It Says in The Bridge: June 2024

Past and present in full colour are highlighted on the cover of this month's Bridge, writes Brian Byrne, with the annual walk from Scoil Bhride to the 1798 battle site at Old Kilcullen, and a picture from the recent very successful Teddy Bear's Picnic in the Library Garden. Both events get a full photo treatment inside, the Garden party in colour.

Other colour coverage in this issue includes the full house attendance for the Alzheimer's Tea Day held in memory of Jack Kelly, and this month's A Bit of Business, with the founders of Faerly.ie.

It's overall a busy Bridge, with news from the recent KCA AGM augmenting the usual KCA News, the lineup of the cafe crew at the recent GAA Popup Cafe fundraiser, the 'Follow your Music Dreams' piece about the first music bursary award in memory of the late Jeremy Burke, and the inaugural meeting of the Kilcullen Business Group.

In his spot for June, Fr Gary Darby leaves to one side pastoral matters in favour of a tribute to Jurgen Klopp ... this will not surprise most parishioners, who will be well aware of our priest's football interest in Liverpool. Oh, and in case you're riffing through the pages for Julie Felsberg's spiritual thoughts, she's on a month off.

There's a fascination about advertisements in old newspapers, and Mary Orford has delved into the popularity — if that's the correct word — for cures for whatever ails you from the local papers of the late 1930s. Andrews Liver Salts, Kruschen Salts, and Milk of Magnesia are featured, along with the ad copywriters' hyperbole and possible freebootery with truth in some of the cure-all claims.

Noel Clare's Out and Away is a trip to Kilruddery House and Gardens, prompted by their featuring in the light comedy from Netflix, An Irish Wish. The real magic is in the place itself. Billy Redmond recalls his recent gig telling his own military story at a Story House event in Myshall, and any of us who know him will also know that in the allotted time he would only have scratched the surface of his experiences.

In the month when business and sporting legend Tony O'Reilly passed away, Enda O'Neill has a piece  with PJ Lydon's recollections about Dr O'Reilly's 50th birthday celebrations which were held in the Community Centre. Also on a sports note, there's a short report on Vourneen McGeogh's hole-in-one at the recent Lions Golf Classic held at Royal Curragh. The Lions' efforts are also given a page showing participants enjoying themselves at the recent annual Seniors Party.

With the 2024 local elections imminent, Sean Landers looks back at the elections for the very first Kildare County Council in 1899, in particular the not quite straightforward selection of the Kilcullen District candidate. An interesting note is that only property owners had the right to vote, and only women over 30 who were the head of a household.

John Duffey has a nostalgic look back at the Ballitore Cinema, held in O'Connor's barn. Daithí de Róiste gives us the skinny on Blackhall Castle. And Dawn Behan is the subject of Julie O'Donoghue's Finding Brigid series.

Scoil Bhride had a lot going on during Book Week, St Joseph's Daisies class took advantage of some sunny days, and the Kilcullen Community Centre continues reflections on the facility's earlier days.

Another month. Another Bridge. You know where to get it.

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