Looking Back: Boys First Communion 1973

This photograph, scanned from the 1973 Bridge Magazine, was sent in by Eugene Brennan, with some names of the Boys First Communion group of that year. Perhaps Diary readers can fill in the gaps?

Back Row: Christopher Thorpe, ????, David O'Connell, ????, Andrew Geoghegan and John Martin;

Middle: Thomas Orford, Owen Barker, ????, David Dempsey, Eugene Brennan, David King (RIP);

Front: ????, Damian Thorpe, Richard Brophy, ????, ????, Godfrey Hegarty.

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Strong interest in Camino Cill Chuilinn

More than 660 people have 'virtually walked' the Camino Cill Chuilinn since it was launched during National Heritage Week, writes Brian Byrne.

This Kilcullen Heritage Group presentation is available in two distances, one of approximately 16kms, the second just 10kms, both easily walked or cycled.


It is hoped to select a day in the near or more distant future for a community walk of the Caminos, when coronavirus restrictions allow. Meanwhile, by clicking on the images here, you can 'travel' them from your screen, whether computer, phone or tablet. And, of course, you can put on the walking shoes or get up on the rothar and do the real thing, with the help of the text and photographs in each.

There's more about the initiative in the September issue of The Bridge, now on sale.

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Heritage Week 2020: Virtual Tour of Milltown

Our last choice from the Heritage Week 2020 offerings in County Kildare is the Virtual Tour of the Village of Milltown, which this year is a video produced in recent weeks to replace the usual heritage walk, writes Brian Byrne.

It features photos, artefacts, and previous video footage all of which can be viewed at the Heritage Centre in Milltown on a real visit. Members of the Milltown Tidy Towns Group provide commentary and explanations.

It finishes with a beautifully crafted photo-set to the music of a track by Christy Moore, for whom Milltown would be a very familiar place when he was growing up in Newbridge.

And if you haven't yet seen our own Kilcullen contribution to Heritage Week, Camino Cill Chuilinn, then be sure to take a little more time and do so.




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Heritage Week 2020: The Pollinator Enhancement Study

This video was uploaded during National Heritage Week by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, to show the aims and progress of The Pollinator Enhancement Study being carried out by the organisation, writes Brian Byrne.

It's just two minutes long, and a starter for beginners in understanding the role of pollinators and how to provide space in gardens to improve their lot.

Pollinators are threatened by manicured lawns, and the IPCC is investigating an alternative cost- and time-effective method of enhancing the numbers of pollinator-friendly plants in community gardens through various management regimes. The project aims to understand the link between grassland management and pollinator biodiversity.

And if you haven't yet seen our own Kilcullen contribution, Camino Cill Chuilinn, then be sure to take a little more time and do so.



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Heritage Week 2020: Charlotte Brooke of Prosperous

A story from Prosperous Heritage Society is the Diary's recommended choice today from the county's Heritage Week 2020 presentations, writes Brian Byrne. The contribution is simply the story of author and artist Charlotte Brooke, whose cousin Robert was the founder of Prosperous.

It's a sad tale, but illustrates how the various recessions and depressions which we understand in the 21st century Irish economy had no less serious equivalents in the 1700s Ireland.

Charlotte had a great interest in books since she was a small child, and later developed a love of the Irish language and of antiquities. Also a talented scholar and manuscript translator, she is said to have influenced the later work of Yeats and Thomas Moore.

Almost forgotten today, her life from the Prosperous Heritage Society is a well-told five-minute read, well worth even more than that short time.

And if you haven't yet seen our own Kilcullen contribution, Camino Cill Chuilinn, then be sure to take a little more time and do so.


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Heritage Week 2020: Newbridge Sculpture Trail

With 33 presentations from the county for National Heritage Week 2020, it's not easy to pick one a day as we're doing on the Diary, writes Brian Byrne.

But the Newbridge Sculpture Trail by the Newbridge Local History Group is a quick and interesting study of the various public sculptures in and around that town.

We're all probably familiar with the 'Fionn MacCumhaill and his Hounds' piece at Ballymany Cross, executed by Lynn Kirkham. But there are many others on the Trail which many of us may not know about.

The other works featured are by artists Paul Finch, Siobhan Bulfin, Henry Flanagan, Annette McCormack, Derek Fitzsimons, Kay Palmieri-Seddiq and Karim Seddiq, Ann Meldon Hugh, and James Hayes.

And if you haven't yet seen our own Kilcullen contribution, Camino Cill Chuilinn, then be sure to take a little more time and do so.

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Reeling in Kildare Town memories for Heritage Week

In today's look at some of the online presentations from County Kildare for Heritage Week 2020, we're showing some reels of film from the Cill Dara Historical Society, writes Brian Byrne.

The Society digitised some old 8mm from as far back as the 1950s, and combined them in a Kildare Town: Reeling in the Memories sequence.

Drill Displays by the Presentation School the 1950s and 1960s are featured, and there's dramatic footage of the Derby House Fire in 1968. The 1964 Corpus Christi Procession recalls a much stronger time in the Catholic Church, along with the Confirmations in 1964. The Gannon family working on the bog is an almost dance-like choreography.

A CYMS outing in 1964 is a brief clip showing enough young men to start a 'where are they now?' search. As does the Magee Barracks Charity Run in the 1980s.

There's an extensive reel documenting the work at Kildare Wallpapers, and a piece showing the Rowanville Residents Christmas Party in the late 1960s.

And more. Worth the 16 minutes it takes to watch if for no other reason to recall how we all lived in those days.

A really nice contribution from the Cill Dara Historical Society. It was compiled and edited by Joe Connelly and Seán Sourke (who did some very valuable work in Kilcullen Heritage Centre last year). More information here.

And if you haven't yet seen our own Kilcullen contribution, Camino Cill Chuilinn, then be sure to take a little more time and do so.


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Kildare Heritage Week: Cloncurry Cemetery

As much of the activity for National Heritage Week 2020 is taking place online, we'll be highlighting some of the other places in County Kildare which have provided virtual presentations, as we have done in Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne.

Our first choice is Cloncurry Cemetery near Enfield, located where there is recorded reference to it being a religious centre 1,600 years ago.

An impressive presentation by the Cloncurry Heritage Group details the area's history from that time, and how Cloncurry's development has always been influenced by human structures and infrastructures.

Like our two versions of Camino Cill Chuilinn, the presentation provides a comprehensive look at the locality, which can be enjoyed online and also be a basis for a live visit at some stage.

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