Boat Rally for Athy

ATHY, 30 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. A boat rally has been organised for Athy from 3-6 May by the North Barrow Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) in association with the Vicarstown Canal Development Group.

Women in Business seminar

NEWBRIDGE, 29 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. A Women in Business initiative will be held at Hotel Keadeen on May 28. Guest speakers will include include Jane Willams, Managing Director of SIA Group.

Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser brings in the friends

NAAS, 27 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. A Coffee Morning fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Research drew a strong response from neighbours and friends of organisers Gerry and Bernie Murphy of Aylmer Park in Naas.

Visiting teachers presentation

KILCULLEN, 27 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. A presentation by Kilcullen Community Action to nine visiting teachers from the European mainland was made last night, with entertainment from local people, including members of the Kilcullen Drama Group.

Historic pub gets new lease of life

LEIXLIP, 26 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. The former Captain’s Inn in Leixlip was reopened on Wednesday as the Tábhairne Uí Neill and The Three Sisters. The ceremony was performed by the Tanaiste, Mary Harney TD, who was introduced by Michael Rodgers, Cathaoirleach of Leixlip Town Council.

Smiling faces at Punchestown's return

PUNCHESTOWN, 25 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Well, there's been a lot of happy faces at Punchestown for the past two days, with smiles even on those of people like this writer's, who didn't win anything. Full Story.

Shinkins runs first season 400m

NEWBRIDGE, 24 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. Newbridge-born athlete Karen Shinkins will run her first outdoor 400m of the season on the French island of Martenique on Saturday. The event, which will be followed by a second race on the island on Saturday week, is one of a series of races to prepare her for the European Championships in Munich in August. Full Story.

Stagg moves against dump

CELBRIDGE, 24 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. Deputy Emmet Stagg has referred the dumping and burning of waste on the river bank at the Celbridge Mill to the Litter Warden Service. Full Story.

Leixlip in Bloom

LEIXLIP, 24 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. Leixlip will be a town full of colour this summer thanks to the Town Council’s plans to have 'Leixlip in Bloom'. Full Story

Labour deputy slams 'mean and uncaring' town council

NAAS, 23 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. Deputy Emmet Stagg has slammed Naas Town Council for their ‘mean and uncaring’ attitude to the less well-off in the town. Full Story.

Essay Competition of archaeological interest

KILDARE GENERAL, 23 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. The Kildare Archaeological Society is inviting essays for the The Lord Walter FitzGerald Prize for Research 2003. The prize will be awarded annually on the basis of an essay reporting original research on any aspect of the archaeology or history of County Kildare or surrounding districts, including research about persons or families of Kildare, or well known to have resided there at one time. Full Story.

ASK looking for new CEO

KILDARE GENERAL, 23 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Action South Kildare, the local development agency promoting inclusion in South Kildare is seeking a new Chief Executive Officer. Full Story.

Curragh Camp Reunion 2002

CURRAGH, 21 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. There has been very strong interest in a planned reunion of former residents of the Curragh Camp, which will he beld in the camp on Saturday 1 June. Full Story.

A Tale of Two Towns

NAAS, 20 April 2002: OPINION by John Kavanagh. Recently I spent a week in the town that is considered to be the 9th poorest town in Ireland - New Ross - and came back from that town all the richer for that experience. So much richer that I feel that the town of Naas that I have returned to is monetarily richer but is civically in the depths of poverty. Full Story:

Women's information centre opened

NEWBRIDGE, 19 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. A newly-developed information centre for the Teach Tearmainn Co Kildare Women’s Refuge Project was officially opened this afternoon by An Tanaiste, Mary Harney TD. Full Story.

Low key start by Shinkins

NEWBRIDGE, 19 April 2002: by Arran Hussey. Karen Shinkins, the recent European Indoor bronze medalist over 400 metres, made a low key start to the outdoor season by recording a 51.56 second leg in a recent relay held in America. Full Story.

Plea to defer pool closure

KILDARE NORTH, 18 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. A plea has been made to the management of Stewarts Hospital Foundation to defer a plan to end all adult and children’s swimming classes at the hospital’s pool from 1 July. Full Story.

Tanaiste to visit Newbridge tomorrow

NEWBRIDGE, 18 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. The Tanaiste, Mary Harney TD, is to visit Newbridge tomorrow. Her schedule includes the Patrician Brothers Secondary School at 11.45am, KARE in Charlotte Mall at 12.45pm, the Newbridge Day Care Centre at 1.15pm, and the John Dardis Campaign HQ (formerly O’Grady’s Shop on Main St). She will also officially launch the Teach Tearmainn Information and Support Services at 18 Eyre St, at 4pm.

Piper's Hill development permission overturned

PIPER'S HILL, NAAS, 17 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. The proposed industrial/business park for Piper's Hill at Killashee has been knocked on the head by An Bord Pleanala, who have overturned a Kildare County Council planning permission following an appeal by local residents. Full Story.

Councillors mourn garda deaths

NAAS, 17 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Naas town councillors were unanimous in their condemnation of the situation which led to the deaths of two gardai in Dublin (above) at the weekend when their patrol car was in collision with a stolen sports car travelling at a reported 120mph. Full Story.

Town clerk 'dreads' refuse subvention prospect

NAAS, 17 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane made it very clear last night that he didn’t want Naas Town Council to be involved in any way in any scheme which reimbursed ‘hardship’ cases for their refuse collection charges. Full Story.

Monread Park on a sunny Sunday

NAAS, 16 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Sunday afternoon in Monread Park in Naas. Mothers push their buggies, couples walk the pathways, a group of non-nationals play enthusiastic soccer on the grass with their coats doubling as goalposts, an elderly man walks his dog. Full Story.

Only 5% of applicants get elderly heat funds

KILDARE GENERAL, 16 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Just 10 applicants out of 200 in County Kildare have received funding for the Central Heating for the Elderly Scheme, announced last year to try and eliminate the annual 2,000 deaths of elderly people nationwide from ‘fuel poverty’. Full Story.

Cover needed for dry dock

ATHY, 15 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. A second attempt to persuade Waterways Ireland to provide a cover for the dry dock in Athy has been made by Kildare South TD Alan Dukes of Fine Gael. Full Story.

Councillors want better PO counter service

NAAS, 15 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Two Naas councillors are urging An Post to ‘improve’ counter service at the Post Office in Naas. Full Story.

Work in train for bridge parapet

NEWBRIDGE, 15 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Work on the replacement bridge parapet in Newbridge is expected to begin in July, according to county engineer Jimmy Lynch. Full Story.

Council being asked to help with 'hardship' refuse charges

NAAS, 12 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Naas Town Council is being asked to provide funding for ‘hardship’ cases in relation to refuse collection charges. Full Story.

Pilot recycling scheme launched

LEIXLIP, 12 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. A pilot recycling initiative launched in Leixlip will provide special bins for the collection of dry recyclable materials to 4,200 houses and seven schools. Full Story.

Wants ban on HGVs through Maynooth

MAYNOOTH, 12 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. A ban on HGVs travelling through Maynooth is being proposed by local councillor John McGinley. Full Story.

Schools projects move on

CELBRIDGE, 12 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. The contract for the new North Kildare School Project at Ballymakealy, Celbridge, has been signed by Education Minister Michael Woods TD. Full Story.

Refurbished Youth Information Centre opened



Graham Reddy tries out the new internet system.

NAAS, 11 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. The refurbished Naas Youth & Community Information Centre was officially opened today. The new look Information Centre now offers Public Internet Access on two computers, a completely new service for the Centre and available for a small charge of 2 euros per half hour. Full Story.

Fiddler an eight-night success

CLANE, 11 April 2002: by Adrian Gately. On Saturday 23 March the final curtain came down on Clane Musical Society’s 19th musical "Fiddler On The Roof" after the production had played to packed houses for eight nights. Full Story.

Catholic Church as a legal entity

LEIXLIP, 11 April 2002: John Colgan of Leixlip has issued the following document as a matter of public interest following recent suggestions that the Catholic Church is not a legal entity which can be sued. We publish it as it stands, without comment. Full Story.

Launch of Leixlip Recycling Service

LEIXLIP, 11 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. The Leixlip Household Recycling Scheme will be launched today by Environment Minister Noel Dempsey TD. Full Story

Action group against waste facility

KILCULLEN, 9 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Residents of Silliot Hill, Walterstown and Two-Mile-House have formed an action group to oppose an application for a recycling facility/transfer station by Oxigen Environmental Ltd. Full Story.

Senator opposes N9 motorway

KILDARE SOUTH, 9 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Kildare Senator John Dardis says the building of a motorway from Kilcullen to Waterford ‘would be a waste of public money’. Full Stop.

Anything Goes ...

NAAS, 9 April 2002: by Tina Kelly. Naas Musical Society are opening this year’s production, Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" on Saturday 13 April in St Mary's College Naas. The show will run until 20 April. Tickets available from Lillyput Children's Boutique or ring Teresa on 045 866162. A great evening’s entertainment is promised, with fabulous lively tunes like, ‘I get a kick out of you’, ‘You're the Top’ and ‘Blow Gabriel Blow’, to name a few.

'Cuddly' brings spring to life

NAAS, 8 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. This is 'Cuddly', one of a clutch of eight beautiful ducklings hatched near the canal outside Naas. Just a few days old, he seems to be the bravest of the bunch, being quite happy to pose for photographs while he rests in the sun. Full Story.

St Raphael's will have to cut places, services

CELBRIDGE, 8 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. A 2.9 million euros cut in the 2002 allocation for St John of God Kildare Services means the organisation has to make severe cuts in the services it provides. Full Story.

Demands grass cutting contract

MAYNOOTH, 8 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. A demand for the immediate awarding of a grass-cutting contract by Kildare County Council has been made by Cllr John McGinley. He made his call at Thursday's meeting of Leixlip Area councillors, when told that the contract for cutting public green areas had not yet been given out. Full Story.

Lakelands fury over parking situation

NAAS, 6 April 2002: by Trish Whelan. The failure of the efforts to have people use an alternative hospital car park in Naas was clearly shown on a recent Friday morning when KNN counted 108 cars parked around Lakelands estate compared to just six cars parked in the designated hospital parking area at Ballycane Church. Full Story.

Demand for extra postal services

CELBRIDGE, 5 April 2002: by Bill Trapman. Deputy Emmet Stagg has called on the Fianna Fail Minister for Public Enterprise and An Post to provide additional postal services for the town of Celbridge. Full Story.

Courthouse destroyed by fire

NEWBRIDGE, 4 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Newbridge Courthouse was destroyed by a fire this morning. The blaze was so intense that the complete interior was gutted, and an adjoining premises also severely damaged. Full Story.

Mayor Willie wants private 'gloves off' meeting

NAAS, 4 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Naas Mayor Willie Callaghan wants the town’s councillors have a special ‘in committee’ meeting along with town clerk Declan Kirrane where they can sit down and ‘overcome’ problems ‘with the gloves off in private’. Full Story.

Naas TC may not make Millennium move

NAAS, 3 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. An expectation that Naas Town Council will move temporarily to Millennium Park (above) along with Kildare County Council now looks increasingly unlikely after town clerk Declan Kirrane told councillors that the cost would be ‘sizeable’ over the projected period. Full Story.

Plan calls for many new organisations

KILDARE GENERAL, 2 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. No less than 10 new organisations or committees are to be set up in County Kildare if the ‘action’ proposals of the Kildare 2012 plan are carried through. Full Story.

10th Naas easter Parade

NAAS, 1 April 2002: by Brian Byrne. Superquinn was the overall winner in the 10th Naas Easter Parade, held yesterday afternoon under skies that threatened but failed to actually rain on the event. Full Story.

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