County Kildare News

North Kildare Chamber today call for the immediate set up of the promised “ Retail Strategy Group”  to address the concerns of retailers and to promote an environment that will help secure businesses and jobs.  This follows today’s depressing CSO figures which show a 3.7% decrease in retail spending in January.  Allan Shine, Chamber CEO said “The Retail Industry employ over 15% of our workforce and we still wait for the Government to set up the promised Retail Strategy Group.  The main reason for the fall in spending is the recent increase in VAT from 21% to 23%. 

The high cost of rents, rates, tax and labour are causing retailers real difficulties and depressing consumer demand. Action is needed on all these fronts, including a review of VAT returns at the end of next month. If the Government's target is not met, as now seems likely, the 2 per cent increase should be reversed.
 
The January figures show that we face another challenging year, with business closure and additional redundancies in this sector.  Consumer sentiment is weak and the outlook looks weaker.  Retails sales are now down approximately 30% from the boom era.  Our members have cut costs in all areas of their businesses and we now need Government to admit that this is a serious matter which has already cost over 50,000 jobs in the sector over the past few years, Shine concluded.

Key Location highlighted to Minister Reilly

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon, has asked Minister for Health Dr James Reilly to consider the unused site at Magee Barracks as a potential location for the new childrens hospital if greenfield sites are being considered.
 
"The refusal of planning by An Bord Pleanala for the chosen Mater Hospital site today, throws the whole question of the location of the children's hospital wide open again. Experts in the medical field will decide if a site co-located with a main hospital is absolutely necessary.  If greenfield sites come back on the agenda, I am calling on Minister Reilly to look at the Magee Barracks site in Kildare town as a possible location" Heydon stated.
 
"The Magee site is owned by the state and is currently standing idle.  It is a prime site with a central location and close proximity to the modern motorway network.  It would provide strong access facilities for travellers from all over the Country" Heydon continued.
 
"I have written to Minister Reilly to highlight to him the benefits of the site and I will continue to follow up with him and other Ministers to place the future use of the Magee Barracks site on top of the political agenda in Kildare.
 
"Since my election last year, I have worked closely with Kildare Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to highlight the potential uses of the site and seek opportunities for its future use. At a meeting with Minister Shatter late last year, he committed to continue Government's efforts to find a suitable use for the site and I will use all opportunities to highlight its strengths where I can" concluded Heydon.
 

The Irish Field has agreed to sponsor a series of 10 races at the Curragh this year. The first in the series will take place on the opening day of the flat racing season on Sunday, March 25th, while the series will culminate with the Listed Finale Stakes at the final day of the Curragh season on Sunday, October 14th.

The Irish Field will also be associated with the spectacle of the first race run in Ireland which will be restricted to horses registered as grey.

The Irish Field has sponsored the Irish St Leger since 2003. Commenting on the new sponsorship deal, The Irish Field’s Managing Editor Leo Powell said: “We have had a great association with the final classic of the year and during our involvement many new records and standards were set. The connection between us, the race and the Melbourne Cup has helped to promote our product to an international audience. We have decided now to refocus our marketing spend to cover the widest spectrum of equine activities, and the 10 race sponsorship at the Curragh will keep our brand name to the fore throughout the flat season.

“Readers will benefit too from the broad sponsorship and we will promote attendance at the races for the period of our sponsorship. We look forward to a competitive series of races.”

Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager of the Curragh Racecourse, commented “The Irish Field have been tremendous supporters of the Curragh and I am delighted that we will have them associated with so many of our race days this year.   We plan to put together a variety of initiatives which will aim to benefit their readers on these days”.

North Kildarer Chamber are delighted to announce George Hook as our Guest Speaker at our Business Breakfast on the 13th March at 8.30 in Craddockstown Golf Club.  The theme of the Breakfast is 

  “The importance of Corporate Social Responsibility in the workplace is more important now than ever”
 
Commenting on the forthcoming event, Pat Meagher of Craddockstown Golf Club said today, “We are delighted to be associated with and hosting the Business Breakfast in conjunction with North Kildare Chamber and especially with the high calibre speaker we have secured in George Hook.   I am looking forward to the event and to listening to one of Ireland’s highest calibre speakers.”

Allan Shine, CEO of North Kildare Chamber said, “George Hook is an excellent speaker and we are delighted to be involved in a very worthwhile business breakfast in which all proceeds go to George Hooks nominated charity – Haven.  The Chamber continues to work closely with our members and having this business breakfast in Craddockstown Golf Club illustrates this.” Shine concluded

Athy Lions Club has launched a collection service for old unwanted glasses for distribution to the developing world.

Athy Lions President, Paul Cunningham commented, “90% of the worlds’ 265 million visually impaired people live in the developing word, of which 19 Million are children.

In most cases these visual impairments are easily treated with corrective lenses.

Collected Glasses will be centrally segmented and cleaned before being shipped to the developing world where they will be distributed free of charge by the Lions Club organisation

There are 3 collection points in Athy:

•  KW Opticians - 24 Leinster Street
•  Collette Norton Optician – 55 Leinster Street
•  Athy Lions Club Bookshop – Duke Street

All types of Prescription Glasses and Sunglasses are welcomed.

Kildare Volunteer Centre have achieved the Volunteer Centre Quality Award for their excellent work supporting volunteers and volunteering throughout County Kildare.

In 2007 the national network of Volunteer Centres developed a Quality Standard Framework in order to ensure a minimum quality service is provided to all Volunteer Centre service users, namely volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations. The framework covers the entire work of a Volunteer Centre including governance, management, marketing and administration as well as the core day-to-day work of registering volunteers and supporting organisations to develop quality volunteer opportunities and best practice in volunteer management. A rigorous peer review process has since been developed to evaluate Volunteer Centres against the Quality Standard framework. In addition the peer review process aims to inculcate an attitude and ethos that promotes self-reflection and critical thinking within each volunteer centre.

Since the introduction of the peer review process 11 centres have participated in and are at various stages of completion in attaining the Volunteer Centre Quality Award. Kildare is one of two centres to date to have achieved the award while several others are expected to attain the award over the coming months. Kildare, along with all other centers that have participated in the process, have received feedback and recommendations on ways of enhancing the work of their service.

Terri O’Brien, Quality Standards & Training Officer with Volunteer Ireland said "during the peer review process we were delighted to visit Kildare Volunteer Centre and to witness the great work they are doing. We found the centre to be well run with welcoming, professional and efficient staff. We found the Centre staff to be open and accepting and to have a strong sense of the importance of working with people from all parts of the community and all parts of the county. "

The committee were impressed with Volunteer Centre Manager, Mick Power’s comprehensive knowledge of the social and political context in which the Volunteer Centre works within Kildare. O’Brien said that "we were impressed by the staff’s commitment to the community and voluntary sector through their extensive contributions to a large number of community committees and boards and to their commitment to the network of Volunteer Centres and Volunteer Ireland."
 

The Irish Wildlife Trust is delighted to announce that our smooth newt survey will be running again in 2012 and we are calling on people to once again get out and search their local pond for newts! The smooth newt is one of our few native amphibian species and this survey aims to increase our knowledge of the distribution of the species. We also hope to make Irish people more familiar with this little ‘water dragon’, so that they will value it as part of our natural heritage.

This year we will be focussing our efforts in counties where we currently have few or no records, including county Kildare.  A training day will be taking place in April at NUI Maynooth. If you would like to attend the training day, you must register with us. Members of the Irish Wildlife Trust can attend the workshop for free. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

To register as a surveyor or for more information contact Dr Daniel Buckley at newts@iwt.ie or on 0863691982 or check out our website www.iwt.ie

This project is funded by Dublin zoo and Fota Wildlife Park.

Kildare training day location: NUI Maynooth
Date: 01st April
Time: 11:00am

Sheena Malone is seeking old ghost stories, the location of fairy passes, fairy trees and old traditions relating to the Allen Parish area for an archive.

" I fear that these stories will be lost as this generation gets older and I think it would be a shame to let this happen as many traditions seem to becoming lost or more out of place in the modern world."

If you have any tales or know anyone who has, I would very much appreciate you to get in contact with me via email at allenghoststories@gmail.com or post a letter to:

Sheena Malone, Allenwood South, Naas, Co. Kildare

Kildare County Council are now inviting applications for the various grants administered by them.

These include Festival Grants, Community Grants and Amenity Grants.

As this is the european year for active ageing and solidarity between generations, projects which show evidence of having an intergenerational aspect (a mix of old and young people involved) will be prioritised.

Application forms and details for these Grants are available on the Council website; www.kildarecountycouncil.ie or by emailing jtalbot@kildarecoco.ie or telephone 045-980371.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 20 March 2012.

Labour Party TD for Kildare North, Emmet Stagg, has welcomed the announcement that Hewlett Packard is to create 280 jobs at its plants in Leixlip and Galway, with approximately 100 of the jobs going to Leixlip.

"This news is a massive boost for Kildare and is a reflection of how highly valued the workers of the Leixlip plant are to Hewlett Packard. The jobs will be in research and development and technical and support roles and recruitment will commence immediately."

Deputy Stagg stated that he wanted to congratulate Martin Murphy, Managing Director of HP Ireland for the critical role he obviously played in bringing the jobs to Ireland and Deputy Stagg also congratulated the IDA.

The announcement stated Deputy Stagg was a clear endorsement by HP of the capabilities and expertise of Irish Workers at the Centres of Excellence in Leixlip and Galway and is a vote of confidence for the future of HP in Ireland.

The Adelaide Motorcycle Festival was the venue for today’s announcement that Mondello Park's flagship Motorcycle Racing Championship, the 'Adelaide Masters Series' will continue into its second year with Motorcycle Insurance Specialists 'Adelaide Insurance' as title sponsor.

The 2012 series was launched by Mondello Park Managing Director John Morris, Adelaide Insurance Services Nichola Pearce and Wilson McKibbin of Bishopscourt, with the assistance of 2011 Superbike Champion Kirk Jamison and 2012 competitors Brian McCormack and Steve Mercer.

The biggest news for the growing series is the addition for the first time of an event outside of Mondello Park. For 2012 the championship will increase to five events with the Superbike and Supersport classes taking in one round at Bishopscourt Co. Down, alongside the four events at Mondello Park in Co. Kildare.

Amongst the announcements was the return to an open tyre formula which will see the 'Cup' class joining the overall championship in allowing riders to use tyres from any manufacturer. TV coverage will also continue on UTV during 2012 with a possible switch to a one-hour weekend afternoon slot.

A very successful début year in 2011 has led to enormous interest amongst riders and teams, with a number already committed to competing this year and many more working on adding the Adelaide Masters Series to their road racing or BSB campaigns. Already committed are 2011 Superbike winner Kirk Jamison, former Irish Superbike Champion Brian McCormack and the JMF Milsport team with new signing Steve Mercer.

Speaking at the launch Mondello Park MD John Morris stated, “we couldn’t have wished for more in our inaugural season and together with Adelaide Insurance Services, we’re delighted to progress the series to the next level with a round in Bishopscourt this year“.

Adelaide Insurance Services' Nichola Pearce said, “We’ve enjoyed working with John Morris and his team over the past year and Adelaide’s investment in this event is helping us raise awareness of our motorcycle insurance service in Ireland - so all good reasons to continue supporting it.”

While Wilson McKibbin of Bishopscourt also commented, “The Directors and Management of Bishopscourt Racing Circuit are delighted to be running a round of the Adelaide Masters and look forward to working with John Morris and Adelaide Insurance.“

The championship kicks off with the first three rounds at Mondello Park on the weekend of April 21st and 22nd and continues through to the big finale on October 6th and 7th.

2012 Adelaide Masters Series Dates
Rounds 1, 2 &3 - Sat/Sun April 21st/22nd (Mondello Park National Track)
Rounds 4, 5 & 6 - Sat/Sun June 23rd/24th (Mondello Park National Track)
Rounds 7 & 8 - Sat August 18th (Bishopscourt)
Rounds 9 & 10 - Sun September 2nd (Mondello Park National Track)
Rounds 11, 12 & 13 - Sat/Sun October 6th/7th (Mondello Park International Track)

For further information on the 2012 Adelaide Masters Series see www.mondellopark.ie.

Young scientists from the laboratories and classrooms of North Kildare Educate Together National School made an impact at the 2012 RDS Primary Science Fair!

The fair, which is part of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, provides an opportunity for students to think about science in practical and fun ways and helps to develop their skills in communicating their interest and knowledge of science to others.

The children from North Kildare ETNS impressed with their project, “Science in Our School”, which involved a variety of scientific experiments and discoveries! They displayed projects on many different aspects of the scientific world, from understanding bacteria to powering batteries. The children also effectively demonstrated how the nose and taste buds are linked – visitors to the stand were asked to taste certain foods whist holding their noses!

Over 3,000 primary school students representing 120 schools from across Ireland displayed their projects at the fair. As usual, Educate Together schools punched above their weight – with young scientists from six Educate Together National Schools – Galway, Midleton, North Kildare, Belmayne, Balbriggan, and Castleknock – exhibiting their projects. Although Educate Together pupils make up just 2% of the overall primary school population in Ireland, their work is regularly selected for inclusion.

Educate Together CEO Paul Rowe visited the exhibition to find out more about the projects exhibited by pupils from North Kildare ETNS. He said, ‘I would like to congratulate every Educate Together pupil, teacher and parent involved in working on these very impressive scientific investigations. Today’s school pupils will be members of the knowledge economy of tomorrow and I’m delighted to see Educate Together schools at the forefront of this movement’.

Upcoming Training Course for Parents, organised by Kildare County Childcare Committee...

Starts in Co. Kildare on Thursday 23rd February 2012

7.30pm-9.30pm

Runs for 10 weeks

Scoill Mhuire Community School, Clane, Co. Kildare

Booking contact: Kildare County Childcare Committee, info@kildarechildecare.ie,

Cost: €10.00 per participant normally €75.00.

Please book by Friday 17th February. Early Booking Advised as places limited.

The Samaritans, based in Newbridge, is appealing for volunteers. The group, which offers a sympathetic listening service to those in distress, is asking people to give 4 hours of their time every week to help to man the service's phone lines.

Are you interested in this opportunity? Please contact Kildare Volunteer Centre on 045 449156 or by email to michelle@volunteerkildare.ie

An information evening is taking place at its offices  at 3 McElwain Terrace on Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th February at 8 O'clock.

Riverbank Arts Centre is hosting a remarkable array of events over the coming weeks with everything from wonderful Irish music,theatre and original comedy to children oriented workshops, movies and film.
 
Beckett X 3 2012 is a collection of 3 short plays which follows on from the success of the 2011 production. There is a strong sense of Beckett humour evident throughout as it looks at themes of human destiny in terms of poignancy and the necessity of dignity in facing the inevitable.
 
Valentines Day is right around the corner and if you still haven’t made any plans why not check out a hilarious new play written & directed by local man Eoin Gannon. This is a comedy for everyone whether you have a date or you don’t so get your ticket today.
 
Almost all of our children’s workshops for Midterm Madness are sold out however there are still some places available for award-winning illustrator Steve Simpson’s workshop on Saturday February 18th.Be sure to book your place very soon as these are sure to go quickly. Following on from that we are screening the animated movie Howls Moving Castle which is enough to keep the kids entertained for hours.
 
The Fureys & Davey Arthur will take to the stage on February 16th to delight and entertain audiences with a range of much-loved songs including ‘Red Rose Café’ and ‘When You Were Sweet 16’ along songs from their new CD ‘Songs through the Years’. There is bound to be an abundance of songs, stories and laughter to bring a smile to your face!
 
Also for the kids is The Glee Experience, a terrific musical tribute to the TV show and will feature all the much-loved characters along with recognised storylines and songs. And don’t forget Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs will take to the stage on February 25th with two special shows and a guest appearance by none other then Bosco!
 
Unfortunately we have had to postpone the gig by CAN Percussion Trio due to a hand injury sustained by one of the band members. We hope to reschedule this event for a date in June and if you are interested in being notified of this can contact our box office and leave your contact details with us.
 
Don’t miss the opportunity to see the Irish premiere of a highly anticipated production. Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth is a production by Silken Thomas Players that is described as a modern day classic with plenty of rollicking dark bawdy comedy.

See www.riverbank.ie for more information.

 Be Part of the Action, Join an Event

At the beginning of the 1980's there was little talk of the conservation of peatlands of Ireland.  However in 1982 this was all to change.  Following a debate on the future of Irish bogs in University College Dublin the Irish Peatland Conservation Council was established.  This year the Irish Peatland Conservation Council celebrates its 30th anniversary.  You can be part of the action in 2012 by joining the Irish Peatland Conservation Council at one of their boggy events.

On the 16th February the first of many events for 2012 will be held at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore.  From 10am-1pm a children's nature fun camp from 7-13 year olds will get the year off to a wild start.  Activities will include pond dipping, creepy crawlie search in the wildlife gardens and nature crafts.  Booking is essential for this event by calling the centre on 045-860133 or e-mailing bogs@ipcc.ie.

Highlights of the year will be the Irish Peatland Conservation Councils Family Date with Nature on the 20th May where IPCC staff and friends will be celebrating from dawn through to dusk the variety of biodiversity found around the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.  Another special date will be the 29th July celebrating International Bog Day.  Other weekend openings will include 23rd June and 26th August where the Bog of Allen Nature Centre will be open for the public to visit free of charge.

There is something for everyone from wildlife courses, open days and children's fun camps included in the Irish Peatland Conservation Councils calendar of events for 2012.  You can explore the events by visiting www.ipcc.ie or contacting the centre on 045-860133. 

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is a charity which aims to conserve a representative portion of Irish Peatlands for future generations to enjoy.

A report produced by NUI Maynooth has highlighted the significant impact the Punchestown Festival has on the economic life of the county. The report concludes that "the 95,000 race goers who attended last year’s event contributed €59.8 million to the local economy over the course of the five day festival – including €6.6 million travelling to the course and a further €21.4 million on admission, betting, food and drink within the course itself. Other expenditure in the local economy included clothing, accommodation, food, drink and entertainment.

Close to 80% of racegoers declared that their visit to Kildare was solely in order to attend the Festival. Just over 20% of the attendance hailed from outside of Ireland. International visitors came from a wide range of countries, although most came from the UK.

Dick O’Sullivan, Punchestown General Manager says "While there are many thought provoking findings in the report, there are three findings which I find most satisfying. Firstly, that Punchestown continues to attract so many international visitors, the fact that nearly 20% of our attendees are overseas visitors illustrates the continuing international appeal of the event. Secondly, it is wonderful to see so many young people coming racing and the fact that 30% of attendees are first time race goers is very heartening news. Finally, a commendable feature of Punchestown over the years has been the cross section of people who attend and this report proves that the Punchestown Festival has universal appeal."

The report is available at www.goracing.ie/pics/2012/NUIMREPORT.PDF

Aisling Kennedy from Celbridge in County Kildare has been accepted for professional dance training at one of Europe’s premier schools for dance training and education, Central School of Ballet (CSB) in London.

Aisling, aged 16, has been dancing since she was just two years old.  She has now completed her first term at CSB, one of only 38 pupils accepted for a place on this three year degree course, a BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Performance (validated by the University of Kent). CSB is the only dance school in the UK to offer this unique qualification.  Aisling was selected for her place from 420 applicants. 

Entrance to CSB is through auditions which are held every spring, a process that involves performing for the school’s teaching staff, all of whom are ex-professional dancers themselves. The course’s main focus is on Classical Ballet supported by Contemporary Dance as an additional subject, and also includes tuition in Choreography, Spanish Dance, Pilates, Jazz Dance, Drama, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Singing and Contextual Studies.

Aisling gained her early enthusiasm for dance by attending the Celbridge School of Ballet.  She joins CSB form St Wolstan’s Community School were she gained seven As and four Bs in Junior Certificate.
 
Aisling explains how she is making progress at CSB:  “I've now completed the first term at Central School of Ballet and it's been hard work but fun too.  We train at least six hours a day during the week and take classes on Saturday morning too.  You have to be dedicated to make it to the top of this profession but it's my dream to be a dancer at one of the top ballet companies when I graduate.  The training here is as challenging as any top athlete but the rewards of performing are what we all look forward to."

Sara Matthews, director of CSB explains the competition for places at a dance school at this level:  “Students typically join us aged 16 after GCSE.  By this stage many of them will have been dancing since primary school.  Only the most talented and dedicated students are accepted but ballet is no longer an elitist profession. 25% of CSB students are given some kind of financial assistance through the school to allow them to complete their tuition here.  We have a long history of accepting students from a diverse range of social and economic backgrounds.”

During her final year Aisling will join the school's touring company Ballet Central.  Ballet Central’s annual nationwide tour will commence this year on 8th March in Hertford and will visit 22 venues across the UK including the Lowry in Salford Quays and the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House.  For more information about the tour visit www.balletcentral.co.uk

Touring with this unique student ballet company offers a professional performance experience that is not available through any other dance school on such a scale.   Sara Matthews comments: “We are the only vocational ballet school able to offer our students an Honours Degree and this level of touring experience. Ballet Central continues to be a springboard for hundreds of dancers into the top international dance companies. Dancers live to perform so touring is a much anticipated part of our three year curriculum.”
Graduates from CSB go on to join the world’s premier dance companies. Recent CSB students are currently employed The Royal Ballet, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company, English National Ballet, Scottish Ballet, National Ballet of Estonia, Ballet Black, Northern Ballet, Birmingham Ballet, K Ballet, Rambert, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Slovakia Ballet, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and many more.

For more information visit www.centralschoolofballet.co.uk

North Kildare Chamber embark on a series of monthly workshops this month with Customer Service the focus for February.  The Chamber are hosting two workshops in Customer Service this month, one for the Retail Sector and one for the Hospitality Sector.  Both workshops will see Gardner HRM show how Customer Service is crucial to your business and for the future success of your business. 

Allan Shine, CEO of the Chamber said, “After a detailed survey of our members, a customer service course was high on the list of courses that businesses would like the Chamber to host.  These two workshops should be of great benefit to businesses in Kildare and are open to members and non members of the Chamber. The courses are ideal for employees who are meeting customers on a daily basis.  The retail workshop is not specifically for retailers and is designed to compliment all sectors of business who deal with customers and would like to improve their skill set.”

The Chamber is currently devising a detailed list of monthly workshops which will include a full day E Tendering Course, Developing an E Marketing Strategy for you business, a series of Microsoft Training and Network Lunches.  “ The Chamber is extremely busy at the minute, our Strategic Plan for Business is near completion and is due to be launched in March and we also have excellent speakers lined up for the first half of this year.  Our weekly networking mornings in Maynooth and Naas are proving very successful and we hope to launch a weekly networking for business in the Leixlip area quite soon”, Shine concluded
 
The Chamber is the fastest growing Chamber outside of Dublin presently and are a “one stop shop for business in Kildare”, joining the Chamber can be done online at www.northkildarechamber.ie or by phoning the office on 045 894074.