County Kildare News

SEO - Search Engine Optimisation Evening

• Thursday April 12th
• 6pm-7.30pm
• Westgrove Hotel, Clane
• Free for Members  -  Non Members €20

Hosted by Rodolfo Melogli, Business Bloomer and North Kildare Chamber

A great Website Design is not enough - your Website has to be Optimised in order to work. Attracting more visitors is what Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and other techniques aim at. This 1.5hr course, hosted by Rodolfo Melogli from BusinessBloomer.ie showcases all the most relevant free & paid tools, easy & complicated solutions and gives a few jargon-free tips on how to get your website site on page 1 of Google.

Participants are welcome to submit their own domain name when signing up for the course so that we can use website examples during the workshop.

To sign up call The Chamber Office on 045 894074 or  email us at  info@northkildarechamber.ie

Pilates Course - 5 week course €40

Benefits of Pilates

• Improve strength, flexibility and balance. 
• Tone and build long, lean muscles without bulk. 
• Challenge deep abdominal muscles to support the core. 
• Restore postural alignment. 
• Create a stronger, more flexible spine. 
• Promote recovery from strain or injury. 

Wednesday 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

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 (Suitable for beginners)

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.

Call/Text Sara

086 320 3006

BBU Certified instructor

The Breeders’ Cup has announced that Ireland will host four Breeders’ Cup Challenge races this year. Winners of The Curragh’s Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes (G1), Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) and the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (G2) and the Irish Red Mills Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown will earn automatic starting berths into a corresponding race in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California on November 2-3. A complete schedule may be accessed at the following link: http://members.breederscup.com/challenge/information.aspx

The expanded Challenge series, now in its sixth year, consists of 72 stakes races, which will be held at many of the world’s premier racetracks in the US, Canada, Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, England, Japan, and South Africa, as well as in Ireland. There will be 20 races held outside of North America, 18 of which are Group 1 events. This year’s series began in South Africa with the 4-year-old Gimmethegreenlight qualifying for the Breeders’ Cup Mile by winning the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (G1) at Kenilworth. The series continues next month with two races at Royal Randwick in Australia: the Darley TJ Smith Stakes (G1) on April 14 for an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and the Doncaster Mile (G1) a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

As part of the enhanced benefits program for Breeders’ Cup Challenge winners introduced last year, the Breeders’ Cup will again pay the entry fees of all Challenge winners into the Championships and provide a travel allowance of US$20,000 to the winning connections of each Challenge winner from outside of North America and a US$10,000 travel allowance for winners of Challenge races held in North America. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the Championships’ pre-entry deadline of Oct. 22 to receive the rewards.

Breeders of Challenge winners will also benefit as the Breeders’ Cup will pay a US$10,000 award to the nominator of each Challenge race winner.

In addition to the free entry fees and travel allowance for Challenge winners, Breeders’ Cup is also offering a new early nomination deadline for the existing Horses of Racing Age. The program is available anywhere in the world to owners of any previously non-nominated horses sired by a stallion nominated during the conception year. This year, 2-year-olds by a nominated Breeders’ Cup stallion can join the program for US$12,000; Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds and older for US$50,000 and Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds and older for US$25,000. Following the July 15 deadline, the price for runners by nominated stallions increases to US$100,000 up until the time of October 22, the pre-entry deadline for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships races.

“We are very pleased to again to partner with the Horse Racing Ireland and officials at The Curragh and Leopardstown in providing such outstanding races to our series and give horsemen the opportunity to gain automatic starting positions in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships,” said Craig Fravel, president and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Ltd. “The Breeders’ Cup Challenge creates increased international awareness for the world’s great horse races and for the outstanding horses that will be competing in the Championships.”

The Common frog is one of Ireland's three amphibian species.  At this time of year the common frog has just laid their spawn in freshwater habitats around Ireland.  If you are looking for a fun  and active learning camp for your child during the Easter holidays then why not come along to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre on Thursday 5th April as IPCC will be holding their annual Easter Froggy Fun Camp. 

The participants will do a pond dipping session identIfying the variety of freshwater mini beasts in a pond, they will explore the insect eating plants of Ireland and around the world, they will search for the adult frogs in the wildlife gardens of the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and make a nature craft.  This fun camp will be held from 10am-1pm and is suitable for participants aged 7-13 years old. 

Booking is essential by calling the Bog of Allen Nature Centre on 045-860133 or e-mail bogs@ipcc.ie.  The cost of the fun camp is €15/participant and there are limited spaces available so book early to avoid disappointment.

The Bog of Allen Nature Centre is run by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, a charity that aims to conserve a representative portion of Irish peatlands for future generations to enjoy.

Great discounts on all Vitality Yoga classes in Maynooth and Kilcock

To encourage more of us to get in involved in yoga classes, Vitality Yoga are offering:

15% off all evening classes - 50euro for 6 classes Or 10euro drop in anytime rate.

30% off all daytime classes - 40euro for 6 classes Or 8 euro drop in anytime.

Discounts valid 17 April - 29th May 2012.

For more info: www.vitalityyoga.ie

GAIN Horse Feeds, a subsidiary of Glanbia plc, has announced a two year sponsorship deal with The Curragh Racecourse for the Irish St Leger. The GAIN Horse Feeds Irish St Leger will take place on Saturday 15th September 2012. This will mark the 97th running of this Group 1 Irish Classic

The €200,000 contest over 14 furlongs is one of the most prestigious staying races in the world and the established premier trail race in Europe for the Melbourne Cup.  Recent previous winners include Yeats, Vinnie Roe, Oscar Schindler and subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Vintage Crop, while Duncan and Jukebox Jury created history when dead heating in an epic encounter last year.

 
“The support of the Irish St Leger by GAIN Horse Feeds is hugely positive for both the Curragh racecourse and Irish horse racing and their association with one of our most prestigious races will ensure that we continue to attract the very best horses and riders for what promises to be an outstanding race day,” said Curragh General Manager Paul Hensey, “We look forward to working closely with our new partner to ensure they maximize their association with one of the most significant days in the Irish racing calendar”.

 
Mary Delaney, Sales Manager of GAIN Horse Feeds commented, “GAIN Horse Feeds are delighted to be associated with The Curragh racecourse and the prestigious Irish St. Leger. Our aim is to support the equine industry, its patrons and our customers and we hope this new association will help maintain the significant profile of Irish Racing on the world stage.

 
The curtain comes up on another exciting Flat season at the Curragh next Sunday, 25th March and there is plenty of quality racing to look forward to on the day. The Group Three Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes tops the bill on a seven race programme which also features the www.thetote.com Irish Lincolnshire Premier Handicap, The Irish Field Handicap and the Gabriel Curran Memorial Madrid Handicap.
 
A total of 19 fillies and mares have stood their ground in the feature event. Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien is well represented here and can choose between Homecoming Queen, Kissed, Devotion, Ishvana and Twirl. Jim Bolger is double-handed with Cleofila and Janey Muddles, while there are three overseas challengers in Call To Reason, Crystal Gal and Libys Dream.
 
Drombeg Dawn put up a tough battling performance to land the Irish Lincolnshire 12 months ago and the Andrew McNamara-trained six-year-old is one of 25 entries for this year’s renewal. Richard Fahey saddled Kyllachy Star to finish a close up third behind Drombeg Dawn last year and he has entered Arabian Spirit and Take It To The Max in an effort to go a couple of places better. Other notable entries for the competitive handicap are Ansaab, Billyford, Defining Year, Maverik, Prince Of Dance and Sharestan.
 
Ishvana also holds an entry in the Madrid Handicap for which trainer Aidan O’Brien is also represented by Triumphant. The race has attracted 16 entries and notable among them are Aaraas, Swerve and the Jim Bolger-trained quartet of Miracle Cure, Patrimonium, Rigoletta and Tiffilia.
 
Racing opens with the first juvenile contest of the season, the Tally Ho Stud EBF Maiden, for which there are 12 entries. Aidan O’Brien is represented by both Forester and Infanta Branca, while Jim Bolger can choose between Dawn Approach, Leitir Mor and Verbal Honesty.
 
The first of seven races at the Curragh commences at 2.30pm and the ground is currently soft.

ARE YOU UP FOR A CHALLENGE!?

Le Chéile is looking for volunteers in County Kildare to work as mentors with young people or their parents.

You can e-mail Helen@lecheile.ie  for an information pack or log on to www.lecheile.ie for more information!

About us: we're a child-centred, not-for-profit organisation and we recruit and train volunteers from local communities to work with young people and their families. Our young people are to some level involved in the justice system. Mentors come from all walks of life and often have no previous experience, just a genuine interest in working with people.

All training and full support is provided to our volunteers.

The Curragh is set to kick off their 2012 season next Sunday 25th March with a packed seven race program The race day which starts at 2.30pm with the Tally Ho Stud 2yo Maiden, also features the www.thetote.com Irish Lincolnshire, Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes, Gabriel Curran Memorial Madrid Handicap, Elusive Pimpernel Maiden and Dublin Coach to the Races Maiden, while The Irish Field Handicap will mark the first in a series of 10 races which will be sponsored at the Curragh by Ireland’s leading equestrian publication this year.

The Curragh will also celebrate the first day of the flat season on Sunday 25th March by working with the Irish Racing Yearbook to put together a fascinating look at the leading contenders for the major races this year. A panel of experts will analyse race footage between races of the leading 3 year old colts and fillies, together with older horses in two categories – 5 to 8 furlongs and 8 furlongs plus. Aidan O’Brien has traditionally used the first day of the season to work some of his top horses after racing and it is hoped that he will do so again. Admission €15 Under 25s & Seniors €8 Under 16s free

Season highlights at the Curragh include the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby featuring the Good Food Ireland Village which takes place on Saturday evening 30th June for the first time while the Co., Kildare venue will be announcing exciting news about two major concerts after racing on both Derby Friday and Saturday very soon. Other features during the year include the Abu Dhabi Irish Guineas Festival on 26th and 27th May, Darley Irish Oaks on 22nd July and the 40th running of the Moyglare Stud Stakes on 9th September, while a new sponsor of the Irish St Leger taking place on 15th September will be announced next week.

The annual Newbridge Community Race Day will take place on Bank Holiday Monday 7th May and plans are well advanced to ensure this continues to be one of the best family events of the year with proceeds going towards worthy projects in the locality.

Getting to the Curragh has never been easier following the announcement that Dublin Coach is be the new official transport provider to the racecourse this year. They will provide a service to all race meetings from the following stops on their N7 route – Dublin Airport, Luas Red Cow, Naas, Newbridge, Kildare, Monasterevin and Portlaise, while a service from their M7 express route to the races include stops from Dublin Westmoreland Street, Luas Red Cow, Annacotty, University of Limerick and Limerick City. The Curragh will also provide a free shuttle bus from Kildare Train Station with a special admission offer for Irish rail customers who use the train to get to the races.

The Curragh has also partnered with O’Briens Wines as their official supplier of champagnes and wines as part of the two year agreement. This will ensure that there is amazing value and a great selection in champagnes and wines throughout the racecourse, while customers of O’Briens will benefit from a variety of promotional initiatives throughout the year aimed at encouraging them to enjoy a day at the races

Having already announced an expanded five round championship, the return to an Open Tyre formula and an expansion of TV coverage for the 2012 season, The Adelaide Masters Series will now be even more attractive to competitors with a reduction in entry fees across the board.

The five round Adelaide Masters Series, which is supported by Motorcycle Insurance Specialists Adelaide Insurance, continues to grow in stature as more riders commit to the series. The latest announcement of a reduction in entry fees should see a further boost in interest in the series, which in only its second year is already Ireland's most successful Motorcycle Racing Championship.

In the current economic climate, cost is the biggest factor for all racers and Mondello Park and the Short Circuit Racing Committee of Motorcycling Ireland have been working hard to address this issue. The result is a reduction in entry fees for all riders with the biggest reduction's being seen in the support classes where racers budgets are more restricted.

In 2011 all riders paid €200 to enter a single class with additional entries in other classes costing €140. For 2012 both of these figure will reduce with the Adelaide Masters Superbike and Adelaide Masters Supersport classes coming down to €185 for one entry and €110 for additional classes. Other categories will see an even more significant decrease with the single entry fee set at €160 and the fee for additional races set at €110. For a support class rider with two bikes the cost of entry will therefore reduce from €340 to €270 which is the equivalent of one free entry over the four Mondello Park events.

Changes to the prize fund for 2012 will see a return to on-the-day prize money and a move away from the end of year prize fund which proved less popular with riders. Prize money will now only be paid for the Adelaide Superbike and Supersport races and the Grand Final with the total prize fund reaching more than €26,000.

Look out for further announcements regarding the second season of the Adelaide Masters over the coming weeks.

For further information see www.mondellopark.ie/adelaidemasters.

As part of the revitalisation of the Irish Time-Attack championship Mondello Park is pleased to announce that the series will have its first ever title sponsor in place in time for 2012 Round 1 on Saturday March 17th.

This season Ireland's premier Tuning and Race Preparation specialists Track Day Performance (TDP), will lend their backing to the championship which sees drivers in modified road cars take to the track to see who is quickest over a single lap. The Pro and Club divisions of the seven round series will now be known as the 'Track Day Performance Pro Series' and the 'Track Day Performance Club Series'.

The support of TDP will allow the championship's organisers to achieve their aim of reducing entry fees and providing drivers with incentives to compete such as free entries at Jap-Fest for regular competitors and complimentary garage spaces at most events. In addition all registered competitors will be entitled to a free item of championship clothing.

The new 'Unlimited' category, aimed at Tuners looking to develop their show cars through competition, will retain Mondello Park backing and will become the 'Mondello Park Unlimited Series'. The top prize for this class will go to the Car Tuner rather than the driver with the winning team receiving a free half day 'Car Track Day' which they will be able to use for their own customers or for their private use. In addition all tuners who compete in at least four of the seven events will receive a number of free track time places for their, or their customers use.

Speaking on the announcement of the 2012 series sponsorship, Mondello Park MD John Morris expressed his delight at TDP's involvement saying, “I’ve known Robbie for a long time and have been a great admirer of how he has grown Track Day Performance into the company it is today, TDP is represented in all the top forms of Motorsport and we’re delighted to welcome them as title sponsor of the 2012 Series.”

TDP MD Robbie Thornton also said, “we have been involved in Time-Attack since the very start. We have had great success along the way in all classes, to the pinnacle in 2009 with 1st and 2nd place in the pro championship and 1st place in the club championship. Since then we have concentrated on other disciplines. We hope that or involvement in 2012 will help to revitalise the series. I personally look forward to competing at as many rounds as possible in the Unlimited Class using the 2009 championship winning Mitsubishi Evo VI or the TDP Skyline GTR R32.”

The addition of Track Day Performance to the Irish Time-Attack championship's sponsors, joining Mondello Park and Vehicle Graphics specialists SignFX, is a further endorsement of the revised series. With new regulations, lower costs, including cheaper entry fees and improved championship awards, 2012 should be one of the strongest seasons yet for Irish Time-Attack.

For further information on Time-Attack see:

www.mondellopark.ie/time_attack

www.timeattack.ie

Fine Gael TD, for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor warmly welcomes the announcement this morning (Monday 12th March) that 10 schools in the constituency are to be included in a €1.5 billion Five Year Building Programme announced by Minister Ruairí Quinn.

“Before 2016, six new schools will be built in Kildare North, two primary – St. Davids’ NS, Piper’s Hill Naas & Scoil Naomh Padraig, Celbridge – and four post primary – two for Maynooth, one for Naas & one for Celbridge. Four primary schools will also benefit from the programme through extensions – St. Joseph’s Boys NS, Kilcock, St. Patrick’s Boys NS, Clane, Scoil Naisiunta Bhride, Clane and North Kildare Educate Together, Celbridge. These new schools and extensions will ease the overcrowding situation in many schools throughout the constituency and will be welcomed by pupils, teacher and parents alike.”

From a national perspective, this major schools capital investment will provide approximately 15,000 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs over the next five years. Of the 275 major projects included in the programme, 106 new schools at primary level and 43 new schools at second level will be built before end of 2016. Bearing in mind that between now and 2017 the Department of Education is expecting approximately 45,000 extra pupils in our primary and 25,000 extra pupils in post primary schools there is now an urgency in providing extra accommodation in our schools.

“This major announcement today comes on the back of the recent commitment by the Department of Education to provide €35 million to deal with temporary prefab accommodation in so many of our schools. These announcements not only reflect the Programme for Government commitment to prioritise school building project, but they also create much needed jobs. I am delighted that the schools, students and construction industry of Kildare North are to benefit from their inclusion in such large scale investments” concluded Anthony Lawlor TD.

North Kildare Chamber and Kildare Enterprise Board are hosting a full day workshop on Tender Training for Kildare Businesses with Bid Management Services
 
This course contains specific modules on the procurement environment, government agencies and departments, sourcing tenders, the bid/no bid decision process, bid strategies, bid management, designing/writing/producing bid documents, bid evaluation criteria, presentations and de-briefing.

This course has helped hundreds of companies to win millions worth of new business.
 
At the end of this programme participants will have the capability to: 

• Source tender information in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK
• Examine and understand the ‘real’ requirements of a document
• Form a successful tendering strategy
• Make an informed Bid/No Bid decision
• Utilise the lessons learned from the expert analysis of tender documents in their sector
• Understand best practice guidance, tips and pointers on how to write the bid document
• Understand how tenders are evaluated
• Be prepared for tender presentations
• Extract maximum value from the debriefing process
• Learn best practise ‘advanced tendering tips’

 
 This full day workshop is limited to 20 participants and booking and queries can be made through the Chamber office on 045 894074.

Cost: €75 per person inclusive of lunch.

This workshop will be facilitated by Bid Management Services - www.bidmanagement.ie

• Date: 26th March
• Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
• Venue: The Westgrove Hotel, Clane.
• Full Day Course inc. Refreshments and Lunch €75 per person
• Course Qualifies for CPD hours

For Bookings Call The Chamber Office – 045 894074 or Email us

New course starting soon...

• Understanding your child's needs
• Communicating with your children effectively
• Navigating the push/pull relationship with your child
• Enjoying harmony in the home.

         Tuesday March 20th,27th,3rd April 8pm
         €90 per couple

Contact:
         Gaye Mullen 
         Punchestown AMI school
         Baltreacy,  Naas,
         Co. Kildare 
         
         045-874175
         gma.mullen@hotmail.com

Website: www.punchestownmontessori.org

JOIN THE CLUB - MEMBERSHIP 2012

Racing at the Curragh starts back on 25th March and becoming a Curragh Member is still the most cost effective way to enjoy racing as it offers significant savings for regular race goers - a massive 46% off regular admission prices can be saved with our standard Club Membership and members can enjoy great benefits. 

If you would like to join or renew your membership why not avail of a chance to enter our fantastic draw by purchasing your membership before 16th March - and if you've already renewed don't worry as you are in to win as well.

Great benefits...

• Admission to all 18 race days and over 50 free reciprocal race days at other Irish and international racecourses including leading British tracks such as Newmarket, Newbury and Doncaster.
• Reserved Car Parking
• Access to private members bar and viewing area in the main grandstand
• Exclusive members trips to stud farms and training yards

Contact Yvonne - Tel: 045-441205 Email: racing@curragh.ie

XM Solutions named one of Ireland’s best managed companies by Deloitte
 
For the second year running, print-management specialists, XM Solutions has been recognised by Deloitte as one of the best managed companies in Ireland.
 
Speaking about the award, company CEO, Emerson Palmer said: “It is a huge honor to be recognised as one of the best managed businessses in the country.
 
“Our strong business relationships, and dynamic approach have ensured that we continue to grow the business even in these tough economic times,” he added.
 
“From a very small start a few years ago, we have grown to the the largest indigenous print management company in Ireland. This award will help us to grow even more in the future, ” he said.
 
“The award singles out XM Solutions from thousands of Irish businesses, as a company who demonstrated superior business performance,” he added.
 
The Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, in association with Irish Life Corporate Business, recognises indigenous Irish companies across the island of Ireland that operates at the highest levels of business performance.
 
The independent judging panel, chaired by Liam O’Mahony, reviewed a broad range of criteria including strategy, capability, commitment, financials and growth potential across all key functions of the business. This year, the judging panel focused in particular on how companies were planning for sustainable organisational growth.
 
Established in 2005, XM Solutions has evolved from a specialist print brokerage to establish itself as an integrated marketing communications company.  It offers clients a complete service around their marketing and communication needs, providing them with a seamless range of creative, digital, print and logistics solutions from a single source. For more information see: www.xmsolutions.ie.

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.
 
Oscar Wilde's Salomè will be an exotic cocktail of music, theatre and silent cinema. It will be an evening of spectacle, something quite different from the usual night out at movies. The production brings together a screening of the 1923 silent film, Salomè based on Oscar Wilde’s play, with a live performance of the new score specially written for the film by Charlie Barber. This music is performed by four percussionists, playing from two giant alloy towers placed on either side of the screen. The use of the towers adds a real theatrical and dramatic twist to the evening.
 
The Orchestra of percussion offers a rich mix of the familiar (bass drums, cymbals etc) and the more exotic, including the Sistra (originating from the ancient Egypt), the Djembe (a traditional African drum) and Tibetan singing bowls. It will be quite a spectacle – something quite different from the usual night out at the movies.
 
The line up of cinema screenings until the end of the season is brilliant, with a mix of humor, wit, charm, and some golden oldies. Screening tonight is Sensation staring Domhnall Gleeson (Brendan Gleesons son) a comedic drama that tells a love story of two lonely people from opposite sides of the social divide.
 
St Patrick’s Day is one to look forward to; the town parade followed by a screening of Darby O’Gill and the Little People at 2pm with Neil Delamere taking to the stage that evening, his Friday night show is SOLD OUT, so get in quick to get one of the last remaining tickets for Saturday March 17th.
 
We have some great theatre to end the season, My Brilliant Divorce; wittily observant comedy, The End by Samuel Beckett with some wondrous acting & the rarely performed Bag Lady by Frank McGuinness.
 
LAU will close the season with what most of us think will be a BANG! They have been hailed as the ‘Best Band in the World’ by Channel 4. They combine stunning musicianship with a ground-breaking yet playful approach to traditional music that transcends the music they hold dear, creating a cutting edge sound which garners praise from far beyond the roots scene.
 
This season will be coming to a close at the end of March and we will be hightlighting some of the events for April - June 2012 on our website. RTÈ's Vanbrugh Quartet are coming to us in early April. They are widely regarded as one of Europe’s most successful string quartets and we cannot wait for them to come to Riverbank Arts Centre. Keep an eye on our website www.riverbank.ie  for any other events that will be launched in the coming weeks.

A good news story for Naas!

Fair Trade Ireland has awarded Naas, ‘Fair Trade Status!’

We, the ‘Naas Fair Trade Committee’ would like to thank all the schools, cafés, restaurants, retailers, offices and especially you, the people of Naas for supporting Fair Trade in our town and beyond. By supporting Fair Trade you are supporting jobs and giving people hope for a brighter future for people in developing countries.

Fair Trade Fortnight started on February 27th and ends on March 11th and our theme for this year is, ‘Take a step for Fair Trade’, so why not take a step and join us at 3pm in the Town Hall, Naas,  (this is however limited to numbers, so come early!),and help us celebrate our new found status and hear the story from our guest speaker, Samantha Valluri from Hyderabad, India as she relates her story as to how Fair Trade has helped the lives of people in her community and beyond.

Our sincerest thanks to you all!

The Naas Fair Trade Committee

Final preparations for this year's Athy St. Patrick's Day Parade are being made by organisers for what promises to be the biggest yet, with no less than 3 Pipe Bands confirming their participation.  The Athy Town Promoters Group are particularly delighted with the advance interest from community, sporting and cultural organisations in the town and surrounding areas and are now requesting final entrants to confirm their participation before this Friday, 9th March. In addition, a special appeal is being made to local businesses to take part and join in the town's annual parade, which attracts thousands of visitors for one of the region's best family events.

The Athy Town Promoters Group was formed in 2009 and is committed to proactively promoting the 'Celebrate Athy' theme through festivals and events in our town.  The group is comprised of representatives of Athy Chamber, Shop Athy, Athy Town Council, Athy Tidy Towns, Age Action, Brand Athy and the Athy Heritage Centre-Museum. The organisers acknowledge the grateful assistance of the Kildare County Show Committee, Athy Gardai, Civil Defence and the Order of Malta.

Entry forms to participate in the parade are available from Margaret Walsh at the Athy Heritage Centre Museum (Tel.: 059 8633075/ email: athyheritage@eircom.net).

Opening address of the new President of North Kildare Chamber, Eilis Quinlan:

“I am delighted to take over as President of North Kildare Chamber, and especially at such an exciting time for businesses and the wider community in Ireland.

While there are very obvious challenges facing business in the years ahead, there are also huge opportunities, and a hunger among people for positive change to happen and for progress to be made on the opportunities that undoubtedly exist.

And at such a challenging time for our County, I feel we need the business community to take a leadership role in our Society.

The forthcoming launch of the Strategic Plan for Business in Kildare heralds a new optimism in the County, and it is something about which I am personally very excited, and proud to be associated with.  The Chamber have worked hard with a lot of businesses all over the county, and together with our Local Authority, we have come together over the past five months to create a Strategic Plan for the Chamber. I look forward with enthusiasm to launching this plan in the next four weeks, and I feel it will further strengthen Kildare as the place of choice to live, work and play in Ireland.

The challenge for the Chamber and the wider business community over the forthcoming years will be to harness the energy of the many people who are willing and able to put their shoulders to the wheel and makes a positive difference to the economic life of Kildare, on which so many thousands of people rely for their livelihoods.

Now, more than ever, there is a need for people in business to be unified and to work together to ensure that enterprise and employment in the county survives, that the business sector regains its strength, and that ultimately we all return to growth.  With the recent re-branding of the old Naas Chamber to the North Kildare Chamber we are now in a stronger position to help assist business all over the County, not just in Naas. Again, there is a need for a unified approach, and certainly there is strength in numbers!

The Chamber will continue to campaign with the Local authorities and other Statutory agencies (and against them where needed!) on a wide range of local issues that affect businesses. Current issues include the cost of rates, water charges, energy, refuse charges, and other charges over which, to a large extent, the business community have no control.

During my term as president, I will endeavour to increase membership of our Chamber, further increase the training events/seminars/workshops and networking opportunities that we provide and engage with all key stakeholders in the county.  But I will also lobby extensively on issues that affect the wider business community.

For example, the live register figures announced today confirm the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 14.2%. This slight reduction in the headline figures masks the true level of unemployment which is under-reported through increased emigration, increased participation on state training initiatives and a significant rise in individuals remaining in education. The true picture in the jobs market is that well over half a million of our citizens are out of work. We need immediate and REAL action from our Government on the jobs front.

The recent Action Plan for Jobs sets out a broad strategy, but we now need to see the detail, and I hope it’s useful, because as I said earlier, business will not be in a position to create jobs unless the cost base of doing business in this country is reduced.
In the opening weeks of my presidency I am very keen to hear the views of members, non-members, stakeholders and anyone with an interest in how business develops in Kildare. It is our sector that has historically led this country out of recession, and I believe the opportunities are there, right now, and that we still have the drive and integrity to do it.

I’m really looking forward to engaging with companies, organisations and individuals in the months and years ahead and to working with people to make North Kildare a better place to do business, to grow employment and help the thousands of people who depend on the businesses in Kildare for the livelihoods of themselves and their families”, Eilis concluded.

As work officially began in January on Newbridge Primary Care Centre at the site of St. Conleth’s Community College the staff and pupils are gearing themselves up for the newest addition in the development, a purpose built, 990 square metre gymnasium and sports hall.

As part of the contract to acquire the site, Clarington Primary Care has committed to constructing the sports hall and gymnasium at no cost to the school or to Kildare VEC.  It is hoped the gym will be completed by the end of 2012.  The full campus will also include offices and training rooms for Kildare VEC’s Further Education Department.

St. Conleth’s is the recognised Post Leaving Certificate Centre for County Kildare VEC and the school already has a very popular Sports and Recreation course. The school also provides many fitness and sport related courses under the Adult Education Programme. The new gymnasium will open up opportunities for the further development of these areas of education.

Mary Lonergan, Principal of St. Conleth’s is delighted that the school will finally have its own, purpose built, sports facility.  “St. Conleth’s has enjoyed an excellent location in the centre of Newbridge since 1979, a position that was greatly enhanced when the Dominican Order gifted an adjacent field to the school for a nominal sum. The field was developed into a GAA pitch on the school grounds in the early nineties. St. Conleth’s however, has been seriously disadvantaged in its effort to provide sporting facilities comparable to other schools in the area due to the absence of a much sought after gymnasium. To compensate for this the school has, over the years, with the financial assistance of the Department of Education and Skills, taken full advantage of the nearby Sports Centre run by Kildare County Council. However, the construction of the new Gymnasium will benefit the school enormously and students will finally be able to enjoy fantastic sporting facilities on site. The gym will greatly enhance school life as it will be an area where school shows and events can take place.  It will also be used to host school and state exams and school assembly.”

The new gymnasium and sports hall has been designed by MCOH Architects and will be built by Kilcock based contractors, Sammon Contracting.  The ground floor will incorporate a full sized sports hall of approximately 590 square metres, changing areas, equipment storage areas, administrative offices and storage while a mezzanine area above will be the location for weights, cardio equipment and bench presses.   This design will allow for greater usage of the area, one class can use the larger sports hall for indoor soccer or basketball while another can work out above.  Ross McNamara (Project Architect) of MCOH Architects said, “It is essential that the space can be utilised for many uses so that it can meet the ever changing needs and demands of a growing school.  This gymnasium and sports hall has been designed to the highest possible specifications incorporating the latest Department of Education & Science recommendations. Not only will this provide a Gym and Sports Hall for the pupils but will also incorporate new changing facilities and showers for those using the adjacent pitches”.

School Captain, Conor Mulpeter and Vice Captain, Vanessa Ward said, “The students here are really excited about the new gym. For years we have been the only Second Level school in Newbridge not to have its own Sports Hall. Of course we have always been able to use all the facilities across the road at Newbridge Sports Centre but now we won’t have to book a space in advance. We will finally have a place for concerts, shows and sporting events and we won’t even have to go outside the school gate. Also, we are very pleased that the Student Council are introducing a new P.E. tracksuit to coincide with the new gym. It’s going to be brilliant, we can’t wait!”

The Creative Well programme is a social model for supporting wellbeing and mental health through the arts and within the context of local communities. Following the success of the pilot programme in Autumn 2011, the second programme is schedued to commence this March in Kildare Town.

The Creative Well offers free, daytime arts workshops open to all adults in the community and a key objective is to ensure a mix of population. Therefore participants have the opportunity to learn about the arts, develop skills, and also to connect with others in their locality. The second programme, Creative Storytelling through Film and Animation will run for twelve weeks starting on 20 March.

Further information is available from www.kildare.ie/artservice. The Creative Well is an initiative of Kildare Arts in Health in partnership with HSE Kildare West Wicklow Mental Health Services, Kildare County Council Library and Arts Service, HSE Health Promotion and Kildare County Mental Health Association.

Kildare County Council Arts Service is delighted to announce that sixteen artists across artforms including, visual arts, drama music and photography have been shortlisted for their new Artist Mentoring facilitated in partnership with Barretstown and Helium.  This pilot programme offers artists a unique opportunity to receive training, experience the recreational activity model, develop their facilitation skills and reflect on scope for potential project development.

Founded by Paul Newman, Barretstown is a specially designed camp that provides therapeutic recreation programmes for children with serious illnesses, and their families. During this Mentoring Programme training will be provided by Helium, the arts and health organisation for children and Barretstown. Participating artists will also gain practical experience working alongside activity leaders to facilitate a programme on two weekends during spring and autumn 2012.  On conclusion of the programme, artists will have the opportunity to explore potential scope to develop further projects.

For further information contact Nicola Dunne by e-mailing kildareartsandwellbeing@gmail.com

Dublin Mini Maker Fair selected as a featured highlight of the Euro Science Open Forum 2012

An NUI Maynooth-led proposal, has been chosen as one of the select “Public Engagement Programmes” which will be held as part of the Euro Science Open Forum, hosted in Dublin.

Led by NUI Maynooth lecturer Dr Tomás Ward with help from Caroline Ang in the Research Support Office, the Irish Robotics Club and the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin, the Mini Maker Faire will exhibit a selection of innovative designs by European engineers, hackers, Inventors, hobbyists and crafts-people.  The exhibition will take place on 14 July, during the Euro Science Open Forum (ESOF) which runs from 11-15 July, 2012.

Speaking after the launch of the Dublin European City of Science, Dr Tomás Ward of the Department of Electronic Engineering at NUI Maynooth said that the idea of submitting a proposal for exhibiting at the ESOF was inspired by the success of  NUI Maynooth’s Maker’s Club.  The club brings together staff and students who have an interest in creating innovative designs from everyday objects.

Dr Ward emphasised that the goal of the Mini Maker Faire is to inspire creativity, “making and building for the sheer wonder of it”.  He hopes that the Dublin Mini Maker Faire will provide a platform for the many people who enjoy hacking together inventions in their spare time, saying the idea behind the exhibition is “to show the range of creativity and innovative activity that exists in Irish garden sheds”.

The mission of the Mini Maker Faire is to “inspire, inform, connect and entertain thousands of Makers and aspiring Makers of all ages and backgrounds” through the public gathering of those interested in DIY technology and innovative home-made designs.  It is billed as an event for “anyone with a do-it-yourself attitude to technology.”

The open call for submissions was launched earlier this month and entries will be accepted until 15 March.  Applications are open to contributors from around Europe, including individuals, groups, schools and organisations.

Inspiration for the Dublin Mini Maker Faire came from similar events held each year in the United States, with the Bay Area in California hosting the inaugural Maker Faire in 2006.  The Dublin Mini Maker Faire will be one of the first such exhibitions in Europe.

http://www.makerfairedublin.com/

Have you just or are you about to take early retirement?

Is there something that you always wanted to do but, never had the time or opportunity?

Please consider volunteering, there are many organisations and causes that could benefit greatly from your expertise and experience.

Please browse the vacancy section of our website or come along to one of the meetings that we shall be hosting in your area shortly.

For details,  Please contact:

Tel: 045 449156

Website: www.volunteerkildare.ie

Email: info@volunteerkildare.ie