Downtown footpath works postponed to new year

The footpath works due to start in downtown Kilcullen have been put off until January, writes Brian Byrne. This will be a pre-Christmas relief to local traders. 

It appears that the contractor could have started in December, but it would only have been a ‘token’ start. 

Originally scheduled for a start this month, the Kilcullen business community had been anticipating traffic management disruption that would have had repercussions the full length of the main street. 

The latest update has been given by Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer. 

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Kilcullen News Update

AFC Fun Run ... Kilcullen Bridge Cinema for November ... Kildare has high-ranked Coillte parks ... Kildare Draft Heritage Plan ... Cannonball 2025 cheque presented ... Vote for Hazel Gaynor's book Before Dorothy ... Deaths of Breda Sherry and Jim Connolly ...

Reporting since 2005 from a Village Grown Bigger. Produced by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.

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Ballad of Wallis Island is November cinema

The Ballad of Wallis Island is the November movie showing on Tuesday, the 18th, at Kilcullen Bridge Cinema, writes Teresa Nurse.  

A 2025 comedy-drama filmed in Pembrokeshire in Wales, it was a success at the Sundance Film Festival and has developed an almost cult following. Richard Curtis called it one of the best British films of all time. It is directed by James Griffiths and stars Tom Basden, Tim Key, Carey Mulligan, and Sian Clifford. 

The film tells the story of musician Herb McGwyer, who made his name in a popular folk duo with former creative and romantic partner Nell Mortimer. Now a struggling solo artist, Herb accepts a lucrative offer from eccentric lottery winner Charles Heath to perform a private gig on a remote island. 

The appearance fee will fund Herb’s new album. But it turns out Charles — who has very personal reasons for organising the gig — has also invited Nell to play, forcing Herb into an unexpected McGwyer-Mortimer reunion. 

Described as “a big hug of a movie”, it is the perfect film for dark November evenings. Tickets are €7, on sale in Woodbine Books, Kilcullen, and Eventbrite.

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Two Kildare parks in Coillte top 20

Mullaghreelan Wood near Athy.

Two Coillte parks within easy reach of Kilcullen are among the top 20 recreational parks operated by the state body's lands, writes Brian Byrne. Donadea Forest Park recorded nearly 217,000 visits in 2024, while Mullaghreelan Wood saw over 75,500 visits in 2024.

The Avondale Forest Park in Wicklow is the most popular nationwide and has the Beyond the Trees visitor attraction.

Over three million people visited Coillte’s top 50 most popular recreational woodlands and parks in 2024.

An autumn view in Donadea Forest Park.

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Good turnout for AFC Fun Run

More than 280 registered participants took part in this morning's Kilcullen AFC Fun Run, writes Brian Byrne. An unregistered number of children also ran their own 2 km event around the Kilcullen GAA track.

It was a busy run centre at the AFC's premises on the Kilcullen Community Centre campus before the event, all in beautiful autumn sunshine. In addition to groups of people arriving to get their numbers, there were also a range of vendor stalls. Several of the participants spent time warming up on the nearby Scoil Bhride track.

The run was timed by justrunevents, and results can be found on their website.

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Consultation on draft Kildare Heritage Plan

Old Kilcullen Round Tower.

Kildare County Council is seeking opinions on a draft Kildare Heritage Plan to run from 2026 to 2031.

The Plan has been produced with the support of the Kildare Heritage Forum, and the authors want to know if any important heritage issues have been overlooked or if something needs to be improved.

The plan can be accessed here. The closing date for submissions is Monday, 1 December 2025.

A public consultation event on the Plan will be held on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, from 5pm at Kildare Town Library.

All individuals and groups involved in the protection, preservation and promotion of Kildare's rich, built cultural and natural heritage are urged to take part in this consultation.

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Cannonball cheque presented to Jack and Jill

The 2025 Cannonball Ireland supercar road trip, which finished with a gala afternoon in Naas this year, raised €317,819 for the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation. That brings the total raised by the initiative for the charity to €781,914 since 2022, and €2,271,716 raised for children's charities since the run was established 15 years ago.

Cannonball is Europe's largest organised road trip, featuring some of the world’s most prestigious marques — from Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren to Porsche, Aston Martin and Maserati. It was founded by Kildare businessman Alan Bannon. 

Jack and Jill supported 538 families nationwide in 2024 with in-home nursing care and respite support. Today, there are 456 families under its care, and the charity has supported 3,199 families since its foundation in 1997.

Cannonball is supported by milesPLUS from Circle K Ireland, with official partners that include Jade Insurance, Monster Energy, Capital Switch, Combilift, Karl Goodwin Motors, Task Security Systems, AB Signs, and Majestic Ireland Road Trips. 

Pictured are Femhe Flynn (6) from Sallins, with Deirdre Walsh, CEO The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, and Alan Bannon, Founder Cannonball Ireland, at the presentation of this year's cheque.

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The passing of Jim Connolly

The Diary has been informed of the death of Jim Connolly, Hemel Hempstead, England, and formerly of Bishop Rogan Park, Moanbane Park, and Knockbounce, Kilcullen, on 20 October, 2025. 

His passing is deeply regretted by his wife Angela and their children Mary, John and David, relatives and friends.

Rest in peace.

"I'll only be a minute ..."

This morning, the person who took this photo had to go out onto the busy road with her child in a buggy to get around this parked car.

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