County Kildare News

North Kildare Chamber has today (28/11/11) said that given ongoing softness in Retail Sales data it is highly unlikely that Government revenue targets of EUR670m in the event of a 2pc VAT increase in Budget 2012 will be realised. The prediction was made following the release of latest CSO retail sales data.

The volume of retail sales (i.e. excluding price effects) increased by 0.1% in October 2011 when compared with September 2011 and there was an annual decrease of 3.8%. Speaking this morning Allan Shine, North Kildare Chamber Chief Executive said, “While consumer spending has improved marginally since September 2011, it is still down on October last year. Government needs a more realistic approach to analysing the impact of mooted tax changes such as VAT,” Shine concluded.

The Kildare Observer 1880 - 1935 site has been updated;  it is online, searchable and free courtesy of Kildare Co. Council, Kildare Library & Arts Services, The British Library and the Irish Newspaper Archive.

For over a year now Kildare Library & Arts Services have had The Kildare Observer Newspaper online but it was only accessible to those in the know ot those who chanced upon it. It is a remarkable resource but the online version was a little slow and cumbersome.

The Irish Newspaper Archive have now re-designed it and improved its functionaility and it will become a major resource for researchers. Please remember it covers only the years 1880 - 1935 and that you must look at the instructional video or explore the technical sections to get the most from the paper. You can search or browse.

Click to view THE KILDARE OBSERVER 1880 - 1935

It is free and searchable courtesy of KLAS and KCC and we would like to thank the British Library for permission to use its archives for this purpose.

The BRAND Athy Project and RAPID are holding an Agency / Community information event in Carlton Abbey Hotel on the 30th of November 2011 from 10 o’ clock to 1 o’ clock.

We would hope on the day that all agencies would attend and display their products and tell the public all about their organisation and what they can offer the community of Athy.

www.athybrand.ie

Please vote for Rosie Hayes on her up and coming performance on RTE 2 -Elev8's talent competition 'Show Off or Get Off' - being aired on this Friday, 18th November around 4pm.
 
Rosie needs to get voted via computer (see link below. Note it is 1 vote per IP Address) onto the next stage in the competition - with the ultimate hopes of being in with a chance of performing live at the Helix in Dublin.

It is possible to see the performance on the computer also, by logging into the website: www.rte.ie/trte/elev8 ,then click into the Show Off or Get Off tab on the brick styled labels on the top, centre of the page. This will take you into the acts. The first 5 acts are the ones currently being voted on - of which 2 will go forward in the competition.

You may recall Rosie from last years' Late Late Toy Show, where she sang solo her rendition of Ariel's Part of Your World. You will all find this a performance to equal that!

24 beds are to go at St Vincent's, the care of the elderly hospital in Co Kildare.

The Health Service Executive will reduce the numbers on a phased basis, by taking no new admissions.

This follows the closure of a ward at the hospital in 2009. The total number of beds closed since September 2009 now reaches 47.

Following on from the success of our Network Lunch last week with guest speaker Constantin Gurdgiev, North Kildare Chamber today (15th November) announced Bernard Jackman as the guest speaker for its December Lunch.  Allan Shine, CEO stated “ The Chamber have had excellent speakers address its members this year and we are delighted to announce Bernard Jackman as our Guest Speaker for December.  Bernard was an excellent Rugby Professional both for Leinster and for Ireland and is now a Director of Front Up which is a Leadership and Motivational Company, we look forward to hearing from Bernard on how the values and techniques used in a World class sport can be implemented into business and help business reach their potential.

 
Sean Miley, Owner of K Windows said “ We are delighted as new members of North Kildare Chamber to sponsor this lunch.  Bernard has been a hugely successful sporting hero for many in Kildare and K Windows look forward to hearing Bernard address Chamber Members.  K Windows is a new company based in Kildare which is growing month on month and I look forward to hearing how Bernard can help inspire and motivate the business community in Kildare”.
 

North Kildare Chamber Network Lunch
Date: Friday 2nd December
Venue: Kavanaghs Bar and Grill, Naas   Time: 2pm
Guest Speaker: Bernard Jackman

€20 Chamber Member Only Luncheon – PRE Booking essential
Sponsored by K Windows   www.kwindows.ie

Bernard Jackman
Bernard is a renowned ex rugby professional who was part of our Grand Slam Team and leinster winning Heineken Cup Team in 2009 and now Director of www.frontup.ie.  Bernard will show how the values and techniques used in a World class sport can be implemented into business and help business reach their potential.

Bernard works towards Developing leaders and managers to manage performance and focus on positive attitudes and employee engagement and can equip managers to lead people to higher performance and provide an organisation with a valuable return on its investment.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council have completed an extensive survey of the bog woodland habitat on their reserve Lodge Bog in county Kildare. “From this survey we have gained more knowledge of bog woodland habitats which are an EU conservation priority and a little known face of Irish bogs” says Michael Kenny, Conservation Officer with the IPCC. The survey revealed dry and wet types of birch dominated bog woodland within the site. This survey will also assist with the management of this habitat for biodiversity conservation in the future.
 
Bog woodland habitats are listed as a priority habitat for protection under the EU Habitats Directive. In Ireland bog woodlands are associated with intact raised bogs. The habitat is rare with documented sites in Ireland covering less than 35ha.

These woodlands are important for providing vertical structure, shelter and warmth in an essentially open and exposed habitat as well providing habitats for a variety of additional plant and animal species.
 
“From this survey 54 species were identified in the bog woodland which is remarkable and indicates the biodiversity supported by this rare habitat” says Michael Kenny, Conservation Officer. “The 5ha of woodlands on Lodge Bog may represent the only area of this habitat protected in Co. Kildare” he added.
 

This Bog Woodland Habitat Survey and Volunteer Training Programme received funding from Kildare County Council under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2011 and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the National Parks and Wildlife Service through their Notice Nature Campaign and distributed by the Irish Environmental Network under the Biodiversity Fund.

It was all business at the Alfa Parf Fantastic Hairdresser Awards 2011 in Cork last Sunday – the most exciting competitions to reach Ireland for years.

These awards give salons an opportunity to show their true potential and strengths through 6 artistic and 3 business awards, which define those salons as the best in the industry.

And SHADES & SHAPES HAIR DESIGN in Newbridge were announced in the final six in the overall Salon Award.

This award is based on the 5 pillars to success – Revolutionary Strategy (what is your company focus and why do you want to achieve it), Focus on Profit (profit targets etc), A Committed Team (communication structures, company standards), Delighted Customers (customer delight standards and initiatives) and Marketing.

According to sisters Aileen & Tracey Maher ‘it is an incredible achievement to reach the final six from all entries countrywide for 2011, and a fantastic way to finish off our celebrations of 20 years in business. Our success is down to our dedicated and hardworking team, and also our customer service and customer loyalty programmes. It is so important in business today to keep focused and continue to grow, no matter how long
you have been in business’.

Well done to all involved!

Dance classes presented by Expandance

Wed 16th Nov / Wed 23rd Nov / Wed 30th Nov / Wed 7th Dec @ 7pm

Price: €15 per session or €40 for entire workshop series

Back by popular demand, expandance’s Alicia Christofi-Walshe, founding member of expandance, will be running another series of contemporary dance classes for adults, beginning in November.

Did you dance as a child?  Always wanted to be on stage?  Want to keep fit?  Then come join us!   Learn contemporary dance techniques, methods to develop choreography and re-ignite your creativity all in a relaxed and social environment.  Through the series you'll gain physical fitness, flexibility, strength, balance and co-ordination.  All levels welcome and no experience necessary. All exercises can be adapted to suit your physical ability. 

Bring your creativity and a desire to move!

Tuesday 8th Nov Class

8pm – Mixed Ability

This class covers the basic pilates principles and fundamentals for anyone who has never done pilates before but also challenges anyone who has taken a pilates class with modifications of these beginners exercises.

Venue: Scoil Bhride Naofa (Girls Primary School) , Grey Abbey Road , Kildare Town 

Wednesday 9th Nov Class Times

6pm – Intermediate/Advanced

This class is perfect for anyone who has taken a Pilates class before and would like to challenge themselves

7pm – Beginners/Intermediate

This class covers the basic pilates principles and fundamentals for anyone who has never done pilates before but also challenges anyone who has taken a pilates class with modifications of these beginners exercises.

8pm – Mixed Ability

This class is aimed at beginners who have never taken a pilates class before. There are modifications for each exercise to cater to anyone who is strong is capable of the improvers version of each exercise.

Information:

Sara

086 3203006

sjwpilates@gmail.com