Have your pet's 'pawtrait' done at Kilcullen book sale

Artist Lisa will be offering unique ‘Pet Pawtraits’ at Kilcullen Town Hall, writes Brian Byrne, as part of a two-day book sale in aid of the Kildare and West Wicklow SPCA (KWWSPCA) in late April.

On Saturday, 25 April, visitors are invited to bring a photo of their pet, and Lisa will create a cartoon-style portrait while they browse the book stalls. The portraits could also be popular as personalised keepsakes and gifts from pet owners' friends.

The book sale will take place on Friday, 24 April, and Saturday, 25 April. Opening hours are from 11am to 5pm on the Friday and from 11am to 4pm on the Saturday. A very large selection of books will be on offer, with most priced at €1.

Donations of books are welcome in advance of the event. Anyone wishing to contribute is asked to contact Sally on 087 6803295.

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Table Quiz for Lucy and Sandra's Camphill holiday project

The next fundraiser in the Lucy and Sandra Camino Challenge for a holiday for Bridge Camphill residents will be a Table Quiz this Friday evening, 9 May.

The event is in Fallon’s and will include spot prizes and a raffle.

€40 per table of four — tables can be booked at Eventbrite here.

It's the initiative of Lucy Coade and Sandra Quigley, who work with Bridge Camphill and are undertaking a 100km sponsored trek along the Camino de Santiago later this month.

All funds raised will go towards providing a holiday in September for some of the 16 permanent residents in Bridge Camphill.

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More support for Thomas's Saplings Cycle

A massive thank you to everyone who supported Thomas's cycle, writes Grainne McGrath. On Sunday last nearly €2,000 was raised, but it has since reached €2,500.

The principal in Saplings Carlow is very grateful and the school community has raised enough to secure a speech and language therapist for the pupils, starting in the next few weeks.

Many thanks again for all your support, it was a memorable day.

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Kildare Animal Foundation needs your help

Kildare Animal Foundation is running critically low on funds and desperately needs donations, writes Mary Travers. Because of the current situation with Covid-19, we are unable to carry out our usual fundraising activities — street collections are currently not permitted and we have had to postpone our annual open day. As a result funds are critically low.

The foundation takes in all kinds of sick, injured and neglected animals. At any one time there are over 100 animals being cared for by dedicated volunteers, who need your help.

No amount is too small, please consider donating whatever you can afford. You can donate to our GoFundMe campaign here, and find more information about the Foundation on our website and Facebook page.

Some stories of our animals

Darla's story
: I am old now. It was not a great home, but at least I had a home. I will never forget the day my owner took me for a drive. I had often wondered what it would be like to go in a car. We went a long way and then we stopped. I did not understand why he was dragging me out of this place. Then he drove off without me. The people here say I can stay forever, but I would love to live with a loving family, even just for a short while before I die.

Arthur’s Story: 
I tried to be a good dog. My owner was kind and good to me. We went everywhere together. Then my owner went into hospital and did not come home.
 I am waiting here with a broken heart and not a familiar face in sight.

Snowy’s Story: 
Snowy had a home for six years. The family took her at eight weeks old. Due to the housing crisis Snowy was homeless through no fault of her own and came to our shelter. She has made the best of living here with other cats but she is always to be found in her secret hideaways.

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Caroline walking the long road for cancer support

Photo by Google.

A Kilcullen woman who was supposed to take part in last Sunday's cancelled Women's Mini Marathon, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, is to take a walk from Kilcullen to Athy instead, writes Brian Byrne.

Caroline Whelan is originally from Athy but has lived in Kilcullen for five years. She plans to do the walk on Sunday 14 June, with the funds raised to be given to the Irish Cancer Society in memory of her late brother Ben. She will be supported on the journey by Kilcullen Gardai, with Gda Joanne O'Sullivan escorting her.

Caroline has set up a JustGiving funding page for those who want to support her event. The walk is 23.5km long and she is expecting to complete it in around five hours.

For a walker, it is the longest road in the county because there are so few bends to make it seem shorter.

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Progress continuing on Mozambique project

Continuing progress on the new kitchen at Fr John Bermingham's mission in Mozambique is clear in these recent photographs sent from there.

With the main construction completed, the outside walls are being plastered.

The kitchen will facilitate community and church celebrations at Fr John’s parish.

This project is supported by the money raised at last December's Miscellany on Sunday, as well as a fundraiser hosted by Maureen and Michael O'Connell at their home in Newbridge and a CD released by Gerry Loftus.

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Mission 'outdoor kitchen' goal of today's Miscellany at Berminghams

From last year's Miscellany.

The Miscellany on Sunday event taking place today, Sunday 8 December, at the Bermingham family home will raise funds for an 'outdoor kitchen' at Father John Bermingham's mission in Mozambique, writes Brian Byrne.

The kitchen will be used by some 300 women who travel long distances to the mission to meet, talk and socialise. "At the moment they cook their meals on a small pile of bricks," says Phena Bermingham. "It is hoped to also build toilets and basic washing facilities for them."

The Miscellany starts at 2pm and performers include Roy Thompson, Dick Dunphy, Dorly O'Sullivan, Gerry Loftus, Sabina Reddy, Kilcullen Gospel Choir, Angie Escarsa, students from Drama Dynamics, Stephen Nugent, Maeve Jordan, Robert Jordan, May Leonard, Gerry O'Donoghue reading from John Martin's short stories, Raphael Ryan, Fergal Sloan, and the Bermingham grandchildren — Hannah, Emma, Deirdre and their friend Rachel.

Ivan Keatley and Martin Heydon are also on the list, dispensing with their political hats for the afternoon in order to entertain.

Other performers will also be very welcome.

From the Redemptorist magazine 'The Red' earlier this year.

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Sugar Loaf climb for cancer support

Great Sugar Loaf. Pic courtesy Google.

Fundraising for the Irish Cancer Society in The Spout continues on 27 October with a climb up the Great Sugar Loaf in Co Wicklow, writes Brian Byrne.

Anyone interested in taking part in the Sugar Loaf challenge can get in touch with a staff member in the pub.

Meantime, the organisers of the weekend Jimmy's Gig have expressed their thanks to everyone involved, especially the musicians who took part, the sponsors of spot prizes, and the ticket sellers.

There's a donations link on the Irish Cancer Society's donations page for anyone who couldn't make the gig but would still like to contribute.

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Very generous response to Liver Transplant Unit night

A total of €5,204 was raised for the Liver Transplant Unit in St Vincent's Hospital at last night's event in Walls of The Priory, writes Brian Byrne.

Aoife Sully, who organised the fundraiser in conjunction with a GoFundMe appeal for the Unit, says she is thrilled at the generous response.

"I had a figure of €1,000 in my head when I started, and I'm just shocked at all the support I received," she said last evening.

Thomas Wall provided a €500 hamper for the Draw, which was won by Andrew James Nolan. "Thanks to all who donated on my go fund me page and to everyone who bought lines for the hamper draw, to all who came on the night. Thanks to Micheal and Teresa Wall and all the staff.

"I was also kindly sponsored with eight spot prizes, which were won by Craig Keegan, Annette McMahon, Mag O'Connor, Conor Kearney, Fergus Russell, Tom Crampton, and Cian Sully. Thanks again, everyone."

A cheque will be presented to the Liver Transplant Unit shortly.

Aoife was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis at the age of 11 and was this year found to have a severe cirrhosis of the liver.

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Pat and Lorraine retire from Relay

At the 2015 Kildare event, back row, Lorraine Kelly, Ronan Sweeney, Jennifer Shortt, Sabina Reddy, Eric McDonald, Pat Kelly, and (front) Teresa Meaney, Cormac Barker, Amy Barker and Brona Dooley.

After nearly five years involved in Kilcullen Relay for Life, Pat and Lorraine Kelly have decided to step down from the Kilcullen Relay for Life Team.

"We've had a great time, meeting new people and at the same raising much needed funds for cancer research," Pat told the Diary. "We also took part in four Kildare Relay for Life events, two in the Curragh racecourse and two in Punchestown Racecourse."

Pat says he'd like to thank Sabina Reddy for getting him involved and to wish Sabina and the Kilcullen team the best of luck going forward. "I would also like to thank the people of Kilcullen for their generous support and also the business people of Kilcullen and further afield for their support. I would also like to thank my friends in the music business who were generous in giving of their time.

"Finally I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a happy new year from both of us."



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SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES

WE'LL BE ADDING MORE BUSINESS GREETINGS OVER THE COMING DAYS. CLICK AGAIN. ALSO SEE OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOP LOCAL POST.

Fundraiser tonight for Damien's film

A fundraiser for Damien Aulsberry's film 'Sons & Broken Noses' will be held in The Spout Bar tonight, Friday 8 December, writes Brian Byrne.

Music will be by Unorthodox Behaviour and Moonlight Drive, and the evening will include a raffle and spot prizes.

'Sons & Broken Noses' is described by the author as an 'Irish based, contemporary western' and is being co-directed by Colin Fleming and Nigel O'Brien.

Eric Lalor and Jason Byrne play Jake and Sean, two down on their luck bank robbers whose day is about to get a whole lot worse.

Damien's screenplay won the prestigious Neo-Noir Screenplay Award at the 2017 Bogart Film Noir Shorts competition in Florida, and also won in the Wexford Film Festival.

The screenplay for 'Sons & Broken Noses' had previously won in the Wexford Film Festival.

Spout cancer fight total reaches €35,500

Brush Shiels is making a return guest appearance back in The Spout on 3 December when Jimmy Aspell and friends will be presenting a cheque to the Irish Cancer Society, writes Brian Byrne.

He'll be part of a great line-up of musicians on the night, which will include Tony Kirwan, Kevin Barnes, Colm Cahill, Gonz Houlihan, Pud Barrett and, of course, Jimmy himself.

It will be an early-starting event, playing off at 7pm.

The cheque being presented will bring to a grand total of €35,500 which has been collected by the Spout-based efforts in aid of the ICS since 2011.

There will also be a presentation of certificates of appreciation to those who took part in the head shaves as part of the fundraisers.

Kilcullen musicians for Jack & Jill concert

A concert in aid of the Jack & Jill Foundation will be held in the Town House Hotel in Naas on Friday 24 November, writes Brian Byrne.

The ticket-only event, A Ray of Hope, will feature the Big C Choir and Mile Mill-born musicians Pat and John Kelly.

Tickets at €10 are available from Jack & Jill in Naas or Newbridge, or by calling 087 0547213.

Doors open at 8pm, with dancing from 9pm-12am. There will be finger food and a raffle.

Reminder: Painting raffle for local Vincent de Paul

The Kilcullen branch of the Vincent de Paul Society has received another painting to raffle. Tickets have been on sale over the last two weeks and the society will be grateful for any support received before the draw takes place.

The raffle will be held next Wednesday.

The painting, a watercolour of the old canal bridge at Jigginstown, is a compact work, with a sense of old-world calm and an appreciation of the how the engineering achievement of the canal blends almost naturally with its pastoral setting. It would make a welcome addition to a sitting-room, a hall, a reception area or office. The photo above doesn't do it justice, but the real thing can be seen in Berneys Chemists.

Tickets in the raffle are very modestly priced at €2 each, (3 for €5 and 6 for €10) and represent an opportunity to get extraordinary value while helping a local charity.

Tickets for the raffle will be sold tomorrow, Saturday 30 September, outside Nolans, Eurospar and Centra, and will also be available during opening hours in Berneys, and the local Vincents Shop.