Water mains repair work

Uisce Eireann has notified of unscheduled repairs to a burst water main which may cause supply disruptions to St Brigid's Avenue, Kilcullen and surrounding areas.

Works are scheduled to take place until 10pm today 30 September.

UE recommends that 3-4 hours after the estimated restoration time for supply to fully return.

Please note of the following reference number and enter it into the search bar on the UE site here should you wish for an update: KLD00083510.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Looking Back: Parish trip to Lourdes 2008

This photo is from the Diary in September 2008, showing the group heading out on the Parish pilgrimage to Lourdes, led by Fr Michael Murphy. Were you there?

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Palestinian solidarity film screening

A film will be hosted in Kilcullen Town Hall by the Kildare branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign on Monday 7 October, and will be followed by a Remembrance Vigil, writes Brian Byrne.

Where Olive Trees Weep will be screened at 7pm. It details the struggle of ordinary Palestinian people to survive both during the past year, and over 76 years of Israeli occupation. The entry fee of €10 will support the Uisce campaign getting water to the people of Gaza.

October 7th is the anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel last year, during which more than 1,100 people were reported killed, almost 700 of them civilians including children, and some 250 hostages taken.

Israel's response, attacking the Gaza Strip, has resulted in a reported more than 40,000 Palestinians dead, over half of them women and children, and the forcible displacement of nearly all of the 2.3 million Palestinian population of Gaza.

Tickets for the screening of Where Olive Trees Weep are available at Eventbrite. 

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Congratulations to Sean and Caroline

Congratulations to Sean Ellis and Caroline Keyes who were recently married in The Abbey in Athy. Sean is the son of Freda Ellis, neé O'Halloran, formerly of Kilcullen, and her husband Dave.

"I left Kilcullen in 1976, and it was such a wonderful happy occasion for the family to all meet up," Freda told the Diary. "It was just wonderful to be able to host so many of my extended family and friends around the various accommodations in Kilcullen. Nothing but great reviews from all regarding the friendliness and beauty of the town ... it made me proud of the town I grew up in!"

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Short films from Kilcullen Talented Kids in international competition

Conor Farnan plays lead in two films.

Students of the Talented Kids Performing Arts school in Kilcullen are keeping fingers crossed that they could win a trip to the famous Pinewood Film Studios in the UK, with one or more of three short films they have created, writes Brian Byrne.

The films are in contention in the international film festival, the Lift-Off First Time Filmmaker Sessions. During September their productions were in a public vote and the young film makers are currently waiting to see if they have got to the next round.

The lead in two of the films is played by Conor Farnan, a Third Year student at Cross and Passion College, and the other cast and crew members are also from the area.

The films are Bad Day which deals with bullying in schools, Moon Town is a fantasy looking on life on Earth from the viewpoint of animated stars, and Repression is a dark production about a group of teens residing in a mental health facility who decide to break out for one night. The films were among a number made to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Talented Kids in June. "Other years we had done shows and musicals and we wanted to do something different," says the school's founder Maureen Ward. While the films were made by older students, younger ones were helped to make music videos of their own songs.

Several of the films were directed by former TK student Jess Boylan, who now works in the industry. Professional camera and sound technicians were also involved, but all other activities such as location selection, set dressing, continuity, wardrobe and make-up were done by other students.

Conor Farnan says he particularly had a lot of fun playing a part where he was about to do something terrible, in Bad Day. "I just loved the raw emotion in it," he said.

A fuller version of this story will be published in next Tuesday's Kildare Nationalist.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Did you lose this?

This piece of jewellery was found in front of Daybreak today. The owner can retrieve it at the Garda Station.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Woodbine Books 8th anniversary

Saoirse and Dawn Behan and their mother Brigid.

Congratulations to Dawn Behan and all the team at Woodbine Books, on the 8th anniversary today of the opening of the shop, writes Brian Byrne. 

The enterprise has become one of Kilcullen's focal points, not just for those wishing to buy reading material but also socially for all things bookish and cultural. The book clubs and book launches and readings are always fun interludes, and the shop is also the home of the Brigid 1500 Creative Writers Group.  Theatrical presentations by writers such as John MacKenna have also been totally absorbing events.   

The bookshop was the Irish Region winner in the Independent Bookshop of the Year competition in the British Book Awards 2018. During the Covid-19 pandemic the shop's delivery service was a virtual lifesaver to locked down customers. 

Most especially, though, Woodbine Books is a place where a smile is guaranteed when you walk through the door on even the most dismal of days. Something beyond value.

Some highlight pictures from down the years below.

Audrey Moore and author Margaret Scott at the launch of Audrey's book for children, Ping and Po-Li Rainforest Rescue, in 2019.

The socially-distanced launch of Kilcullen Before Our Time in 2020.

Artist David Butler talking about his work on the illustrations for Shackleton, The Voyage of the James Caird, in 2019.

Dawn and husband Aidan Cunnane on the opening day of the bookshop.

Dawn Behan with artist and author Dede Gold in 2022, with publicist Tamso Doyle and the Woodbine Books team Paula, Abigail and Abbey.

Author Donal Ryan with Saoirse Behan and Dawn Behan at Woodbine Books in 2018.

Saoirse Behan reading stories for the Valley Park Fairy Trail Family Day in August 2024.

Johnny Magory series author Emma-Jane Leeson reading to young people in 2019.

Local author Hazel Gaynor and the Woodbine team at the launch of her Last Lifeboat in 2023.

Dawn Behan with Maria McDonald in 2018 at the launch of Maria's book Charlie Mac.

Storyteller Sarah Tully entertaining children at Woodbine Books in 2016.

John MacKenna presenting his play The Mentalist in 2019.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

KWWSPCA Bazaar postponed

The KWWSPCA Late Summer Bazaar planned for tomorrow has been postponed, with rain and strong winds forecast for most of the day.

The Bazaar has been rescheduled for Sunday 13 October at the same time, 12noon-3pm. It is also renamed Autumn Bazaar. The organisers apologise for the postponement but as it is an outdoor event, they do need a dry day.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

CPC students get national award for autism initiative

Images courtesy CPC.

An award for their work in the area of inclusion and Cineáltas (Kindness) was made to students of Cross and Passion College at an event held in Croke Park during the week, writes Brian Byrne. CPC was one of only five post-primary schools in the country to receive the award, as part of the first ever Cineáltas Showcase.

The CPC award was in the category of Innovative Initiative, in recognition of the Buddy Club introduced at the college during the 2023-2024 year, which involved the 27 prefects in Transition Year spending time with students of the Autism classes at social times. They also organised events during the year, notably at Halloween, Christmas, Easter and a summer party.

The award was presented by Olympian Aifric Keogh in the presence of Education Minister Norma Foley TD and the Secretary General of the Department of Education, Bernie McNally.

CPC was represented by Ms Terri Reade, who came up with the idea for the Buddy Club, and TY prefects from last year Rhys and Evey along with Joe who was a member of the inaugural Buddy Club. CPC Principal Joe Leonard also attended.

Newstalk Radio interviewed the group at the event.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Senior women's basketball team forming

The Larrie Birds Basketball Club are starting a Senior Women's team. The club are based in Kilcullen Community Centre, where they have been operating an underage basketball academy for young people U12-U18.

The opening session for the new division will be on Thursday next 3 October, from 7pm-8pm. New members always welcome.

Further information from larriebirdsbc@gmail.com.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy