italy (2008).

A largely dry and sunny day. Cloud will move in from the west during the evening. Highest temperatures 13deg, in moderate westerly winds which will back southerly later.

On this day in 1981, a dedication ceremony took place in the White House in Washington, for a stamp jointly issued by the Irish Post Office and the US Post Office in honour of James Hoban, the Kilkenny-born architect of the White House. His design was influenced by Leinster House in Dublin.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Car winner from Kilcullen branch of CU

A member of the Kilcullen branch of Kildare Credit Union is the latest winner in the Credit Union Car Draw.

Dermot Lalor from Athy called in this morning to Kildare Credit Union HQ for a photo, having won one of the cars on 11 September. He is pictured with Paddy Conneely from Fitzpatrick’s Garage, and Kildare Credit Union staff member Paul Loughman.

The draw is open to all members.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Town Hall AGM on Thursday

The AGM of Kilcullen Town Hall will take place on Thursday 30 September.

The meeting will be held in the Town Hall, beginning at 8pm.

All welcome.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Weatherday: Three popes

Late afternoon in Athens, April 2004.

A mix of cloud and sunny spells, with some scattered showers.

Cooler than lately, with temperatures up to 15deg in light breezes from the south-west.

On this day in 1978, Pope John Paul 1 died only 33 days after his papal election, making it the first year of three popes since 1605.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Gareth on local radio tomorrow about male infertility

Some readers will be aware that local man Gareth Landy has recently been speaking about the issue of male infertility, on radio, writes Brian Byrne.

For those who may not have heard his thoughts on what is a very personal and difficult issue for some couples, there's a chance tomorrow to hear him again, this time on KFM Radio.

Gareth will be talking with Eoin Beatty on the Kildare Today show, at around 10am.

Listeners can also tune in online. 

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

The passing of Anne Downey

The Diary has been informed of the death of Anne Downey, née O'Doherty, of Mountbagnal, Riverstown, Dundalk, Co Louth. Anne passed away peacefully, at home, in her 105th year.

She was predeceased by her parents Margaret and John, her husband Paddy, sisters Mary (D'Arcy), Rosalyn (Lennon), Carmel (McKevitt) and Josephine (Campbell) and brother Seán. She will be sadly missed by her sons Anthony and Patrick, daughters Mary and Gabrielle, daughter-in-law Wendy, sons-in-law Martin and Juan, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchild, sisters Gretta (O'Doherty), Philomena (Mills) and Bernadette (Clarke), nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Anne's late husband Paddy worked for many years in Newabbey Stud and her daughters Mary and Gabrielle both attended CPC. 

Anne's funeral cortege will proceed, driving, from her home on Tuesday morning at 10.40am, to St Mary's Church, Lordship, arriving for Funeral Mass at 11am, adhering to current guidelines on numbers and church capacity at 50%. Burial afterwards in Lordship Cemetery. The Mass can be viewed on www.vidfuneral.com.

May she rest in peace.

What's another year? Well, five for Woodbine

Dawn Behan and Aidan Cunnane on the opening day of Woodbine Books.

If you're downtown in Kilcullen tomorrow, drop in to Woodbine Books and say 'Happy Anniversary' to Dawn and the team, writes Brian Byrne.

Tomorrow marks the fifth anniversary of the bookshop, which has become one of the icons of Kilcullen, and a touchstone space for book lovers from all over Kildare. 

We'll try and have a chat with Dawn ourselves during the day and take a look back with her on what has been, at the very least, a roller-coaster five years. One of many highlights was when they won the Irish Indie Bookshop of the Year 2018 award, given by the Booksellers Association.

  



Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Piano concert a highlight of Hopkins Autumn Festival

The world famous Swedish pianist Hans Pålsson will perform a classical concert in the Newbridge College Theatre on Saturday 9 October, writes Brian Byrne.

The recital, beginning at 8pm, is for the Gerard Manley Hopkins Autumn Festival, and will be preceded by a wine reception. Tickets are available at €25/€20 from Farrells Bookshop in Newbridge.

The Festival runs through the weekend with an official opening in Newbridge College on Friday 8 October at 7.30pm. The programme includes a writing workshop, lectures, an international poetry session with music, songwriting, and a nature walk led by Michael Jacob.

The Festival was started in 1987 and internationally-acclaimed poet Des Egan has been its artistic director since its foundation.

Phone 045 433613 for further information.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Kildare Credit Union supports local

At Kildare Credit Union, the interest from our loans goes to support local groups. We were delighted to support Kilcullen Community Action in their wonderful work, through our Kilcullen branch.

Kilcullen Community Action promotes the social, cultural, economic, educational and environmental well-being and development of the community of Kilcullen. They really made the town look amazing throughout the year, well done to all involved.

When you borrow from Kildare Credit Union, the interest funds many local projects and groups in your community. Thank you for your continued support and please consider your local credit union for your next loan, no matter how small.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Weatherday: Kiss Me Quick

Morning market in Vienna, 2006.

Sunny spells through the morning, with thundery showers during the afternoon. These will gradually clear through the evening.

Highest temperatures 15deg in moderate breezes from the west, shifting southerly later.

On this day in 1957, the Royal Showband was launched in the Arundel Ballroom Waterford, supporting the headliners Clipper Carlton. The band would go on to be the most successful of their kind, and were the first showband to have a number one single, in 1963 with Brendan Bowyer's 'Kiss Me Quick'.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy