So that was 2022 ...
And that's a wrap for 2022 — the Diary has been looking back at what was happening in Kilcullen during 2022, writes Brian Byrne. A selection of the highlight stories for the year follow below. Many thanks to all who made the news, and I hope the links bring back good memories.
JANUARY
A new coffee place opened for business, The Coffee Hatch at Kilcullen Community Centre. The initiative was aimed at providing another income stream for the Community Centre, and also provides four part-time jobs in the community.
Up to 200 people turned out in Kilcullen for one of the many nationwide vigils held to honour Ashling Murphy, the young woman who died in Tullamore after being attacked while on a run.
Reflecting the hopeful year to come with many pandemic restrictions being eased, Kilcullen Drama Group started rehearsals for The Two Loves of Gabriel Foley, which would be their first production since before the start of the pandemic.
Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer put forward a proposal that the former Bank of Ireland building be purchased by Kildare County Council and used as a centre for climate action and sustainability. The idea wasn't taken up.
FEBRUARY
A new business that started this month was Roza's Alterations, on the New Abbey Road behind The Hideout, owned by Roza Konieczna. Given the full racks of items she has been working on since opening, it was a big gap in local enterprise waiting to be filled.
The Kilcullen Community 4 Climate Action group asked people in Kilcullen to keep a record of the plants and animals they came across in coming months as part of a biodiversity project funded by the Community Foundation of Ireland.
The proposals for the Market Square redevelopment went on public consultation after delays due to the pandemic. Among the details in the first of a series of articles on the Diary was a look at how downtown Kilcullen would get multiple pedestrian crossings under the plans.
The second of a series of public workshops for the Kilcullen Design Statement was held in the Town Hall, allowing people to give their ideas for the town's future.
Kilcullen-based online business Faerly began a year of what would be several business awards by becoming finalists in the ‘Green Micro Enterprise of the Year’ category of this year’s Green Awards. The sustainability-focused company was founded by James Byrne and Eoin Houlihan.
Kilcullen GAA completed the My Life Challenge 2022, achieving its goal of being in the top five clubs in Leinster in the walking challenge, coming fourth with 189 walkers totalling 35,938.5km (almost nine laps of Ireland) in five weeks.
The first Diary photos taken at a Table Quiz in two years was another signal that we were coming out of the pandemic. The event was a Kilcullen Lions one in Fallons.
Kilcullen showed its solidarity with Ukraine in a visual way when Kilcullen Community Action turned on the bridge lights in the Ukraine colours.
MARCH
The inner strength of women is graphically shown at the moment by the women and children crossing the border from Ukraine, those at a Women's Day lunch held in Kilcullen were told by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, who noted it was women who who were getting their families across and 'trying to keep everything together' while their men stayed to fight.
Locally-based artist Brad Gray and his daughter Della Cowper-Gray held a joint exhibition of their works at the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge, receiving star plaudits from the Centre's Venue Director for the talents of both.
The two-nights run of Time of My Life, this year's presentation by the CPC TY musical group, brought packed houses to their feet in appreciation of the talents of the school's young people and their teachers.
Another pre-pandemic tradition was revived with the return of the Spring Equinox Gathering at the Dun Ailinne sculpture at Nicholastown, when the sun once again performed its dawn magic via Noel Scullion's art piece.
Kilcullen GAA U15 Girls played through the Kildare Féile A Competition to become champions. It was a big celebration after the previous year's Covid-cancellation of the event.
The first of the revived Red Hot Music Club gigs was big success. Pictured are Luka Bloom and support performer Tia Burke before the first of two-sellout performances.
The Cnoc na Greine AGM heard about progress on their long-running efforts to have the estate taken in charge by Kildare County Council. Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer told them of current correspondence between the legal representatives of Kildare County Council and Irish Water towards a resolution of some of the issues. (The matter would come to a successful conclusion towards the end of 2022.)
A Kilcullen Canoe Club fundraising paddle for Ukraine raised more than €15,000 with over 1,900km paddled by club members and participants from other clubs.
APRIL
In their ongoing fundraisers for their fight against the imposition of a quarry in their community by Kilsaran, the Ballyshannon Action Group held a very successful auction in Dowling's Bar.
A River Cafe 'Sunday for Ukraine' organised by Paul Treacy and his staff raised €2,114 for the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal, 'twice what we would have hoped for'.
In advance of the upcoming 31st running of the Punchestown Charity Race, founder of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund James Nolan remained bemused about the longevity of the fundraiser he initiated in 1990, but was delighted that it was as strong as ever.
A special Calf Sale was held in Leinster Marts Kilcullen to raise funds for refugees from the invasion of Ukraine. More than 60 animals were donated for the initiative by Kildare West Wicklow IFA, raising €31,800.
After two years of being 'in the dark' because of pandemic restrictions, Kilcullen Drama Group presented their version of Jimmy Keary's The Two Loves of Gabriel Foley in the Town Hall Theatre, to a giddy first night audience in an effervescent atmosphere. During the run, John Martin was made a surprise presentation to mark 50 years of work with the group.
The Old Kilcullen Area Community Association were given details of the preliminary results of a geophysical survey which had been undertaken around the ancient monastic site, funded with the help of the Heritage Department of Kildare County Council.
Eleven-year-old Lauren Boyle had her hair cut to raise funds for Laura Lynn, with €1,595 raised on an iDonate page against a target of €250, and more in private donations.
Local and divisional Gardai took part in a Go Purple Day awareness event about domestic violence, detailing a number of ways that those 'suffering in silence' can contact the Gardai for help.
MAY
A Treasure Town sustainability and circular economy show organised by Kilcullen Community 4 Climate Action attracted much attention when it was held at the Community Centre. The event included free bicycle services, sewing demonstrations, and books and information related to the themes.
The No 1 Fitness Club from Kilcullen were the largest club contingent at the biggest Ironman 70.3 competition in the world, held in Alcudia, Mallorca, Spain. The competition required participants to swim 1900m in the sea, cycle 90km, and run 21.km.
Nolan's Butchers of Kilcullen were presented with an Outstanding Achievement Award at the IFFA World Fair in Frankfurt, after winning eight Gold medals at the World Craft Butcher competitions there.
Students at Cross and Passion College prompted a discussion at the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District about the need for a 'Youth Space' in Kilcullen. The request had come following discussions between the students and Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer.
Pupils of Scoil Bhride made their annual walk to Old Kilcullen to commemorate anniversary of the battle there in the 1798 Rebellion. Many of them dressed in the clothing styles of the time and carried imitation muskets and pikes.
The AGM of Kilcullen Community Action, held in the Town Hall, heard details of another successful year for the group 21 years after its founding, with continuing work on the Town Design Programme, Market Square Development, the Polytunnel, the Energy Project, Biodversity Action Plan, Community Garden, Signage and more.
The Drama Dynamics School of Speech & Drama end of year show was its first live event in two years, in the Community Centre. There were poems, stories, mime and the occasional song, and the presentation of certificates, but most of all lots of smiles.
An inaugural meeting in Kilcullen Library decided to develop local initiatives to participate in the national Brigid 1500 festival which will take place from Brigid's Day 2023 through the following year.
JUNE
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A report generated by the recent Parish Synods was completed and sent on to the Archdiocese for the Synod of Bishops which will be held in Rome in October 2023. The organisers of the Kilcullen events reported a 'disappointing' turnout of adults, counterbalanced by the 'enthusiastic' of primary and secondary school students in the process.
A school bench which was used in the former Girls School from the 1950s was returned to its place in what is now the Parish Centre. Acquired about 30 years ago by PJ Lydon, he had intended to give it to his grandchildren, but in today's typical houses it would take up too much space.
The Dun Ailinne Summer Field Group 2022 of archaeology students arrived in Kilcullen. The three-week trip was again under the direction of Dr Susan Johnston and her colleagues, who have been carrying out investigations on the ancient site outside Kilcullen since 2006.
The proposals for improvement works in Kilcullen Town Centre were passed by councillors at the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District. A total of 34 submissions to the plans had been received by the closing date in March for public consultations.
The Two Mile House ICA Guild held their 70th anniversary celebrations with a meal at Kalbarri Cookery School. The oldest ICA guild in Kildare, the celebrations had been postponed for a year due to pandemic restrictions.
Betty and Pat Goulding, long associated with Kilcullen, retired from their hardware store in Naas after more than four decades in business. Pat had served his time to hardware in Brennans of Kilcullen, and had also provided 29 years service in the Credit Union both at Kilcullen CU and at Chapter 7 level.
Local young dancer Kayla Reid qualified for the Irish Dance World Championships 2023, scheduled for next April, after being placed fourth amongst 83 competitors at the Irish Nationals dance championships, held in Athlone.
Commercial bus operator JJ Kavanagh ended their Kilcullen-Newbridge bus service, saying that 'low patronage' and the dropping of the special subsidy paid during covid made the service unviable. There was a lot of angry reaction from local representatives, service users, and businesses.
JULY
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After nine years of ministry in Kilcullen, Fr Niall Mackey left for a new posting in Bray. A farewell event brought many parishioners out to show their appreciation for his time here.
An unusual story in the Diary was that of Anna Kondera, who has developed a part-career of being an 'end of life companion' to people who are dying.
At the end of the 2022 summer archaeological dig in Dun Ailinne, the latest in investigations she has been doing at the site since 2006, Dr Susan Johnston of George Washington University spoke to the Diary about the status of the work to date, and the value of the site having been included on the World Heritage Tentative List for Ireland.
Kilcullen GAA set up a Development Committee to manage the expansion of the club on eight acres of land, finally getting under way a process begun in 2019 when they had signed a lease (above) on the property with Kildare County Council.
Members of Kildare County Council voted against the Speed Limits Review 2022 which controversially would have increased the speed limits on the Sunnyhill Road. But a number of councillors from the Kildare-Newbridge MD who had voted in favour of it were publicly challenged to justify their stance by a resident of the road, Orla O'Neill.
Kilcullen Community First Responders were presented with a special pin and certificate from the National Ambulance Service in recognition of their 'outstanding support for the Service, the wider health service, and their community' during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The long-awaited pedestrian bridge over Pinkeen Stream was given a symbolic start by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer after she secured sponsorship from an engineering company to build it.
A book compiled and edited by Kilcullen retired Army officer Des Travers, 'What Deeds the 35th?', provided a very intriguing delve into the lives of the Army Cadet School Class of 1961. The collection of essays, memoirs and poems on the 60th anniversary of their induction to the Cadet School of the Irish Defence Forces Military College is an extraordinary broad reflection of life and livelihoods.
AUGUST
A viewing day for those interested in acquiring toys and equipment of the former Toddlers & Wobblers creche was an emotional one for owner Imelda Pembroke, who had closed the facility earlier in the summer on her retirement after 20 years since she had founded it.
A motivational talk was given in Kilcullen Community Centre to Transplant Team Ireland by champion boxer Michael Carruth, in advance of the European Sports Championships scheduled to take place in Oxford, England, later in the month. The underpinning theme of the talk was 'Don't Give Up'.
A representative small gathering of people who had been in some way part of the Bridge Magazine over five decades was held in Fallons, for a pandemic-delayed celebration of 50 years of the community publication.
After two years of holding the event 'virtually', the Mac & Norman Vintage Run reappeared through Kilcullen for its 20th anniversary. There was a really great turnout of participants on a fine day for the occasion. It raised €26,100, bringing the total raised since the event was founded to €550,000.
Cross and Passion College applied for planning permission for new buildings which will see the demolition of existing school buildings and building new ones as well as sports and other facilities.
The Kalbarri Cookery School was presented with a Local Food Hero award at the Leinster finals of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2022. Siobhan Murphy and the team said they were 'over the moon' at receiving the award.
Baptist pastor Richie Blayney and his wife Stephanie were presented with a collage of photographs by the Brannockstown community, to mark their departure after six years in the area. They have gone to a new ministry in Bangor, Co Down.
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There was a keen edge to a demonstration of using a scythe, organised by Ray Kelly on Nicholastown Green as part of National Heritage Week. The event offered an opportunity for young and old to try the scythes for themselves.
Another of the Kilcullen events for National Heritage Week was a tour around New Abbey Graveyard, where members of a number of families spoke about their forebears. It was a quite fascinating opportunity to recall community history.
The importance of Old Kilcullen in archaeological terms was detailed by Kildare's Heritage Officer, Bridget Loughlin, at the Picnic on the Green event organised by the Old Kilcullen Area Community Association. It was a very enjoyable day which brought together old and new people in a landscape where people have lived for thousands of years.
Following his attendance at the Picnic on the Green, Luton-based Billy Schwer, three times Irish Juvenile Boxing Champion with Kilcullen Boxing Club in the 1950s, spoke to the Diary about his life and times.
SEPTEMBER
A new Tourist Information sign was erected on Market Square, one of a number of new signs around town organised by Kilcullen Community Action.
Work got going in earnest on the new pedestrian bridge over Pinkeen Stream, culminating with the placing of precast sections on the site.
A very sad event was the unexpected death of Fergal Sloan. At a crowded funeral service, his friend of many decades Ray Kelly described him as someone who "gave his all, made people laugh, and created great memories for us all."
Kilcullen GAA's Development Committee revealed their plans for the provision of new pitches and training facilities, at a well attended event in the clubhouse. The occasion also afforded people to see improvements which had already been made at the clubhouse itself.
A fascinating insight into the military lives of several Kilcullen serving and former members of the Irish Defence Forces was the Culture Night 2022 event organised in the Library. The 'Thank you for your Service' occasion was an appreciation for their contribution to community life in Kilcullen.
The third public consultation on the Draft Plan for the Kilcullen Design Statement was held at the Community Centre. When completed the Statement will form an advisory template for future developments in Kilcullen over the next two decades.
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Winning the eCommerce Website of the Year was 'an amazing and emotional' night for Kilcullen founders of the Faerly sustainable products business James Byrne and Eoin Houlihan. They described winning the accolade as a 'boost of confidence'.
OCTOBER
When Bridget Hayes was a small child in Dublin she would look through the fence of Dublin Zoo and say she wanted to work there. She became a Veterinary Nurse and did. Now has her own business outside Kilcullen offering boarding and care services for small and exotic pets.
Paula Kavanagh, one of the always welcoming faces in Woodbine Books, did a daily swim at Carnalway for the month of October, to raise funds for mental health support. With more than €2,600 raised she would turn out to be the largest individual fundraiser for the national 'Coldtober' event.
A High Court hearing was held to determine whether the Ballyshannon Action Group could have a judicial review on the Bord Pleanala decision to allow Kilsaran impose a quarry in their rural location. A decision on the matter was deferred to a later date.
A Kilcullen celebration of the centenary of the Garda Siochána had a parade through the town of serving and retired gardai, and a presentation of medals to mark the occasion. On the day before, a special event in Scoil Bhride also commemorated the anniversary.
A very large turnout to the inaugural Family Ramble organised by the Two Mile House Biodiversity & Heritage Group proved to be a very interesting event, with Jesmond Harding of Butterfly Conservation Ireland providing a background to the biodiversity of Harristown Commons while John O'Brien recalled the history of Harristown Station and its importance to the local area as a stopping point on the long-defunct Tullow Line.
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Kilcullen added 14 extra marks in the Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition 2022, achieving 338 out of a possible 550.
A resume of the Adjudicator's Report can be read here.
NOVEMBER
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The big parish event was the celebration of 150 years of the Kilcullen Parish Church, presided over by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell. A short video reel of the event can be viewed here.
Kilcullen Community Centre was presented with a Social Enterprise Award by the Kildare Leader Partnership, to mark the contribution the centre has made to the community.
Two Kilcullen companies brought home top awards in the Kildare Digital Champions Awards — Made Personal and Faerly. The awards programme is an initiative of the Kildare Local Enterprise Office. Earlier in the month, Faerly had won the Irish Small Online Retailer of the Year from Retail Excellence Ireland.
IBO Super Welterweight World Champion Dennis 'Hurricane' Hogan came home from Australia on a visit and created quite a buzz in The Spout when he brought in the championship belt.
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Kilcullen's Cliona Kelliher was one of two Kildare women who received Outstanding Achievement Awards as Climate Ambassadors. Cliona writes articles on sustainable living and has organised a biodiversity walk and survey in Kilcullen.
Jack Courtney headed off to Gibraltar among seven team members from Carlow County Youth Darts. Son of Derek and Marian, the young lad would be playing in the JDC World Championships, MVG Masters and Winmau Open competitions there, among 128 players from 16 nations.
The performance by Kilcullen Drama Group of Jimmy Keary's For Better, For Worse, marked a number of special occasions, including Sinead McKenna's first outing with the group of which her late grandfather, Johnny O'Neill, was one of the early days stalwarts. The show also had Joan Murphy on stage for the first time, carrying on a strong Clarke family tradition with the group, and the return to the Kilcullen stage of Collette Fitzgerald.
An event in Woodbine Books heard 95-year-old author and zoologist Desmond Morris say he remains optimistic about the future of mankind despite all the challenges facing it.
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Kilcullen premium leather goods business CarveOn took home the Excellence in Customer Service award from the Kildare Business Awards 2022 organised by the County Kildare Chamber.
Seven year-old Billy Brady, a pupil at Brannoxtown NS, became the latest Late Late Toy Show celebrity, reviewing a toy Garda vehicle and talking confidently with host Ryan Tubridy about his ambition to be a Garda.
A new defibrillator for the Halverstown area was bought by the Old Kilcullen Area Community Association. It will be installed at St Joseph's NS Halverstown.
DECEMBER
There was a ton of excitement in Kilcullen GAA Clubhouse when the South Kildare Shamrocks U12 Team were presented with their County League hurling medals by Kildare hurling hero James Burke. Both the U12 and U14 teams were also presented with new kit by the Kildare left corner-forward, sponsored by the Shamrocks chairman Feargal Cleary.
Santa arrived in fine Garda car style to the square to count down the official lighting up of the Kilcullen Christmas Tree. He admired the fine display of Christmas Lights all through the town, put in place after a lot of hard work by KCA volunteers and workers.
There was a full house for the Carols by Candlelight 2022 performance in Kilcullen Parish Church. The concert featured Ballymore-based singer Megan O'Neill and the Kilcullen Gospel Choir, and also the debut public performance of the Naas General Hospital Choir directed by Lorraine Nolan.
The annual CPC Christmas Concert was held in the Community Centre, a live event after 'virtual' ones over the two Christmases of the pandemic. It was a joyful event for that and the quality of the singing.
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The visit of the Santa Truck to Kilcullen Community Centre was a big event in the freezing temperatures of the cold spell. A special grotto built into the trailer had Santa and Mrs Claus meeting children, all in aid of the charity LauraLynn. The event was arranged by Kilcullen Community Action.
A fundraising Christmas Run by Kilcullen GAA attracted an even larger participation after being postponed for a week by extreme weather.
Owner of the Drama Dynamics School of Speech & Drama Evelyn O'Sullivan brought the business to a close after 17 years, because of new national commitments as an adjudicator and examiner. It was an emotional time for all.
Kilcullen-born Professor Teresa Lambe was one of a number of people who were presented with the 2022 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards by President Michael D Higgins at a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin. Teresa is a key member of the team that developed the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19.
A visit by Santa to Scoil Bhride was the official start to the Christmas holidays for pupils and staff. He also presented medals to boys soccer and girls GAA teams.
A presentation was made by Leinster Marts Kilcullen to Elizabeth Connolly, to mark her last day working there after almost 50 years of service.
Medals were presented to the Kilcullen GAA U15 Boys team for their success in winning the Division 3 Kildare Feile Championships last June.
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