Solar eclipse on Wednesday

Only watch with special glasses. Images: RTE.

A deep partial solar eclipse will be visible, weather permitting, in Ireland on the early evening of Wednesday next, 12 August, writes Brian Byrne. But do not be tempted to watch it directly without proper, CE-certified Eclipse Glasses!

The event will be visible in the western sky, about 15 degrees above the horizon, starting at around 6.40pm when light levels begin to drop. The maximum eclipse will be around 7.10pm, with faded colours, sharp shadows, and some unusual tree-dappling lighting effects.

Coverage of up to 95 per cent of the sun will be visible in the Leinster region at the maximum. Again, a warning: DO NOT stare at the crescent Sun without proper eye protection, or permanent damage could result — ORDINARY SUNGLASSES ARE NOT A PROTECTION.

The next significant eclipse visible in Ireland is not due until 2090. The last one was in 1999. The full eclipse will be visible in a swathe across northern, central and eastern Spain.

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Regional march for Palestine today

A reminder that a regional rally in solidarity with Palestine is being held TODAY, Saturday, 18 October in the Linear Park in Newbridge, beginning at 12.30pm.

The march will be silent. Wearing black is optional but encouraged. 

There will be speakers and music after the march, which is organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign groups in Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny and Laois. 

A number of Kilcullen people are involved in organising the event.

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Choices for this evening

This will be a busy evening in the Kilcullen area with a choice of events to attend, writes Brian Byrne. For movie fans, the Kilcullen Bridge Cinema is screening Dream Horse, the true story of a Welsh bartender who decided to breed and race a horse, and with her husband formed a friends and acquaintances syndicate to race it successfully. Starts at 8pm.

A talk on the Cluxtons of Kilcullen is being given in St Laurence's GAA Club in Narraghmore, by the author of the book of the same name, Barry Kinnane, and is hosted by the South Kildare History & Heritage Group. It begins at 8pm.

And the March meeting of the Creative Writing Group is in Woodbine Books this evening. From 7pm and anybody interested in joining is welcome to come along.

Choices, choices ...

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Upcoming this weekend

A reminder of some events happening this week which may be of interest to Kilcullen people, writes Brian Byrne.

Friday evening next sees the opening of the Gerard Manley Hopkins International Festival at Dominican College, Newbridge. The keynote event of the Festival — the 35th since it was founded by Newbridge poet Des Egan — is a celebrity concert by Hans Pålsson, regarded as Sweden's greatest pianist. The Festival celebrates the life and work of Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) and his interests in poetry, painting, music, philosophy and conservation, and runs until Thursday 27 July.

On Saturday next is the Murphy Geospatial Charity Cycle 2023, organised by Kilcullen Cycling Club and TITAN Experiences. With 50km and 100km route options, over €90,000 has been raised in seven years of running the event. The designated charity is the Children's Health Foundation, supporting sick children and their families in Children's Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres in Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly.

As many already know, Fr Martin Harte is leaving Kilcullen after 12 years of service to our Parish to take up his new ministry in Dublin. A Mass of Thanksgiving for Fr Harte will be celebrated on Sunday next 23 July at 11am and everybody is welcome to attend. There will be refreshments afterwards in the Parish Centre. A presentation is being made to Fr Harte from the Parish, and anyone who would like to contribute to this may drop an envelope into the Parish Centre with a donation. 

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Kicking off the bank holiday weekend

There's lots happening in the Kilcullen area today to kick off the bank holiday weekend, writes Brian Byrne.

Among them for the ladies, there's the pop-up fashion shop in the Heritage Centre operated by the Kildare West Wicklow SPCA, kicking off at 11am and running until 4pm. Lots of bargains.

Kalbarri Cookery School is open for brunch and chat this morning from 9am, finishing up at 3pm.

For those with a song in their heart that they're like to let loose, there's the Messy Choir practice in the Community Centre, a lunchtime opportunity from 1pm-2.30pm, everybody welcome and no need to commit to regular participation.

There's a Calverstown Litter Pick beginning at 2pm, and a Kids Halloween Disco in Ballyshannon Community Hall at 3pm.

In The Spout tonight it's music by Karl Ivers.

Enjoy whichever is your choice.

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Winter Solstice to be streamed live from Newgrange

Pic: OPW.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, nobody from the general public tickets lottery will be able to visit the chamber in Newgrange this Winter Solstice.

But the good news is that the Office of Public Works will be streaming live at dawn during the three mornings when, weather permitting, the unique light event might be observed.

So everybody gets a look in, on the mornings of 20th, 21st and 22nd December. The link is here.

The other good news is that the days will be getting longer again from then …

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What's on this week

Some reminders of things that are on this week, writes Brian Byrne.

For music lovers, Tim Grimm and his Family Band are in Mick Murphy's of Ballymore tonight, playing the BAG, very well worth the trip and with doors opening at 8.30pm.

Tomorrow night, Tuesday 23 May, there's the second Kilcullen event of National Biodiversity Week, a Dusk Chorus Walk meeting up in O'Connell's Bar upstairs at 6.45pm. In conjunction with Kildare BirdWatch, it will begin with a presentation on the birds of the area including their songs and calls, followed by the Dusk Chorus walk in the locality (NOTE change of meeting up venue).

The Kilcullen Community Action Tidy Towns AGM will be held on Wednesday evening in the Heritage Centre, all welcome to the event which begins at 8pm.

The Kilcullen Badminton Club Summer Club is in full swing, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at €7 a night. There's a 9pm start and everybody is welcome.

Tai Chi classes have resumed in Kilcullen Parish Centre on Wednesdays, the general class starting at 10am, and a Gentle Tai Chi for people with arthritis or other disabilities from 11.30am.

And our own Evelyn O'Sullivan is taking part in the Likely Story production of Noel Coward's 'Blithe Spirit', playing in the Moat Theatre on 24/25 May and 7/8/9 June. Booking at 045 883030.

So, lots to keep you all occupied …

In Kilcullen tonight ...

Just a reminder of some key events happening in Kilcullen this evening, writes Brian Byrne. Looks like the Diary will have to switch on the bilocation machine again ...

The early gig is the first performance of the season from the Kilcullen Gospel Choir, at the 6.30pm mass in Kilcullen Parish Church. This is also a mass for the young people of the Parish, and all readings have been chosen by them.

The cheque presentation from the Mac & Norman Drive organisers to the Irish Cancer Society will be at The Priory, Walls of Kilgowan, and the evening will include music by Sister Act and a raffle.

Then there's also the Pink Night in O'Connells Bar, organised by the Kilcullen Team of the Relay for Life Kildare, which participated in the recent very successful Relay at the Curragh Racecourse. All welcome, particularly those dressed in pink. Raffle and prize for the best dressed Pink. Music by Blackthorn.

An Easter Monday in Dublin

The Diary forsook Kilcullen today for a trip to Sackville St in Dublin, to see what was on offer on 'The Road to the Rising' event, writes Brian Byrne.

It was well worth while, and an awful lot of other people had the same idea. The sun shone, the entertainment rolled one end of the street to the other, and there were lots of people in period costume.

Above all, there were smiles, there was laughter, and queues to the talks and many of the presentations were around various blocks. But really, the best entertainment was to stroll and look.

Here are a few pictures of the day, and more can be found here. Enjoy.

Kilcullen in force on Brigid walk

There was a strong Kilcullen representation among the 90 people who took part in this morning's 'Brigid's Way' walk along the Curragh and Kildare town, writes Brian Byrne.

The event was a local marking of the new National Pilgrim Paths Day and was organised in association with the new Solas Bhride Centre and Hermitage in Kildare town.

The 13km walk began at Pollardstown Fen, then wended along the west part of The Curragh before going back to Kildare.

As well as the Fen, participants visited St Brigid's Fire Temple in the grounds of Kildare Cathedral, and St Brigid's Healing Well near the National Stud.

The leaders of the walk were Karen Ward and Dolores Whelan, who founded the 9-day St Brigid's Way walk from Co Louth to Kildare two years ago.

The Brigidine Sisters at Solas Bhride provided refreshments for those who took part at the end of the walk. (More pictures here.)

Further information on the next of these, in the summer, can be found on brigidsway.ie.

Curragh Camp Open Day tomorrow

A great family day out is promised for tomorrow, Sunday, at the Curragh Camp Open Day, writes Brian Byrne.

With things getting underway at 2pm, there will be a wide range of activities and things to see, courtesy of the Defence Forces Training Centre.

Active and interactive military displays will include armoured vehicles, troops and weaponry currently used by the Irish Army.

A Kids Zone will have a bouncy castle, and a miniature assault course which I reckon will be heavily used.

There's no charge, and parking is free too. Just follow the signs from anwhere on the Curragh.

Happy St Patrick's weekend

The local celebrations of the St Patrick's Festival Weekend continue today with a special lilt, following yesterday's victory in the Six Nations, writes Brian Byrne.

And though a different football discipline, no doubt the Kilcullen GAA lads will raise a glass or two to BOD and the gang at their fundraiser Race Night in Joey's Hideout this evening. It's free entry, with a light buffet as part of the evening, and lots of good craic.

Save some of the time and money for tomorrow, though, when the Kilcullen Scouts set out to retain their title as best organisers in town with the second St Patrick's Day Parade. The Diary is unfortunately out of the country this weekend, so we won't be able to cover it directly. Still, there should be plenty of photos knocking around on the social networks, and I'm sure Conor Williams will cover it very well again.

And if you want to relax with a bit of fashion and help out our animal friends afterwards, the Kildare West Wicklow SPCA have a Fashion Show fundraiser in the Town House Hotel, Naas, from 3pm tomorrow.

Looking at the KCA Community Calendar, it looks kind of quiet for the rest of the week, so there's plenty of time to rest up for an early morning on Saturday next, 22 March. That's the Spring Equinox, and with sunrise at 6.57am, it's hopefully an opportunity again to see the stunning effect created by Noel Scullion with his 'spear' sculpture at the Dun Ailinne Interpretive Park. Weather permitting. As an incentive, Ray and Fiona Kelly will again be offering sausages and brown bread to those hardy souls who make it up to Nicholastown.



And just to remind you of the other things happening next weekend, the Maintain Hope Parachute Jump on Sunday 23 still has a couple of places for would-be dropouts. Failing that, you could still do the 5K Fun Run & Walk starting out at the Parish Centre the same afternoon, 2pm.

That's also the start of Guided Prayer Week — details from Parish Centre.

Meantime, if you want to see what the Diary is up to at the moment, click here. Normal service resumes Tuesday.

A busy weekend in Kilcullen

There are quite a few events happening this weekend which people might like to be reminded of, writes Brian Byrne.

First, at noon today there's a talk on the 'Dublin Lockout 1913' in the Heritage Centre, after the AGM of the County Kildare Federation of Local History Groups in the Heritage Centre. The talk begins at 12 noon, and should last about an hour.

Then there's the Ollie's Crumlin Cycle tomorrow morning, things kicking off at 11am at the River Cafe with the 50k ride to Castledermot and back. The 40k run sets out at 1pm, and when the riders are back from that, the 10k Fun Cycle sets off at 3pm taking in Yellow Bog, Mile Mill, Brannockstown, Carnalway and back to Kilcullen. Donations can be made on the day if you haven't already been approached by somebody with a sponsorship card.

Also on Sunday, the annual Service of Harvest Praise takes place in Brannockstown Baptist Church at 7pm. It's always a pleasant event, with lovely music and singing, and everybody is welcome. Go early, though, it fills up quickly.

In sport it's a busy weekend ahead for the Kilcullen AFC teams. The Ladies replay their League Final against Bridge from Athy in Suncroft at 1pm. On Sunday the Men's 2nd team play at 11am at home in the Cup semi-final against Suncroft. And the Men's 1st team play in the FAI Junior Cup 2nd round at 2pm, against high-flying Woodstock Celtic. All support welcome.

Next week, the Community Games AGM will be held in the Parish Centre on Wednesday night, 9pm. They're looking for new volunteers, particularly from amongst those parents whose children have recently started in the Games.

And on Friday night, 8pm, a Concert in the Town Hall Theatre will raise funds for the local St Vincent de Paul. Like all the organisation's conferences, the Kilcullen one's resources have been stretched due to the fallout from the recession, so a good night for a great local cause.

Dunlavin Festival of the Arts 2013 this weekend

Full calendar of entertainmentThis is the annual Dunlavin Festival of the Arts weekend and it kicks off this Friday evening at 7pm with the official opening of the Art Exhibition by Wicklow County Librarian Brendan Martin, writes Brian Byrne.

Tonight's other events include a Juvenile Disco in the Imaal Hall organised by Dunlavin Ladies GAA, from 6.30pm. A Set Dance Ceili starts at 9.30pm in The Jonathan Swift Hall and the proceeds go to St Brigid’s Hospice. There's music entertainment in the pubs all evening.

Tomorrow, Saturday, all exhibitions are open from 12 noon. A Horse Show in Dr kearney's Field begins at 2pm, as does a Street Parade led by the Wicklow Rose, Sarah Whelan. From 3pm there's a display related to the Children’s Bakery/Craft Competition, in Kennedys Shop, and prizes will be presented by the Rose. An evening of Drama in the Camphill Community Hall starts at 8pm, with The Wicklow Way presented by Glad. There's Bingo from 9pm in the Imaal Hall.

Sunday's events begin with a Craft Fair in the Imaal Hall fropm 12 noon, and that's also the time for a Bloomsday Breakfast being served in Meitheal Coffee Shop. A Dog Show at 2pm will take place on Cow Green and there's a Family Fun Day on Dunlavin Green through the afternoon, with a Community First Responders display at 3pm. The Dara Ensemble performs in Market House from 2pm. The Irish Launch of 'Running with Crows' by author DJ Kelly takes place in Meitheal Coffee Shop at 4pm.

Through the weekend there are art and photography exhibitions in Market House, the Old Schoolhouse, the Blue Door (Garda Station), the Green Door (Coleborn’s), the Lite Door (Nellie’s Video Library), the Yellow Door (Murtaghs), and the Black Door (Norrie Rainey's).

Flower festival in Dunlavin

The Dunlavin Flower & Harvest Festival will be held on the weekend of 20/21 October.

Both of the local churches, St Nicholas Church of Ireland and St Nicholas of Myra Catholic church will be open for visitation to view the flower displays.

St Nicholas Church of Ireland will be open 12 noon to 5pm on the Saturday and 12 noon to 3.30pm on the Sunday. St Nicholas of Myra church will be open 9.30am to 9pm on the Saturday and 9.30am to 6pm on the Sunday.

Short takes

The CPC Transition Year will present their production of 'Grease' from 23-25 March.

Kilcullen Scout Troop and St Joseph's NS will jointly hold a Race Night in the Hideout on 12 March.