County Kildare News

Monasterevin Gospel Choir: "Hitting the Right Notes - Making the Right Moves"

Formed in 2008 Monasterevin Gospel Choir continue to go from strength to strength says their Chairperson, Jacqueline Finlay. 

Our last three performances with Phil Coulter, Rebecca Storm and Finbarr Wright all received great reviews, plus a once in a lifetime chance to sing with Finbarr Wright in the National Concert Hall was a tremendous honour for everybody and was a great succes for the choir. 

We also received great praise from Rebecca Storm who said of our performance with her "It was an absolute joy to sing with Monasterevin Gospel Choir...Totally professional and great voices"

Now following on from many requests for the choir to sing in concerts, at church events and many beautiful brides asking for help in creating a special unique experience at their weddings, we are happy to announce the launch of our website at www.monasterevingospelchoir.ie. 

The Choir is hopeful this will help people and organisations get in touch, find out about the choir, listen to them sing, watch them perform with Phil Coulter or book an event online at www.monasterevingospelchoir.ie . 

We are also on Facebook and YouTube. Our Facebook address is www.facebook.com/monasterevingospelchoir

Call us on  086 08514384 / 086 1969 148 for further information.

The website at www.monasterevingospelchoir.ie is now live and will be launched officially on Thursday 5th may in Monasterevin GAA Club.  If you would like to attend or maybe thinking about booking the choir, please let us know.

We are also hoping that all of our friends and families who may be living abroad will find a piece of Monasterevin online all of the time and we would like everybody to let people know about our website so that they can log on to keep in touch and maybe leave a message on Facebook that we will be delighted to receive and share with our friends.

Special thanks to Monasterevin Parish Priest Father Liam Merrigan who has been a great support to us since we started and whose encouragement helps us improve and adds value to everything we do.
 
Enquiries: Email: info@monasterevingospelchoir.ie

Goffs is the new title sponsor of the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh.  Consistently rated as the top two year old race in Europe, the €200,000 contest will be held on September 10 th and is part of a “Super Saturday” programme that also features The Irish Field St Leger.

First run in 1849, the National Stakes, Ireland’s premier race for two year olds, has been won by some true racing greats in the past including Sir Ivor and Santa Clause.  More recent winners include Goffs yearling graduates New Approach and Kingsfort, as well as Teofilo, George Washington and Sinndar, while 2000 Guineas contender Pathfork beat subsequent Group 1 winner and Goffs graduate Casamento in the race last year. 

Other previous winners purchased at Goffs include Danehill Dancer and Desert King, while another connection is His Story who won the race in 1959 trained by Sir Hugh Nugent, grandfather of Goffs’ auctioneer Nick Nugent.

The race, which is part of the Breeders Cup Challenge Series, has been associated with the memory of the legendary Vincent O’Brien since 2009, with the O’Brien Family presenting a perpetual trophy to the winning owner.

Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby added: 

“We are delighted to demonstrate our support of Irish racing at the highest level and continue our close association with The Curragh through the sponsorship of this world class Group 1 race on The Irish Field St Leger day.  The calibre of the Goffs National Stakes and its timing in mid September is a perfect fit for Goffs, offering a fantastic platform for our ongoing promotion of the Orby Sale”.

Paul Hensey, General Manager of the Curragh Racecourse commented,

“We are very grateful to Goffs for their continued support of the Curragh and look forward to working with them to continue to attract the very best 2 year olds in training to compete in the National Stakes. Goffs have been a very valued partner to the racecourse for many years having previously sponsored the Flying Five Stakes, the Goffs Millions and the Irish 1000 Guineas.”

On May 7th, Kildare artist Jackie Askew will bring Icelandic inspiration to Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge when she opens a solo exhibition titled 'The Counting Prophetess'.

In 'The Counting Prophetess', artist Jackie Askew will be showing a selection of paintings, drawings and photographs made during a residency at SIM, Reykjavik, Iceland from September to November, 2010. At the heart of Jackie’s recent work is her love of the vast emptiness of the Icelandic landscape and the relationship to one’s self that is made possible in it. This work concentrates on the simplicity of the line and space of the landscape as documented on a road trip along the south of the country

Jackie is originally from Co. Kildare but she now lives and works in Co. Clare. She is a graduate of St Martins’ School of Art, London, 1988.  She exhibits extensively in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally.  Her recent projects include co-curator and participating artist in SALT (art from the western edge of Ireland) a multi-media group exhibition, Tallinn (the European city of culture), March 2011 and The Wrack Line solo exhibition at the Rua Red Arts Centre, Tallaght in September, 2010. Jackie was an invited artist at APT Open Studios, Deptford, London in September, 2010 following which she undertook a 3 month residency at SIM, Reykjavik, Iceland.  Jackie has also received several awards for her work from the Arts Council and most recently her work received 1st Prize at the Millcove Gallery 2010 painting competition.

The Counting Prophetess will open on Saturday 7th May at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served and all are welcome to drop in at 3pm to meet the artist and take a first look at the exhibiton. For further information call Riverbank Arts Centre on 045 448327. The Counting Prophetess will continue until May 27th

THE Starspangledbanner EBF Athasi Stakes and the High Chaparrel EBF Mooresbridge Stakes are the twin features at the Curragh on Bank Holiday Monday and champion trainer Aidan O’Brien is well represented in both Group Three contests.

The Ballydoyle-based handler has five of the 11 entries in the Mooresbridge Stakes and most notable among the quintet is So You Think. The five-year-old, a multiple Grade One winner in his native Australia and third in the Melbourne Cup, was rated the best stayer in the world in last year’s Thoroughbred Rankings and it will be very interesting to see how he gets on here.

O’Brien has also entered Await The Dawn, Grand Admiral, Jan Vermeer and Windsor Palace for the 10 furlong race. Await The Dawn is rated 120 and is highly regarded by connections. Lightly raced, the son of Giants Causeway was most impressive when landing a Group Three prize by nine lengths at Leopardstown last September. The Tom Tate-trained Distant Memories, Termagant and recent Leopardstown scorer Famous Name are other notable entries for what promises to be a most informative race.

There are 22 entries for the Athasi Stakes, including two from Britain in Agony And Ecstasy and Ladies Are Forever. Aidan O’Brien is responsible for five of those entries and he can choose between Ballroom, Look At Me, Together, Wild Wind and Misty For Me. The latter, however, is likely to miss the race as she is an intended runner in Sunday’s Newmarket 1,000 Guineas. Other notable entries for the seven furlong contest are course specialist Lolly For Dolly, the unbeaten Chrysanthemum and the Dermot Weld-trained Emulous.

David Wachman has got his season off to a flyer and he looks to have a strong hand in the Listed Dylan Thomas EBF Tetrarch Stakes with Imperial Roma and Secret Story both of which have already won this year. Alexander Pope, Misty For Me, High Ruler and Oracle also give their trainer Aidan O’Brien a strong representation in the seven furlong contest, while Dubawi Star and Zabarakad (John Oxx), Defining Year (Michael Halford), Font Of Wisdom (Dermot Weld) and Glor Na Mare (Jim Bolger) are other notable entries in a competitive heat.

Athy Town Council published the Draft Athy Development Plan 2012-2018 on the 29th March last and commenced a ten week public consultation period and members of the public and interested organisations are being invited to make submissions and observations.

A public information day will take place on Thursday, 12th May next in the Town Council Offices, Rathstewart, Athy between 2pm and 6pm, where members of the Council's staff will be available to assist anyone with queries regarding the plan.
 
Copies of the plan are also available for inspection at the Council's offices; Athy Library; Kildare County Council (Planning Department- Naas); and also online at www.athytowncouncil.ie

The closing date for receipt of written submissions is 4pm on Tuesday, 7th June.

There is More to Peatlands than Turf - Exploring the Peatland Habitats of Ireland

Peatlands have made news headlines throughout the past year with the cessation of turf cutting, however there is a lot more to peatlands than their use for turf.   

The peatlands of Ireland are a habitat, a home for plants and animals such as the Sundew, Butterwort, Bog Cotton, Curlew, Snipe and Red Grouse.

The Irish Peatland Cconservation Council are offering a half day workshop entitled the 'Peatland Habitats of Ireland'  on the 5th May from 9.30am-1pm at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Co. Kildare. 

The workshop will include both a presentation on the formation of peatlands, flora and fauna, utilisation of peatlands and a guided walk across Lodge bog, the last remaining 35Ha of Lullymore bog, once the largest raised bog in the midlands of Ireland. 

The workshop will cost €30 per participant and places are limited. 

To book your space contact 045-860133 or e-mail bogs@ipcc.ie. 

Beginners martial arts course & self defence course.

The Bujinkan Dwyer Dojo runs classes 3 times per week at our dedicated training centre. Beginners always welcome! We are now enrolling for our new beginners course. Come down and try it out, first class is free!

Venue: Unit33 The Mill, Celbridge Community Centre.

Contact: MarcusDwyer 087 6882201 or info@dwyerdojo.com

More Information: http://www.dwyerdojo.com/

It is rare to have an opportunity to sit in an intimate space, and have one of Ireland’s best-known musicians perform for you. However, on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th of April, the outstanding Paul Brady will do just that at Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

One of Ireland’s most enduringly popular artists. Paul Brady, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist needs no introduction. With an incredible music career behind him, 2010 saw Paul releasing his 14th solo album, ‘Hooba Dooba’ to widespread acclaim, with Hot Press editor Niall Stokes saying ‘This is by far Paul Brady’s most assured and deepest album since the seminal Hard Station.’

Born and raised in Strabane, Northern Ireland, on the border with the Irish Republic, he was into a wide variety of music from an early age. A 50’s child, his first sounds were the Swing, Jazz, Show tunes of his parent’s generation. Then 50′s Rock ‘n Roll, 60′s pop and Motown, Blues, R’n’B and Country and Western, through all this ran a flavour of Irish traditional music and song.

Throughout his career Paul has worked and collaborated with other artists. Following a period in London and New York City with The Johnstons, he returned to Dublin in 1974 to join Planxty, the premier Irish folk band of the early ’70′s. This was the band that was to launch the solo careers of Andy Irvine, Liam O‘Flynn, Donal Lunny and Christy Moore. From ’76 to ’78 he played as a duo with Andy Irvine, a relationship which produced “Andy Irvine and Paul Brady”, an album loved at the time and still sought after in CD form today.

Paul Brady’s repertoire of songs speak for themselves and with many awards and accolades to his name, the man shows no sign of slowing things down.  ‘The Island’, ‘Arthur McBride’, ‘Long Goodbye’ and  ‘Nobody knows’ are among many earworms circling the minds of most Irish people.

Paul Brady continues to push out the boundaries not only of his own talent but of Irish contemporary music. With new recordings well underway, we can only wait patiently for what Paul Brady will present to us next. Friday 29th and Saturday 30th April - a great opportunity to see this musician in the intimate setting of Riverbank Arts Centre for a show you will not forget. Tickets selling fast, to book call Riverbank Box Office on 045 448327 or visit www.riverbank.ie

***

An evening with Paul Brady

Friday 29th and Saturday 30th April, 8pm

Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Tickets: €37.50

Bookings: 045 448327 / www.riverbank.ie

Introduction to self defence - classes begin May 1st in Naas Sports Centre,  Caragh Road , Naas, Co. Kildare

Beginners classes in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu - a practical, self defence orientated Japanese martial art.

These six classes cover the fundamental movements found in the Bujinkan system of training, enabling a person to begin the lifelong study that is self protection and self defence.

Classes at 12 Noon, course fee 60 Euros.

Contact Ray: 086 8201800, bujinkannijidojo@gmail.com

bujinkannijidojo.webs.com

Mondello Park’s second Motorcycle Expo is all set to go with an expanded line-up and a new sponsor, Bridgestone Tyres. The one day event takes place on Sunday May 29th with an exciting schedule of on and off-track activities encompassing all aspects of motorcycling from racing to touring.

The show line-up will include many of the elements of the successful 2010 event but with an increase in the number of races and track demonstrations. Two demonstration races will be run for a combined grid of Superbike and Supersport racers from the Adelaide Masters Series 'Bridgestone Cup' with the first of these having a LeMans start. Alongside the 'Bridgestone Cup' races there will be a pair of fun races for competitors from the annual 'Nifty Fifty' charity enduro. The 'Nifty Fifty' is run for Honda Fifty type machines of up to 90cc and a large grid of competitors is expected to take to the grid for a pair of eight lap sprint races.

When the racers are not on track there will be plenty of other action to keep visitors busy. Top Irish Motorcycle stunt rider Mattie Griffin will bring his latest tricks to excite the Mondello crowd, while drag racing demonstrations, classic race bike parades and Mini Moto racing will fill out the remainder of the day. Off road there will also be plenty to see, with Motocross racing and Trials riding demonstrations taking place in Mondello Park's off road driving centre.

No motorcycle show would be complete without the latest machinery, clothing, accessories and motorcycling products and the Expo will have it all. From Manufacturers showing off their latest creations to Road Race Clubs, Insurance providers, Owners Clubs and Ride-Out organisers, everything to do with motorcycling both on and off the road will be covered.

Further details of the event programme and attractions will be announced over the coming weeks. For more information see www.mondellopark.ie, the Motorcycle Expo facebook page, or sign up to Mondello Park's free text and email alert service at www.mondellopark.ie/alerts .

Volunteers needed for the following dates and places:

21st/22nd May, 2011 – Naas, Celbridge, Kill,l Derringturn (Carbury), Broadford, Rathangan, Caragh, Prosperous, Narraghmore, Allenwood, Two Mile House, Coill Dubh, Ballymore Eustace, Timahoe, and Ardclough.

28th/29th May, 2011 – Newbridge.

2nd/3rd July, 2011 - Clane & Rathcoffey

9th/10th July  2011 – Kilcock.

6th/7th August, 2011 – Maynooth.

Contact:

Ann Byron Murphy
Community Fundraising Co-ordinator
Gorta - The Freedom from Hunger Council
12 Herbert Street, Dublin 2

Ann.Byron@gorta.org

01 664 0155 or 01 661 5522
Fax: 01 661 2627

www.gorta.org

Through its work, Gorta aims at empowering communities to eradicate hunger and poverty, with particular emphasis on food and water security, contributing to people’s unrestricted access to secure and environmentally sustainable livelihoods.  Gorta was established by the Department of Agriculture in 1965 at the request of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and is now an independent NGO.

All talks are in the Castledermot Community Centre at 8pm.

Please arrive early to take your seat.

Entry €2   (Members free)

31st May A river runs through it: a newly discovered archaeological landscape on the banks of the River Lerr, Co. Kildare - Patricia Long, Headland Archaeology Ltd.

27th Sept Medieval Manors of Kildare and Carlow - Margaret Murphy, Carlow College

25th Oct Polar Exploration and its Kildare Connections - Kevin Kenny

29th Nov ‘Memories and Memorabilia’ & Christmas Social Night

All Welcome

Any queries to: castledermothist@gmail.com

K-Leisure has been awarded the eGovernment Award for Best Accessible Website. The award recognises the commitment K-Leisure has undertaken to provide a fully accessible website for computer users with disabilities. The website is at www.kildareleisure.ie

This is the latest award to be received by K-Leisure, following the Gold Standard Disability Provision Award from ILAM and EIQA’s Q mark for Accessibility in customer service and built environment.

K-Leisure was up against stiff competition from Fingal County Council and Cork County Council, but were awarded the honour in recognition of their commitment to Web Accessibility. This award has helped to solidify their commitment to providing  fully accessible facilities for everyone in the community.

The K-Leisure website was developed by Kildare Web Services.

 WINSENT- Wales Ireland Network for Social Entrepreneurship, based in Kildare, would like to invite you to the official launch of WINSENT in Kildare.

The launch will take place on the 5th of May in Athy. 

 On the morning we will hear from existing Social Entrepreneurs, Representatives from Kildare County and various other speakers.

The event will be an opportunity for those with an interest in Social Enterprise to learn more about the area and network with others during the course of the launch.

After the speeches there will be an opportunity to discuss Social Entrepreneurship and WINSENT and what role they can play in Co Kildare.

WINSENT would be delighted if you could attend this launch of our  services in Co. Kildare.

The first Mondello Park Clubman Championship motorcycle races of the season takes place this weekend, with the new Mondello Park Sports Club in charge for the first time. Sunday’s event has an impressive entry list, demonstrating the continuing popularity of Motorcycle Racing at the Kildare venue.

Sunday’s race day will be just one part of a busy three days for some competitors. Saturday will see the running of a full days testing in preparation for Sunday’s race event, which will be followed by a third day of track activity on Monday, with the running of the first ever Bridgestone race tyre test and set up day.

As part of their support of the Adelaide Masters Series, Bridgestone Tyres are offering Irish ‘Clubman’ Championship racers and those competing in the Masters Superbike and Supersport ‘Cup’ classes, the unique opportunity to stay on for an extra day and learn from the experts, on a dedicated test and set-up day at Mondello Park on Monday April 18th.

On hand will be a trio of personalities with a wealth of MotoGP experience. Ex-Grand Prix rider Jeremy Mc Williams; Yamaha MotoGP technician, Ian Gilpin and Suzuki MotoGP crew chief Tom O’Kane will all be present, courtesy of MotoGP tyre supplier Bridgestone, to provide an insight into how to get the best from your race bike on Bridgestone tyres. Riders will be instructed in the finer points of bike set-up as well as how to properly prepare for a weekends racing.

Some spaces are still available for Monday’s event which offers an incredible opportunity for riders to improve their performance at very little cost, while benefiting from the knowledge and experience of some of the best in the business. The test and set up day will include classroom sessions, workshops and track time, with expert advice from McWilliams, Gilpin and O’Kane who will be on-hand throughout the day.

The cost for this amazing opportunity has been kept at an ultra low €50.00 due to the event being subsidised by Bridgestone. Entry to the day is only open to Masters Series ‘Cup’ and ‘Clubman Championship’ riders, running Bridgestone tyres. Spaces can be booked through the Mondello Park office on 00353-(0)45-860200 or info@mondellopark.ie. Bridgestone’s full tyre service will also be available on the day to supply and fit tyres.

Admission to Sunday’s twelve race programme is fifteen euro for adults, with under sixteen’s admitted free of charge. Spectators can find out how to gain admission at a discounted rate by visiting mondellopark.ie and all admission includes a complimentary event programme.

New lunchtime yoga classes in the Wellness Centre Kilcock

Tuesdays 1.05-1.50pm, starting 3rd May 2011. 

County Kildare LEADER Partnership Wishes to recruit Tús Supervisors (2 positions)

A new work initiative, “Tús – Community Work Placement”, will provide short-term quality and suitable working opportunities for people who are unemployed while at the same time carrying out a broad range of services of benefit to the community and in a variety of community settings. 

Applicants must be:
Continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and “signing” on a full-time basis, and
In receipt of Jobseekers Allowance at time of application.

The successful candidate should have excellent communication and inter-personal skills, a good standard of education and be computer literate.  In addition s/he should also have previous management/supervisor experience and demonstrate an ability to relate to and support participants. Access to transport and a full driving licence is essential.  Knowledge of community activities and work will be an advantage.

Salary €31,005 p.a.

Please forward a full CV and letter of application to: 

The Social Inclusion Manager,
County Kildare LEADER Partnership,
Jigginstown Commercial Centre,
Naas, Co. Kildare. 

Further details can be obtained by contacting tus@countykildarelp.ie. or by phoning 045  895450

County Kildare LEADER Partnership is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Closing date for applications: 26th April 2011

TUS Community Work Placement Initiative

County Kildare LEADER Partnership

Community or Voluntary Group Applications
County Kildare LEADER Partnership has local responsibility for delivering the new TUS Community Work placement programme. The aim of this initiative is to provide short term quality work placements for people who are unemployed while at the same time providing a broad range of services which are of benefit to the community. The initiative will be rolled out initially in the Naas and Athy Electoral Areas and throughout the county in the coming months.

Are you involved with a community or voluntary group in County Kildare?
Would you be interested in availing of a TUS Participant for 19.5 Hours per Week?
County Kildare LEADER Partnership now welcomes applications from interested Groups in the Naas and Athy areas wishing to provide quality work opportunities to participants.

Eligible Work:

The types of work that might be carried out may include:

• Energy conservation work in homes and community buildings
• Personal services and social care of all age groups and persons with disabilities
• Caretaking, securing, supervising of community buildings and spaces
• Renovation of community and sporting facilities, including the regeneration and enhancement of community, recreation and sporting spaces
• Work in support of cultural and heritage activities
• Community administration and community event management
• Coaching for sporting activities
• Recycle and repair of equipment for developing community’s abroad - farm tools, bicycles, computers, sewing machines, health equipment

 Information sessions on the TUS Scheme will be held at 8 p.m. on: 

• Monday 18th April in Naas Na Riogh Naas
• Tuesday 19th April in Athy Community Development Project, Woodstock Street Athy

For further information please contact Suzanne Wallace (045 861973) or Geraldine Hewson (045 895450) or Tus@countykildarelp.ie

Stobart Ireland is the new title sponsor of the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh racecourse on Saturday 25th June. 

Stobart Ireland's two-year commitment includes sponsorship of the prestigious €200,000 Pretty Polly contest for fillies and mares, the feature race on Day Two of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival. 

In addition, Stobart Ireland will sponsor three other races on the day – one in the name of Aer Arann, one in the name of London Southend Airport, and one to promote the Cannonball Run - the charity event sponsored by Stobart Ireland which raises funds for the Barretstown Camp for sick children.    

The Pretty Polly Stakes – to be now called the Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes - is named in honour one of the great racehorses of the 20th century, Pretty Polly.  The race, first run in 1947, is part of the prestigious Breeders Cup Challenge Series and is also linked to the Grade One Beverley D Stakes taking place at Arlington Park in Chicago.

Stobart Ireland operates a significant transport logistics, warehousing and distribution business across Ireland from its facility in Dublin Port, servicing household national and international brands.  Stobart recently partnered with Aer Arann, Ireland’s regional airline.  The company’s interests also include London Southend Airport, which services commuter flights to and from Waterford and Galway airports.

Sean Brogan, Managing Director, Stobart Ireland said:  "Stobart Ireland is delighted to support one of the premium events on the Irish sporting calendar.  The Pretty Polly Stakes has a proud heritage and we are delighted to be part of its ongoing success.  As Stobart expands in Ireland, it seems a natural progression for us to be associated with a major Irish event. This sponsorship provides a platform to promote our business interests, in particular Aer Arann and London Southend Airport.  It also compliments our existing sponsorships in Ireland, in particular the Cannonball Run which raises vital funds for the Barrettsown Gang Camp."

Paul Hensey, General Manager, the Curragh Racecourse said:  "This is a very positive development for Irish racing.  We are thrilled to partner with a company like Stobart Ireland and to host the Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes.  Stobart Ireland’s commitment will ensure that Irish racing can continue to attract some of the top fillies in Europe to compete for this prestigious Group 1 prize and in doing so, encourage more people to attend the races."

The Naked Adventurer set to row solo...

This week, Keith Whelan commences his attempt to become the youngest man, and first Irishman, to row solo across the Indian Ocean.  He will row the 6000km alone and unassisted from Western Australia to Mauritius, just off the East coast of Africa.

Having gotten into a rowing boat for the first time only a year or so beforehand, he will spend 110 days alone at sea, facing 50 foot swells, hurricane force winds and unrelenting sunshine - and  he’ll be naked!

Check full details at www.thenakedadventurer.com  and support Keith's nominated charity 'Keep a Child Alive'.

Keep a Child Alive is dedicated to providing life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, care and support services to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

Eczema Clinic at Glosna House Holistic Centre, Athy - 14th April 2011

This is a clinic for treating ECZEMA in babies, children and adults using natural, non-toxic homeopathic remedies. These remedies are completely safe to use in babies and children. They boost and rebalance the immune system.

Cost is 30 euro which includes remedies

Booking essential as places have now become limited

Information:

Marie, 087 7693966

www.glosnahouse.com

On Sunday 17th April, the Celtic Tiger madness will be brought hilariously to life by a man in a bath!

Starring Des Keogh and Frank O'Sullivan, The Quare Land is set in a house in Cavan where Hugh Pugh is about to take his first bath in four years.

His bathing is disturbed by Rob McNulty, a developer on the verge of NAMA wanting to buy a field. Hugh conducts negotiations from his bathtub and is reluctant to sell while McNulty pulls out all the stops to complete the sale, but it is unlikely that either will be happy with the eventual outcome. The quick fire banter between the two characters escalates into an epic finale as both try to reason each other into submission.

A parable of the Celtic Tiger, The Quare Land examines motivation, greed and money in a humourous, caustic and incisive way. Hidden in the constant argument is a discourse on a society obsessed with development but blind to the implications of progress on ordinary people's lives.

This play reveals some home truths about ambition carried along on the momentum of Mc Manus' wit and humour, which is guaranteed to generate, roars of laughter. See The Quare Land at Riverbank Arts Centre on Sunday 17th April, 8pm. Call Riverbank Box office on 045 448327 or visit www.riverbank.ie. 

'This play is likely to be hugely popular wherever it travels to' - Irish Theatre Magazine

 'Keogh in particular shone in the piece with a performance that mined much laughter from the audience'.- The Galway Advertiser

 'The Quare Land will readily remind viewers of John B. Keane. And with its rhythmic use of dialogue, its crudity, its joy in pushing against taboos, and the darkness of its conclusion, it will also call to mind the Irish plays of Martin Mc Donagh'-  Irish Theatre Magazine

Are you interested in the habitats and wildlife of Ireland? Then maybe the Irish Peatland Conservation Council’s one day ‘Introduction to Habitat Management’ special interest adult course is for you. 

The course will be held on the 27th April between 9.15am-5pm at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre. 

The course aims to give participants an overview of managing, monitoring and measuring habitats and their wildlife in Ireland.  It will be based both indoors and outdoors with a hands-on approach to learning.  The cost of the course is €95 and booking is essential. 

For further information or to book your place contact the Bog of Allen Nature Centre on 045-860133 or e-mail bogs@ipcc.ie.
 
For younger members of the public who are interested in wildlife don’t worry the Bog of Allen Nature Centre has its annual Froggy Fun Camp organised for the 21st April. 

This camp is for 7-13years old and includes nature activities such as pond dipping, insect eating plants, earthwalks, frog searches and much more.  Once again booking is essential as places are limited. 

The camp will be held from 10am-1pm on the 21st April.  The cost is €15 per student and to book your childs place contact 045-860133 or e-mail: bogs@ipcc.ie.

KLCK (Kildare Laois Carlow Kilkenny ) Bloggers Network Meet in Kildare Town - Monday 11th April

KLCK Bloggers Network is an informal group for Bloggers of all kinds. All are welcome, those who are just thinking about blogging, those struggling with their blogs and those who have fully established blogs.

There is something for everyone to learn from the meetings even the pros find there is something they can learn.

It's also completely free.
...
The April meetup of KLCK is in the The Silken Thomas, Kildare town

The Speaker this month is Carol Tallon who has just written a book 'Irish Property Buyers Handbook' and is going to tell the story of how her blogging led to the book. More info on the book here. http://www.box.net/shared/ldga37k7xy

The second half of the meeting will be a round table discussion if you have anything you would like to specifically discuss let us know on our Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/klckbloggersnetwork

The purpose of the round table discussion is to encourage more knowledge sharing amongst the group and enable novice bloggers to get more from our meet ups.

Car Racing at Mondello Park is ready for the 2011 green light with the new Mondello Park Sports Club taking charge of their first ever event this Sunday. The Co. Kildare track has already hosted its opening motorcycle race event of the year, with the first running of the all-new 'Adelaide Masters Series' and this weekend it is the turn of the four wheel competitors to provide the entertainment.

Over the winter two of Ireland’s main championships, Formula Libre and the Irish Touring Car Championship (ITCC) have been working hard on growing their entries and these two classes will make up more than half of the races on the programme. Formula Libre will have a grid of more than twenty cars for their season opening double header. The ITCC, in only its second year, will bring more than thirty cars to the event, split across two classes with two races per class, making it four races for thi! s highly popular addition to the Irish car racing scene.

Of the remaining classes, Formula Vee will have a single championship round, having already kicked off their championship at Kirkistown a couple of weeks ago. The Stryker Sports Cars are another class making a come-back with the biggest grid seen in this championship for a couple of years, and they will race twice. Global Light sportscars are also on the bill with two races while the Fiat classes will amalgamate with the slower class of ITCC car for their season opener.

Sunday's event gets underway with qualifying on Sunday morning. The first race is scheduled for 11:25 with the eleven race programme set to finish at 17:00. Admission for Sunday's event is €15.00 for adults with accompanied under sixteen’s free of charge and all admission prices include a complimentary programme. Discount Ticket offers are available by visiting www.mondellopark.ie/specials
 

• Do you think you might be related to someone famous or infamous?
• Could you be connected to a big event in local history?
• Or do you need to solve a family secret?

The Genealogy Roadshow is a brand new series for RTÉ Television presented by Derek Mooney and it is coming to Carton House, near Maynooth, Co. Kildare on Sunday May 29th 2011, from 12.30pm.

The Roadshow’s crack historical and genealogical team will help people find extraordinary stories in their family as well as giving free advice on how to track down a family history. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with experts in the field and fill in the blanks revealing the true story of your ancestors. 

The Genealogy Roadshow is looking for people from Co. Kildare who are interested in finding the missing pieces in their family tree, to be featured in the programme.

If you think you fit the bill, or would just like to attend the Roadshow, Big Mountain Productions want to hear from you.

You can submit family information by filling in the online form at http://www.bigmountainproductions.com
Be sure to include your stories, letters, photographs, birth certificates, and details of heirlooms that might be useful.

The series is being produced by Big Mountain productions for RTÉ. Please feel free to contact them at 086 237 5499 or  genealogy@bigmountainproductions.com

Salmon Leap is the premier canoe racing club in Ireland and caters for those new to the sport all the way up to top international racers.

•  Beginners Courses
•  Competition
•  Club Membership
•  Taster Sessions

An introductory course follows the framework of a Canoeing Ireland level 2 course. Run Over either 5 Sessions or 2 complete days. 

The cost of the course starts at €120 for Juniors and there are packages for Seniors and Families. This includes the training sessions and the provision of basic equipment such as; boats, paddles, buoyancy aids,  and cags.

We recommend that beginners be aged 10 or over. You must be able to swim 100m in canoeing clothes, (thermal top, T shirt and shorts).

At the end of a course, full membership is Included in the course price, to those that wish to continue with the sport.

Salmon Leap Canoe Club, Barnhill, Leixlip, Co Kildare.
M. 085 7048980
E. salmonleapcourses@gmail.com
W. www.salmonleapcanoeclub.com

Anthology of New Irish Writing - "Original Sins" - to be launched on April 8th @ 7.30pm. Venue: Theology Hall, St. Kierans College, Kilkenny

Three Kildare writers - Jeanne Beary, Ilona Blunden and Valerie Ryan, are part of the twenty two new Irish writers featured in this anthology. They, along with the other nineteen new Irish writers featured in this anthology of fictional stories are guilty of the sin of originality. They share their many versions of saints, scholars and demons who speak from around the world and beyond it, from Ireland, from abroad, from places of the mind or from the past. Their characters discover old lives and invent new ones, fall in love and out of it, engage with life, death and all its promises. Travel through the imaginations of these new voices. 

The authors in this new collection have sharpened their blades for four years, working together and alone. They are all students of the Creative Writing for Publication course at NUI Kilkenny Campus who have all truly learned that less is more on paper. They know the value of silence in a story and use the shadows words cast to great effect.  They are writers whose work you will read again. Remember their names. You will remember their stories and read more of them in years to come.

 The course was founded and continues to be run by novelist and columnist Suzanne Power and broadcaster and author John MacKenna.  Both consider their students to be colleagues of the craft after four years working hard to hone it: “The individuals featuring in this collection have stayed the course literally since the very beginning. Our job is to persuade them of what is already in themselves, to foster it to the point where they no longer need convincing. At NUI Kilkenny they share words and stories with companions and receive the kind of criticism that encourages them to write with a closer affinity to the voice in their head, rather than the voice they think they should hear.”

The Creative Writing for Publication course was devised to be based on practical experience and without pretension, for the benefit of the individual voice in the group setting, for the benefit of the phrase or premise that might be rejected as being ‘too easy’, ‘too simple’.

“As their tutors we have learned more than we could ever have taught and gained more than we have ever given.” Suzanne Power says.

Several of its graduates have gone on to be published and there will be more in the years to come.

If you want further details contact the following:
Rachel Nolan, Press and PR:   085 2076215
Jeanne O’Dwyer, Launch Manager: 086 22253966
Maeve O’Byrne, NUI Kilkenny:   0567775910
Suzanne Power, Editor:        086 104 7122