PREPARATIONS FOR SUNDAY'S ANVIL AT REST CONCERT

All is almost ready for Sunday's music extravaganza in Bishop Rogan Park, organised by Pat Kelly and friends in aid of the mental health charity Aware. They sent in this short video to bring us up to date on the preparations.

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Autistic Burnout: Turning experience into support

When Kilcullen mother Sylvia Ann Kelly’s six-year-old, James, went into autistic burnout more than a year ago, one symptom was that he refused to go back to school, writes Brian Byrne. That meant she had to take all-day care of him herself. It impacted every aspect of the family’s life, both work and social. She recalls it as a very challenging time, not least because she found herself dealing with something beyond her previous understanding, and which experts didn’t always acknowledge. 

“The best way I can describe it is like being in lockdown again," she says. "It was a very daunting, very scary place to be. We had no idea what was going on, and we were trying to make sense of it. There were weeks of us not leaving the house, and that was incredibly hard. It's like you just can't see the way ahead." She also experienced frustrations when trying to get professional help, with some specialists not even recognising autistic burnout. "I have a very supportive GP, who referred us to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). But they said they couldn't help, that they'd keep us on a waiting list for a psychiatrist, and referred us back to our GP."

Deciding she had to take ownership of the situation herself, Sylvia gave up her work for a year, studied the subjects of nervous system regulation and low-demand parenting, because the slightest stress overwhelmed James. Gradually, there were signs of recovery, a slow re-engaging with activities. Eventually, the family could go to a friend’s for dinner. James could engage in a birthday party. There was finally the joyous experience of seeing him in a playground again, laughing and playing with friends.

Her experience prompted Sylvia to dig deeper into a problem which she found to be more common than she had thought. "I had to work this out and listen to podcasts and read and research and just gather all the information. Parent support groups were absolutely key, helped me make sense of my situation and realise other people and other families are experiencing this." Describing her progress as 'an emotional roller-coaster', she said she was both shocked and relieved, the latter in part because "I had found my tribe." 

A key lesson from her experience is that parents can burn out too. Sylvia describes 'hitting a wall' last Christmas. She realised that she had to learn to prioritise her own mental and physical health, because she was obviously going to be a better mother to James if she was looking after herself. Her core message is that in order to help the child, the mother has to help herself. 

Another realisation was how the school system is under-equipped to deal with the issue. "We're expecting neurodivergent children to fit into an environment that's not able to meet their needs. Teachers and SNAs are just wonderful people who are all doing their best in a very challenging situation, trying to meet so many different needs. They can't do everything. There just aren't enough SNAs."

Sylvia has worked as a Career Coach for 15 years and, more recently, as a Mental Health & Neurodiverse Coach, and holds a master's in the discipline. She has now retrained as a rapid transformational therapist, which combines neuroscience, psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy. She has set herself on a mission to raise awareness of autistic burnout and to let parents like her know that there is support for them and their situation.

Her programme, called Calm Minds, is mainly focused on supporting mothers, "because it’s mothers who are predominantly in the front line here." The service is based specifically on giving one-to-one support because the remedy is not one-size-fits-all. But she is also considering small group sessions because then the parents would also get support from their peers. 

An e-book, From Burnout to Recovery, will be a guide based on her own story and the practical strategies she has developed to deal with autistic burnout. Other resources include recorded meditations to help deal with stress and anxieties. Sylvia is also a trained hypnotherapist, and that can also be considered in appropriate circumstances. 

Her primary focus is to make the support for mothers accessible, affordable, and practical. Calm Minds offers a free initial consultation after which a client can decide to take part in a first practical session. This could be the first step to escaping the 'lockdown' that autistic burnout can bring.

More information is available at calmmindshypno.com or email Kellysylviaann@gmail.com.

A version of this article was first published in The Kildare Nationalist.

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Concert for Aware to be streamed from Kilcullen

At last night's launch were Deirdre Ward, Canice Keane, Lorraine Nolan, Pat Kelly, Arlene Bailey, Mary Masterson and Lorraine Kelly.

A concert to be live-streamed from Bishop Rogan Park on 30 August will raise funds for the mental health charity Aware, writes Brian Byrne. It's being organised by local musician Pat Kelly and will feature top singers from the Kilcullen area and beyond.

The Anvil at Rest gig is being staged in Pat and Lorraine Kelly's front garden, running from 3pm to 5pm, and everyone is welcome to come along, bring a picnic blanket or camping chair, and enjoy an afternoon of music with friends, family, and neighbours in the surroundings of Bishop Rogan Park. The event is being live-streamed through Facebook.

Aware supports mental health through education and support services and promotes understanding of the issue across Ireland. "Very many families have experience of mental health problems, and I felt that I wanted to do something for it," Pat told the Diary at last night's launch of the event in McTernan's Bar. "When I began looking for artistes for it, I got a great response."

The performers will include Arlene Bailey, the Sallins-based country singer who has resumed her music career in country rock after a break from the business. Arlene has worked with some of the finest musicians in Nashville, including Bob Hatter, Donnie Skaggs, and Gene Rabbai. Arlene is also an ambassador for Aware.

Lorraine Nolan from Newbridge, director of the Liffey Choir and a former lead vocalist with Riverdance, as well as having an extensive portfolio of national and international performance, has also come on board.

The concert will also feature Kilkenny-born singer-songwriter Canice Keane, who lives in Kilcullen and is another member of the Liffey Choir along with Pat Kelly. Gordon Turner, musician and sound engineer, will be handling the sound quality as well as taking a turn on stage himself. Also on the card are Emma Kayaalp, Yvonne Ennis, and John and Joe Kelly. And, of course, Pat himself will take a turn or too.

When it came to a name for the event, which Pat hopes will become an annual mini-festival, he chose the anvil to reflect his father's work as a blacksmith and his late brother Ned's prowess as both blacksmith and master farrier.

Donations for Aware associated with the event can be given via a QR code and can also be made on the day for those who go along to hear the music live.

A social media campaign for Anvil at Rest is being organised by Emma Keane.

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Coillte highlights local forest destinations

Coillte is urging Kildare residents to rediscover the forests on their doorstep this summer through its new “Start at Your Local Coillte Forest” initiative, writes Brian Byrne. The campaign highlights local forest destinations such as Donadea Forest Park, Moore Abbey and Mullaghreelan Wood, which offer scenic walks, family activities, cycling routes and accessible trails. 

Coillte, Ireland’s largest provider of outdoor recreation, manages more than 260 recreation sites, 12 forest parks and 3,000km of waymarked trails nationwide, welcoming an estimated 20 million visits each year.

Outdoor content creator Nollaig Butler and broadcaster-psychotherapist Daniella Moyles are backing the initiative, encouraging families to swap long journeys for nearby adventures and to use time in nature to support their wellbeing. 

Coillte plans to expand its recreation network to 500 sites and further develop world-class forest destinations in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development.

More information is available at Coillte.ie.

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Kilcullen-based life coach launches new service

Claire Anne Droney has launched Awaken Within, a new life coaching service based in Kilcullen. The service is designed for people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected and want support with healing, growth, self-discovery, and personal change. 

Claire Anne says her approach is gentle, supportive, and structured, with coaching available across areas including career, relationships, finance, health, spirituality, and family challenges.

Services include online consultations, wellness coffee walks, and structured goals and mentoring. A free 15-minute online consultation is also available for those interested in seeing whether the service is the right fit.

Awaken Within can be found at awakenwithinwellness.com, with updates shared on Instagram and TikTok. Bookings are available through Booksy. 

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Online talk on teenage substance misuse

Dealing with substance misuse in teenagers is the subject of an online talk TOMORROW evening, Tuesday 21 April, hosted by the Kildare Library Service, writes Brian Byrne. The event begins at 7pm, and is presented by Tommy Hunt, a psychotherapist and co-ordinator of the Halo Project with InSync Youth and Family Services.

The MS Teams talk provides an introduction for both parents and professionals working with young people who are engaging with substances. Hunt will provide valuable information regarding signs and symptoms, how to manage situations, and the support available from the In Sync ‘Halo’ Project.

Online booking is available at Ticket Tailor. Participation is free.

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Attracta Gill book aims to heal childhood trauma survivors

Kildare psychotherapist and poet Attracta Gill has finally published her collection of poetry and creative writing, Poems for Trauma Recovery, Love, Loss and Belonging, written to support individuals navigating the difficult journey of healing from childhood trauma, writes Rose Barrett O'Donoghue. It will be launched on 7 May at The Queen’s Bar, Dalkey, from 6.30pm.

Born in Ballymore Eustace, Attracta is married to fellow psychotherapist Austin Breslin. Attracta blends lived experience and clinical insight from nearly three decades as a trauma-trained specialist. She’s currently pursuing a Doctor of Professional Studies in Psychological Trauma at the University of Chester, focusing her research on survivors’ disclosure of childhood sexual abuse through the creative approach of poetic inquiry.

“Statistics show that one in three females will experience childhood sexual abuse," she says, "and 52 per cent of females will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. This means that there is a high number of people living within our community and the surrounding communities that my book will help. We all need to play our part in society to break the silence and shaming of survivors.”

Already, Attracta’s book has been put forward as an important resource for rape crisis centres in England (SARC) and Wales, and rape and sexual abuse centres in the UK (RASASC). This book is going to be a vital resource for any woman impacted or affected by sexual violence.

Poems for Trauma Recovery, Love, Loss and Belonging is published by ShadowScript Publications.

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Mark the date: Darkness into Light 2026

Kilcullen GAA Healthy Clubs will host this year’s Darkness Into Light 5km dawn walk on Saturday, 9 May, with participants meeting at the clubhouse at 4:15am. The event supports Pieta, the national charity for suicide and self-harm prevention, and is backed by Electric Ireland.

Funds raised through Darkness Into Light help provide Pieta’s free, lifesaving services. In 2025, supporters helped to fund over 100,000 helpline calls and texts, 41,000 counselling hours, and 6,029 unique therapy journeys.

Kilcullen GAA Healthy Clubs is asking everyone in the community to mark the date and get involved to support mental health and suicide prevention.

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Minding mental health at Christmas

Minding your mental health at Christmas is essential, and the Kildare Public Participation Network has offered a few guidelines to avoid a seasonal meltdown, writes Brian Byrne. In summary, set realistic expectations, stick to a budget and take time for yourself. Stay active and reach out for support if you need it. 

Avoid overcommitting or striving for perfection and focus on meaningful moments rather than extravagant plans.  

Financial stress can be a factor, so set a realistic budget for gifts, food, and activities, and stick to it.  

Schedule quiet moments to recharge, whether it’s a walk, meditation or reading. Exercise releases endorphins and boosts your mood; even a quick walk or some light stretching can help during busy days.  

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or lonely, talk to someone you trust or seek professional help. Most of all, stay connected.

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Bluebird Care autism and dementia bus in Kildare

A mobile presentation aimed at raising awareness and understanding of autism and dementia will be located at Kildare Village Centre on Thursday, 23 October, writes Brian Byrne. 

The Bluebird Care Immersive Experience Bus guides visitors through a fully immersive encounter using virtual reality, sound, and environmental simulation. The experience recreates individuals' sensory and cognitive challenges in everyday situations, including bright lights, noise sensitivity, disorientation, memory confusion, and emotional triggers.

The initiative aims to foster empathy, understanding, and improved communication among carers, healthcare professionals, families, and the wider public.

The bus has been travelling around Ireland over the past year, providing experiences that are described as “eye-opening,” “deeply moving,” and “transformative”.  

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One in three Pieta presentations are children

A new campaign by suicide prevention charity Pieta is explicitly aimed at dealing with mental health challenges in young people, writes Brian Byrne. No More Silence has been launched against a background of more than a third of those seeking help from Pieta being children.

The campaign calls on the public to sign Pieta’s No More Silence petition, at Pieta.ie/SpeakOut, to make suicide prevention a national priority, raise awareness of Pieta’s free services, and help fund its life-saving work.

Since 2017, the charity has seen the number of under-18s presenting with self-harm increase by almost a quarter. But within that group, the presentation rise is substantially more pronounced among children aged 12 to 14 — up to 75 per cent at the latter age. Self-harm is the strongest known risk factor for suicide.

Last year alone, 2,433 children and teenagers came to Pieta, receiving more than 17,800 hours of free therapy. 

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Wellness webinar to beat September blues

September can be stressful, with back-to-school and back-to-work pressures piling on top of each other. An online Wellness Webinar with the Irish Red Cross on Tuesday, 23 September, is designed to show ways to ease things and bring a few moments of calm into daily life.

It is organised as part of County Kildare Social Inclusion Week, and will run from 11am-12.30pm on the day.

The event will offer an introduction to the mental health supports and training available through the Irish Red Cross, relaxing and restorative mindfulness and wellness activities from their Self-Help Plus programme, and a look into Problem Management Plus, a simple yet powerful approach to managing life’s challenges.

Registration at this link. 

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Tai Chi retreat day

A Tai Chi retreat day will be held in the Old Hardware on Sunday 12 October, directed by Yuki Kobayashi. There's an option to participate for a half-day or a full day.

Sessions in the morning will feature Tai Chi for those with arthritis, and the afternoon will be devoted to 24 forms.

Booking is essential, contact Yuki at 086 3412006. The fees are €30/€50.

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School gets multi-sensory garden, courtesy Murphy International staff

A new multi-sensory garden at Scoil Bhride Athgarvan is thanks to the joint efforts of school pupils and more than 25 staff at locally-based Murphy International, writes Brian Byrne. The project was completed over the summer.

Murphy was approached by the school's Wellbeing Committee last November to sponsor the project, under the company's Giving Back Days initiative, which allows employees two paid days each year to support a community organisation, school or charity of their choice. The application was successful, and for the rest of the last school year, pupils contributed designs for the garden to the Student Council.

Murphy employees then spent over 300 hours repurposing waste and other materials during the summer, including concrete pipes, speed bumps, tree stumps, pallets and huge cable spools, into play elements for the garden, located on a previously unused patch of school land. It was officially opened last Wednesday.

Marion Sherlock, Principal of Scoil Bhríde, said it is an understatement to say that the team at Murphy has exceeded all expectations. "They took the brief the children gave them, including the focus on sustainability, and they made sure to put their needs and ideas at the heart of every element of this incredible space.” She added that the garden will, through outdoor play and exploration, support the development of motor skills for the children, aid problem-solving and spatial awareness, enhance cognitive development and focus, and help with emotional regulation.

Murphy International's Ireland operations have been headquartered in Newbridge since 1968. Managing Director John Murphy says the company is proud to have supported a variety of social value initiatives since. "What makes this particular project so impressive, however, is the fact that the creation of this garden was led by the students," he said. "The Scoil Bhríde students’ initiative and creativity made this garden happen, and they should all be very proud of what they have achieved here."

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