It Says in The Bridge - September 2025

The front page of this month's Bridge is a photographic celebration as we return after the short summer break, writes Brian Byrne. A beautiful shot from Maeve Kavanagh shows the lush environment for wildlife that Pinkeen Stream has become, while award-winning astrophotographer Raluca Lica's views of the skies over Narraghmore and Old Kilcullen take us, literally, out of this world. 

Inside, there's lots of August colour, with pictorial coverage of the 60th anniversary of St Brigid's Avenue, the welcome at the annual Old Kilcullen Picnic on the Green, and the spectacle of the 23rd Mac & Norman Rally as it rolled through Kilcullen, raising even more funds for the Irish Cancer Society. 

Other news coverage includes a report from the launch of Nichola Kennedy's book, aimed at assisting with diagnosis of vision issues that can affect children's learning. A report on the Camphill Awards reflects people 'on a great journey', and the launch of the latest artwork in The Valley is also covered. Kayla Reid, a young dancer in the Riverdance spotlight, also gets her space in this Bridge. 

In features, there's a spread on the recent Maintain Hope trip to Ngong in Kenya by a group of the local charity's volunteers. It was the first such visit in a decade, and an eye-opener about how people in less wealthy places are coping with life under many pressures. Pressure of a different kind appears in a piece about a young 11-year-old Kilcullen boy, Christian Coby, making his mark in international karting competition. 

Among our regulars, Mary Orford looks back on little-known wrestling bouts in Kilcullen Town Hall. Noel Clare and friends went out and about for afternoon tea on a Dublin bus and visited the Wexford Fleadh. Sean Landers teamed up with his friend Robert Chan to photographically record many traces of Kilcullen's historical character. In his Did You Know? series, Eugene Brennan discusses the intricacies and importance of calibrating weirs, especially the one at the Mill Stream bridge at New Abbey. 

Not far from there, Billy Redmond shares poetic lines about the roads around McGarry's Lane, and there is poetry too from Creative Writers member Celia Murphy, performed by her at the JuneFest Summer Miscellany. 

The KCA News section records a summer full of colour and celebration for the group, on behalf of the town. There are no schools this month, as they have been on summer break, but the Community Childcare provided pictures of their summer fun, birthday celebrations, pizza, and sport. 

As always, much more in Kilcullen's community magazine, still going strong at 55 years young. Usual outlets, usual price. Enjoy.

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Wildlife happy in Pinkeen Stream

This picture, posted on the Kilcullen Wildlife Awareness & Protection Facebook page by Rachel O'Sullivan-Creighton, demonstrates the value of keeping the Pinkeen Stream healthy.

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Councillor to pursue safety signage on 'The Avenue'

The need for warning signage at the crossing point to Pinkeen Bridge on Cnoc na Greine Avenue will continue to be pursued by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, writes Brian Byrne. This follows a 'no budget' answer this week to her motion for a safety assessment at the location.

At the monthly meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District, the councillor had stressed the need for safety measures, including signage, to alert drivers to pedestrians crossing the road. The bridge was installed in 2022 and is now widely used by children and parents walking from the school to the Castlemartin and Cnoc na Greine estates.

In response to her motion the MD office agreed to include the location for an assessment, but noted that there's a 'long list' of traffic calming requests "and no available budget for assessments or works."

Cllr O'Dwyer told the Diary that the location will be listed for traffic calming assessment in 2026. "However the location I believe would benefit from signage, and I will pursue this," she said.

A similar motion about traffic calming at Logstown received a similar answer from the officials.

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Councillor to raise Kilcullen traffic safety issues

A need for traffic calming measures at the approach to Logstown on the Carnalway road is to be highlighted at the next meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge MD, writes Brian Byrne. In a motion to the meeting, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer is requesting an assessment of the location.

She is proposing the measures should be implemented at the start of the residential row of houses at Logstown.

In a separate motion, Cllr O'Dwyer is seeking an assessment of what safety measures, including signage, can be installed at the Cnoc na Greine Avenue pedestrian crossing point from Pinkeen Bridge, to alert drivers about the crossing.

The meeting will be next Wednesday 16 April 2025, starting at 10am in the Council Chamber.

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"If we have to change a light bulb, I have to make sure money is there for that light bulb"

Enda O'Neill, Daragh Fitzgerald, Cathy Phelan and Ann Sheridan.

All involved with Kilcullen Community Centre were thanked at the centre's recent AGM for making 2024 another very successful year for the facility, writes Brian Byrne. Outgoing chair Cathy Phelan particularly mentioned the centre's staff and the warm welcome they gave to people and groups who use the facility. 

She paid tribute to Kilcullen Community Action for their work in enhancing the grounds of the campus and the Pinkeen Stream access road. "The Centre just looks amazing when people are driving in," she said. She also welcomed new members Orla Crehan and Colleen Devine to the Board, saying their experience and knowledge will be a great asset. 

Noting that the centre is dependent on grants for any work that needs to be done, she referenced the successful completion of updating the lease on the property, which will now allow access to larger grants previously unavailable. In relation to increasing income, she said that use of the various areas has been at almost maximum capacity over the past year. "We still have a couple of spaces in the centre which we are striving to get open, which will increase the capacity and bring in more people and more money. A sub-committee is working on these and we hope to get that in place this year."

Treasurer Daragh Fitzgerald said the 2023 accounts showed a 27pc increase on turnover from the previous year when the operation was just coming out of Covid. Excluding depreciation, this represented a positive figure of €24,000 compared to €11,000 in 2022 and he also reported a reduction in operating costs to 78pc of turnover, from 89pc. Commenting on provisional management figures for 2024, he said a further 15pc in turnover represented a 'great performance'. He singled out the contribution of the Coffee Hatch, up by 22pc as 'a great success'. "The Coffee Hatch has been a great idea. A lot of new businesses don't perform for a few years but that has performed from the start."

The treasurer said the centre's operating profit for 2024 should be similar to the previous year, but while the operation is maximising resources and cash flows, it is difficult to build an investment fund. He noted that in running costs, 'wages is the big one'. "We don't have Community Employment Scheme support because it's impossible to get people onto the scheme. We're constantly looking for someone but they're just not there."

Cathy Phelan said everything is being done in the centre to bring in more money than needed for running costs. "It's very hard to get ahead when you're trying to pay wages, electricity, insurance and everything like that." She noted that five years ago there was just one paid employee, now there are four, three of them on 20-hour weeks. "We want people to come and have a good experience. We want the centre to be clean, to be warm, and you can't do that on a shoestring, even though we are doing that at the minute."

On a suggestion from the floor that extra costs should be reflected in the pricing to users, manager Enda O'Neill said the officers had looked at other similar facilities and Kilcullen had to be competitive with them. "We're one of the few community centres in the country that is self-funded," he said. "A problem I have is that the general population out there think we are funded from somewhere else, but our funding is from the community. If we have to change a light bulb, I have to make sure that the money is there for that light bulb."

READ: Critical Community Centre lease is signed

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Significant interest in Kilcullen Settlement Plan

A steady stream of people visited this afternoon's public consultation on the Kilcullen Settlement Plan proposed for integration into the Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029, writes Brian Byrne. The event was organised by Kildare County Council in Kilcullen Heritage Centre, and among the new objectives in the KSP are a greenway routed alongside Pinkeen Stream and the construction of an eastern side bypass road around the town.

The KSP will replace the previous standalone Kilcullen Local Area Plan 2014-2020 and includes an updated set of aspirational objectives. The commentary says the plan involves 'limited' changes compared to the old LAP. The written statement is accompanied by a screening of habitats, a Strategic Environmental Assessment, a Flood Risk Assessment of the town riverside area, and a Surface Water Management Strategy. One map at the event displayed objectives of the KSP, others were related to zoning, green infrastructure, mobility, flood risk, and heritage.

A number of the listed objectives were not in the old LAP, or have been reworded in more specific language. Key takeaways include the promotion of active travel, reductions in on-street parking, additional or improved pedestrian and cycling facilities with permeability between existing and new developments, and improvements to the quality of Kilcullen Main Street.

New to this plan is a proposal to provide a 'greenway' route from the Athy Road at the Business Park, along by Pinkeen Stream and back to the riverside area near the bridge at the Camphill property. There's also a commitment to examine the feasibility of a route needed for a relief road to the east of the town and, crucially, to seek the construction of this road, which would require a new crossing of the River Liffey.

In addition to officials from KCC, public representatives present included Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer and Cllr Chris Pender.

The Diary will provide a number of posts with more detail of the KSP over the coming two weeks. The various sections are available to view in Kilcullen Community Library or online here. 

Submissions or observations can be made up to 4pm on Wednesday 20 November.

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Tracey reflects on a councillor's life

Tracey cutting sod for the Pinkeen pedestrian bridge, and as Leas-Cathaoirleach of KCC.

"I never expected it to be so full-on, as in the seven days-24 hours kind of job that you could get a call at any time." 

When Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer was elected to Kildare County Council just over four and half years ago, she recalls not knowing at all what to expect, writes Brian Byrne. "Except that I hadn't expected to be elected in the first place, really," she told the Diary as she contemplates the chances of a second term, again under the Fine Gael banner. "But it has been a phenomenal experience, and I have absolutely loved it."

Her first term nearly done, and hopeful for re-election so that she can complete a list of projects she brought to the job in June 2019, Tracey has no doubts about the high points of her last 55 months. "It's the people. The people I've met as constituents, the people I've worked with in the Council, and my own community which has been so supportive ... and at the same time not afraid to tell me a few home truths and keep me grounded. The laughs we have shared, and sometimes the tears, the people are definitely the highlight for me."

The councillor is equally clear on the downsides in the job. "It's the frustrations that I've felt when things don't go as quickly as they should. When projects are slowed because of bureaucracy and red tape. Mostly because of government policies, or changes in policies that mean a project cut off before it's finished. The erosion of the power of local authorities, and obstructions often put in their way by government can be just like having to do a job with one hand tied behind our back." She is also critical of the 'shifting of goalposts' by state departments which makes longer-term projects 'very hard to plan'.

By nature Tracey O'Dwyer is a 'people person', which has probably stood to her in the political arena of the Council chamber. But politicisation at local representative level was something of a surprise. "I don't come from a political background, which was probably a good thing. But I may have been somewhat naive going in, thinking that we were all always working together for those who put us there. After about a year I had realised the extent of the politics. If an issue becomes contentious in Council, it is usually politics and point scoring. But most of the time we get on with the work when it matters, which I believe is the important thing."

Tracey with local business people at a meeting she arranged with Minister Neale Richmond and Martin Heydon.

A councillor's job is a lot of things, from arranging for the repairs to roads to helping people with applications for housing, to getting pedestrian crossings and bridges built, and all the way through to giving their view on major long term local area and county plans. Tracey O'Dwyer is very clear on the value of councillors' input into such key decisions. "It's hugely important. As councillors dealing with our own areas and the people for whom we work, we know the real issues on the ground. Our input into LAPs and the County plan makes sure that they are real documents for people, and not written at such a high level that all they do is gather dust on a shelf somewhere. We bring community and people's lives to the discussions, which bring those documents to life." But do those who elect their councillors appreciate the work done on their behalf? Tracey O'Dwyer believes that they do, though they may not completely understand the role of the local public representatives. "Until you're in it, there's no way you can understand it. I didn't until I got into the job, and I'm still learning about it every day more than four years later."

The upcoming election on the face of it could be a distraction over the next five months for those seeking re-election. Tracey O'Dwyer will be doing the requisite door-to-door canvas for votes between now and June. "But from the day you're elected, I think you're always canvassing. You're working on behalf of all those in your electoral area, you're checking if what they need is being done. You watch how Council spending is being allocated and you make sure that your area is getting its share. In fringe areas like Kilcullen and Brannockstown, where I'm from, it's very important to have a councillor representing them. It brings focus, it brings money — if I'm not sitting at the table, banging my fist and looking for that money for my people, it will go elsewhere."

Tracey with the Kilcullen Lions cinema group.

Tracey still has a list of things that she wants done for her area. They're on an Excel spreadsheet that she brought to the Council on her first day in the job. "My MD engineer laughed and said I was the only councillor she knew who used a spreadsheet. But that's my list, and I've been sticking to it, chipping away at it for the last four years. As well as doing all the day to day reactive stuff, I'm still working off that list, and I'm hoping that I'll be re-elected to make sure everything on it gets finished."

Tracey with Eleanor McEvoy at the launch of Brigid 1500 programme.

So, looking back at four and a half years, would she recommend the job to others, especially young people coming up? "Yes, I absolutely would. But it's a huge commitment, and if you have a family they have to buy into it too. There's a time in your life when it suits you, and that's different for everyone. But it is hugely rewarding." She freely admits the experience has 'upended her life', and the life of her family. But she has absolutely no regrets. "It upended us in a good way. It has enriched our lives and it has also given us an appreciation of how lucky we are."

NOTE: This article was first published in The Kildare Nationalist.

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Kilcullen Tidy Towns 2023 - the Report

Library Community Garden: 'excellent development'.

The Kilcullen Tidy Towns effort for 2023 did very well in a number of adjudication areas, and still has a way to go in others, writes Brian Byrne.

An overall marking score of 65pc from the total available might on first glance seem a bit low, but when seen against the national winner Abbeyleix's 68pc it actually indicates a conservative marking regime for the whole competition with gaps between contesting communities actually quite short.

The Kilcullen results in the Adjudication Report show very strong performances in four of the seven areas of judging, topped by work in Nature and Biodiversity gaining three extra points over 2022 and scoring 82pc of the possible marks. The sectors of Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes enjoyed a 73pc score, while Community Planning & Involvement achieved 71pc and Green Spaces & Landscaping 69pc.

From this analysis, the areas below par are Sustainability (44pc), Streetscapes & Public Places (55pc) and Tidiness & Litter Control (61pc). Residential Streets & Housing Areas scored the 65pc average. The overall result represents a steadily continuing improvement through the dedicated work of the volunteers and CE operatives in Kilcullen Community Action-Tidy Towns.

The Adjudication Report references the 25 years in which Kilcullen has been a participant in Tidy Towns, which has allowed the group to establish 'a strong network of supporters and partnerships', and it notes particularly an ‘excellent’ engagement with schools.

Commenting on the acquisition in recent years of a community polytunnel, the adjudicators said it will be a ‘wonderful asset’ on progress towards sustainable planting, and ultimately a sustainable community.

The streetscape and overall built environment came in for some positive comment, a number of buildings particularly attracting attention — including pubs, shops and the Library and church. Noting the successful publication of the Kilcullen Design Statement, the report particularly references the ‘wonderful’ level of public consultation involved. The new town approach signage also garners congratulation, including the one for tourist information.

In the area of Green Spaces & Landscaping, the Community Garden at the Library is lauded as ‘an excellent development’ and the report especially commends the free access to its fruit and vegetables and the amenity’s wildlife habitat creation. Container planting along the main street attracts a ‘beautiful’ comment, while planting in the grounds of CPC and along Pinkeen Stream also gets strong praise. The maintenance of the Valley Park and Fairy Trail also adds to Kilcullen’s performance in this area.

The adjudicators were impressed with the Kilcullen work on helping nature and biodiversity, giving particular mention to the information panels that help to raise awareness in this area. Native tree planting and wildflower meadows are noted favourably in the report, as are the ongoing efforts on the elimination of invasive species.

In the area of sustainability, initiatives such as the recycling of old compost, installing a solar-powered pump for irrigation in the polytunnel, and talks hosted for householders on home energy saving are all noted with approval. An energy audit on the sheltered housing for older people is also in train.

The adjudicators were impressed with litter control which seems to work ‘surprisingly well’ for Kilcullen despite the absence of litter collection or path sweeping by the council. The cleanliness of the river banks and the absence of graffiti during the adjudicating visit are noted.

The report congratulates the attractive entrances to residential estates which ‘seem to be the norm’ in Kilcullen. There is equally positive commentary on the management of green areas and spaces for biodiversity in estates, along with tree-planting.

Remarking that the new bridge over Pinkeen Stream is a 'great facility' accommodating both pedestrians and cyclists, the adjudicators also comment on the new footpath on the Sunnyhill Road as facilitating 'safe passage'. The landscaped surrounds of the town signs on the approach road also attract positive mention, with the report suggesting that similar street nameplates should be the next step.

Negatives noted in the report include the need for painting the boundary wall of the library, cigarette ends and some gum staining on the footpaths, and the ‘visual clutter’ of overhead service cables. Proper surfacing of the church and mart car parks is also advised. But the overall conclusion is that 'Kilcullen is a successful combination of old and new in its built environment and presents and celebrates its natural environment for the benefit of the local and wider community and the conservation and protection of the natural environment'.

The full marking by sector was:

Community – Your Planning and Involvement 57/80(+2)

Streetscape & Public Places 44/80(+2)

Green Spaces and Landscaping 55/80(+2)

Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality 45/55(+3)

Sustainability – Doing more with less 24/55(+3)

Tidiness and Litter Control 55/90(+2)

Residential Streets & Housing Areas 36/55(+2)

Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes 40/55(+2)

TOTAL 356/550

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Yellow lines do NOT indicate pickup zones

The Diary has been asked to remind those collecting children from Scoil Bhride not to park on the double yellow lines on Cnoc na Greine Avenue (colloquially known as 'The Long Mile'), writes Brian Byrne.

The lines were laid down following the construction of the pedestrian bridge crossing Pinkeen Stream (below), which is now widely used by children and parents walking from the school to the Castlemartin and Cnoc na Greine estates.

Parking on the double yellows interrupts the sight-lines both for cars using the road and those using the bridge, and creates conditions for a serious accident. There is ample pickup parking outside Scoil Bhride and on the access road to the Community Centre.

Also, and separately, the Cnoc na Greine Residents Association have appealed for cars not to park at the pedestrian access to the GAA grounds at the top end of the Avenue, for the same road safety reasons. Again, there is ample parking in the GAA grounds.

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Newbridge Road closed tomorrow

A reminder that the Newbridge Road just beyond Pinkeen Bridge will be closed all day tomorrow for resurfacing works, writes Brian Byrne.

Diversions will be in place from 6am-6pm, but traffic through and around  Kilcullen is likely to be significantly more difficult than usual.

Leave extra time if you have to make local journeys. And be patient ...

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Kilcullen Climate Action study reveals wide-ranging biodiversity

At the launch of the biodiversity plan were Julie O'Donoghue, Mark Reid, Cliona Kelliher and ecologist Nuala Madigan.

The level of biodiversity in Kilcullen is not reflected in the local species which are registered with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, writes Brian Byrne. This was one conclusion of a survey that preceded the production of a Study and Community Biodiversity Plan, launched on Tuesday night in Kilcullen Town Hall.

The Study was commissioned by Kilcullen Community for Climate Action, and centred around four defined areas — a wild area behind Avondale and a green space behind Kilcullen Mart, the Valley riverside walk, and Pinkeen Stream.

Funded by Community Foundation Ireland, the Study was carried out by ecologist Nuala Madigan. A desktop research was carried out on each of the selected areas, and draft habitat maps drawn up with the aid of satellite imagery. A review to establish any sites of cultural importance or areas of special conservation within the sites was also undertaken. Field work included investigating what species were present at each location during site visits carried out in 2022. The survey found, among some 120 identified, species of butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies, birds, flowering plants, ferns and trees. Details of all species found were submitted to the National Biodiversity Data Centre, to improve their records for the Kilcullen area.

In the document launched this week as the Kilcullen Community for Climate Action Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2033, 13 of the species recorded were 'introduced' as opposed to native, and one was classed as 'migratory'. "The species list presented in this plan should be considered as a representative sample of the diversity of wildlife in the area and not considered a complete list," the ecologist noted. "Weather, time of year and even the time of the day the survey was undertaken can all have an impact of the variety of biodiversity recorded. It does however provide an increased sample of biodiversity within the area that will improve the online presence of diversity of species on the National Biodiversity Data Centre website."

Recommendations are made in the plan for each habitat area surveyed, where the community can take action to maintain and enhance biodiversity within Kilcullen, but the report cautions that any work undertaken should have no impact on existing biodiversity. "Sometimes we don’t need to do anything for biodiversity, simply enjoy the sounds and colours they share with us," the author notes.

Kilcullen Community for Climate Action say they are very pleased with the study and plan. "It is absolutely brilliant," says Mark Reid. "A huge amount of work has been done. What struck me is that there's a large amount of information that hasn't been captured about biodiversity in Kilcullen. We should be doing a lot more on that."

Ecologist Nuala Madigan, who gave a talk at the launch, said that while there is much bad news about biodiversity loss, 'a lot can be done'. "Looking after our biodiversity is all about the community taking ownership of it, getting all the community organisations to take part. It's a matter of getting invested in it." She added that the interest in biodiversity from young people offers great hopes for the future. "I was in Scoil Bhride last year talking to the pupils, and they are very much engaged in it."

Kilcullen Community for Climate Action have placed all the documentation related to the project on a public Google Drive space for anyone to access. "The overarching feeling I came away with from Nuala's presentation was that education and awareness is key," says the group's Cliona Kelliher, "which is what our group is trying to do." 

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