County Kildare News

For everyone interested in participating in a Leaving Certificate course for English students in the NUI Maynooth, please take this event into consideration.

Venue: National University Ireland, Maynooth , Department of English, Iontas Building , NUI Maynooth , Maynooth, Co. Kildare

Phone: 01-7083706

Website: www.nuim.ie

Date: December 10, 2011

The faculty of the English Department at NUI Maynooth want you to get the most out of your Leaving Certificate in English.

On Saturday, December 10, we will bring together a University perspective and classroom style learning in a one day English Course for sixth year students. The day will comprise of three sessions:

Session 1: 'Learning from Hamlet'

Session 2: 'Reading Poems'

Session 3: 'Comparative Study'

Each session will include a lecture in the Iontas Lecture Theatre, followed by discussion and analysis in our classrooms.

How to Apply: Ask your teacher – or contact us directly to be part of it.

The full day costs €25 per person (Includes lunch in NUI Maynooth Phoenix Restaurant).

If your school is participating in this programme, your English teacher will take payment, and provide you with a ticket.

Further Information:

Margaret O'Neill or Abbie Judge

01-7083706

nuimleavingcertopen@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/pages/A-University-English-Course-for-Leaving-Certificate-Students-NUI-Maynooth/264

Bringing together five of Ireland's top folk acts for an exceptional evening of music, story and song - Eleanor Shanley, Seamus Begley, Frankie Lane, Mick Hanly & Paul Kelly
 
As well as her solo career and her time as lead vocalist with De Danann Eleanor has recorded with Eddi Reader, Tommy Fleming, Desi O'Halloran, Dolores Keane, The Dubliners, Frankie Lane & Paul Kelly, Christy Hennessy, Sharon Shannon and Christy Moore.
 
Accordion player and singer Seamus Begley is one of the most popular Irish traditional musicians, coming as he does from one of the most musically acclaimed Irish families. He plays with an energy that is alarming, bringing a frisky spontaneity to his box-playing, belting out jigs, slides and polkas with rapid sprays of reckless ornamentation before making a sudden key change into a bitter-sweet air, sung or played on the accordion.
 
Frankie Lane was the original front man of the legendary Fleadh Cowboys and is one of Ireland’s best-known performers of country rock, western swing music and a traditional musician of international renown.
 
Mick Hanly is best known for Past the Point of Rescue. Mick is one of Ireland's finest singer/songwriters, and a lead singer with Moving Hearts in the 70s.
 
Paul Kelly is an experienced multi-instrumentalist and has performed with The Fleadh Cowboys, The Sharon Shannon Band and Jerry Fish and The Mudbug Club amongst others.

Are you looking for some fun activities for your children during the Halloween midterm break?  The Bog of Allen Nature Centre will be holding a Halloween Creepy Crawlie Fun Camp for students aged 7-13 years. 

The camp will be held on Tuesday 1st November between 10am and 1pm. Activities on the day will include pond dipping, creepy crawlie hunt in our insect hotel, bat crafts and a visit to our flytraps exhibition. 

All activities will be fully supervised by experienced instructors.  The cost of the camp is 15 Euro and booking is essential, as there are limited places.  

If you would like to make a booking contact the Bog of Allen Nature Centre on 045-860133.

The elite of Ireland's racing industry were out in force at L'Officina restaurant in Kildare Village to celebrate The Curragh Annual Racing Awards 2011. The Tipperary Crystal awards ceremony celebrated the leading training and riding performance at The Curragh Racecourse in 2011. Each month during the season members of the racing media nominated the leading training and riding performance. All of the winners gathered to find out who took the overall prize in each category with jockey Joseph O’Brien (Roderic O’Connor in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas) and trainer Vincent Ward (Fictional Account winning The Irish Field St Leger Trial Stakes) scooping the top prizes of the overall leading riding and training performances of the year.  

Curragh Racecourse Commercial Manager Evan Arkwright commented, “The awards have given a great focus throughout our racing season and we are very grateful to Tipperary Crystal for their ongoing support of the racecourse, while I would also like to commend the press for their assistance by selecting such deserving winners each month”

This weekend visitors to Castlefarm Shop are invited to join in on a foraging walk and can collect their own eggs.

Castlefarm Shop will open this Friday 28th and Saturday 29th of October from 10am-6pm.

The specials of the month are organic Castlefarm Angus beef and pork as well as the farms own home-grown grapes and quince.

Egg collecting will take place at 2.30pm sharp on Saturday 29th. The foraging walk will take place at 3pm and will give people a chance for a healthy and educational walk on the farm.

Both these activities are free of charge to Castlefarm Shop customers. 

For further information contact Jenny Young on jenny@castlefarmshop.ie or call 087-6785269.

Directions to Castlefarm can be found at www.castlefarmshop.ie

More Than 80% of Businesses Believe That Budget Adjustments Should Be Achieved Through Cuts

North Kildare Chamber has today (20/10/11) said that the core focus of Budget 2012 must be to secure economic recovery, restore confidence and enhance competitiveness in order to support jobs and enterprises.

Allan Shine, North Kildare Chamber CEO; “Ireland is currently demonstrating the economic truism that small open economies are hit earliest and hardest in recessionary times but that they can emerge quicker and stronger than their larger, more closed economic counterparts. To support our return to growth we must enhance flexibility, support adaptability and close the gap in the national finances as soon as possible.”

“In order to tackle the budget deficit, any adjustment must be at least 75% derived from cuts rather than tax increases. This is supported by a recent survey of Chamber Members nationwide where 81% of respondents signalled that budget adjustments should be achieved through cuts. Those cuts that must be made and should happen now if we are to achieve financial sustainability and confidence within the wider economy. If tax increases are unavoidable then they must be the result of broadening the tax base to avoid doing more damage to the currently challenged domestic economy.”

“The Government faces a twin challenge of maintaining growth while also working towards achieving balance in the national accounts. Restoring the national finances will deliver enhanced confidence and greater levels of economic activity. This in turn will speed up the velocity of money, increase the Government’s tax take and drive growth. All of these requirements will arrive sooner if we can close the deficit in a timely manner.” 

“There is still a lot that the Government can do to support businesses. These include:

• No VAT Increase: This will help to support the struggling retail sector and jobs and enable retailers to restock and expand.
• Implement Recommendations of LGERG: The recommendations of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group (LGERG) should be implemented immediately and the savings achieved should be passed back to the business community in an appropriately targeted way;
• Simplify the Seed Capital Scheme: The Seed Capital Scheme (tax relief scheme) is not promoted enough to potential entrepreneurs and the qualification criteria should be simplified in order to help more people start their own business;
• Labour Market Reforms: The labour market reforms outlined by Minister Bruton during the summer must now be fast-tracked in order to help prevent further unemployment and ultimately create favourable conditions for job creation in impacted sectors; and
• Reduce Employers PRSI: Proactive measures must be taken to support and incentivise employers to take on new staff. This could be achieved through a further reduction in the current rate of Employers PRSI and the expansion of the Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme to include all new employment created for a period of two years instead of the current twelve months.

“Finally, the Government’s decision to publish the key budget figures in advance of Budget 2012 may help to provide consumers with the confidence and certainty needed in the lead up to Christmas – the busiest period for Irish retailers; North Kildare Chamber have continually called for a detailed 3 year plan by Government and we welcome the decision to publish the key budget figures in advance of Budget 2012." Shine concluded.

A total of twenty-four charities and community groups in the Naas area are to receive €70,000 between them thanks to a donation from Oxegen promoters MCD.It’s a continuation of the good that the festival does for the area every year despite having 80,000 people descend on the town.

The town and local community have supported Oxegen since inception and have been shown expressions of gratitude by MCD each year with now €400,000 having gone to charities and community groups in recent times.

This year, the largest beneficiary will be Naas St Vincent de Paul who will receive €15,000.  Among the other groups receiving significant donations are Barretstown, Naas Care Of The Aged and Nas Na Ri Community Centre.

Oxegen’s festival director John Probyn comments:

“Oxegen would not be possible without the on-going co-operation and support of the local community.  We hope that the donations help each of the recipient groups to continue to enrich the lives of the local community.”

Allan Shine, CEO of North Kildare Chamber recognises the economic boost that Oxegen gives to Kildare:

“The Oxegen festival has become synonymous with Kildare.  It brings a much needed boost to the local economy, especially the hospitality sector.  The festival continues to raise funds for local charities and the Chamber congratulates the festival organisers for their efforts.  Having this festival in Kildare for 8 years is an excellent achievement”

In 2011, Oxegen featured superstars Beyoncé, Coldplay, The Foo Fighters and The Black Eyed Peas in a line-up that was voted the best in Europe.

Following Oxegen 2011, the following donations will be distributed:St Vincent De Paul€15,000

• Nas Na Ri Community Centre €5,000
• Ballymore Senior Citizens/GAA €3,000
• Ballymore Tidy Towns €1,000
• Ballymore Boxing Club €500
• Ballymore Badminton Club €500
• Eadestown Community Games €2,000
• Kilteel/Eadestown Comhaltas €1,000
• Rathmore Primary School Project €1,000
• ISPCC €2,500
• Neil Mellon Foundation €2,000
• Naas Lyons Club €2,000
• Injured Jockeys Fund €2,500
• Tiglin €4,000
• Naas Care of the Aged €5,000
• Spina Bifida Kildare €2,500
• Naas TidyTowns €2,500
• Naas Musical Society €2,500
• Little Way €1,000
• Jack and Jill €4,000
• Kildare Civil Defence €1,000
• Barrettstown €4,000
• Kildare Pony Club €500
• Homeless Naas €2,500
• Irish Horse Welfare Trust €2,500

European Year of the Volunteer - Volunteering Showcase

As part of the celebration for European Year of the Volunteer, Kildare Volunteer Centre invites all community and voluntary organisations operating in County Kildare to take a stand at our volunteering showcase in The Osprey Hotel, Naas on Thursday 24th November. 

The event, as well as providing an occasion for organisations to showcase their work, will also provide an opportunity to network with similar groups.

Guest speakers will provide an insight into the various ways in which volunteers contribute to our Society.

Time:     7.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.
Date:     Thursday 24th, November
Venue:     Osprey Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare

To book a stand, please contact Kildare Volunteer Centre on 045-449156 or
info@volunteerkildare.ie .  

As spaces are limited, allocations will be made on a first come basis.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council were delighted to welcome a mushroom expert to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare.

LeslieJo Meyerhoff came all the way from Wisconsin, USA and has over 15 years experience in mushroom identification. During her two days volunteering with the IPCC she identified 8 mushrooms in the bog which will contribute to the Bog Woodland Survey undertaken this year on Lodge Bog.

Mushrooms are rather mysterious as are bogs so when seeking mystery on holiday LeslieJo chose to seek mushrooms at the Bog of Allen. “Several familiar mushrooms were encountered. The Birch Bolete, which is edible, was well represented as were Laccaria laccata. Also found was Turkey Tail, a recognised medicinal mushroom. Waxy caps and the diminutive Leotia lubrica or ‘jelly baby’ rounded out a splendid experience” says LeslieJo Meyerhoff. “I really enjoyed my time volunteering with the IPCC and to find so many mushrooms rounded out a splendid experience” she added.

LeslieJo is continuing her stay in Ireland and is taking time out to write her book on mushrooms. When she returns to the USA she will be presenting a talk on mushrooms encountered in the Bog of Allen at the 2012 Telluride Mushroom Festival in Telluride, Colarado.
 
This Bog Woodland Habitat Survey and Volunteer Training Programme has been supported by Kildare County Council under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2011.
 

140 delegates attended the Inaugural North Kildare Chamber Conference 2011 in the Killashee House Hotel in Naas today. 

Sean Gallagher, Presidential Candidate was the Key Note Opening Speaker who informed delegates of the importance Small Business will have in leading the local and Irish economy out of the current economic situation that we find ourselves in.

The main speakers to address the conference included Eilis Quinlan, Gerard Tannam, Len Regan and Economist Brian Lucey. 

Allan Shine, CEO of North Kildare Chamber said in his opening address “This conference will inspire and inform the business community in Kildare, the Chamber is here to help business grow and unite and in having 140 local businesses from all corners of Kildare shows that the Business Community in Kildare will prosper over the forthcoming years.” 

The Conference  is the start of a series of forthcoming business breakfast and lunches that the Chamber have planned with Key Note Speakers.

Naturally you’ll want to see our Naas wedding venue as it will be for your special day before making a decision so why not visit our open day?

Join us for our Wedding Showcase on Thursday 20th October from 6.30 to 9.00pm

• Enjoy tasty petit fours and glass of bubbly
• Many premium dates still available for 2012

Our wedding coordinator and management team will be on hand to give you both a personally guided tour of the ballroom and suites prepared for a wedding reception, breakfast and civil ceremony. You will also have the choice to view our stylish bedrooms, sumptuous suites and opulent penthouse.

If you would like further information on our Wedding Showcase please contact our Osprey Wedding Coordinator

Please contact the wedding team for further information - http://www.ospreyhotel.ie/intl/en/index.php

As part of their ‘Architectural Circus’ tour of Ireland in October, Ice Cream Architecture will be in The Square in Kilcock on Wednesday 12th October.

Funded by the Arts Council, Ice-cream Architecture are a firm of architects committed to delivering community workshops across the country and Kilcock will be the only town they visit in Kildare.

While in Kilcock they will examine possible uses and improvements to the Square and the day will be a hands- on event that explores how the current square operates for the town and how people perceive its importance within the locality.

This Workshop forms part of the Community Participation Strategy of the Integrated Services Programme North Kildare, and Coordinator Honor Griffin is delighted to have such a sought after group present in Kilcock. 

Honor outlined that “They will collect all the feedback and inputs from the workshop and present them in a clear and coherent proposal for the community”.

So watch out Kilcock for the Architectural Circus and their distinctive Ice-Cream Van!
Day Schedule:
12pm Site visit The Square
1pm Presentation St. Josephs Hall
2pm Workshop
3.30pm Finish

All are welcome to get involved in this exciting workshop to get the most inclusive outcomes from the day.

THE curtain comes down on another fabulous season of Flat racing at the Curragh next Sunday, 9th October when there are three Listed races and a premier handicap up for grabs.

Admission to the races is free courtesy of Hackett’s Bookmakers who also sponsor the 38,000 euro to the winner Irish Cesarewitch Premier Handicap.

Trainer Mark Johnson has plundered some decent prizes in Ireland this term and he appears to hold a strong hand with four entries – Becausewecan, Bowdler’s Magic, Colour Vision and English Summer - in the Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch Premier Handicap. There are a total of 32 entries for the two mile contest and best of the home team would appear to be Dimona, Obligation, Regent Street and Star Power.

Homecoming Queen is one of five Aidan O’Brien entries for the Listed Lanwades and Staffordstown Studs Two-Year-Old Fillies Stakes and the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor is sure to be a leading contender following her neck second to Coral Wave in the Group Three C L Weld Park Stakes at this venue nine days ago. Other notable entries here are Absolute Crackers, Crimson Sunrise, Silver Sycamore, Up and Wading.

Goodwood winner and recent Ayr Gold Cup runner-up Eton Rifles is one of two British-trained horses among the 19 entries for the Listed Go Racing In Kildare Waterford Testimonial Stakes. David Elsworth’s six-year-old has been a model of consistency this season, but he faces stiff opposition from the home-based team which is headed by Bay Knight, Empowering, Maarek, Northern Rock and Six Of Hearts.

The Listed Go Racing In Kildare Finale Stakes brings proceedings to a close and the 12 furlong contest has attracted 24 entries, including three from Britain in Aiken, Enroller and Western Pearl. Amazing Beauty, Bob Le Beau, Kissable, Look At Me, Pink Symphony, Sapphire and What A Charm will form the heart of the home defence.

Irish Greyhound Derby winner Razldazl George will be a guest of honour when he makes an appearance during the afternoon. Trained only a few miles away from the racecourse by Dolores Ruth, he will be joined by his owner Liam Marks with the Irish Derby trophy.

The race day will also kick start the Go Racing in Kildare Festival Week with four exciting race days taking place at all three County Kildare tracks from the 9th to the 16th October to launch the 2012 Go Racing in Kildare Membership

The first of seven races on Sunday commences at 2.15 pm and the ground is currently soft on the round course and heavy on the straight course. 

The annual meeting of the Athy Joint Policing Committee will take place on Wednesday, 12th October next at 7.30pm in the Athy Community Arts Centre, Woodstock Street, Athy.
 
This year's theme 'security in the home' will focus on security measures that homeowners can take to ensure their safety in their homes. Speakers from the local JPC , Gardaí and Bleach & District Residents will attend.
 
The Athy Joint Policing Committee was established in 2006 (under the Garda Siochana Act 2005 as part of a pilot scheme). The success of the scheme in the initial areas has led to the establishment of further committees on a countrywide basis. The Athy JPC currently has members representing Athy Town Council, Gardai, Oireachtas members and the Community.
 
This is Athy's 2nd annual meeting and a big welcome is extended to the whole community to attend and also representatives of local residents associations.
 
For further details, contact the Town Clerk's Office, Athy Town Council 059 8631444 website: www.kildarejointpolicing.ie

The preparation of a Kildare Town Architectural Conservation Area Statement

Kildare County Council, in partnership with the Heritage Council and County Kildare Heritage Forum, is pleased to announce the preparation of the Kildare Town Architectural Conservation Area Statement.

Sheridan Woods Architects and Urban Planners have been commissioned to prepare the Kildare Town Architectural Conservation Area Statement, which is an objective of the County Kildare Development Plan 2011-2017 action in the Kildare Heritage Plan.

Kildare Town has a special and particular character that is considered of great value and worthy of protection. The Kildare Town Architectural Conservation Area Statement will identify this unique character. Its objective is to guide change within the designated area, while ensuring that future development is carried out in a manner that is sympathetic to the special character of this historic place.

A public workshop will take place in Áras Chill Bhride, Kildare between 8pm and 10pm on Thursday the 13th October 2011. Members of the public and interested parties are invited to attend the workshop and become involved in the preparation of the Kildare Town Architectural Conservation Area Statement.

If you require further information please contact Bridget Loughlin, Heritage Officer, Planning Department, Kildare County Council. Tel: 045 980791.

Feeling Romantic? Enter the Clanard Court Hotel ‘Love Match’ Competition on Facebook and help one lucky couple win the wedding of their dreams.

The Clanard Court Hotel in Athy, Co. Kildare in association with WeddingsOnline.ie, Ireland’s largest online wedding directory, have launched one of the most romantic competitions to hit the internet. The Clanard Court Hotel is one of the most popular wedding venues in Kildare, and is within 40 minutes from Dublin. The hotel has successfully fulfilled the dreams of over 400 wedding couples in the last five years. To celebrate they have decided to give one couple the wedding of their dreams at the hotel.

Four couples have been selected from numerous entries on the hotel’s Facebook page. Each couple was filmed, describing their other half, the only restriction being that they could not mention their partner’s name. These videos are now available on the Facebook page of the Clanard Court Hotel at www.facebook.com/clanardcourthotel and the public gets to choose the winner by matching up the couples using the hints given in each of the videos.

The couple that gets the most correct matches will win a wedding at the four star Clanard Court Hotel, while each person that attempts to figure out the ‘Love Match’ also gets entered into a weekly draw for one night B&B and dinner at the hotel. The competition runs until November 17th and entry is only available from the hotel’s Facebook page.

To help them in their video description of their partner, each participant was asked a series of questions such as ‘What celebrity does your fiancé look most like?’ and ‘Which one of your fiancé’s friends do you find most attractive?’ Thankfully each participant answered carefully, so that all of them are still happily engaged!

The Clanard Court is set amid landscaped gardens and specialises in tailor made weddings, ensuring satisfaction by catering for only one wedding per day. For further information about weddings at the hotel contact wedding co-ordinator Claire Dunne on 059 8640666 or visit the website www.clanardcourt.ie

For more information about the competition or to enter go to www.facebook.com/clanardcourthotel