And that was (some of) 2024!
It's only when you look back over the past 12 months that you get a sense of the enormous level of community activities in Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne. So we have done just that for 2024, and what follows is a curated selection from the some 1,200 posts that were published on the Diary during the year.
JANUARY
The return of the St Patrick’s Day Parade, more support for local business, and improvement of local footpaths were all on the wish lists for Kilcullen in 2024 from a number of local people, responding to a query from the Diary. Bringing back the River Festival and construction of a greenway to Newbridge were also listed.
Upwards of 200 people turned out to the Kilcullen GAA Lights Up walk night which kicked off the 2024 series. That was more than double the first night turnout of 2023, probably in part due to the Operation Transformation link with local man Noel O'Connell leading the event. Plus the attraction of the TV cameras for OT rolling on the night.
Communities across Ireland are missing out on the failure to set up an all-island transport authority, according to a politics student from Kilcullen, John Healy, who led the development of a Young Fine Gael policy document on transport.
The debut play of Anna Dunlea, Bridie's List, was performed in Kilcullen. A one-act, there were two performances on the evening, along with a sketch by longtime Kilcullen Drama Group members Dick Dunphy and Esther Reddy.
FEBRUARY
A group of Triumph classic car owners visited Kilcullen Town Hall & Heritage Centre and viewed a special screening of the documentary How Ireland Saved Motorsport, made by Bailey and Blake Productions in association with the Heritage Offices of Kildare, Carlow and Laois.
The very good turnout for the Brigid 1500 Open Day at St Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club were presented with commemorative pens, St Brigid pins, and special score cards.
MARCH
Kilcullen Community Action were given a grant towards the purchase of a sickle mower and bat detectors. The €1,215 grant was from Community Foundation Ireland in a tranche of funding to help with implementing Biodiversity Action Plans around the country.
Our local best-selling author Hazel Gaynor got great news from Los Angeles when the narrator of the audiobook version of her The Last Lifeboat, Billie Fulford-Brown, took home the 2024 Audie Award for Best Fiction Narrator.
The Bohemian Rock in Cross and Passion College was yet again an example of both the level of talent amongst the students, and the dedication of the Music Department staff in keeping the show going every year.
APRIL
Fundraising PJ days organised by the Talented Kids Performing Arts School raised €6,000 for the Clare's Wish charity, which helps to fulfil wishes for adults with terminal medical conditions.
Some inspirational quotes by famous sports people were painted on the concrete beams going into the Community Centre's sports hall. Inscribed by Niamh O'Connor they are there to hopefully inspire (or calm nerves!) local home teams
A capacity audience in Kilcullen Library heard details of many Kilcullen men and women who took part in the fight for Ireland's freedom in three revolutionary periods. The talk by Kildare historian and author James Durney was based on local people described in his book Stand you now for Ireland's Cause.
MAY
The inaugural JBforever27 Music Bursary was presented in Cross and Passion College to student Max Haughton. The bursary is in memory of former CPC student and talented musician Jeremy Burke, who passed away unexpectedly in Toronto, Canada, in January 2023. The cheque was presented by Jeremy's mother Louise, pictured here with finalists Sean Browne, Max Haughton, Grace O'Donnell, Josh Kelly, Patrick Carey Hyland, and Enda Byrne. Evie Sammon was unavoidably absent.
Planning permission was granted for a new showroom, offices and workshops to local Kia dealers Dunleas. The development will be on a site at Brownstown just beyond the Link Business Park on the Naas Road and the permission incorporates amended designs to a previously approved permission given in 2021.
JUNE
A drop-in Information Clinic about the Kilcullen Design Statement was held for those who would like to find out more about plans for its implementation. All were welcome to have a look and talk to Kilcullen Community Action members about the focus and reasons for the document.
A break-in to the Coffee Hatch at Kilcullen Community Centre resulted in very little damage done, and the perpetrator only got a small cash float for the Coffee Hatch for his efforts.
With 23 tables, a Table Quiz in aid of the Kilcullen Gospel Choir Relay for Life Team was one of the busiest of the year. The winning team (above) at the event in Fallons comprised Ross Lloyd, Anna McLeod, Fergus Ryan and Pat Smythe.
Kilcullen running legend Albert Keenan added another achievement to his ever growing athletics CV at the Naas Parkrun — his 100th parkrun.
JULY
Esther Reddy retired as principal of St Brigid’s NS Ballysax after a teaching career spanning 35 years which included being principal at St Joseph's Halverstown and Brannoxtown NS. She is pictured with her daughters, Aisling and Bróna in Pat Foley's photo.
There was a strong turnout for the annual Open Day on Dun Ailinne, hosted on the site by archaeologists Dr Susan Johnston and Dr Suzanne Garrett, courtesy of the Thompson family owners of the land.
Affinity Plus Home Support celebrated their third birthday with a Coffee Morning in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. Pictured are (back) Grace Billington, Colette Beausang, Elaine O'Connor, and Jordan McCormack, and (front) Katie O'Connor and Sylvia Kennedy.
A new sign was installed in the Valley Park near St Brigid's Well, with information about the saint, local biodiversity, and the well. The sign was part of the Kilcullen Community Action Brigid 1500 celebrations, and is dedicated to the memory of Jim Collins, whose vision and work made the park a reality.
There was generous support for the now annual Coffee Morning in the Dooley home at Whitehall Cottage, in aid of Maintain Hope. A special guest was Charity Muthoni, studying for a Masters in Social Work at Salford University in the UK, and is both a role model and an advocate for children back home like she once was.
Through the year, supporters of the Palestinian people held commuter time vigils on a number of motorway bridges, including Friday morning ones at Kilcullen. Pictured are Aoife Scott, Ray Kelly and Orla O'Neill.
Longtime Kilcullen GAA stalwart Billy Aspell was presented with a medal to mark his management of the 1971 team that won the Junior A Championship as well as the Murphy Cup, and Division 2 of the Senior League. The medal was presented by Johnny Doyle, Kildare and Allenwood footballing legend.
A member of Kilcullen Badminton Club and a Kilcullen businessman were both medal winners amongst the 65 medals won by Team Ireland at the 2024 European Transplant Sports Championships. Robbie England from Naas won silver in his singles Badminton event, and James Nolan took gold in the Golf team event with Mick Dwyer, and a silver in the individual.
AUGUST
In a wide-ranging look back through their 140 years family business history, Donal Brennan talked about weathering recessions and the people who have been part of the story of Brennans Hardware.
Ballyshannon has a ‘really beautiful rich rural biodiversity’, those attending the Ballyshannon Action Group AGM were told, in a short presentation about the completed Community Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2029 which had been commissioned by the group from ecologist Dr Catherine O’Connell.
Norah Breslin was presented with the papal honour of the Benemerenti medal, for over 50 years of service in a range of ways to the parish of Kilcullen & Gormanstown, but especially her musical contributions with the Parish Choir. The presentation was made by Fr Gary Darby, and Norah was accompanied for the celebrations by her children, grandchildren and members of her extended family.
Some 200 people turned out for the annual Picnic on the Green, organised by the Old Kilcullen Area Residents Association. Fortunately for all, the weather stayed balmy and even when threatening clouds rolled in, the rain stayed away.
The Valley Park Fairy Trail family day organised by KCA was another community success with lots of fairies and princesses of all ages taking part in the fun of the afternoon.
There was once again a very big turnout of support for the Mac & Norman Vintage Rally. Tractors, trucks, bikes and vintage cars, buses and JCBs, all came through Brannockstown and Kilcullen before heading back to Cannycourt, where there was food and the charity auction.
Marking National Heritage Week, Dr Michael O'Connell displayed in Kilcullen Heritage Centre his models of heritage areas and houses around Kilcullen and Naas. He also gave talks on the histories of Castlemartin and New Abbey.
Kilcullen Childcare Centre celebrated the 50th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the original Naomh Bhride playgroup. Since the current Kilcullen Community Childcare and Education Centre was opened in 2014, the staff numbers have grown to 19 and there are some 220 children registered for the various services offered.
Vivian Clarke completed 40 years of trading in the menswear business he set up with his brother Brian in Newbridge. Brian retired more than decade ago.
SEPTEMBER
Two CPC Transition Year students had the week of their lives, on a careers introduction course with the Irish Air Corps. The week finished with a flight for Tara McCormack and Oisin Monks by helicopter from Baldonnell to the College, landing on the football ground. CPC TY coordinator Glenda Groome was also on the flight.
Kilcullen's newest sports group debuted in the Community Centre, with an enthusiastic crew keeping four Pickleball courts busy. Most of those present for the Open Evening of Kilcullen Pickleball Panthers were new to the sport, which is a cross between tennis, badminton and table tennis, invented in 1965 in Seattle WA USA.
Cleaning and restoration of the Fr Henry Flanagan sculpture at St Brigid's Well was largely completed. The project was a Brigid 1500 initiative by Kilcullen Community Action. The piece, St Brigid Feeding the Poor, was unveiled in 1977, commissioned by the then Kilcullen Community Council as part of the Valley park development.
The Benemerenti Papal Medal was presented to Paddy Gilligan to mark 56 years of service to Kilcullen Parish. The presentation took place after a mass in Curragh Lawn nursing home, celebrated by parish priest Fr Gary Darby.
An overnight camp at a site earmarked for a new Den for the 9th Kildare Kilcullen Scouts group had 42 scouts and 15 Leaders under canvas. The troop is now in its 47th year, and there's a wait list for membership.
A very happy turnout of several generations celebrated the 50th anniversary of Conroy Park. There was music, food and refreshments, and no one worried about threatening rain that happily held off until the afternoon event finished.
Local business people participated in a workshop, Peak Effective Trading Strategy for Quarter 4, held in Fallons, hosted by the Kilcullen Business Group in association with Kildare County Council's Enterprise, Tourism and Economic Development Team. It was conducted by leadership coach and business strategist Miriam Simon.
An official raising of an Erasmus+ flag at Cross and Passion College marked what the Principal described as 'one of the most exciting things to happen in the College for many years'. The flag was raised by local TD and Minister of State Martin Heydon, in the presence of TY and 6th Year students, teaching staff involved in bringing the scheme to CPC, and Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer. Music was performed by very talented 5th Year students Dylan Labuschagne and Mikey Arthur.
Dawn Behan and all the team at Woodbine Books celebrated the 8th anniversary of the opening of the shop. 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. Dawn is pictured above with her sister Saoirse and mother Brigid.
OCTOBER
Presentations were made to John Kelly in McTernan's to mark his retirement from the Board of Works on the Curragh after 45 years. And of course, with Kellys involved, there was also music, lots of it.
A number of pieces of street art commissioned by KCA were completed on utility boxes. They were painted by artist Cian Mekitarian who had already created similar pieces in Naas and Kildare.
Kilcullen ceramic artist Lesley Kelly had some of her work chosen for the Made Local 2024 campaign event held in the Dublin Municipal Theatre at Smock Alley. Eighteen of Lesley's pieces were on display
Pumpkin Patch Kildare 2024 was again held at Moortown organised by Amanda Lambe. New features included a cornfield maze, a dual slide, and more food truck options. There were also opportunities to meet up with farm animals and ponies, and enjoy the centrepiece pumpkin-picking enclosure itself.
A cheque for €30,000 was handed over to a representative of the Irish Cancer Society by the Mac & Norman Rally organisers. The funds were the result of the event held in August that celebrated 22 years of the rally.
The annual Narraghmore Pink Run raised €3,500, with some 250 entrants registered. The runners, walkers and family strollers were out in force to raise funds for Breast Cancer Ireland.
Presentations and a debate for an Erasmus Days event held in Cross and Passion College, revealed strong skills among members of the CPC Debating Club in proposing and opposing a motion on Is it Beneficial to be an EU Citizen? All took place under the supervision of no less than the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, Seán Ó Fearghail TD.
Photographs of the Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS were taken at Old Kilcullen by local dentist Raluca Dana Lica. The comet was discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China on 9 January 2023 and independently found by ATLAS South Africa on 22 February 2023. It passed at its nearest distance to the Sun on 27 September 2024, at a distance of 58 million kilometres.
The new walkway around the Kilcullen GAA Field of Dreams was completed and quickly adopted by exercise walkers, children on scooters, runners, and families out for a stroll in the fresh air.
There was a packed house for the Open Mic Night in Woodbine Books, marking National Book Week, and a range of performers treated the full house to an eclectic mix of prose, poetry, and music.
It was the end of a Main Street business era when Ger Peacocke closed the door on the shoe-making and repair shop that his late father Hugh established in the 1950s. Ger retired after 48 years on the last where his dad had also worked for 57 years.
NOVEMBER
An extra 16 marks for Kilcullen in the Supervalu Tidy Towns 2024 competition came from improvements right across the categories. They also gained the town a silver medal, to add to the bronze won last year. In adjoining communities, Brannockstown was awarded 308 marks, an advance of 13 on the 2023 performance, while Calverstown achieved 344 marks, improving by 11.
At the close of a Kilcullen GAA Solothon fundraiser, 928km of solos were completed by a total of 404 participants. All team age groups took part, as did many club supporters and former club members, some of whom did their contributions in different parts of the world.
A steady stream of people visited a public consultation on the Kilcullen Settlement Plan proposed for integration into the Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029. The event was organised by Kildare County Council in Kilcullen Heritage Centre
The Tess Lambe Bursary for 2024 was awarded to former student CPC student Hannah Lee Parnell, who is studying Biological, Biomedical and Biomolecular Science at UCD. It was presented by the person for whom it is named, past CPC and UCD student Professor Teresa Lambe, who co-designed the Oxford AstraZeneca covid vaccine programme.
A very appropriate Thanksgiving decorative theme was provided for the Kilcullen Community Awards held in Kilcullen Town Hall, due to the work of a group of CPC Transition Year students under the direction of Georga Dowling of the Food School TY module. A full-house audience commended those from the community who were presented with total of 12 awards, selected from public nominations.
There was a deliberate circularity for the official opening of two new classrooms for pupils with autism at St Joseph's NS in Halverstown. It was 65 years to the day when the late Canon Furlong blessed the original school building prior to its opening the following day.
Kilcullen Gospel Choir celebrated their 10th anniversary with two sold out concerts in Kilcullen Town Hall Theatre. The choir first started in 2014 with 20 members and it currently has just over 50 active participants. Audiences were treated to a wide range of songs ranging from U2 to some Gospel favourites.
Smart new jackets were sponsored for the Kilcullen Community First Responders group by local security company GCS Alarms. The new hi-viz clothing was handed over during a group training session in Scoil Bhride.
The CPC presentation of the Christmas Panto Aladdin, directed by Mary McLaughlin, was the first of its kind from the school, and a very successful performance by the TY students involved.
An Tearmann cafe reopened after being shut since the onset of the pandemic. Now operated by David Hogan and his wife Salima, the enterprise is managed by Patsy Simion and a cheerful crew of kitchen, barista and floor staff.
The Kilcullen Drama Group's production of Calendar Girls was a sold out masterpiece of amateur drama. Directed by Eilis Philips, it deserves to go down as one of the best ever Kilcullen Drama Group presentations.
The Irish Junior darts team in the DartAsylum JDC World Cup were beaten 4-1 by Holland in their semi-final in Gibraltar. It meant the Irish team were out of the medals this year, after winning a silver in their first ever final in 2023. Team member Jack Courtney made the last 16 of the Winmau Open, and topped his group in the knockout stages only to be eliminated in the later stages.
With the second planting of trees around the new Kilcullen GAA Field of Dreams, some 4,500 saplings of native Irish trees had been put in place. It was again overseen by Catriona Taylor of Blessington Lakes Garden Centre, who advises on the 100 Million Trees Project which supplied the saplings
DECEMBER
The Old Kilcullen Christmas was a wonderfully atmospheric event, with even the heavy shower of rain at the beginning providing a rainbow on the hill. Local children got to post their letters to Santa in the restored post-box.
The recipient of the inaugural Peggy Walker Childcare Bursary was Emma Woods, a second-year student at Maynooth University studying a BA in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning. The Bursary is in memory of the late Peggy Walker, a co-founder of the original Naomh Bhride playgroup in 1974 which subsequently evolved into KCCEC.
Awards were presented to 13 participants in the Kilcullen Area Community Employment Scheme at a breakfast event hosted by St Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club on the Community Centre campus.
A very appreciative audience enjoyed the debut performance by the new Camphill Choir, along with Naas Hospital Choir and tenor Patrick Hyland, in the Carols by Candlelight concert in Kilcullen Parish Church.
With increasing governance requirements around elder care facilities, the voluntary committee which had been behind the Teach na nDaoine Senior Citizens Centre project recognised that it lacks the necessary expertise to manage it, after completing a €164,407 refurbishment, and handed the premises back to the HSE to do so.
The weather wasn't great for Kilcullen's first Christmas Shopping Day, but a very full participation showed that the town's business community is now working very seriously together.
With up to 550 participants in the 2024 Run, Run Rudolph! Kilcullen GAA Christmas fundraiser offered something something for everyone from the serious runners to the morning strollers, and the sun shone for the whole thing.
The planning website for a proposed 180-homes development at New Abbey Road went live. The developers are Oakway Homes.
The Nativities collection gathered by Ger and Lorraine Hegarty Kelly were once again assembled in Kilcullen Parish Centre. More than 200 scenes were on display, collected and donated from different countries all over the world.
Some €450 was raised for the local St Vincent de Paul conference with a poetry and song session organised in Kilcullen Heritage Centre by Sean Corrigan and friends and was well attended.
More than 600 children in Scoil Bhride took part in a Christmas Daidí na Nollag Dash around the school's running track. Many were dressed in some form of Christmas costume. The event gave them an opportunity to showcase their running skills developed through the term.
There was, of course, much more through the year, including local and general elections where respectively Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer and Deputy Martin Heydon retained their seats. But I hope we have brought back some memories of Kilcullen 2024. Happy 2025 upcoming.
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