Hitting the Stardust notes

Noeleen Eston and Joe O'Neill.

While Noeleen Eston is familiar to her many customers as Kilcullen's postmistress, it may be that only a few of them know of her double life, writes Brian Byrne.

Because when she's not working behind her counter, she's quite likely to be on a stage somewhere, singing with Joe O'Neill under his famous musical family's 'Stardust' banner.

It's a pretty new departure for Noeleen, who became engaged to Joe last year. "I sang a song at the family's 'October Seis' a couple of years ago, and they said I should do more," she says. "So now Joe and I, and his brother Kevin when he's available, perform regularly in Laois, Carlow and Kildare."

Stardust don't do pubs, but they are familiar performers in ballrooms, hotels and clubs in the region. Joe and Noeleen have recently taken up a residency in the Crookstown Inn on Sunday nights, which has started adult dancing sessions.

Other regular slots include the Manor Hotel in Abbeyleix, Eire Og in Carlow, and Napper Tandy's in Stradbally. "We also do weddings, and any kind of parties and functions. And since Joe took early retirement from Kildare County Council, we do a lot of nursing homes entertainment during the week."

Noeleen can take the time because she has her sister Colette and her daughter Natasha helping out part-time in Kilcullen PO, a sub-branch which she took over at the end of 2005. Previously she had worked in Newbridge PO for nine years, and on the Curragh for three. It's very much in the family blood, as another sister runs the PO in Athboy, and for a time Noeleen also operated the sub-office in Kells, Co Meath.

"I originally worked as an instructor in the clothing trade, working contracts for Forbhairt and FAS in companies to show them how to operate more efficiently. But when the clothing trade died, I was fortunate to be able to get into the Post Office because I had previously worked in the service."

Stardust is a long O'Neill family tradition in Athy. Joe's father, also Joe, was the leader of the Stardust Orchestra which performed at dance venues all over the country during the 1940s and 1950s, alongside the greats like Mick Del and Maurice Mulcahy. Joe Snr also founded the St Joseph's Boys Band and later the CBS Brass and Reed Orchestra. When he died in 1989, he left a large family of musicians to carry on the musical work.

Every October, the family commemorates Joe Snr by holding an October Seis weekend in some part of the world where one of them lives. The proceeds go to a charity nominated by the member who organises it. Since 2006 the Seiseanna have been held in Cavan, Tewkesbury in the UK, New York, Naas, Westport and Athy.

This article was first published on the Kilcullen page of the Kildare Nationalist.

Local song on latest Stardust CD

If you're looking for a last minute stocking filler for a local music lover, you should nip in to Kilcullen Post Office, writes Brian Byrne.

There you'll get not just one, but two CDs with a very local interest — 'Christmas with Stardust in Carnalway' and 'On the Roads of Kildare'. Both feature our postmistress Noeleen Eston with Joe O'Neill, the duo otherwise known as Stardust.

'Christmas with Stardust in Carnalway' features a song written by local balladeer Frank Morrow, 'Carnalway', with vocals performed by Joe and Noeleen, and arrangement by Joe.

'On the Roads of Kildare' has 13 tracks comprising songs and instrumentals of 'Stardusted' material ranging from much loved standards like Teresa O'Donnell's 'Tears of an Exile' through Johnny Cash's 'Forty Shades of Green' to the title 'Roads of Kildare' by John Duggan. Only recently released, the CD has been so popular they've had to order a second pressing.

Joe and Noeleen recently took part in the annual O'Neill family 'October Seis', this year in New York City, where they entertained in a range of Irish pubs and other Irish locations, helping to raise money for Irish emigrants support.

Stardust in New York

If you were wondering where our postmistress Noeleen Eston and her partner Joe O'Neill have been this last week, well, they've been sprinkling a little Stardust in the Big Apple, writes Brian Byrne.

And in the process, helping to raise funds for the Emerald Isle Immigration Center in New York, which provides resources, advice and active help for immigrants to the US.

Noeleen and Joe are in New York for the annual 'October Seis' gig organised by members of the O'Neill family in memory of Joe O'Neill Snr from Athy, who founded the Stardust Orchestra that toured dance venues across Ireland in the 40s and 50s.

Each year the Seis is held in a different part of the world, where there is a member of the O'Neill family or their friends, with a local charity or benevolent organisation being the recipient of the funds raised.

Since 2006 the October Seis gigs have been held in Cavan, Tewkesbury in the UK, Naas, Westport, and Athy itself, as well as previously in New York. Joe Snr also founded the St Joseph's Boys Band and later the CBS Brass and Reed Orchestra. When he died in 1989, he left a large family of musicians to keep the tunes ringing.

The main gig at the weekend for the Immigrant Center took place at Jack Demsey's Restaurant & Bar on West 33rd Street.

Joe and Noeleen have their own 'Stardust' operation here in Ireland playing ballrooms and hotels on a regular basis in the Leinster area. They also regularly entertain in nursing homes here, and continued that on Friday afternoon with a performance at the Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home on Manhattan's Upper East East Side. They then repaired to the nearby Ryan's Daughter Bar & Restaurant for some further musical sessions.

"We also dropped in to Rosie O'Grady's to see Frances Brennan from Old Kilcullen," Noeleen told the Diary over the weekend. "She sends her regards to everybody back home."

Joe and Noeleen are currently working on a new album, as yet un-named, and we picture them recording rece.ntly in the WL studios near Castledermot. Their previous CD, 'Nobody's Darling but Mine' was released last year and was very successful for the duo.

Noeleen on new CD from Stardust

A new CD from 'Stardust', with which Kilcullen's postmistress Noeleen Eston is a vocalist, has required a second pressing since it was released a couple of weeks ago, writes Brian Byrne. And that's before its formal launch planned for next month.

The CD — 'Nobody's Darling but Mine' — has 11 tracks which range from the Nino Rosso instrumental 'Ilsilenzio' through the Merle Haggard-penned title track to Wath Murphy's composition, the old and very favourite 'Rose of Mooncoin'. Vocals are by Noeleen and Joe, and instrumentals are from Joe's keyboard.

Stardust is a long O'Neill musical family tradition from Athy, currently led by the popular Joe O'Neill. Joe's father, also Joe, was the leader of the Stardust Orchestra which performed at dance venues all over the country during the 1940s and 1950s, alongside the greats like Mick Del and Maurice Mulcahy. Joe Snr also founded the St Joseph's Boys Band and later the CBS Brass and Reed Orchestra. When he died in 1989, he left a large family of musicians to carry on the musical work.

Noeleen has been with the band for a couple of years since they first heard her sing at a family gathering. With Joe's brother Kevin, the duo regularly perform at venues like the Manor Hotel in Abbeyleix, Eire Og in Carlow, and Napper Tandy's in Stradbally. "We also do weddings, and any kind of parties and functions. And since Joe took early retirement from Kildare County Council, we do a lot of nursing homes entertainment during the week."

'Nobody's Darling but Mine' is the kind of album that triggers memories and nostalgia, and maybe it's the current dark days of winter that is partly responsible for making it so popular even before it is officially launched. This is the time of year when we all need to be cheered up with thoughts of good times and good music.

It was recorded at the Orion studio in Co Wicklow.

'Stardust' CD launch on Sunday

The official launch of the CD 'Nobody's Darling But Mine' by Stardust will take place in the Town House Hotel Naas, next Sunday between 3-6pm.

The CD has already been very successful for Stardust — Joe O'Neill of Athy and Noeleen Eston who runs Kilcullen's Post Office — since it had its recent 'soft' launch, and it is getting strong airplay on the country music programmes on local radio throughout Leinster.

The event on Sunday will be an open afternoon of free music and refreshments. In addition to Stardust there will be a number of other musical groups and individuals performing, including Tunesmiths, Paul Flynn of the Breakaways, Jim Malone of Fifth Degree with Mary Malone, Kilcullen's Jimmy Aspell, and Nass singer Johnny Dwyer.

Everybody is welcome to go along and enjoy themselves at the event, which will be compered by Kevin Fitzpatrick Lawlor of Midland Radio.

Stardust for the Teach tonight

A concert by Stardust and friends in Fallons in Kilcullen tonight will be the latest in a line of fundraising events for the Teach na nDaoine Centre being developed from the Old Dispensary, writes Brian Byrne.

Stardust is the husband and wife duo Noeleen Eston and Joe O’Neill, and a number of fellow musicians will be joining them tonight.

The show is in the back room of Fallons, with tickets on sale at €10, from Kilcullen Post Office and from members of the Teach na nDaoine Committee.

The Teach na nDaoine project received full planning permission late last year, which includes an extension to the rear of the current building, which will make possible an extensive range of services, particularly to older people in the community, when it is completed.

Preparatory work to secure the former Dispensary building and make it safe for development was carried out last year by volunteers.

The project is currently in the process of clearing the various statutory certificates required before building can commence. This should be completed shortly.

A €45,000 grant from the National Lottery was received towards the funding requirements last November, and this is being supplemented by a range of fundraising events, including the ballroom dancing classes running on Monday nights in the Cross & Passion Hall.

Stardust 'Teach' gig raises €2,145 for project

The amount of money raised at last Saturday’s Stardust concert in aid of Teach na nDaoine was €2,145, writes Brian Byrne.

The initiative by the band, whose key members are Noeleen Eston and her husband Joe O’Neill of Kilcullen Post Office, was their way of ‘giving something back’ for the support the local Post Office receives from the community.

The cheque is being handed over here to Steve Kinneavy of the Teach na nDaoine project steering committee.

Joe and Noeleen's concert for the Teach

A concert by Stardust and friends in Fallons in Kilcullen at the Easter weekend will be the latest in a line of fundraising events for the Teach na nDaoine Centre being developed from the Old Dispensary, writes Brian Byrne.

Stardust is the husband and wife duo Noeleen Eston and Joe O’Neill, and a number of fellow musicians will be joining them on the night.

The show, on Saturday 15 April, will be in the back room of Fallons, with tickets on sale at €10, from Kilcullen Post Office and from members of the Teach na nDaoine Committee.

A raffle will also be held in association with the night.

The Teach na nDaoine project received full planning permission late last year, which includes an extension to the rear of the current building, which will make possible an extensive range of services, particularly to older people in the community, when it is completed.

Preparatory work to secure the former Dispensary building and make it safe for development was carried out last year by volunteers.

The project is currently in the process of clearing the various statutory certificates required before building can commence. A committee member expects this process to be completed within two months.

A €45,000 grant from the National Lottery was received towards the funding requirements last November, and this is being supplemented by a range of fundraising events, including ballroom dancing classes running on Monday nights in the Cross & Passion Hall.

Swinging night with Stardust for the Teach

A great night was had by all at last night’s Stardust gig in Fallons, in aid of funds for Teach na nDaoine.

The Diary was unable to attend, but these pictures courtesy of Noel Clare give a flavour of the event, which was organised by Noeleen Eston and Joe O’Neill.

Swinging launch of Joe and Noeleen's CD

There was a swinging afternoon had by all at the recent launch the the Naas Town House Hotel of the latest 'Stardust' CD, Nobody's Darling But Mine, by Kilcullen Post Office duo Joe O'Neill and Noeleen Eston. The CD is going great, they say, and Kevin Lawler Fitzpatrick of Midland Radio 103 was MC for the event.

That was the week that was

You can get a flavour of what interests Kilcullen people by looking back at what posts attracted most attention during a week of the Diary, writes Brian Byrne. Of course, depending on what day of the week the post was made, the stats will be slewed, but the broad snapshot has its place.

This past week there was no doubt about the main story — the locking of the gates at St Brigid's Cemetery. With immediate linking through in the 24 hours following the post, and consistent, if tapering, links along the rest of the week.

Not a long way behind was the news of the provision of a glass and cans recycling facility in Kilcullen, and if the update we posted about it being re-located within a few days is added, then it passed out the cemetery story, just about. There's obviously an interest in the environment.

Some fascination too with the arrival of the water meter installation crews, which have been working their way down from the north end of town, the distinctive orange fences making quite a splash (ouch!) on the streetscape.

The new Stardust CD featuring our local postmistress Noeleen Eston with Joe O'Neill also got its share of hits, as did almost equally the late part of the week report on the German language afternoon for the Second Year students in CPC.

After that it was the news that the new Childcare Centre build was ready for roofing, if weather permitted, that drew most attention. Closely followed by the Cecil Day Lewis Awards notice. Our Top Ten for the week filled out with Roy Thompson's musing on the difference between Garth Brooks and his own world class acts in the BAG and Cunninghams Upstairs, and finally the Lotto Draw results.

For the record, the biggest interest in the whole month was the roundup of happenings in 2013, a year that it seems a lot of people did actually want to remember.

The passing of Joe O'Neill (Rosslare/Athy)

The Diary has learned of the death of Joe O'Neill, Rosslare Harbour and formerly of Athy.

A member of the Stardust band, Joe's passing is deeply regretted by his wife Noeleen (formerly of Kilcullen Post Office), Des, Sandra, Natasha, his brothers and sisters and extended family.

His funeral Mass will be in St Patrick’s Church, Rosslare Harbour on Wednesday at 1pm and will be live streamed on churchmedia.ie. Burial afterwards in St Aidan’s Cemetery, Kilrane.

May he rest in peace.

Weatherday: Stardust

That cold overnight has left frosty conditions and possible icy patches on roads. Early cloud will bring occasional showers, some wintry.

But it will clear for the afternoon, with good sunny spells and a clear night with further below-freezing conditions. Highest temperature 3deg in light northwesterly breeze.

On this day in 2004, dust was collected from the comet Wild 2 by a NASA spacecraft. The material was later found to include glycine, an amino acid essential for the formation of life.

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Kilcullen Post Office up for tender next week

The operation of Kilcullen's Post Office will be going for tender next week, writes Brian Byrne.

Noeleen O'Neill, who has run the business for the last 12 years, is planning to retire at the end of the summer.

Against a background of the suggested closure of 161 post offices around the country, it is unlikely that Kilcullen is on that list, as An Post has reaffirmed its previous commitment that communities of over 500 people will continue to have a Post Office.

The Kilcullen Post Office was previously operated by the Shortt family, across the road from the current location in the Eurospar supermarket. They retired in January 2006, and the business was relocated in August of that year.

It was refurbished and extended in November 2013.

Noeleen, who sings in the 'Stardust' group with her husband Joe, says she is feeling a bit sad at the prospect of leaving as she loves Kilcullen.

"But I'm hoping to do a few new songs and maybe some more recordings," she says.



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Weatherday: Ballroom inferno

Another wet and windy morning. Rain will continue until the afternoon, with heavy bursts up to lunchtime. A clearance to brighter weather in the early evening.

Milder than lately, highest temperature 10deg. Near gale winds from the south will moderate later.

On this day in 1981, the Stardust Ballroom in Dublin was destroyed by fire, leaving 48 young people dead and injuring more than 100 others.

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Sharon wins Teach fundraiser raffle

Sharon Meenahan has won the Easter Hamper which was raffled by Noeleen Eston, Kilcullen postmistress, in aid of Teach na nDaoine, writes Brian Byrne.

Sharon is seen here accepting the hamper from Noeleen, in the company of her daughter Tilly and her father William.

The hamper was sponsored by Eurospar Kilcullen and Noeleen.

With her husband Joe O'Neill, Noeleen will be performing as Stardust at a concert on Saturday night in Fallons, also in aid of the Teach na nDaoine fund.

All welcome to what will be a great musical night.