Remember to buy your 2024 Calendar

A reminder that the 2024 Kilcullen Photography Club Calendar will be available to buy at the Christmas Market on Saturday, writes Brian Byrne. The Calendar was launched last weekend at Woodbine books.

The two competition winners for this Calendar were Esther Reddy and Thelma Kenna, and their photos are displayed in it. Thelma was unable to attend the launch and a Calendar was presented to Esther Reddy by Club Secretary David Byrne.

Calendars are available to purchase from Woodbine Books, Nolans, River Cafe and any member of  the Photography Club.

"We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Kilcullen Christmas Market on Saturday where we can tell you more about the club and you can purchase Calendars," Conor Williams says.

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A very Christmasy weekend in store

A reminder that the Santa Truck will be at Kilcullen Community Centre this Friday evening from 6.30pm-8pm, with all proceeds to the Laura Lynn Children's Hospice. You can donate here. 

Kilcullen Christmas Market will take place on Saturday next, 2 December, from 10-4 pm at Kilcullen Community Centre. Please note this is an outdoor event.

Santa will visit the children again this year. We will have a wonderful selection of locally made Crafts and Christmas Food for sale on the day!

And just to finish off a very Christmasy weekend, the Kilcullen Christmas lights will be switched on at 4.30pm on Saturday. Then we'll all be in the Christmas spirit.

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KCC grants permission for solar farm outside Kilcullen

Planning permission for a series of solar panel farms on land from Brannockstown to Corbally has been granted by Kildare County Council, writes Brian Byrne.

However, two parcels of land relating to Harristown Desmesne are to be omitted from development, according to one of the 22 conditions attached to the permission. These include land around the former Tullow-Harristown railway trackbed.  Existing field boundaries are also to be retained.

The application by Delamain Solar Farms Ltd was for a 10-year permission for a solar farm with a total area of circa 246 hectares in the townlands of Brannockstown, Brownstown, Carnalway, Coghlanstown West, Corbally, Delamain, Dunnstown, Gaganstown, Greenhills, Harristown, Hillsborough, Moorhill and Rochestown in County Kildare. The total surface area of the panels, on ground mounted frames, would have exceeded 1.1 million sq mt in the original application.

The Council has extended the period during which development can begin to 10 years, and the permission granted allows operation of the facility for 40 years.

There were in excess of 130 submissions from individuals and environmental groups to the application.

The deadline for submission of an appeal is 26 December 2023.

READ: Solar farm plans 'threaten heritage sites' 

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Update on Carnival photo

Anthony Lambe of Nicholastown has been in touch re the Carnival photo from the Explore your archive Number 4.

He says the boy with the turf barrow is his elder brother Sean, who passed away in 2018.

Anthony estimates the date to be 1944.

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Explore your archive week - 6

Explore Your Archive is an annual campaign in Ireland and the UK to highlight archive collections, with a different theme assigned to each day, writes Mary Orford. As part of our Brigid 1500 project, we thought it was timely to showcase a few photos from the Meitheal of Memories archive of our community. Thanks to all the donors, these scenes of past life in Kilcullen are captured and stored for future generations. 

6. Art/Ealáin 30th November

Anthony Linden's talent shown off to best effect by his design for a Kilcullen Tennis Social Club event. Thanks to Niall McDonnell for donating this.

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Explore your archive week - 5

Explore Your Archive is an annual campaign in Ireland and the UK to highlight archive collections, with a different theme assigned to each day, writes Mary Orford. As part of our Brigid 1500 project, we thought it was timely to showcase a few photos from the Meitheal of Memories archive of our community. Thanks to all the donors, these scenes of past life in Kilcullen are captured and stored for future generations. 

5. Unique/Uathúil 29th November

The reconstruction of the famous Donnelly vs Cooper fight at Donnelly's Hollow for the inaugural An Tóstal celebrations in 1953.

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Parish Lotto Draw results

The numbers drawn in the Kilcullen & Gormanstown Parish Lotto Draw on 28 November 2023 were 1, 4, 18 and 19. There was no Jackpot winner and next week's main prize will be €17,000.

The winners of the €50 draws were John Hillery (Promoter Ger Hillery), Martina Whitely (Vivienne Clifford) and Mary Browne (Parish Centre).

The winners of the Promoters Draw were Mick Dunne and Stina Flowers, and the winner of the Draw for those in the Parish Centre on the night was Siobhan Tuite.

The Parish thanks all who support the Lotto.

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Hideout Christmas Appeal

A Christmas Appeal is being undertaken by The Hideout in order to help make Christmas for young families in need a little brighter.

Toys, tinned and non-perishable food, and gift vouchers will be very much appreciated for the initiative.

Donations can be dropped off at the Hideout, phone 045 392080 between 12.30pm-11pm Monday-Sunday until 21 December. All donations will be given to local charities on 22 December.

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Explore your archive week - 4

Explore Your Archive is an annual campaign in Ireland and the UK to highlight archive collections, with a different theme assigned to each day, writes Mary Orford. As part of our Brigid 1500 project, we thought it was timely to showcase a few photos from the Meitheal of Memories archive of our community. Thanks to all the donors, these scenes of past life in Kilcullen are captured and stored for future generations. 

 

4. Small/Beag 28th November

A memory from the carnival.  Donated by Peter Bardon, it shows one of the Lambe family winning a much coveted prize at the children's fancy dress competition.  The creativity of the adults in designing costumes for this annual competition was admirable.  It's such a pity the photographer missed the sign attached to his load of turf.  Perhaps one of the family remembers the prize winning entry?

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Can you sponsor for Run, Run, Rudolph?

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Award for Edward Dowling

Congratulations to Edward Dowling at Peamount Healthcare, Newcastle, winner of the 'Exceptional Patient Experience/Resident Experience Award: Celebrating Extraordinary Care and Compassion' Award, and to all staff nominated in this category.

"I am truly humbled by this I dedicate the award to the fantastic team I have the pleasure to work with, thank you," he said at the presentation.

Edward is originally from Kilcullen and lives in Rathangan.

Photo from his Facebook page.

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The passing of Raphael (Ralph) Berney

The Diary has been informed of the death of Raphael (Ralph) Berney, in Ontario, Canada, peacefully on November 19, 2023, surrounded by the love of his family.  

A beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother and brother-in-law. Son of the late Patrick and Grace Berney, Ralph was born in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, Ireland, on May 25, 1934. 

Dearly loved husband for 57 years of Mary (née Summerhill), wonderful father of John (Lynlee), Patricia and the late Stephen. 

Adoring Grandad of Jorja, Jesse and Jake. 

Loving brother of Breda (Frank), Kathleen, Gabrielle (Pat), Patrick, Mary, David (Leanne) and the late Jack (Sylvia), Madge (Frank) and Tom (Vera). 

Special brother-in-law to Stephen (Gail), John (Carol), Anne (Dave), Bill (Nadia), Louise (Will) and Stephenie (Andrew), as well as uncle to many nieces and nephews in Ireland, Canada and beyond.

Ralph was laid to rest last Thursday in Ontario, Canada.

Explore your archive week - 3

Explore Your Archive is an annual campaign in Ireland and the UK to highlight archive collections, with a different theme assigned to each day, writes Mary Orford. As part of our Brigid 1500 project, we thought it was timely to showcase a few photos from the Meitheal of Memories archive of our community. Thanks to all the donors, these scenes of past life in Kilcullen are captured and stored for future generations.  

3. Big/Mór 27th November

Jerry Kelly, Nicholastown (RIP) was an avid photographer and a budding archivist.  All his photos have notes on the back with the date, the circumstance and even the film and lens Jerry used.  On 7th March, 1988, there was a delivery of a large vat en route to a brewery in Kilkenny.  Because of its size (no bypass back then), it had to travel late at night through Main Street, Kilcullen.  Apparently, everyone in the town turned out to see this huge piece of equipment passing by. Donated by the Kelly family.  

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Explore Your Archive Week - 2

Explore Your Archive is an annual campaign in Ireland and the UK to highlight archive collections, with a different theme assigned to each day, writes Mary Orford. As part of our Brigid 1500 project, we thought it was timely to showcase a few photos from the Meitheal of Memories archive of our community. Thanks to all the donors, these scenes of past life in Kilcullen are captured and stored for future generations.  

2. Expedition/Turas Taiscéalaíochta 26th November

No prizes for guessing where this photo was taken.  You can easily recognise a pyramid and sphinx at Giza, Egypt.  The lady on the camel, Margaret O'Rourke née Sweeney, (second from the right) was a Main Street resident who worked, prior to her marriage, for the Mansfield family at Morristown Lattin.  The Mansfields travelled extensively and some staff travelled with them, hence this photo. Donated by Margaret's granddaughter, Geraldine Nugent. After all her travels, Margaret settled down and lived at the Old Courthouse on Main Street. 

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Is your friendly cat missing?

This very friendly cat appeared at Paddy Cullen's Garage on Friday morning and was still around this morning.

Pat Foley told the Diary, so if it is anyone's missing cat, get in touch with Paddy or Pat.

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