Christmas message from Maintain Hope

I am busy visiting our families in Ngong in the run up to Christmas, writes Gerry O'Donoghue of Maintain Hope. Accompanied by Julius, whom readers may remember from his visit to Kilcullen, we are distributing food and medicine.

The new school year commences here in January, so we are busy finding secondary and third level places for our students who have completed their current phase.

Unseasonal rains have made life difficult for many, with flooding and poor sanitation leading to sporadic outbreaks of typhoid fever. Thankfully, all of our children who were affected have recovered. Reaching some of our families over flooded and eroded roads is quite an adventure.

Thanks to our generous supporters and volunteers, we are still able to engage respectfully with our families in Ngong and we are making tangible and lasting improvements to their lives. Everyone here sends best wishes to everyone at home. Julius and some of the older children regularly read the Diary and are very familiar with Kilcullen.

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Tree planting under way at Field of Dreams

There's nothing like the 150-plus people of last February out for the second GAA Community Tree Planting on site today, writes Brian Byrne. But those who are out wielding shovels and trowels are enthusiastically tackling the 2,500-trees initiative.

Once again the technical oversight is by Catriona Taylor of Blessington Lakes Garden Centre, who advises on the 100 Million Trees Project which supplied the saplings to this local project that's part of the Field of Dreams undertaking. "There's really been a big change here since February," she told the Diary, looking around at the green sward that next year will see the dream fully a reality. And certainly, while conditions today include a fair share of mud, they are very much easier than those that pertained earlier in the year.

All the trees once again are native Irish Irish species including rowan, birch, oak, Scots pine, crab apple, whitethorn and hazel.

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A busy Sunday planned

A busy Sunday of events in the Kilcullen area tomorrow includes gatherings in Two Mile House, Halverstown and Old Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne.

The kickoff fundraiser is the Coffee Morning and Bake Sale for Dogs for the Disabled, at the village's GAA clubhouse on Harristown Common. Starting time 11am.

Beginning around the same time is the Christmas Fair organised by St Joseph's NS Halverstown, which will run until 3pm and offers opportunity to get local crafts and goodies for Christmas gifts, and a visit to Santa's Grotto for the younger ones. A raffle will also be held.

And on the way back from there, drop into the Old Kilcullen Christmas event in Brennan's Pub Car Park. This will run from 3.30pm and will include festive drinks and snacks, carol singing, and an opportunity for youngsters to post their letters to Santa in good time to reach him. Everyone is encouraged to dress in an appropriately festive way.

All of which should leave everyone ready for a quiet night at home to rest up before the very big programme of events planned for the next week.

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Are you booked for Carols by Candlelight?

A reminder that the annual Carols by Candlelight concert in Kilcullen Parish Church next Thursday 5 December should be on your Christmas run-up calendar, writes Brian Byrne. Headlined by tenor Patrick Hyland, it will also feature the Naas Hospital Choir and the Kilcullen Camphill Choir.

Proceeds from the evening will be used to help fund a mobile defibrillator for the Kilcullen First Responders as well as the KCA Street Art Project and the new figures for the parish Christmas Crib.

Tickets at €15 can be bought in Berney's Pharmacy, Eilis's Hair Salon, or from Lorna Brophy on 087 2741710 or Vivian Clarke at 087 7630655.

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Scoil Bhride Christmas Raffle

Scoil Bhríde Kilcullen Parents Association will be selling Christmas Raffle tickets on Main Street today outside Eurospar and Nolans. They will be there from 9am. Prizes include Lenovo Chromebooks, Hampers and Vouchers and more.

Tickets will also be on sale at the Kilcullen Christmas Market on 7 December. The proceeds of this year's raffle will go towards new yard equipment amongst other things, and to implement a new initiative to bring Buddy Benches to Scoil Bhríde. These will help to develop friendships and provide a safe space for children if they are lonely or need a buddy.

The Draw takes place on 13 December and winners will be notified by phone on the day of the Draw.

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Tree planting Saturday

Just a reminder that today, Saturday, another community tree planting day will take place at Kilcullen GAA grounds. Nearly 2,500 native tree species will be placed in areas already marked and prepared.

The initiative gets under way at 10am and everyone is welcome to go along and help. Bring a shovel if you have one.

A joint operation between the club and Kilcullen Community Action, this is part of the Field of Dreams project and is supported by the 100 Million Trees scheme.

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Generous response to Cuppa for Kare

The recent Cuppa for Kare morning held in the McMahon Centre in Kilcullen raised €1,111.52.

The organisers have expressed their thanks to all who donated to and attended the event.

All the money raised will go towards enhancing Kare's serviced and supports for people with intellectual disabilities.

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Big support for cathedral Music for Medicine

Those of us involved in the Music for Medicine fundraising concert for AHR held at the wonderful venue of Saint Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare on Friday November 22nd last, writes Dr Brendan O'Shea, would like to thank the almost full house of people who attended, who actively participated and contributed so generously. 

While the event was largely hosted by Gormanstown Chapel Choir (Director Dorly O’Sullivan), the programme was also supported by the wonderful scholarship and skills of Arthur Greene Organist, by The Dara String quartet, by the Consonance Clarinet Quartet, and by Elena Ryan, Viola. 

As always, the event was supported by Dean Isobel Jackson and friends and colleagues at Saint Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare, who again made this wonderful venue available for the evening.

The programme included a mix of classical and easy listening, including works by Byrd, Faure and Bach, as well as a wide range of other composers and styles. The raffle at intermission was particularly well subscribed, enormous fun (thanks for many contributors of a wide variety of spot prizes), and in total c€4,600 has been raised to date, with late donations still coming in.

The event also included a focused photography exhibition, informed images taken by Mr Paul O'Rourke, while he was last on an AHR Mission, and which images also benefited from informal commentary by several other AHR volunteers who attended the concert.

There is clearly a limit to how much medical care can be provided by a modest voluntary agency such as AHR, but the concern and practical interest which we can share and communicate regarding the plight of Syrian people incarcerated in refugee camps in countries joining Syria is priceless. It directly addresses their sense of abandonment, and confirms our own solidarity with their circumstances, even as the tragedy engulfing the Middle East continues to unfold.

You can find out more about AHR at this link.

Images by Paul O'Rourke.

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Irish Junior Darts team beaten in world semi-finals

The team with managers Brian Doherty and Thomas Keane.

The Irish Junior darts team in the DartAsylum JDC World Cup were beaten 4-1 by Holland in their semi-final this afternoon in Gibraltar, and the Dutch team subsequently lost their final to England, writes Brian Byrne. It meant the Irish team are out of the medals this year, after winning a silver in their first ever final in 2023. 

Yesterday the Irish team had beaten Greece, Slovakia and Australia in the first day of the team event. This morning they beat Gibraltar and Northern Ireland to reach the semi-finals. "So a great week comes to an end," Derek Courtney told the Diary this afternoon. Derek and Marian's son Jack was a member of the 4-strong team with Aidan O'Hara (Tipperary), Shay Feeney (Tipperary) and Jayden Fitzgerald (Cork).

In the individuals earlier in the week, Jack made the last 16 of the Winmau Open, and topped his group in the knockout stages only to be eliminated in the later stages. This year's performance was a step up over his 2023 achievement where he reached the last 32 of some 250 competitors.

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Bridge Community Christmas Market

A Christmas Winterland in the Bridge Camphill Community on Friday 6 December will include a Christmas Market, adding more festive atmosphere to the Christmas Shopping Day organised by the Kilcullen Business Group. 

The Bridge event will run for 12 noon to 4pm and will include a Cake Sale, a Food Truck, a Raffle and a Santa's Grotto. Music will be  provided by the Camphill Choir.

It's an opportunity for family and friends to get together and enjoy all the home-made crafts and other stalls.

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Happy 85th birthday, James Dillon

James Dillon, Ballyshannon, is celebrating his 85th birthday this morning. This picture sent in by Caroline Dillon shows him reading The Bridge, which he enjoys every month.

The Christmas Bridge is currently in production, for publication at the end of next week.

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Voting stations open until 10pm

Voting stations in General Election 2024 are now open across Ireland's 43 constituencies will remain so until 10pm. A total of 174 TDs will be returned to the 34th Dáil, up from 160 in the outgoing assembly. 

At 5.30 this afternoon, 39pc of Kilcullen voters had cast their ballots. At 3.30 this afternoon, the figure was 27pc, at 12.30 this afternoon, the figure was 17pc, and at 9.30 this morning, the figure was 5pc.

Registered voters may need photo ID and their polling card if they have received one. The card is not necessary to vote, but it does indicate the location of your local polling station. Acceptable ID includes a passport, driving licence, public services card, an employee identity card containing a photograph, or a student identity card with a photograph.

Vote 1, 2, 3 in the order of your choice on the ballot paper. DO NOT use X or any other notation — if you do so your vote will be invalid.

If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, bring it back to the returning officer who can give you a replacement paper.

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