White smoke over Teach na nDaoine

The Teach na nDaoine has been secured for community use for Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne. After negotiations which went up to and beyond midnight, an agreement was reached with the HSE at the highest level, which translated this morning into a retraction of the organisation's plan to sell the premises on the open market.

Full details of the agreement, which is so far an in principle one, have not yet been finalised, but the threat to the ambition that Teach na nDaoine would be for use as an older persons’ day centre for people in the Kilcullen area has now gone.

The premises may also be used for other community needs in the town, once necessary further upgrading of the building is completed. Kildare councillors have committed LPT funds totalling €180,000 over the next three years for this purpose.

"There's still a lot to be worked out, but the key agreement in principle is there," Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer said this afternoon. She has led the effort for the council's acquisition of the building for some considerable time.

The premises were refurbished and extended by a voluntary local community over a number of years, at a cost of more than €164,000, and then handed back to the HSE with the expectation that the vision for a day centre would be realised under its watch. 

However, in the middle of negotiations which had been ongoing between it and the council, the health executive recently announced a plan to sell it on the open market, saying it was surplus to their medical service requirements.

As late as yesterday afternoon, despite several direct approaches and appeals on local news media — including the Diary, KFM Radio and the Kildare Nationalist — for a change of heart, that remained the position.

An intervention was made by Kildare South TD and minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon yesterday, at the highest level of the HSE, to try and untangle what had become an administrative knot in the matter. That finally succeeded, and now there will be a collective sigh of relief across the community that there is a future for the original vision of Teach na nDaoine.

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Have you seen Simba?

A black fluffy cat, Simba, has been missing in Kilcullen since the 20th of June. Last seen on that date in Bishop Rogan Park. 

He is microchipped and the owner misses him terribly.

Call 087 1489056 if you have seen him.

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Kilcullen News Update

 

Minister Heydon intervenes in Teach na nDaoine row ... Grandson of Kilcullen woman is Riverdance's newest male lead ... Kilcullen Parish Lotto results ... Kalbarri Pizza evening ... the passing of George Browne ...

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'HSE approach on Teach na nDaoine will change' - Martin Heydon

Kildare South TD and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon says he is determined that the HSE approach on the Teach na nDaoine issue 'will change', and he is raising the matter 'at the highest level', writes Brian Byrne. In a statement this morning, he expresses 'real disappointment' at the difficulty being experienced by Kildare County Council in acquiring the property for the people of Kilcullen.

The minister's intervention follows a second public appeal by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, on KFM radio yesterday, for the executive to negotiate the transfer of the facility to Kildare County Council for community use. After that, the HSE doubled down on its position that it intends to sell the property on the open market.

“Both myself and Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer support the continued vision of the use of this property for community use in Kilcullen," Minister Heydon says. "I continue to engage with the HSE to see if any avenues exist that could allow Kildare County Council to take on the project and facilitate its community use in Kilcullen."

He added that any agreement between the HSE and KCC needs to reflect the additional costs required to complete the building, and the goodwill of the local community to the project.

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Pizza Party at Kalbarri

Kalbarri Cookery School are having a Summer Pizza Party evening this Friday July 18th.

The 6.30pm sitting has already been filled, but they are taking walk-ins after 8pm. It is a BYOB event. 

Please call or text 087 2932501 for a fun evening.

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Kilcullen connection to latest Riverdance lead

Caelán Power, a great-grandson of Margaret 'Peggy' Keogh from Nicholastown — the violin player in the famous Gallowglass Ceili Band — is the newest male principal dancer with Riverdance. His grandmother, Irish dance teacher Olive Keogh O’Reilly, and his grand-uncle Sean Keogh, who was also a member of the band, are natives of Kilcullen.

The 22-year-old, who lives in Newbridge, has just returned from the USA Riverdance tour where he performed his first lead show in Chicago in April. The USA tour began in Florida in January and travelled through many states and cities, including New York, where the troupe performed five shows over three days in Radio City Music Hall. He returned to Ireland on 1 July and is now doing eight shows a week in Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre until 10th August. From there, he will move to the UK tour with Riverdance, which begins in Swansea on 12 August and finishes in London Hammersmith on 14 December. 

Caelán developed his love for Irish dance at a young age and has been successful at provincial and world championship levels of competition — winning a title as Leinster Champion in 2019 and going on to achieve second place at the world championships in 2023 before retiring from competition to pursue his professional performing career. 

Before Riverdance, Caelán travelled to and performed in many countries, including Germany and Disneyland Paris with his Irish dance class. He also performed in the Olympia Panto for five years from the age of seven. He set off on his first professional tour in February 2020 to the USA as a Celtic Knights dancer in the show Celtic Angels. Caelán began travelling with Riverdance in 2021, where he spent a number of weeks performing at Expo 2020 Dubai. He has travelled the world with the show since then, performing in China, many European cities, and more recently the USA tour.

His love of dance likely came from his grandmother, Olive Keogh O’Reilly, and his mum, Michelle O’Reilly Power. Olive has been teaching children to dance for many years, and his mother teaches alongside Olive now, co-running the Leinster Academy of Dance in Newbridge. Olive is a founder member of An Comhdháil na Múinteoirí le Rincí Gaelacha Teoranta — The Congress of Irish Dance Teachers. 

If you know of a young child, boy or girl, from the age of three years up who loves to dance, the Leinster Academy of Dance is now enrolling for beginners classes for September. They can be contacted by phone on 087 2978618.

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The passing of George Browne

The Diary has learned of the death of George Browne, Calverstown, Kilcullen, on Monday 14 July 2025, peacefully  in the company of his loving family, at Tallaght Hospital after a short illness. 

Predeceased by his daughter Elaine, George is sadly missed by his loving wife Betty Anne, daughters Judith, Aisling and Juanita, son George, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, his grandchildren, sisters Maureen and Vera, brothers-in-law, nephews and nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.

George will be reposing at Glennons Funeral Home, 32 Main Street, Newbridge from 5pm on Friday with Rosary at 7pm.

Removal from there by Glennons Funeral Directors will be on Saturday morning to arrive at St Brigid’s Church, The Curragh for Requiem Mass at 11 o'clock. Burial will be afterwards in St Brigid’s Cemetery, Kilcullen.

House private please. The Funeral Mass will be live streamed and can be viewed this link.

Rest in peace.

Parish Lotto Draw results

The numbers drawn in the Kilcullen and Gormanstown Parish Lotto Draw held on 15 July 2025 were 4, 14, 15 and 25. There was no Jackpot winner and next week's main prize will again be €20,000. The value of the follow up Draw stands at €15,400.

The winners of the Open Draws were Maisie O'Brien (Promoter Kilcullen Credit Union), Breda Kelly (Berney's Chemist) and Frances Clarke (The Parish).

The winners of the Promoters Draw were Francesca Broughall and John Archbold, and the winner of the Draw for the Parish Centre on the night was Sheila Peacocke,

The Parish thanks all who support the Lotto.

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Viewpoint: HSE, stop digging a hole under Teach na nDaoine

There’s a strategy, and not a good one: when you know you’re in a hole, keep digging, because it makes it harder for people to get to you. Which is what the HSE is doing in relation to Teach na nDaoine in Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne. The health authority’s latest riposte, to a second public appeal to negotiate the transfer of the facility to Kildare County Council for community use, is to double down on its plan to sell to the highest bidder. 

That was its response today after Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer once again appealed publicly on KFM radio for the health body to get back around a table with the council and do a deal that isn’t profiteering from community goodwill.

A committee of local people refurbished and extended the derelict former dispensary, for use as an older persons day centre, with the help of state money and donations from the public. The project almost completed, it was handed back to the HSE because the committee didn’t have the governance setup or expertise to run it for the planned purpose, with the expectation that the HSE would do so in some form, possibly with Kildare County Council. There had also been issues in getting a full lease from the health authority. 

The HSE, despite having been in negotiations with Kildare County Council over a considerable time for KCC to take it over for community use, suddenly decided to sell the property on the open market. KCC can’t afford to buy it but is still very interested in a transfer at a nominal charge, given that considerable council funds will have to be invested on top of the €164,407 already spent bringing the facility to it’s now almost-usable state.

In spite of both private and public statements that the council continues to be open to a deal, the HSE insists to the contrary, saying that “it was confirmed by KCC to the HSE in July 2025 that they are not intending to progress acquisition of this property” via an intra-state transfer. And that consequently it is initiating proceedings “for a disposal of the property at Open Market sale.” 

Both the Diary and KFM have statements from the council that it wants to acquire the facility. Cllr O’Dwyer, who has been working for a long time to bring both sides together, has gone on air twice and been in print and online media several times in recent weeks, saying the council remains very interested.

Someone in the HSE isn’t listening. Or they don’t want to hear, and they keep digging that hole deeper so they don’t.

People in Kilcullen, who are not in the habit of digging unnecessary holes, are increasingly unhappy.

If the HSE doesn’t come out of its hole and engage, the next likely step will be people on the street outside the Teach na nDaoine. That won’t be pretty, for the HSE. And it is SO unnecessary.

Stop digging. Start talking.

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Kilcullen News Update

 

KCC confirms interest in Teach na nDaoine ... Mac & Norman aiming for €1m for cancer support ... successful drama workshop ... Barretstown Big Picnic reminder ... Kilcullen GAA U14s blitz in Ballincollig ... 

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Mac and Norman vintage rally aims for the million

The organisers of the Mac & Norman Rally say they are aiming to achieve a total of €1 million collected for cancer support over the next few years, writes Brian Byrne. The 23rd rally event is scheduled for 17 August, and in a Facebook post, they have confirmed it will be continuing through the coming years.

Since its inception, the rally has raised €610,000, and the organisers of the Grangemore-based event have expressed their thanks to all who have contributed to that achievement. Last year's day raised €30,000 on its own.

The milestone event in the community's annual calendar is more than just a great day, they say ... it's also a reflection of wonderful community spirit.

The Diary's photos from last year's event can be viewed here. 

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Barretstown Big Picnic fundraiser

A reminder that the Barrettstown Big Picnic fundraiser is happening next Sunday 20 July, with a wide range of fun activities planned, writes Brian Byrne. These include archery, giant games, face-painting, canoeing, dancing, mini-golf and more. 

Fossett’s Circus will also be on site with adult tickets €16 and children’s tickets €12. There’s a €50 family ticket deal. 

The event runs from 11.15am until 4.20pm, with circus shows at 11.15, 1.15 and 3.15.

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Kilcullen U14s take home Barker trophy from Ballincollig

A day vist to Ballincollig GAA Club on Sunday saw Kilcullen U14 footballers and Shamrocks U14 hurlers play a challenge blitz in temperatures close to 30 degrees. 

The event was a return visit from last year when Ballincollig came to Kilcullen, arranged by Kilcullen native Colm Barker, a mentor at the County Cork club.

Colm is son of the late Jim Barker, a former president of the Kilcullen Club. A trophy in his name was this year won by the Kilcullen footballers.

The Kilcullen contingent have expressed their appreciation for 'incredible hospitality' throughout the day, which saw up to 100 boys taking to the field in the blitz.

Photos courtesy Kilcullen GAA.

Cathal receiving the trophy from Colm Barker.

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KCC confirms interest in acquiring Teach na nDaoine for community use

Kildare County Council has confirmed that it is interested in acquiring the Teach na nDaoine premises from the HSE and to support the continued use of the facility for the community of Kilcullen and surrounding areas, writes Brian Byrne. However, the transfer would have to be at a nominal fee, as a significant further financial investment would be needed to ensure its use as a valuable community space.

In a response to a query from the Diary, the council says it is aware of the proposal by the HSE to sell the property, and notes that public and community funding has already been invested in it. Provision for its purchase has not been included in the council's Capital Delivery Programme, but it would welcome a transfer from the HSE for a nominal fee which would then allow the required remedial works to be carried out.  

In anticipation of such a transfer, Kildare Newbridge MD members have provisionally set aside Local Property Tax funding to contribute towards the required works and to allow the continued community use of this facility.

The council says it would be happy 'to work with its partners in the HSE' to retain this facility for the community, but capital costs are a key consideration.

The response follows a HSE statement to KFM radio last Friday evening, following an interview with Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer. The statement claimed that the health authority had 'engaged with all relevant state stakeholders (including Kildare County Council) around potential intra-state transfer' of the property but that 'no other state stakeholders intend to acquire the property'. The statement added that, failing such a transfer, it will now proceed to dispose of the property at open market sale.

Cllr O'Dwyer, speaking to Eoin Beatty about the previously reported plans by the HSE to sell the building, had called on it to 'do the right thing' and transfer it to the council for community use. The councillor said the premises could be used not just as a day centre for older people as initially envisaged, but also for after-school care and other community uses. She had earlier outlined a long period of negotiating the matter between the health authority and the council and said that at no time was buying the property proposed until recent weeks.

The building had been a derelict former dispensary until 2017 when a local voluntary committee leased it from the HSE and over subsequent years spent €164,407 refurbishing and extending it, using grants, community fundraising, and donation of time and expertise by local people. The committee handed it back to the HSE late last year because they didn't have the governance or the expertise to manage the facility for their purpose as a seniors centre. It was understood at the time that future use would be under the HSE's Older Persons department. However, in its recent statement, the health authority said an internal review had concluded that the building was no longer required for medical services.

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Kilcullen Drama Group Workshop

Images: Kilcullen Drama Group.

When voluntary groups and committees wish to upskill and develop, they often look to outside agencies for guidance and to facilitate seminars, writes Esther Reddy. Not so Kilcullen Drama Group, who looked to one of their own to run a workshop on Sunday, July 13th, in Kilcullen Town Hall. 

Allan Clarke, who has been a part of Kilcullen Drama Group for six years, led an afternoon on acting skills, drawing in no small part from his own wide and varied experience. Allan is an award-winning actor with a long-standing presence on the Irish drama circuit. Audiences in Kilcullen will remember his performances in “The Seafarer”, “Out of Order”, “A Skull in Connemara”, “Calendar Girls” and, more recently, his outstanding performance as ‘Mad Padraic’ in “The Lieutenant of Inishmore”. 

A group of twenty attended the acting workshop with Allan, some of whom are members of Kilcullen Drama Group and some people who are just curious about the world of thespians! Through demonstration and interactive activities, Allan led the group through a range of techniques and skills, from the essential art of line learning to using tempo and rhythm and understanding psychological gestures to improve the understanding of characterisation. Allan had approaches to acting which had not been considered before by Kilcullen Drama Group, such as learning lines backwards and considering your character as a matching animal! He gave the group different ways to get a deeper perspective of characters and their interaction with each other, and interspersed the session with practical examples through role play and from sharing his own approaches to performing. 

It was a very fruitful afternoon, and all participants came away feeling that they had richly gained from the experience. Kilcullen Drama Group is very grateful to Allan Clarke for generously sharing his expertise with the group and looks forward to more similar workshops. 

Anyone who might be interested in being a part of Kilcullen Drama Group can send a message to 087 4707652. New members are always welcome.

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