County Kildare News

Kildare Community Partnership and OAK Partnership Small Grants Scheme 2008.

Invitation to Community Groups

1. Are you a voluntary organisation/community group operating on a not for profit basis in the following areas. Balhareen; Celbridge; Donaghcumper; Leixlip; Maynooth; Straffan; Bodenstown; Donore; Kill; Kilteel & Oughterard?

2. Does Your Group have an idea or initiative you would like
to develop?

Would this initiative improve the quality of life of one of the following:

• The long-term unemployed
• Disadvantaged young people
• Disadvantaged women
• Travellers
• Older people
• Disabled people
• Homeless persons
• Ex-prisoners and ex-offenders
• Low-Income Households
• Asylum seekers and refugees
• Substance Misusers
• Lone Parents
• Gay/Lesbian/ Bi-sexual Community
• The underemployed
• Young People at risk
• Communities experiencing disadvantage living in isolated rural areas or deprived urban areas.

Grant assistance will be made available to a number of groups which promote social inclusion and seek to improve the quality of life in local communities. This fund will range from a minimum of €500 to a maximum of €3000 for once off expenditure. Examples of possible initiatives include, small equipment, capacity building events, facilitation costs for groups/communities, transport costs needed to bring people together around a particular project/issue etc

Funding cannot be awarded for

• Staffing Costs
• Building Costs
• Individuals aiming to develop their own business.

Closing date for applications Friday 4th July 2008. All applications subject to assessment by an appraisal panel.

Download Eligibility Criteria

Download Application Form here

Application forms and further details available from:

Catherina Brady, Community Development Worker, C/O Kildare Community Partnership, Jigginstown Commerical Centre, Naas, Co. Kildare.
Telephone: (045) 895450
Fax: (045) 895449
E-Mail: Catherina@thekcp.ie

Support in filling application forms is available. Please contact Catherina Brady for further details.

The Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) is expanding to North East Kildare.

 What is the LDSIP?

The LDSIP is a series of measures that seeks to respond to the local social and economic needs, promote equality and in doing so counter disadvantage. The LDSIP is funded by the government and administered by The Kildare Community Partnership (KCP) and the OAK Partnership in the rest of Kildare. The LDSIP targets a number of groups in its actions which include:

• The long term unemployed
• Disadvantaged young people
• Disadvantaged women
• Travellers
• Older people
• Persons with a disability
• Migrant workers
• Substance misusers
• Asylum seekers and refugees
• Lone parents
• Young people at risk
• The underemployed
• Gay/lesbian/Bi-sexual Community
• Homeless people
• Ex prisoners and ex offenders
• Low income houses
• Communities experiencing disadvantage living in isolated rural or deprived urban areas

What is the relevance of the LDSIP to North East Kildare?

The LDSIP is being expanded to include North East Kildare. OAK and The KCP will be developing a Local Area Action Plan with short term and long term actions to counter disadvantage and promote social and economic inclusion with the local communities within North East Kildare, covering the following areas:

Balraheen; Bodenstown; Celbridge; Donaghcumper; Donore; Kill; Kilteel; Leixlip; Maynooth; Straffan & Oughterard

A consultation process will take place through a series of meetings across the 11 (DED) areas named above throughout the month of June. Community participation is vital throughout the consultation process. The meetings will provide members of the local community and voluntary groups/organisations with the chance to have input into the plan, specifically what needs to happen to address the local, economic and social needs of your area.

For further information please contact:

Catherina Brady ,Community Development Worker c/o The Kildare Community Partnership on (045) 895450 or Email catherina@thekcp.ie

Summer has arrived to Naas Country Market with plenty fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables on sale.  Particularly good at this time of year are rhubarb, salad leaves, leeks and scallions.

Perfect for picnics are delicious quiches and savoury scones with sundried tomatoes followed by one of the Market’s tasty cakes or biscuits. 

The latest range of goods on sale are Indian foods.

Gluten free and low cholesterol diets are also catered for and orders can be placed in advance to 085 771 2600.

All the Market produce is grown locally and homemade by market members.

Naas Country Market is open in Naas Town Hall each Friday morning from 10am until 12noon.

There's More to Bogs Than Turf

Active raised bogs (peat forming raised bogs) are seriously under threat of extinction in Ireland. Only 0.6% of active raised bog remains today. In the last ten years over a third of active raised bog (1,000ha) has been lost as a direct result of turf cutting taking place within protected peatlands.

Raised bogs are not being protected, despite their conservation designation as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) because turf cutting is being allowed to continue. The government has offered a generous compensation package for turbary rights holders to stop cutting turf on designated peatland sites. If active raised bog is to be saved from extinction in Ireland turbary rights holders in protected peatlands must cease cutting turf immediately and avail of the compensation.

As the turf-cutting season begins, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) would like to draw your attention to some of the values of peatlands and the importance of conserving them for future generations:

Habitat: Ireland contains over 50% of all the raised bog habitat remaining in Europe and internationally the blanket bogs of Ireland and the UK form the largest single contribution (10 - 15%) of this habitat in the world. 44% of NHAs and 50% of SACs in Ireland contain peatland habitat.

Wildlife: 49% of all endangered birds in Ireland occur on peatlands, most as breeding species. 23% of all endangered plants are peatland species and 26% of our mammals depend on peatlands in some phase of their life cycle. For example red grouse, otter and marsh saxifrage.

Climate change -­ the carbon store: In Ireland, peatlands store 1,200 million tons of carbon. Undisturbed peat accumulates carbon from the air at a rate of up to 0.7 tonnes per hectare per year.

Landscape: The landscape value of peatlands offers one of the few remaining areas of wilderness experience in Ireland today.

Social and economic uses: Peatlands have played an important role in the economies and identity of rural areas. Peatlands support many functions and activities such as agriculture and tourism.

Archaeology: Peatlands have been developing in the Ireland for 10,000 years. Because of the anaerobic conditions within peatlands they have preserved important artifacts and information on past environments. To date 3,893 archaeological sites have been recorded within peatlands. For example bog bodies and bog butter.

Health: People are an integral part of nature and biodiversity. Only by living in balance with other species and ecosystems can human health be sustained.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is a non-governmental organisation that was formed in 1982 to ensure the conservation of a representative sample of Irish bogs. Our activities include education and publicity, promoting environmental awareness, provision of information and encouraging the protection and conservation of our national heritage for the common good.  We own and manage a number of peatlands for conservation and we run the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, which is open to visitors and school groups.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is a company limited by guarantee, with charitable status. www.ipcc.ie

Maynooth Local History Group are currently compiling a photographic archive of the town and its people over the past 150 years.

There is a photographic exhibition on display in Maynooth Community Library during opening hours until June 30th 2008.

If you have any old photographs; buildings, people, events, parades, religious processions, works dinner dances or anything relating to Maynooth and wish to add this to the archive, the history group would be delighted to receive them.

All photographs will be treated with respect and returned immediately after copying.

For more information call into Maynooth Community Library or email maynoothlib@kildarecoco.ie      

Help out in your community and have fun this Summer!

Kildare Volunteer Bureau have announced a number of volunteering opportunities in County Kildare this Summer.

Volunteers Wanted For Short Term and One Day Events

Summer Projects

• Kildare Youth Services - Inter Agency Project 1st week in July in Naas/Sallins area.
• Down Syndrome Group Project Aug. 18th to 22nd in Newbridge.
• Curragh F.R.C. Project 1st week in July
• KYS Kildare Town, Stepping Stones Project Aug 11th-15th, 18th-22nd.

Family Fun Days

• Jack & Jill Foundation, Saturday July 5th Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
  Kildare Co. Childcare Committee, Saturday June 28th, Donadea Forest.
• Irish Peatland Conservation Council
  One day environmental events and workshops throughout the summer.
• Pieta House - Centre for the Prevention of Self Harm or Suicide
  Annual Awareness and Fundraising in Sept 12th, 13th and 14th.
• Athy Heritage Centre
  One day events throughout the summer.

Triathlon

Kildare County Council are looking for Marshals and Event Assistants, Curragh on May 25th.

For further information or to register with Kildare Volunteer Bureau please contact:  Michelle - Kildare Volunteer Bureau
045 449156 or email michelle@volunteerkildare.ie
Website www.volunteerkildare.ie

The third County Kildare Book Fair will take place on Sunday afternoon on the 1st June in Kildare Town. This will be an opportunity for those interested in Local History and heritage as well as the general population who are interested in books and reading in general to visit a Rare Books Fair outside of Dublin. It is being organised by the Local Studies, Genealogy and Archives Department of Kildare County Library and Arts Service in conjunction with Kildare Town Heritage Centre, Kildare Parish Centre, Kildare County Council, the Kildare Classic Car Association and Lyonshill Books. According to Local Studies Librarian, Mario Corrigan, "there is an enormous interest in Dublin and other areas in this sort of event and after the success of the first two County Kildare Book Fairs in 2006 and 2007 we in County Kildare have the opportunity to have one locally. It is an ideal opportunity also for anyone who has not yet visited the Kildare Retail Outlet Village to come to the town and see what is on offer."

The main event is free and open to all and will allow people to browse the books on offer in The Kildare Parish Centre. "The idea behind the two venues is to encourage people to walk through Kildare Town, visit Kildare Cathedral and thoroughly enjoy the day," said Mario Corrigan who has recently published a Sli na Slainte and Heritage Trail of Kildare Town and is anxious that people enjoy the experience that Kildare the Heritage Town has to offer. This year there will also be the added attraction of a Walking Tour of Kildare Town at 1 p.m. – places can be pre-booked through the Heritage Centre and price for the tour is €3.

Eddie Murphy of Lyonshill Books is delighted to be able to add County Kildare to a growing list of Book Fairs that he and his colleagues have orchestrated. "It is an immensely pleasurable experience, whereby people can browse the stalls and hopefully with this new initiative in Kildare Town take in some of the rich heritage of such an historic setting - maybe pause in the local shops or the local cafes and pubs for a coffee and even visit the Outlet Village for a unique shopping experience. We do hope this year proves to be as successful as last year when we had a great turn out," said Mr. Murphy.

So why not take an afternoon break on Sunday 1st June and come to Kildare Town to the County's Rare Books Fair - maybe in search of a unique gift or just to amble through the historic streets and enjoy the experience. Why not enjoy the unique shopping experience that is ‘Kildare Retail Outlet Village,’ and Kildare Town Heritage Centre has a host of collectibles and gift ideas to wet you appetite.

As well as book dealers and local authors, The Kildare Archaeological Society, Kildare Federation of Local History Groups, the Grey Abbey Conservation Project and Cill Dara Historical Society will provide information on their organisations and activities on display for people to view. The Kildare Classic Car Association will be on-hand as Sunday 1st June is the date for their annual Gordon Bennett Commemorative Rally and the cars will be parked on the Square during the afternoon. It is planned to have a BOOK LAUNCH on the same afternoon in the Heritage Centre at 3pm on the Market Square – This historic occasion is being organised by the Local Studies, Genealogy and Archives Department of Kildare County Library and Arts Service in conjunction with Kildare Town Heritage Centre and all proceeds from the sale of the book – A Topographical Dictionary of County Kildare in 1837 will go to the Heritage Centre. This will be a must for anyone interested in the history and heritage of County Kildare. All in all it is an ideal day out.

THOUSANDS OF BOOKS, RARE, ANTIQUARIAN AND LOTS OF BARGAINS - FREE VALUATIONS !!!

A new website was launched in Clane GAA on Friday 16 May by the Organising Committee of the St. Patrick's Weekend Festival in Clane.
The website gives details of the festival and other events that take place in Clane on St. Patrick's Day and the days leading up to it.

Kevin Kelly, kildare.ie, Mary Dunne, Chairperson, Martine Penicaud-Grogan, Organising Committee, and Kate Horrigan, Secretary

The first Clane Festival parade was held in 2005 and it was put together by the organising committee in 6 weeks. It was a great success with thousands turning out to watch the parade. Each year since then the parade and community festival has gotten bigger and better. The theme for the 2008 Festival was "Clane -  Working Together".

The committee members are as follows:
Mary Dunne (Chairperson), Tony McKenna (Treasurer), Kate Horrigan (Secretary),
Martine Penicaud-Grogan, Brian O'Brien, Tony McEvoy, Paul Hopkins, Brendan Weld, John Nolan, Gary McNeela, and Trish McNeela.

The website address is www.kildare.ie/clanefestival
You can contact the Festival Committee by email at: clanefestival@kildare.ie

The main part of the Festival is the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Commencing at the Clane Health and Leisure Centre on the Celbridge Road, the parade travels down the main street in Clane and then on to the Prosperous Road before  finishing at the Clane G.A.A. Grounds.

The website features video clips of the 2008 Parade and Festival, as well as lots of photos of participants from all the parades from 2005 to 2008.

There are also a number of competitions that are run by the Clane St. Patrick's Festival Committee. The Clane's Got Talent Competition 2008 takes place in Clane GAA on 24th May, 31st May, 7th June, with the Final on 21st June. The competition begins at 8pm each night. To enter call 086 0619086

The Know The Locals Quiz was also run during the Festival Weekend in 2008.
32 Photos were on display in various locations throughout the village.    Hundreds of Entry Forms were received but only seventeen all correct ones were entered into a draw which took place on Easter Sunday evening in the G.A.A.  
       
The Shop Window Display Competition also takes places during the Festival Weekend.
The winner in 2008 was Bobbs Hairdressers, Clane. Application Forms can be downloaded from the new website for 2009.

2009 promises to be even bigger and better than before.

Security software company McAfee have reported the detection of the most widespread infection in 3 years of  "Trojan Horse" programs, which install themselves into computers and can be used to steal personal information.

"More than 500,000 infected MP3 music and video files have been found since May 2," said a statement from the company, which is one of the world's largets anti-virus software companies.

The files are mainly spread via Internet "File Sharing" services, or Peer-to-Peer networks.

McAfee have partnered with Yahoo to develop "Site Advisor" software, which will alert McAfee users to sites which have been identified as spreading malicious code. Offending websites will be excluded from Yahoo's search results.

The Auditorium, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co Kildare
Thursday 22nd May at 8.00pm

Continuing Kildare County Council's support for film development in the county the Arts Service hosts 'In Focus'. A forum for exchange, discussion and screenings on Thursday 22nd May at 8.00pm.

We've lined up a great panel of Industry Professionals and Filmmakers to share their knowledge, experience and expertise. Principally, Aisling Walsh Director, her film credits include the multi award winning 'Song For A Raggy Boy' which she wrote and directed.

The film will be screened in Riverbank at 5.00pm prior to the evening's conversation.
Recently, she's completed 'The Daisy Chain' a psychological drama starring Oscar nominee Samantha Morton due for release in Autumn 2008.

Her television credits include Damage, which she wrote and directed and was nominated for Prix Europa in 2007. Fingersmith, which was nominated for both a Bafta and Royal Television Society Award in 2005 and the multi award winning 2002 television film Sinners.

Local, emerging filmmaker David Freyne will show his Short musical 'The Man in 301' which was screened at the International Film Festival, Rotterdam, in January this year. Meet and network with members from The  Kildare Screenwriters Guild.

This event is FREE but ticketed. Please contact the Box-office at Riverbank Tel:045 448333 Email: box-office@riverbank.ie. Booking now open.

Everyone is welcome, looking forward to all contributions whether you fancy yourself as the next Stephen Spielberg or you're a curious but interested film buff. Speak with Brenda at bbrady@kildarecoco.ie or by phone on 045 448328 if you have any further queries.

White Golden Retriever missing from Brownstown, Curragh.

Missing since 9th May 2008. Last seen in the Brownstown area of
the Curragh. Female, 1 years old with a PINK Collar. Very Friendly.

Genuine Reward offered

Contact: 085-7183450

His name is Shea. If you see him or have any information about him, contact Bernie @ 086 4078945. He disappeared on Sunday 16th March from Lullymore, Rathangan.

Discovering Kildare Wildlife- Practical Workshops Starting Saturday 24th May.

Would you like to find out more about the wildlife and environment of your local area? Are you interested in finding out how you can get involved in protecting our local biodiversity? Then the new Discovering Kildare Wildlife practical workshops presented by the Kildare Heritage Forum and the Heritage Council will interest you!

“At last years Discovering Kildare Wildlife seminar series interest was expressed in discovering ways to get involved in protecting and learning more about Kildare Natural Heritage” explained Bridget Loughlin, Heritage officer with Kildare County Council.

In response to this demand Kildare County Council and Kildare Heritage Forum presents a series of practical workshops on the topic of Kildare’s Wildlife. These workshops will commence on Sat 24th May at 10am in Áras Chill Dara, Naas with a practical workshop entitled Identifying wild plants.

Other practical workshops will explore, surveying Daubentons bats, breeding birds & the countryside bird survey, butterfly monitoring scheme, identifying Irish trees and the nature of bogs. Each workshop takes place on a Saturday morning, from 10am to 1pm, except the Bats workshop, which starts at 8.30pm. Each session will be primarily outdoors and venues vary depending on the workshop. Further details and booking form can be obtained from www.kildare.ie/countycouncil/heritage.

Discovering Kildare’s Wildlife Workshops are aimed at anyone with a general interest in wildlife and biodiversity. They will also be useful for local development associations, Tidy Towns groups, or anyone interested in enhancing the quality of life in their own area. There will be an emphasis on practical experiences, identifying the wildlife that you will find in any area, and on enjoying the natural world as well as assistance in taking part in valuable wildlife surveys.

There is no charge for the workshops, but spaces will be limited, so advance booking is recommended.

Further details and application forms are available from Bridget Loughlin, Heritage Officer, Kildare Co. Council, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare, phone 045 98079, E-mail heritageofficer@kildarecoco.ie, web www.kildare.ie/countycouncil/.

Discovering Kildare’s Wildlife Workshops are an action in the County Kildare Heritage Plan

Biodiversity, or Biological diversity, refers to the variety of all life forms on Earth, from the butterflies in your garden and the plants they feed from, to predatory eagles and the biggest whales in the sea. Biodiversity is also the basis of human existence, our life support system. 

Biodiversity week runs from the 18th-25th May and throughout the week at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre there will be events that celebrate Ireland¹s Biodiversity.

Sunday the 18th May is International Museum Day.  To celebrate, the Bog of Allen Nature Centre will be opening its doors and offering free entry into our peatland exhibition centre from 1pm ­- 4pm. 

The exhibition centre takes in all aspects of peatlands, from their formation to traditional hand-cutting methods of turf, their archaeological importance, their conservation, commercial development and possible future options for our peatlands in Ireland.  The wildlife gardens at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and Lodge Bog will be also open for self-guiding tours.

On Tuesday 20th May Bat Conservation Ireland will be leading a bat walk from the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.  On Thursday 22nd the IPCC will be holding a workcamp on Lodge Bog, removing invasive tree species in preparation for this summer's drain blocking project on the site.

On Sunday 25th May there will be a Biodiversity Show at the Bog of Allen
Nature Centre .  Throughout the day there will be talks, walks, demonstrations and nature activities for children.

Talks will include an introduction to Kildare's wildlife by Caroline Hurley. Guided walks on the day will include a visit to Lodge Bog and its Birch woodland led by IPCC and Crann representatives. There will be a guided tour of the Bog of Allen Nature Centre Gardens which will highlight the Irish Peatland Conservation Council's top 10 tips to becoming a greener gardener.

Nature crafts, pond dipping and frog hunts are all on the cards for the younger visitors on the day, The Biodiversity Show will be attended by a dozen organisations to promote aspects of enjoying biodiversity e.g. food, art, music, photography, live species, green schools and crafts.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council nature shop and peatland exhibition centre will be open all day for visitors to browse through.

Buses will be organised from Jury's Hotel, Christ Church in Dublin, Devoy Park, Naas in Co. Kildare and the railway station in Tullamore in Co. Offaly, leaving at 11am to bring visitors to and from the Bog of Allen Nature Centre
on the day. Booking is essential for the buses by contacting 045-860133.

Tea and Coffee and light snacks will be available all day for event participants
and visitors.

The biodiversity show will bring together painters, photographers, musicians, basket weavers, farmers, school children and environmentalists, all inspired by wildlife to celebrate Ireland's biodiversity. Admission free. 

For further information contact the Bog of Allen Nature Centre on 045-860133.

Naas Community Library
3rd - 5th June 2008

Schools out, here comes the summer. SUMMER BUZZ and SUN BLOCK (we hope)! Naas Library has officially declared that this summer the library will be a hip and happening place for young people. Kicking off on 3rd June with Funky Fibres a fantastic 3-day feltmaking workshop with practising knitwear designer Liadain de Buitlear.
www.liadaindebuitlear.com

Colour, texture, form and function, will be explored in this exciting design and making workshop. Making felt is a magical craft ideal for all levels of ability. But receptive, transformable and full of endless possibilities. Just bring your ideas!

These workshops are completely FREE and all materials are supplied. However, places are limited. So, Mark from the Library advises that parents and young people (aged 12 +) should make contact to register their interest, obtain a booking form or make further enquiries. Naas Community Library Tel: 045879111 Email: naaslib@kildarecoco.ie Web:
www.kildare.ie/library

Mondello Park will reverberate once again to the fantastic rumble of Formula 5000 cars as part of its fortieth anniversary celebrations this weekend (May 17th & 18th). The invitation race for period single seaters will includes some of the cars which raced at the opening day back in 1968 along with Formula 5000 cars similar to those that visited the circuit as part of the European F5000 championship in the early seventies.

Taking to the international track alongside the Historic racers, will be a packed championship event and demonstration runs by some of the iconic cars from Mondello’s history. As part of the anniversary celebrations admission prices will be reduced to just €5.00 for adults and €10.00 for a family with anyone arriving in a nineteen sixties car admitted free of charge. A large number of participants and officials from the first ever event at the Kildare have been invited to attend and will be present for the celebrations.

Pride of place at the event will go to the ex. John Watson Brabham BT16, which set the fastest lap of the day at the first Mondello Park meeting, and is now raced by Nottingham based Irishman Ian Gray. Gray’s other car an ex. Watson Brabham BT30 will also be present for the event in the hands of his son Colin.

Another ex patriot Irishman, Frank Lyons, will bring a trio of F5000 cars for himself, wife Judy and son Michael to drive. Lyons will be hoping to continue his rivalry with the man who beat him on his last Mondello visit, former Grand Prix driver and Mondello director David Kennedy. It’s is hoped that Kennedy will again pilot Martin Birranes F5000 Lola which he drove to victory at the official opening of the re-developed circuit in 2001, when Lyons was his main challenger. In all a field of fifteen cars is expected for the race with the majority travelling from the UK to be part of the celebrations.

On display on Sunday will be a selection of cars from various points in Mondello’s history and as many as possible will be given the opportunity to get on track for a demonstration run. Opening Mondello race winner John Keaney will have two cars on display, his TMC GT car and a Sierra Cosworth from the days when the fire breathing Fords ruled the roost in ‘Group N’ saloons. Also part of the display will be two cars from the most popular single seater series ever to grace Irish Motorsport, Formula Atlantic, and it is hoped that these will be demonstrated on track by Dan Daly and Joey Greenan. A selection of other single seater and GT cars will also take to the track during the event.

The remainder of the programme, exact details of which will be announced over the coming days, will see four single seater classes, Formula Ford, Formula Libre, Formula Sheane and Formula Vee, join the historics on the programme. Saloon racing fans will be catered for by all three Fiat classes and the Mondello Park supported Saloon Car Challenge and Time Attack series. The remaining races will be for Sportscars with Strykers, Historics and a long distance Sportscar race scheduled.

This recently published guide is a must have for every household.
It has all the information you need about health services in Kildare and West Wicklow.

It contains a guide to health entitlements and tells you how you can apply.
This includes information on Health Services, Medical Cards, GP Visit Cards, Drugs Payment Scheme, European Health Insurance Card, Immunisation, Nursing Home Services, Long-Term Illness Scheme, Dental Services, Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowances, and Supplementary Welfare.

The Guide also gives you contact details for all of the Community and Regional Health and Personal Social Services in Kildare and West Wicklow.

This includes

• Community Services


• Local Health Offices


• Health Centres


• Registration Services  - Births, Deaths & Marriages


• Hospitals


• Hospice Care


• Counselling


• Services for Older People


• Mental Health


• Addiction Services


• Special Projects and Social Inclusion Services


• Children & Families’ Service


• Homeless Services


• Disability Services


• Environmental Health


• Appeals


• Freedom of Information

National Championship Motorcycle Racing returns to Mondello Park this weekend (10 - 11 May 2008) with a two day which takes place on the National track rather than the International layout normally used for Mondello rounds of the series. The event was originally scheduled to be the second of the three 'Mondello Masters' rounds, but changes to the British Superbike Championship calendar has forced round two to move to the July 6th Clubman event.

In the absence of the Masters Race the Fingal Motor Club will instead run the ‘Race of the Year’ using the same format used for the Masters. Riders for Sunday’s feature race will be chosen following the first round of championship races on Saturday and qualifying for Sunday afternoon’s race will take place as the final session on Saturday evening. The ‘Race of the Year’ is scheduled for 16:10 on Sunday and will be a fifteen lap race contested by the fastest Superbike and Supersport riders.

A full National championship event will accompany the main race with each class racing three times and all races being twelve laps. Qualifying and the first round of races take place on Saturday with a warm up and two more races for each class on Sunday.

Top billing goes to the Irish Superbike Championship which is currently led by Gary Johnston from Brian McCormack, Alastair Seeley and Michael Laverty. With Laverty, McCormack and Seeley all away at the BSB the first of the championship contenders who is entered for this weekend is Declan Swanton giving the Corkman a fantastic opportunity to make up some ground. Jack Kennedy lies just behind Swanton and with the Yamaha R1 Cup not running with the BSB this weekend he will also be on the Mondello grid.

Kirk Jamison and Gerard Kinghan are the next two in the championship standings who will be present and they will be joined in the top six entries by Michael Pearson and Denver Robb. Pearson and Robb both made a hasty return from injury for the last Mondello event but struggled for fitness with neither featuring in the results. With an extra four weeks to recover things should go better for them this time around.

In Supersport many of the riders at the top of the points standings are again missing, leaving Jack Kennedy, Derek Shields and Kirk Jamison as the ones likely to benefit. These riders may also figure in the ‘Race of the Year’ on their Supersport machines as the tight nature of the Mondello national circuit gives little advantage to the more powerful Superbike machinery. Also on the programme this weekend will be races for 250 and 125 GP machines, Minitwins, Pre ’97 and Sidecars.

Kildare County Council Kildare, in association with MCD, is delighted to announce details of PLATFORM III, the OXEGEN 2008 Battle of the Bands competition for emerging bands from Co. Kildare.

The prize for two lucky performers/ bands is a much sought after slot on the New Band Stage at OXEGEN 2008, which takes place in Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co Kildare, Fri 11, Sat 12th and Sun 13th July.

Bands who have played on the New Band Stage in the past include Kate Nash,The Go Team, Super Furry Animals, The Magic Numbers, Editors, The Killers, Razorlight, The Fratellis

The successful bands will also have the opportunity to avail of a mentoring programme where they will work with a music professional so they have the technical know how and support to make the most of this amazing opportunity. Kildare County Arts service is delighted to place their state of the art recording facilities in Leixlip Library at the lucky bands disposal! 

Platform III is open to all unsigned solo artists and bands from Co. Kildare, over the age of 17

The Platform III Battle of the Bands competition takes place in Time : Bar +Venue, Naas, Co. Kildare on Thursday 5th June 2008, 9.30pm.   MC for the Platform III competition is comedian PJ Gallagher, of Naked Camera fame. 

Tickets for the Battle of the Bands competition are available from Time  €14
 
According to Acting County Arts Officer Eoghan Doyle, “Kildare County Arts Service and MCD, are delighted to be hosting the 2008 Battle of the Bands competition in time, bar and venue, Naas. The competition, now in its second year, shows real commitment on behalf of Kildare County Council and MCD towards the development of young musicians in County Kildare. The added bonus of using the recording suite in Leixlip library truly makes this a wonderful opportunity for the lucky performers,”

Application forms are available below:

• Application Form -  Platform III at OXEGEN 2008 (PDF 43.6KB)
• Battle of the Bands Press Release 2008
• Two Kildare Bands Selected To Perform At Oxegen 2007 - Press Release

For more information contact Kildare County Council Arts Service, Riverbank, Newbridge, Co Kildare. 

Tel:  045 448318, E mail: ekdoyle@kildarecoco.ie, or see www.kildare.ie/artsservice 

Closing date for applications is Monday 26th May 2008, 5pm

The road is closed between Eadestown and Blessington (on the Kildare Border).

Diversions are in place and delays can be expected.

Courtesy AA Roadwatch