Parish Lotto Draw results

The numbers drawn in the Kilcullen and Gormanstown Parish Lotto Draw held on 30 April 2024 were 5, 18, 22 and 25. There was no Jackpot winner and next week's main prize will again be €20,000. The follow-up Draw fund stands at €3,000.

The winners of the €50 Open Draws were Paddy Kenny (Promoter Kilcullen Credit Union), John Egan (Berney's Chemist), and Sean Dunne (Mick Dunne).

The winners of the Promoters Draw were Breda McCormack and Vivienne Clifford and the winner of the Draw for those in the Parish Centre on the night was Miriam McDonnell.

The Parish thanks all who support the Lotto.

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The passing of Jimmy McGuirk

The Diary has learned of the death of Jimmy McGuirk, of Navan Road, Dublin 7 and formerly of Kilcullen, Co Kildare and of Dublin Port Company, on 29 April 2024, peacefully in the loving care of the staff at Rathborne Nursing Home, Ashtown. 

Beloved husband of Mary (née Price) and dear father of Mary, Gerard, Pauline and Clare, and a cherished grandfather of Clare, Helen, Conor and Lauren, Jimmy is sadly missed by his loving wife, son, daughters, grandchildren, sons-in-law Martin, Eugene and Richard, daughter-in-law Eileen, relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Reposing at his residence on Friday evening (May 3rd) between 4pm and 7pm, his removal will be on Saturday morning (May 4th) to the church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Navan Road arriving for Funeral Mass at 10 am followed by burial in Esker Cemetery. Jimmy’s funeral service may be viewed (live only) by following this link.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis”.

Ballyshannon people 'inspirational' - ecologist

Images: Ballyshannon Action.

The Ballyshannon community have been described as 'inspirational' by ecologist Dr Catherine O'Connell, following her visit there last week to help them prepare a Biodiversity Action Plan, writes Brian Byrne. Speaking afterwards on KFM radio, she said the people there are "prepared to put their money where their mouth is and actually do something about biodiversity."

Dr O'Connell's visit followed the awarding of a grant of €5,500 from Community Foundation Ireland towards the cost of developing a biodiversity plan. "They're not just shouting about the possibility of losing stuff," she told KFM's Eoin Beatty, referencing the community's ongoing fight against a plan to turn part of the area into a quarry. "They're prepared to pledge their gardens and everything for local biodiversity and it's an incredible thing to have going on."

Dr O'Connell said that on the initial visit she and the local group identified 110 different species in the area, in examining locations which included hedgerows, streams, gardens and frontage onto the local roads. "I'll be visiting again and I'm sure we'll be adding to that number."

The schedule is to finish the plan by the end of August. It will include an assessment of what people are currently doing that is good for wildlife and biodiversity in Ballyshannon and add some ideas to improve on that. "The idea is to provide more places for wildlife, for pollinators, for all that type of thing that is so important now. There's so much development everywhere, so much intensive agriculture, the land is changing rapidly and wildlife is suffering as a result."

Dr O'Connell noted some of the positives about the area she has already found, including the existence of tufa in the streams which indicates water of high quality. "There's a lot to think about. Something like this really focuses a community, and helps them to understand why biodiversity is important."

The full interview with Eoin Beatty can be heard here. 

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Calverstown grant towards new community space

Calverstown has been awarded a grant of €198,000 towards the purchase of a site for the development of a community space, writes Brian Byrne.

The announcement of the award was made with the release of allocations for this year under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

The money granted to the Calverstown Action Network will go towards the purchase of a serviced site in the village.

The award has been welcomed by local TD and Minister Martin Heydon and Cllr Ivan Keatley, pictured above with Pat Donnelly, Chairperson of CAN.

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Talk about Kilcullen activism 1913-1923

A reminder that a presentation on local activists in Kilcullen during the revolutionary period 1913-1923 will be given in Kilcullen Library tonight, Tuesday 30 April, writes Brian Byrne. The event features historian and author James Durney, and is free to all, starting at 7pm.

The presentation will be in the form of a biographical sketch on the local people involved during that very important decade in Ireland's history. 

It's hoped that it will be a very interactive meeting, and people are encouraged to bring photos, medals and any memorabilia from their family archives.

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The passing of Anne Collins (London)

The Diary has been informed of the death of Anne Collins (nee Kelly), Hanwell, London and Inchiquire, Co Kildare, on 14 April 2024.

Anne was a regular visitor back to Kilcullen and Inchiquire from her home in London, along with her late husband John Collins and her children Pauline (RIP), Christopher and Caroline. Anne is very much missed by her own family and the extended Collins family in the UK and Ireland, also by the parishioners of the Parish of Our Lady and St Joseph, Hanwell, where she was a very active member.

Anne’s funeral will be live-streamed from Our Lady and St Joseph's Church, Hanwell on Tuesday 30th April 2024 at 10am.

May she rest in peace.

CPC Drama presents Debutantes Cabaret

The CPC Transition Year Drama Class are presenting their show Debutantes Cabaret on Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week.

The event is being held in the college's Assembly Hall, with showtime at 7.30pm each evening. Tickets are €10 available from the school or on Eventbrite here. 

Debutantes Cabaret is all about the drama, excitement, and anxiety of that end of school rite of passage for Sixth Years when everything that will generate happy memories for their future can, should, will go perfectly. The perfect escorts, the perfect dresses, the perfect photographs. What can go wrong?

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Dowling Property: Blackhall Lane, Calverstown

Blackhall Lane, Calverstown

Dowling Property is delighted to present to the market this superb parcel of land for sale in this highly sought-after location. The land is of high quality and extends to c.1.66 acres and enjoys wonderful rolling countryside and mountain views. This fine parcel enjoys an elevated position and extensive road frontage and one could not rule out the erecting of a new home (STPP) but please note that this sale will NOT be subject to planning permission. 

The land is laid out in a rectangular arrangement and has mature boundary hedging and is free draining. It is currently being used for animal grazing but would suit a number of uses. There is mains water and electricity located at the entrance to the land. We have been informed that no planning application has ever been submitted on this green field land. With its location, land quality and layout, we must now advise on early viewings to avoid disappointment!

AMV On Application. www.dowlingproperty.ie. Kilcullen Office 045 482189.

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Newbie kayakers on Kilcullen waters

There were 17 new members of Kilcullen Canoe Club on the water this morning, getting their beginners water safety training, writes Brian Byrne. The cohort included two family groups, and, in a pleasing circularity, two great-grandchildren of the late Paddy Maloney were there, Colm and Moya. Paddy's interest in building canoes led to the formation of Kilcullen Canoe Club. 

Those taking part in today's training — minimum age 12 — learned the different forms of paddling, how to deal with a capsize, and other safety techniques under the guidance of instructors from Canoeing Ireland and a CI Leader. They were also given a tour of the club's facilities, which include a gym, and the event concluded with a group paddle up the river.

They came out of the day with a Level 1 Kayak Skills Award. Over the summer they'll have the opportunity to achieve Level 2, and at a later stage progress to Level 3.

The club, generally accepted as the first official canoe club in the country when it was formed in 1959, has an impressive record of past members doing well in national and international competition.

The current premises was officially opened in July 2008, having been built as part of the Market Square development undertaken by the late Pat Dunlea. It replaced a wooden clubhouse nearby which had been home to the club for decades.

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Plant swap was busy

There was steady business at the KCA plant swap and give away this morning, writes Noel Clare. 

Lots of flowering plants, vegetables and tree saplings were distributed to all parts of the community. 

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Gala Night of play had amazing turnout

Those attending last evening's Gala Night of A Skull in Connemara were told they were an 'amazing turnout for an amazing play', writes Brian Byrne. Esther Reddy, on behalf of the Kilcullen Gospel Choir thanked them for supporting the choir's fundraising for the summer Kildare Relay for Life event to be held at the Curragh Racecourse on 6 July.

Last night's proceeds from the Kilcullen Drama Group's presentation of the Martin McDonagh play had been designated for the choir's Relay for Life effort, and Esther described that event as a 'weekend of celebration of those who are fighting cancer, and those loved ones we have lost to cancer'. "Relay for Life is held all around the country and all around the world, and it's not so much about fundraising on the day as it is for families getting together," she said."But in the middle of all that there is the very serious 24-hour circular walk by relays of people, to mark the fact that while cancer doesn't give up, we won't give up until we have beaten cancer."

She reminded her audience that memorial candle bags can be bought from the Gospel Choir in advance of the July event which will be lit in commemoration of individuals during the Relay for Life.

Speaking about the play which they were about to see, she asked for applause for all those backstage who were supporting the four actors on stage. She paid tribute to the director, Eilis Phillips, who 'kept so many balls in the air' during the course of getting the production to stage. "She could be bellowing you out of it, or she could be calming you down — whatever is needed, Eilis will do it." Among too many people involved to mention, she singled out Letitia Hanratty for producing an extraordinary set 'designed to the last centimetre'.

At the end of the show, which was also the end of the week-long run, Eilis Phillips thanked everyone who had supported the group, and the group themselves for the work which they had put in during the months of rehearsal. A presentation was made to actor Maurice O'Mahony, to mark his 'amazing' contributions to the group's productions down the years. 

All the Diary's photos from the play can be seen here.

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