It Says in The Bridge: December 2024
The last Bridge of 2024 is a first in one respect, writes Brian Byrne. It's the first, as far as I know, all-colour edition of Kilcullen's community magazine in its 54 years of existence. Writing this on a Darragh-darkened Saturday morning, it is a bright spot in the stormy gloom of this weekend.
It's a big issue, thanks to the need to cater for the Christmas advertisements from the magazine's loyal advertisers, wishing their customers the very happy and peaceful Christmas that the seasonal cover also wishes for the community of Kilcullen.
As the local publication of record, there's much to report on. The main story is on three pages devoted to the revived Kilcullen Community Awards, their recipients rightly described collectively as 'The Spirit of Kilcullen'. More of that spirit in the pages with the Drama Group's production of Calendar Girls, sponsorship for First Responders, Kilcullen's world-class junior dart player, Jack Courtney, the current crop of young boxers, and local dancers who brought trophies home from Cork.
Of course there is a Christmas theme through the magazine, with Mary Orford delving into the treats for Christmas 1954, the promotions for seasonal films from Kilcullen Bridge Cinema, and Julie Felsbergs recalling her own childhood Christmases with her late father, Pastor Robert Dunlop. Sean Landers writes about Christmas in 1891 at Carnalway Church.
From the other regulars, Noel Clare goes Out and Away not too far this month, to the new Kerdiffstown Park in Naas built on the site of a redeemed landfill with a notorious past. John Duffey recalls an 'old way of doing things' in terms of the skill of hedge-laying and the lessons that has for today's environment and biodiversity. For Billy Redmond, some problems with his own computer prompts him to muse on the extraordinary people in the WW2 code-breaking team at the UK's Bletchely Hall — 'super people' and 'awesome accomplishments'.
News items include an update on the Teach na nDaoine project, the ball to provide a local Senior Citizen's Centre now back in the HSE's court. There's an account of the life lessons in curiosity offered to CPC students by college alumnus Prof Tess Lambe, and the Bit of Business this month is about the Blueway Art Studio in Narraghmore.
More and more, of course, from all the other regular contributing individuals and organisations. Available in usual outlets. Enjoy.
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