It Says in The Bridge — February 2024
With the usual January gap in publication there's a lot to catch up on in the first Bridge of 2024, writes Brian Byrne. The front page offers lead-ins to three highlight events — the CPC Transition Year popup restaurant, Noel O'Connell's Operation Transformation leadership in Kilcullen, and the triumph of the local debut of Anna Dunlea's one-act play Bridie's List.
All three stories are recorded with strong pictorial content inside, showing that even in the most hibernatory month of the year, Kilcullen doesn't sleep.
The Bridie's List performance offered another opportunity for Dick Dunphy and Esther Reddy to present the sketch The Lotto, first written by himself and the late Bernard Berney in 1987, but still an evergreen. There's a look back at Dick's 65 years on the Kilcullen stage to remind us of his long contribution to Kilcullen entertainment.
Movie entertainment is also well covered this month with a preview piece on the Brigid 1500 film season being run through February by the Lions Club's Kilcullen Bridge Cinema — do get at least a couple of those in, the screenings are very reasonably priced. Further expansion of the use of the Town Hall & Heritage Centre is the subject of another article, where Eilis Keogh tells of some of the improvements planned, which include better heating (and cooling in summer), and a revamp of the heritage memorabilia including the development of a digitised catalogue.
A piece from the Kilcullen area Community Employment scheme is a chance to spotlight some of the 'hidden heroes' who help to keep many social and community activities going. And there's a 'thank you' from the local St Vincent de Paul organisation for the help given by Kilcullen over the Christmas period. A feature on a local Young Fine Gael activist, John Healy, is centred on future possibilities for transport across the island of Ireland.
There are a couple of new contributors. Gillian Rea ponders on the possible relationship of Anthony Trollope and his novels with Kilcullen, while Julie O'Donoghue provides the first of what is planned to be a series on the women who help make Kilcullen what it is today.
From the regulars, Noel Clare goes out and away to the Castlecomer Adventure Centre, John Duffey recalls a day out in Cooley with 2,141 tractors, and Sean Landers provides a background to the no longer existing Sallymount House. Billy Redmond revisits his recent round of attendances at Christmas services, and Mary Orford trawls the local newspapers of a hundred years ago for the ups and downs of Kilcullen life then.
And of course there is the news from the schools, from the animal carers, from KCA, from sports clubs and more. All, as emphasised on the front page, still only €2 from the usual outlets. Where else would you get so much for so little?
Did you miss the Christmas Bridge? You can read it here.
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