KILDARE: by Grace Halford. "I grew strong and I learned how to get along ... I will survive" - the famous lyrics of Gloria Gaynor may have been about how to survive a broken heart but they could just as well be about how to survive the break up of a violent relationship.
Violence in the home is a subject which many people find difficult to discuss and perhaps the attitude in Ireland is 'if it doesn’t affect me, let's not worry about it'. However, it does exist, and is even more prevalent than most would care to admit.
As Jacinta Carey (right) of the Kildare Women’s Refuge told KNN, 'no one expects to get involved with a violent relationship, its not something which people go out in search of, its just something that happens.' Full Story.
Hard to find parking on Sallins Road
NAAS: by Trish Whelan. With the reopening of schools in Naas parents dropping off and collecting their children at the two schools on the Sallins Road will be hard put to find a place to park their cars.
Naas UDC Cllr Pat McCarthy said not having a temporary car park on the Sallins Road while construction of a multi-storey car park is under way in the UDC’s former car park is ‘a serious inconvenience’.
And he claimed there won’t be enough room in the convent car park for all the school traffic as teachers will also need to park there. Full Story.
Councillor counters car park suggestion
LEIXLIP: by Bill Trapman. An eight-storey car park/apartment block located on an elevated site in Leixlip 'would be unacceptable', according to local councillor Catherine Murphy. She says the site is at the rear of Main Street and 'would dominate and fundamentally change' the character of the village. Full Story.
OAK welcomes new Bus Eireann routes
EDENDERRY: by Bill Trapman. OAK Partnership has this week welcomed the announcement by Bus Eireann of new bus services on the Edenderry–Tullamore route. A total of five new return service routes from 7.30 in the morning until 9 pm have been announced this week. Full Story.
Kildare has another 'survivor-type' star
COILL DUBH: by Trish Whelan. While Rathangan celebrates Brian Dowling’s ‘Big Brother’ win, the village of Coill Dubh is coming to terms with its new star, 27-year-old James Kenna.
James was part of the victorious ‘Stars without Stripes’ team in the Budweiser True States Challenge which involved the final contestants flying off to five of the US’s most exciting cities to take part in a two-week scavenger hunt. These included New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Miami and San Francisco.
It also ensured him slots on the Jerry Springer Show and on TV3’s Ireland AM. James, who describes himself as ‘shy’, now has to contend with his new found fame and with being a TV star. Full Story.
National Age Card scheme for Naas pubs
NAAS: by Trish Whelan. Only official age cards will be accepted as proof of age in licenced premises and gardai in Naas are to undertake an awareness campaign to ensure that all young people are familiar with the scheme. This will involve posters being put up in pubs and hotels in the town. Full Story.
Happy Leaving Certers!
NAAS: by Trish Whelan. There was both relief and happiness when Naas Leaving Cert students gathered outside the three secondary schools in the town to discover and share their examination results last week. Full Story.
New manager for Kildare Heritage Centre
KILDARE: by Grace Halford. A Newbridge woman has been appointed the first manager of the recently opened Heritage centre in Kildare Town. Mary Stone, who joined the team just three weeks ago said that she was delighted to have an opportunity to help develop the town to its full potential as a heritage centre.
Mary has come from a primarily retail background dealing with ceramics and fine arts and she told KNN that because of this she feels that she will be in a unique position to promote and sell Kildare as an area of extensive history and beauty to visitors from all over the world. Full Story.
'Move school' suggestion
MAYNOOTH: by Bill Trapman. During discussions on the Draft Maynooth Development Plan, Cllr John McGinley has put forward the suggestion that consideration be given to changing the location of St Mary’s Girls School to a new site South of the canal. Full Story.
History exhibitions in Newbridge, Clane
NEWBRIDGE & CLANE: An exhibition on aspects of Newbridge local history entitled 'From Connell to Droichead Nua' will be held in Newbridge Library from 1st September to 15th September. The title comes from a recent publication by Mary Connolly who will launch the exhibition with a lecture on Saturday 1st September at 11am.
There will also be an exhibition on the History of Rathcoffey Church in Clane Library on 4th, 6th and 8th of September, organised by Rathcoffey Church Plaque Committee and Kildare County Library.
Councillor appeals on car park issue
LEIXLIP: by Bill Trapman. A Leixlip councillor has appealed for 'a reasonable approach' to the plans by local developer Bernie Cooke to build a multi-storey car park in Leixlip. Cllr Paul Kelly says car parking has been 'a crisis issue' in Leixlip for years, and this proposal could go a long way towards solving the problem. Full Story.
Developer dust gets up Kilcullenites' noses
KILCULLEN: by Brian Byrne. This is a picture of Kilcullen's Main Street this afternoon, in a veritable dust-storm caused by the developers of a riverside housing development.
Following a number of protests from Kilcullen residents, Kildare County Council has warned Morrissons, who are building 'premium quality houses' in a joint development with local landowner Brendan O'Connell, that they'll have to clean up their act, and fast. Full Story.
Greengate Festival clears Main Street
NAAS: by Brian Byrne. The Greengate Festival in Naas last weekend cleared the streets of all but pedestrian traffic, leaving Naas oddly deserted-looking during parts of the afternoon. Full Story & pics.
Another successful trip to Dillingen
NAAS: by Trish Whelan. The colourful Dillingen Pipe Band which captivated the hearts of all when they appeared in last year’s Naas Easter Parade, are to return next Easter for a repeat performance.
The invitation was made by the parade’s organiser and current chairman of Naas UDC, Cllr Willie Callaghan, during the recent trip of Naas Twinning Committee and St David’s Pipe Band to Dillingen. Full Story.
More trains from Maynooth
MAYNOOTH: by Bill Trapman. Iarnrod Eireann has doubled passenger capacity on the Maynooth rail line from Monday 13th August. The route has recently undergone a £20 million refurbishment.
The move has been welcomed by Cllr Paul Kelly, who says it is a great boost for all those living in Kildare who use the train service everyday. He noted that the majority of the trains, which serve commuters in Castleknock, Coolmine, Clonsilla, Leixlip and Maynooth, will operate to and from Pearse Street Station.
School project gets planning permission
NAAS: by Trish Whelan. Work is expected to begin soon on the long awaited new primary school for Naas to be located on the Sallins Road. Full Story.
Naas centre closed for 9 hours Sunday
NAAS: by Trish Whelan. Naas Main Street will be closed to traffic from 2-11pm this Sunday, 12 August when the Greengate Festival takes place.
Gardai say traffic will be diverted away from the Main Street during these hours with gardai on duty at road junctions. Full Story.
Kildare estate to get speed ramps
KILDARE: by Grace Halford. Residents of Assumpta Villas in Kildare Town are to get speed ramps on the road through the estate, following their campaign to have something done about motorists taking short cuts through their area. Full Story.
Bollards motion is passed
NAAS: by Trish Whelan. A motion to place bollards on the Newbridge Road footpath leading to the traffic lights at Rushe's Corner was passed unanimously at the July monthly meeting of Naas UDC.
The motion by Cllr Timmy Conway also asked that the piece of land behind Donegan's (above), which is owned by the UDC, be resurfaced and used for a loading area for trucks. Full Story.
A taste of Orient art for Newbridge
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Born in Kyoto, Japan, Makiko’s work is essentially influenced by her experiences of every day life. She also attributes her keen interest in the arts to her grandfather, who was a traditional Japanese painter and ceramist and taught Makiko to paint when she was four years old.
To date Makiko has exhibited her work throughout the world including the USA, Japan and Paris. She presently holds a residency at The Fire Station Artists‘ Studios in Dublin Full Story.
Cardboard collection initiative
NAAS: by Trish Whelan. The three-month trial of cardboard collection from business premises in Naas is now under way. The Naas Chamber of Commerce and Industry initiative is in conjunction with waste management company Oxigen and collections are made from 10am on Wednesdays.
Pictured is Naas florist Brian Brett doing his bit for the initiative with Oxigen staff. The Naas Chamber is also distributing 2,000 green bins to local households as part of a domestic recycling pilot scheme.
NAAS: OPINION by John Kavanagh. It is interesting to read the discussion on the issue of the Sallins Road car parks and the weasel words being used in this debate and the selective quoting of figures. Full Story.
Leixlip Spa cleaned up
LEIXLIP: by Bill Trapman. The historic Spa near Leixlip's Louisa Bridge has been cleaned up following an agreement with Kildare County Council to pay for the cleanup. Tons of waste were taken from the site by a contractor brought in by Leixlip Town Commission.
The work has been welcomed by Cllr Paul Kelly, who said he hoped that 'unscrupulous people' who had dumped material there in the past would now desist from doing so. Full Story.
Little support for PO charge motion
NAAS: by Trish Whelan. There was little support for a call by Cllr Pat McCarthy asking that An Post should drop its £15 charge for people wanting to cancel postal deliveries to their homes while they are away.
Cllr McCarthy said it was an incredible situation that a semi state body is charging £15 to NOT going to a premises. He said: “Gardai are constantly telling us it’s a give away to burglars telling them you are away if there is a build up of post.”
He believed it would be simple for An Post to hold letters for collection by the person when they return. “We should be sending a strong letter to them telling them this must be dropped,” he urged adding that if the charge was there already it had not been enforced until this year. Full Story.
Stagg welcomes confirmation of CPO for relief road
CELBRIDGE: by Bill Trapman. Deputy Emmet Stagg has welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleanála to confirm and thereby approve Kildare County Council’s Compulsory Purchase Order to complete the Celbridge Relief Road from the Maynooth Road to the Clane Road at Ballymakealy. Full Story.
Irish infants 'getting six times too much fluoride'
KILDARE GENERAL: by Bill Trapman. Kildare county councillor Catherine Murphy has called on the Minister's for Health & Environment to 'adopt the precautionary principle' and cease the practice of adding fluoride to public water supplies. Her call follows results obtained from samples provided by eight Kildare councillors on their estimated fluoride consumption, which showed 75% of the samples were in excess of the recommended dose of 3mg per day. Full Story.
Chernobyl children fundraiser a huge success
MONASTEREVIN: by Grace Halford. An unusual coming together of Kildare County Council, Mountjoy Prison and Keadeen Hotel helped raise funds recently for the victims of the world's worst nuclear accident. The event was a charity evening in aid of the Kildare Branch of the Chernobyl Children’s Project, the result of an idea by Declan Garrett (left) who runs a DJ service. He suggested that they hold a Battle of the Bands.
Kildare County Council provided funding for the event, Mountjoy Prison donated the three stages needed to facilitate the bands and Keadeen Hotel gave the use of their facilities on the night. "It would not have been achievable without the generous support of the sponsors who helped make it all possible," says organiser Geraldine Hayden. Full Story.
Litter awareness grant welcomed
KILDARE GENERAL: by Bill Trapman. A £25,000 grant for Kildare County Council to be used for public education and awareness initiatives on litter has been welcomed by Cllr Paul Kelly. The grant will provide money to raise public awareness and organise activities at local level, such as clean-ups, school competitions, videos, and anti-litter exhibitions.
"I hope this will encourage a partnership approach between the local authorities, residential and community groups and the business and commercial sectors at local level to tackle litter," Cllr Kelly said. "This grant will help raise public awareness of the unacceptability of litter pollution. It will also help to bring home the message that each of us is responsible for our own litter and that it’s up to us to prevent littering."
South African poet praises Monasterevin
MONASTEREVIN: by Grace Halford. Once again Monasterevin opened its doors to a host of visitors for the festivities of the 14th Gerard Manley Hopkins International Summer Festival. As promised, this year was one of the festival's most successful.
The programme of events kicked off with the highly colourful and entertaining South African Praise poet of Nelson Mandela, Zolani Mkiva (left), performing in the full regalia of his tribe and praising Monastrevin for hosting the Hopkins School.
The annual event was one of the most international to date with participation from no fewer than 24 countries. Poets giving readings included Roger McGough (UK) well known author of Lily the Pink, Thomas Tidholm, one of Sweden’s best-known writers and many other distinguished guests including Alain Suled (France), Erwin Einzinger (Austria), Heleno Sinorvo (Finland), Anately Kudriavitski (Russia) and Desmond Egan (Ireland). Full Story
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