County Kildare News

Newbridge Public Meeting Overwhelmingly Opposes Whitewater Plans To Relocate Cinema

A public meeting held on Thursday, 17th Feb 06 in The Keadeen Hotel to discuss plans by the Whitewater Shopping Centre development to relocate the cinema from the main Centre to another site had a massive turnout with standing room only in the large room. An estimate of attendance was 450.

The meeting, hosted by Newbridge Community Development (NCD), was in response to local anger and many requests for a public meeting. The event allowed people to vent their fury and speaker after speaker spoke about how angry and disappointed they were the Whitewater developers were reneging on their original agreement to site a 6-screen cinema in the main Centre. Whitewater has lodged two planning applications with Kildare Co Council, the first looking for change of use of the cinema space to more shops and a crèche and the second looks for planning for an 8-screen cinema, food court and parking at a site beside the Athgarvan Road.

Such was the anger at the meeting there were many calls for a public demonstration to show Whitewater how their actions are perceived. NCD emphasised this had to be in conjunction with lodging objections to the applications. A protest march has been planned for Saturday, 25th February at 12 noon at The Riverbank. A committee was formed from those present at the meeting to organise this demonstration.

Whitewater's main justification for the new applications is that a 6-screen cinema is not a viable operation, which is why the new plans include an 8-screen cinema. This excuse was rejected over and over by people at the meeting. One speaker had researched the issue and found no cinemas outside Dublin and Cork with more than six screens. In the past month, planning permission was given for a 6-screen cinema in Naas. Another speaker outlined the difference in value between cinema space and retail space. It is believed that retail space is worth a multiple of cinema space.

Other concerns included health and safety issues for people and children crossing the busy Newbridge Industries road to get from the main Centre to the Cinema, and not being able to leave children at the cinema and go shopping due to the large distance between the two areas under the new plans.

The Whitewater Centre made an application in 2003 to have the cinema space changed to offices, without any provision for another cinema space. This application was rejected by Kildare County Council. Their subsequent appeal to An Bórd Pleanála was also rejected.

The Shopping Centre, a joint venture between Ballymore Properties and Mountbrook Homes comprises approx 32,000 sq metres of shopping, leisure and commercial/office space. There will be 50 retail units, a 6-screen cinema, a large food court with seating for approx 500 people and 1,700 car spaces. The overall value of the scheme when completed is estimated to be in excess of €250 million. Anchor tenants already agreed include Debenhams and Marks & Spencers.

Objections to the Whitewater applications should be sent in writing to the Chief Planning Officer, Kildare Co Council, Naas. Objections must be made in writing before the specified date, accompanied by a €20 fee and stating the reference number of the application to which you are objecting.

• Application for permission to replace existing Whitewater Cinema with shops and crèche is reference number 06/106. Objections must be lodged by 3 March 06.
• Application for permission to build new 8-screen cinema at Bradshaw site with parking for 127 cars is 06/177. Objections must be lodged by 13 March 06.

Further information available from Josephine O'Connor (085 7216942) or Orla O'Neill (087 2569661)

Are you interested in finding out more about how to maximise the packaging and labelling of your food enterprise?

KELT, the Kildare Leader Plus Company, is organising a workshop with the Food Product Development Centre (Dublin Institute of Technology) to provide support for the development of existing food business and those interested in establishing a new food business in county Kildare.
Course Cost is €40.00

Places are limited to 20 and priority will be given to those living in county Kildare.

For further information or to register your interest please contact:

Emma Jane Clarke at 045 861973 or email: emma@kelt.ie by 22nd February 2006.

Kildare Youth Services Information Centre now provide FREE Internet for those 18 and under.

All we require on your first visit is a signed Consent form for the under 15 teens with photo ID for proof of age and a signed acceptable use form. So drop into us or phone for forms and further information.

We also provide a very competitive rate for Adult at €1.50 per hour.

We also provide a free & confidential information service, so are at hand to answer your queries on issues such as careers, education, health, travel or any information you may require.

You’re welcome to Drop in and See:

Youth Information Centre, KYS, Canal Stores, Basin Street, Naas, Co. Kildare.
Tel. 045897893, Email yic@kys.ie or Text 086 868 0002 using the key word KYS

Blind Ditch presents VANLAND

An extraordinary mobile film exhibition made by young people from County Kildare and rural Teignbridge, Devon, UK.

It may look like something you tow to your favourite seaside location, but Vanland’s touring caravan is far from ordinary on the inside. In fact the two-berth caravan has been transformed into a spectacular video exhibition space containing eight different viewing stations, screening digital shorts in different combinations - projected onto windows, hidden in overhead lockers, secreted in the shower room...

Watch out for the un-missable VANLAND caravan in County Kildare as it tours the county showing digital films made by young people from the Visionswitch and Kildare Youth TV trans-national media project. All the films displayed in the caravan have been devised and produced by the young people involved - mini-documentaries, 5 minute thrillers and psychological dramas all made using the countryside of Co.Kildare and Devon as a film set!

The VANLAND caravan will be in the Old Town Hall Car Park, Newbridge on Weds 8th Feb, Thurs 9th Feb Clane venue to be confirmed 7.30pm, Athy Dominican Hall Friday 10th 1.30pm onwards and outside the library in Ballitore on Sat 11th Feb 11am onwards. For more information contact Paula Crutchlow 0044 7881 862714 or Bertha Mulvey KELT 00353 458 61973

The VISION SWITCH workshops are part of a Transnational Cooperation initiative between Devon and Co. Kildare funded by the European Leader+ programme. Since March last year Blind Ditch (UK) and the Centre for Performing Arts (Celbridge) have been running video making workshops and events with groups of young people from across the two counties. The young people involved in the project have used video making processes as a lens to compare their experiences of rural life in these different counties – exchanging video messages about their views of each others counties, made documentaries, short fictional films and music videos related to their lives.

In October 2005 a group of young people from Newbridge visited Devon to make a music video on Dartmoor. On Saturday 11th February young people from Devon will be meeting their counterparts in Ballitore for the first time when they will be taking part in film making workshops together and exchanging views on rural life!

Paula Crutchlow from Blind Ditch said:
“The VISION SWITCH project is a fantastic opportunity for both sets of young people to compare the way they live and the counties they live in whilst learning new media and communication skills. The VANLAND programme has been running very successfully in Teignbridge for two years now and everyone has had a great time building on the skills and experiences we can offer young people in the district through this exciting programme.”

Felek Werpachowski aged 15 from Devon said:
“It was a very enjoyable experience. I hope to do it again and the skills I have learned will be very useful for me for the future.”

Jeremy Parker aged 16 from Devon said: “The workshops are great as they are helping people do things that they might not be able to do by inviting them to make something they can be proud of at the end’.

Stephen Corcoran aged 17 from Ballitore said: “They are lovely people and very talented and I would love to work with them again sometime”.

George Giles, Chairman of TRRP said:
"The successful development of projects that bring rural areas together from different countries is one of the challenges of the EU LEADER+ programme. This is a great opportunity for professionals from Teignbridge and County Kildare to work with young people from both countries to develop their skills and to perhaps discover that many of the challenges and frustrations faced by young people living in rural communities are often very similar."

Chris Byrne, Chairman of KELT
“This is a very exciting project involving young people from Ireland and the UK. We are very happy to be able to support this initiative with Leader Plus funding and the young people who participated gained new life experiences and had fun being involved”.

TEMPORARY FORAY

Information and timetable sheets available on the Riverbank Website

Booking Form available here

Kildare County Council Arts Service continues its successful and innovative series ‘Temporary Foray’, of Talks ,which consists of a series of talks, screenings and workshops, taking place in Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co Kildare.

The monthly series is intended to challenge, stimulate and inform current cultural practice, using national and international models from individuals and organisations involved in cutting edge work in Cameroon, England, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico and The Netherlands.

The impetus for this initiative was the recognition by Kildare County Council of the rapid growth and development of the County and the role of ‘spaces for cultural activity’ in that context. With this in mind, Temporary Foray creates an opportunity to provide ‘food for the soul’ for participants, through engaging activity-based talks and presentations.

According to invited curator, Sally Timmons;

“The first event which took place on the 10th February allowed artists, individuals and groups to meet and engage with two artist-led collectives who are based in Dublin and Vaasa [Finland]. During the morning session, participants took part in a sewing workshop through which the Dublin-based art group – ‘Via’ introduced the working process of artist Bea McMahon who uses sources such as mathematical theory and sewing to inspire her practice. In the afternoon, ‘Platform’ – an artist-led collective based in Finland introduced some of the activities which they have undertaken in the regional town of Vaasa in west Finland which is comparable in size to Newbridge [or towns of similar size] in Co. Kildare. The event was a great success and allowed artists, students and working groups to interact and discuss issues such as - cooperation, audiences and the spaces in which cultural activities take place”

The Temporary Foray continued series will take place from 11am to 4pm on Fridays - Forthcoming invited speakers will include:

MARCH 10TH
Willie White from ‘Project’, Dublin

Live Art Development Agency, London

APRIL 7TH
Art Bakery, Cameroon

El Despacho [The Office], Mexico

MAY 12TH
Taxi Gallery, Cambridge

Cesari Pietroiusti, Rome

JUNE 16TH
Dave Beech, Manchester/London

Metropolitan Complex, Dublin

For bookings and for further details about the Temporary Foray programme contact:

Kildare County Arts Service, Riverbank, Main Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare.

Tel: Lucina Russell/Brenda Brady 045-448318 ,

E-mail: temporaryforay@gmail.com

Booking Form available here

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is seeking a person to fill a full time contract post as Environmental Education Officer at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.

The work will involve the following activities:

* preparing and designing exhibition, education and publicity materials,

* fund raising for specific projects,

* delivering training courses and providing guidance for visitors and
students,

* maintaining and updating IPCC’s web site,

* maintaining a database of library publications

* promoting business to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.

The successful applicant will have relevant teaching, education, web site, writing/publishing and fund raising experience; excellent inter-personal, communications and organisational skills; computer and internet literacy, an interest in the environment and natural habitats; a willingness to be flexible in terms of working hours and a proven record to deliver results.

The candidate will be expected to work from IPCC's head office at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare on a daily basis.

Full time 18 month employee contract valued at €36,000 to include annual leave entitlement and an extension option.

Further information www.ipcc.ie

Applications by curriculum vitae to:

Dr Catherine O’Connell, Chief Executive, Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore,
Rathangan, Co. Kildare

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 10th February 2006


Irish Peatland Conservation Council
Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Tel: 045-860133 Fax: 045-860481

Anyone with an interest in astronomy is welcome to attend this free event.

We will cater for anyone who received a telescope or binoculars for Christmas, those who would like a guided tour of the night sky or those who just want to learn more about our Universe, the Solar System, the Sun, Moon and Stars.

For those who are interested in photography, there will be a presentation on how to take pictures of celestial objects.

Everyone is welcome from all age groups. Tea and Coffee will be served. If it is cloudy or the weather is bad we have an exciting indoor line-up. If the weather is good we can enjoy a night under the stars in the beautiful castle gardens.

Please feel free to bring your own telescope or binoculars – we can show you how to use them properly. If you don’t have your own, there will be telescopes and binoculars available for you to look through.

Directions
Kilkea Castle is situated just outside Castledermot on the Castledermot road. It is easily accessible from the M9 or N78. The hotel is clearly signposted from Athy or Castledermot.

Further Information
If you require any further information you can contact Dave Power on 087 902 7984 or
Dave McDonald on 086 831 6304.

You can also email Dave McDonald at
dmcdona@eircom.net

Full details, directions and a PDF brochure are available on the KAS website at
http://www.kildareastronomy.com

Contact: Dave McDonald