Youth Club to cease activities next month

The Kilcullen Youth Club, KiYC, is to close in December after 10 years of operation, writes Brian Byrne.

Inaugurated by Olivia Byrne, and run by her with the help of a corps of volunteer leaders through the decade, the closing will be marked on 14 December by a Christmas Party for all members and past members, and leaders and volunteers.

The event will be in the Tennis Club building which has functioned as a drop-in space for Club members on Thursday and Friday nights since July 2012.

Over that time, KiYC members were involved in a myriad of activities, including youth mental health projects, gaming competitions, CPR training, youth theatre workshops, discos and much more.

The Club's leaders were presented with a Kilcullen Community Award by KCA in 2012.

Last year the Club organised a trip to Krakow in Poland for the World Youth Day celebrations which were attended by Pope Francis. Its fundraising for this included a sponsored walk along the Wicklow Way.

A Youth Leadership Training programme jointly with the Western Education & Library Board's Youth Service in Northern Ireland, under the banner of the Aspirations (North & South) Exchange Project, included reciprocal visits between KiYC and counterparts in Strabane in 2015.

"I would like to thank all the volunteers who have helped us out over the years," Olivia Byrne posted on the Club's Facebook page this week. "Also to the leaders who are with us presently. I have been privileged to work with such an amazing group of leaders and youths. I would like to thank my daughter Sarah for volunteering with me from the beginning giving up every Thursday and Friday without complaint and Niamh who helped out when she could. The club was totally voluntary. None of us got paid, we did it because we loved what we do."

CPR and Wake-a-Thon fundraisers by KiYC

A demonstration of CPR life-saving techniques will be held in KiYC youth club on Friday 21 July, to raise funds for re-filling the club's First Aid kit, writes Brian Byrne.

It will be given by Trish Sully of the St John's Ambulance and will run from 7-9pm. All are welcome, and there's a €3 fee.

The club members will also be hosting a Wake-a-Thon on Friday 28 July, from 9pm until 9am on the Saturday morning. The €10 per person taking part will be donated to KWSPCA and Aware.

Volunteers call from KiYC

The Kilcullen Parish Youth Club is looking for volunteers to help run their Friday night sessions in the Tennis Club building.

KiYC is run by volunteers, with professionalism and dedication, and the Thursday night sessions have so far had no difficulty in maintaining volunteer cover, but there are occasions when there are none available for the Friday nights.

Those helping need to be 18 or over, and full training will be given. If you want to help, phone 089 4484114.

Junior KiYC members get CPR certificates

Ten members of the Junior Kilcullen Youth Club (KiYC) were presented with certificates recently for completing a CPR course with Trish Sully.

They were Evan Talt, Suki Terry, Jamara Terry, Mia Kelly, Dillon O'Connor, Peter Truman, Brandon O'Sullivan, Caitlin O'Sullivan, Lydia Green, and Maya Green.

Presentations were also made to Sarah Byrne and Lauren Barry for the hard work they did in fundraising and organisation of the five-day trip to Poland for the visit of Pope Francis. The help of visiting leaders Jennifer and Tracey on the trip was also acknowledged.

The events organised to complement the contributions from parents and the parish for the trip included movie marathons, hikes in Glendalough, a 5K run, book and cake sales, and fundraising nights.

KiYC Christmas hampers raffle

Kilcullen Youth Club (KiYC) are having a raffle for beautiful Christmas hampers, writes Olivia Byrne.

Participation costs €2 per line and the winners will be announced 22 December.

Lines will be on sale in the Parish Centre kitchen tomorrow, Sunday morning between 11.30am-1pm. Later in the week they will be on sale Thursday and Fridays 7-9pm at the youth club premises in the old Tennis Club on Logstown.

We'd like to thank Mary for organising the beautiful hampers and to all the local businesses who contributed — Berneys Chemist, Eurospar, Carry Out, Burke's Chemist, the Powder Room and Eye Candy.

We truly appreciate your support.

KiYC to join Griese Youth Theatre for workshops

Kilcullen Parish Youth Club is taking part in a series of workshops on positive mental health in association with the Griese Youth Theatre.

The workshops will run over 25/26 November in Ballitore, and the project will conclude in Kilcullen on 2 December when everyone involved comes to Kilcullen. There will also be a Christmas Party for the participants on that day.

KiYC is also preparing shoeboxes for Dublin Husky Rescue and KWWSPCA as a gift for some of the many rescue dogs that will be in their care this Xmas day.

The club will appreciate toys, treats, collars, leads, harness, blanket (Penneys €4) or anything else suitable. Text 089 4484114 to arrange collection.

Youth Club Halloween Disco

A Halloween Fancy Dress Disco is being run as a fundraiser by Kilcullen Youth Club (KiYC).

It will be held in the Community Centre on 28 October, with the 4-8 years session from 4.30-6pm and the 9-12 years one between 6.30-8.50pm.

The entry fee for both is €5, and all participants will receive a goodie bag.

Reminder: KiYC car wash and book, bake sale TONIGHT

Kilcullen Youth Club is holding a Cake & Book Sale along with a Car Wash fundraiser this evening, writes Brian Byrne.

The event is between 7-9pm, and will take place at the KiYC clubhouse at the Tennis Club in Longstown.

A car wash will cost €4.

All night Gaming fundraiser at KiYC

A fundraiser Gaming ‘wake’ will be held in Kilcullen Youth Club at Logstown on Friday next 19 August.

Running from 8pm to 8am on the Saturday morning, participants can bring a friend for competition.

The €10 entry fee will be put towards defraying the costs of the recent KiYC trip to Krakow in Poland for the World Youth Day event (pic above from KiYC Facebook page).

All support for the night will be appreciated.

KiYC off to Krakow today

A group of young people from the Kilcullen Youth Club (KiYC) are travelling to Krakow, Poland, today for the World Youth Day celebrations, writes Brian Byrne.

The event is taking place in ‘The City of Saints’, through this week and will be attended by Pope Francis.

World Youth Day was established by Pope John Paul II in 1986, in Rome, where the Pontiff asked young people to ‘give an account of the hope that is in you’.

Subsequent events have been held in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Czestochowa, Poland; Denver, USA; Manila, Phillipines; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Cologne, Germany; Sydney, Australia; Madrid, Spain; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 2016 event in Krakow has the theme ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy’, the fifth Beatitude of the eight given by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount.

KiYC fundraiser for Krakow

Members of the organising committee at the KiYC fundraiser in The Spout last night — Rob Green, Celia Reid, Lorraine Sherry and Sarah Byrne.

The funds are for the visit by KiYC members to the World Youth Week in Krakow, Poland, at the end of the month.

At the moment, 11 young people are travelling from Kilcullen.

KiYC fundraiser for WYD travellers tonight

A reminder that a fundraiser for members of Kilcullen Youth Club travelling to the World Youth Day in Krakow will be held in The Spout this evening Friday 8 July.

The night will include music with a DJ, and a raffle with super prizes. Well worth supporting.

The young people aged between 14-25 will be travelling to Poland for the event which runs July 25–31.

KiYC sponsored walk on Wicklow Way

The Kilcullen Parish Youth Club (KiYC) are holding a sponsored walk along the Wicklow Way on Friday 20 May, to raise funds for a group travelling to World Youth Day, writes Brian Byrne.

The event is taking place in Krakow, Poland, ‘The City of Saints’, during the week 25-31 July, and will be attended by Pope Francis.

KiYC members hope to walk at least 10 kilometres of the WW to raise funds towards their travel expenses to Poland.

World Youth Day was established by Pope John Paul II in 1986, in Rome, where the Pontiff asked young people to ‘give an account of the hope that is in you’.

Subsequent events have been held in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Czestochowa, Poland; Denver, USA; Manila, Phillipines; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Cologne, Germany; Sydney, Australia; Madrid, Spain; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 2016 event in Krakow has the theme ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy’, the fifth Beatitude of the eight given by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount.

Leadership training awards presented

Youth Leadership Training Certificates were presented to Kilcullen Youth Club (KiYC) members at an enjoyable event at the weekend, writes Brian Byrne.

The Certificates acknowledged the completion of courses under the auspices of the Erasmus+ project, jointly undertaken by KiYC and Western Education & Library Board's Youth Service in Northern Ireland, under the banner of the Aspirations (North & South) Exchange Project.

The northern group organised the OCN Leadership training, while the southern contingent provided workshops in Bully Busting and First Aid.

The programme involved NI participants spending a week as guests of KiYC, and Kilcullen young people visiting their counterparts in Strabane, last summer.

Recipients of OCN Certificates were Sarah Byrne, Caoimhe O Callaghan, Jade Bennett, Peter Truman, Arran Collins and Clare Murphy. Minor Leadership awards were presented to Robbie Green and Niamh Byrne.

Conor Patrick received a Gaisce Bronze Award, and Basic Junior First Aid awards were presented to Brandon NG and Emma Dunleavy, both of whom also received Youthpass awards.

(Pictures courtesy KiYC.)

KiYC certificates presentation

A presentation of certificates will be made at Kilcullen Youth Club to young people who completed OCN leadership training, as part of the Erasmus+ project, writes Brian Byrne.

The presentation event tomorrow evening (26 February) will begin at 8pm in the KiYC premises at the old Tennis Club.

"The certificates represent a lot of hard work and dedication for the leaders," says youth worker Olivia Byrne. "We would like to celebrate with them and support them on the night, and we invite everyone to come along."

Lord of the Rings marathon on Saturday

Juest a reminder that Kilcullen Youth Club (KiYC) is holding a movie marathon of the Lord of the Rings trilogy tomorrow, Saturday, 20 February.

The fundraiser for the club is taking place from 1pm in the Club premises (Old Tennis Club, Logstown). Entry for all three is €10.

Also, on 26 February the Club is having a Presentation Night of OCN and YouthPass certificates to those who took part in the ERASMUS+ Project in July and September.

Sunday morning refreshments

Members of Kilcullen Youth Club (KiYC) organise tea after mass on Sundays in Kilcullen Parish Centre.

NI youth leaders visit Kilcullen

Kilcullen Youth Club KiYC2 is hosting a visit of youth leaders from Omagh and Strabane this week, writes Olivia Byrne.

The visit from 13-17 July is part of the Erasmus+ Youth Mobility Project, and the visitors are arriving today at 2pm.

We will be participating jointly in Youth Leadership and First Aid classes and various other educational workshops during the week, one of which will be wound management in sports environment.

The visitors are staying in the Curragh Plains guesthouse. We hope that they enjoy their stay with us and we look forward to our return visit next month.

Please feel free to drop up and say hello to our visitors up at the KiYC Youth Club in the Old Tennis Club, Logstown Rd, Kilcullen.

'Move them books ...'

Clare Boyce is hosting a Book sale in the town this month to help raise funds to decorate the Tennis Club for KiYC.

"We need painting and decorating materials, too," Clare told the Diary. "I can collect any unwanted books or they can be dropped off at the Tennis Club by arrangement. It's my little effort of getting 'books back into circulation'."

A good cause, and anything that keeps books going round and round gets our vote too. Check out your bookshelves and get them cleared a little ... and you might be able to restock from the Book Sale when it happens.

We'll keep you posted on the dates.

Youth leaders get certificates

Pictured at the recent presentation of certificates to Junior Leaders at KiYC, for completing a programme in the Bishops Drugs & Alcohol Initiative, are Pat Stafford, Kilcullen Credit Union; programme participants Niamh Byrne, Jack Skerritt, Martin Allen, Raymond Clare, Adam Dillon, and Brandon NG; with Martin Burke from Kilcullen Credit Union.

The event was held in the Old Tennis Club premises used by KiYC, and the certificates were presented by Fr Niall Mackey and CPC Principal Catherine Moynihan.