Naas Harbour sees the fleet in

NAAS, 30 March 2002: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. The refurbished Naas Harbour was officially opened by the town's Mayor Willie Callaghan in the company of finance minister Charlie McCreevy this afternoon, in a celebration which included a boat rally organised by the Kildare branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland. Full Story.

Heckling councillors apologise

NAAS, 30 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. In what was a clear attempt to step back from their seriously embarrassing behaviour at previous meetings of Naas Town Council, two councillors tendered apologies at the adjourned March meeting last Tuesday night. Full Story.

4.1 million sports euros allocated

KILDARE GENERAL, 29 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Sporting organisations in County Kildare are to receive 4.1 million euros in 2002 under 'further grants' under the 2002 Sports Capital Programme announced today by the Government. Full Story.

1.3 million euros needed

CELBRIDGE, 27 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Funding of 1.3 million euros will be sought by Kildare County Council and the Department of Education for an access road to the North Kildare National School Project at Ballymakealy in Celbridge and for safety measures to be carried out at the entrance to St Woolstans Secondary School on the Clane Road. Full Story.

Work starts on Kilcock school

KILCOCK, 27 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Work has recently begun on an extension to Scoil Dara Secondary School in Kilcock. It is expected to take 12 months. Full Story.

Oh Lord, help me to keep my big mouth shut ...

NAAS, 27 March 2002: OPINION by Brian Byrne. Press (mis)relations have become almost a requirement for Naas Town Council chairmen in this current council. But what can we expect? They’re politicians after all, and they only want the press to report the nice things. That’s not why we exist, though. Full Story.

Superquinn denies Naas sale

NAAS, 26 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Superquinn has emphatically denied rumours that it has sold its premises in Naas to another - British - supermarket group. Full Story.

Major blueprint for Kildare is launched

KILDARE GENERAL, 25 March 2002: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. A 10-year 'Vision and Action' plan for County Kildare launched last night by minister for finance Charlie McCreevy TD (above with Kildare County Council chairman John O'Neill) is the result of two years of consultation with the county's local authorities, major public service providers, local development departments and community organisations. Full Story.

Naas Roads and Footpaths Programme

NAAS, 26 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Naas Town Council is to spend a total of 713,618 euros on its Roads and Footpaths Programme 2002. The money includes a 90,618 spend on Traffic Calming and Minor Road Works including replacement of unapproved traffic 'bumps' such as those on Monread Avenue (above). Full Story.

St Mary's girls are all-Ireland champs

NAAS, 25 March 2002: by Trish Whelan. Naas schools scored a double at the recent Boys and Girls Volleyball Cadette A All-Ireland finals with Naas CBS and St Mary’s College (above) winning their respective categories in the Cadette A finals. Full Story.

Culvert problem restrictions to continue

CASTLEDERMOT, 22 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Traffic restrictions north of Castledermot are set to continue until at least next Thursday evening following an inspection of a damaged culvert this morning by Kildare County Council experts. Repairs will be undertaken next week, according to a council spokesman. A diversion northbound will be available for motorists from Castledermot to Bolton Hill, but will not be suitable for heavy vehicles.

Young people say underage drinking 'out of control'



Aontas Ogra Youth Club founder Billy Brown with Stephen O’Connor, Eamonn Lawler and John Rainsford.

ATHY, 22 March 2002: by Trish Whelan. Young people in Aontas Ogra youth club in Athy are behind a move to tackle alcohol abuse in their local community, and in particular underage drinking. Full Story.

Call for statements on councillor abuse

NAAS, 22 March 2002: OPINION by Donal Corcoran. At last a welcome development in reporting Naas UDC Meetings - the highlighting of bullying and insulting tactics by some councillors. This is not new but has been going on at Naas UDC meetings from my experience since 1974, but it was rarely reported by the local papers.  KNN has consistently, without fear or favour, reported such behaviour and this has encouraged the local papers  to do likewise. Full Story.

Concert for Millicent

CLANE, 22 March 2002: by Bill Trapman. A Spring Concert in Clongowes Wood College this Palm Sunday will star Senator David Norris and Fionnuala Monks. The event is in aid of Millicent Church repair fund. Tickets 20 euros are available from Country Blossoms, Main Street, Clane 045 861030. Refreshments included. The event starts at 7.30pm.

Open Night for women in business

NEWBRIDGE, 21 March 2002: by Trish Whelan. The Kildare Branch of Network Ireland is holding an Open Night for women in business on Tuesday night next in the Red House. Full Story.

Culvert problem causes N9 traffic restriction

CASTLEDERMOT, 21 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Bridge construction experts will go to Castledermot tomorrow to check on the condition of a stone culvert which has shown signs of damage. Full Story.

kildare.ie community website relaunched

NEWBRIDGE, 21 March 2002: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. The Kildare Community Network website www.kildare.ie was relaunched last night in a new and more user-friendly format made necessary because of the sheer amount of information on the site and the numbers of people looking for access. Full Story.

Doodle Days wins through to YES finals

NAAS, 20 March 2002: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. The producers of a children’s activity book, Doodle Days, are the winners of the County Kildare Finals of the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme, which were judged last night in St Mary’s College, Naas. The winning company was operated by Aisling Byrne and Jennifer Gordon (above) of St Mary’s College and goes on to represent Kildare in the National Finals in May. Full Story. (Lots of pics - give it a chance to open.)

Divining the music in Naas

NAAS, 19 March 2002: by Bill Trapman. A debut album from Naas group "Diviners" will be launched tomorrow night in the Riverbank Centre, Newbridge, in conjunction with the relaunch of the Kildare Community Network’s kildare.ie internet portal. Full Story.

Naas group had hectic Omaha weekend

OMAHA, 19 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. The Naas delegation to Omaha Nebraska had a very hectic schedule over the weekend, in a city which has so many facilities and attractions that it would be impossible to see them all in the short duration of the trip. But it was underpinned by a strong local Irish community, which rolled out the welcome wagon under the guidance of the Fr Flanagan branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Full Story.

Supporters brave the rain for Newbridge parade

NEWBRIDGE, 17 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. It rained on their parade, but that didn't stop many hundreds of Newbridge people young and old coming out to see their annual St Patrick's Day Parade. Full Story.

Ideas for Naas parade from mid-America

OMAHA, 17 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Wille Callaghan says taking part in Omaha's 'electrifying' St Patrick's Day Parade has given him some ideas for the Easter Parade he organises in Naas every year. Full Story.

Naas's new twin is the size of Dublin



Omaha's Mayor Mike Fahey and Naas Town Council chairman Willie Callaghan signing the twinning agreement last night

OMAHA & NAAS, 16 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. The city with which Naas formally signed a twinning agreement last night is known as the ‘Gateway to the West’ in the United States and has a population of almost 700,000 in its metropolitan area, and has over 113,000 children in its school systems. It has 11 third level colleges catering for over 43,000 students. The twinning agreement was signed in Creighton University, which is run by the Jesuit order. Full Story.

Traffic lights work will start in June

ATHY, 15 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. The provision of traffic lights at the junction of the N78 and Kildare Road in Athy is 'well advanced' according to Athy's Town Clerk. In a letter to Cllr Mark Dalton, he said consent has been received from the Duke of Leinster and the Department of Education and work is expected to start in June. The progress has been welcomed by Cllr Dalton, who says residents have suffered 'great inconvenience' with the present state of the junction.

Will demand area analysis of development levies

LEIXLIP, 15 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Production of development levy figures on an electoral area basis will be sought by Leixlip Area councillor Catherine Murphy when the issue of progress on development levy collection comes up for discussion in April at Kildare County Council. Full Story.

New Fiat dealer for Kildare


MONASTEREVIN, 15 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Paddy Corcoran Motors Ltd has been awarded the Fiat franchise for Co Kildare and is opening for business in Monasterevin as Main Dealer for both Fiat cars and Light Commercials. The company may be new but it is headed up by one of the best-known and most respected figures in the Irish motor industry. Full Story.

Shinkins gets Sports Council grant

NEWBRIDGE & ATLANTA, USA, 14 March 2002: by Arran Hussey. Newbridge athlete Karen Shinkins has been granted 19,100 euros by the Irish Sports Council, to help her with her training expenses.

Shinkins, who took home a bronze medal at the recent European Indoor Championships in Vienna, is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

David McCarthy of Celbridge, currently based in Limerick, was awarded 4,600 euros by the council.

Naas will sign Omaha twin in Jesuit university

OMAHA, USA, 14 March 2002: by Brian Byrne & John Glenn. The Naas delegation to Omaha, Nebraska, will take part in a sister city signing ceremony and banquet at 7pm tomorrow (Friday) evening, at Creighton University. Full Story.

Free speech 'under threat' - councillor

NAAS, 14 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Freedom of speech at Naas Town Council is under threat, according to long-sitting Fianna Fail councillor Charlie Byrne. He made the remarks in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s episode when Cllr Mary Glennon was forced to leave the chamber in tears after constant haranguing by fellow councillors Seamie Moore and Timmy Conway. Full Story.

Gardening meeting in Intel well attended

LEIXLIP, 14 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Some 280 people attended a recent talk in Leixlip on gardening, held in Intel by the company's Chris Byrne and Tidy Estates Competition Rachael Judge. Full Story.

Naas Town Council is out of control - OPINION

NAAS, 13 March 2002: OPINION by Brian Byrne. I have to be careful here. Writs are already being readied for launch between members of Naas Town Council, and I don’t particularly want to be the target of any myself.

But I have to comment on the behaviour of some of the council members at last night’s monthly meeting. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing my job.

First, I believe the chairman of the council, Willy Callaghan, should resign from the position after presiding over what can only be described as the most disgraceful scenes I have ever witnessed at a local authority meeting. Full Story.

Councillor leaves Naas TC meeting in tears

NAAS, 13 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Cllr Mary Glennon was forced to leave Naas Town Council’s March meeting in tears after two other members continually harassed her and interrupted her during her right of reply to comments made on one of her motions. Full Story.

Straffan NS to perform with National Chamber Choir

STRAFFAN, 11 March 2002: by Brian Byrne. Straffan National School pupils are to perform a children's opera in May which is part of a programme by the National Chamber Choir to involve schools in opera. Full Story.

Orla helping orphans in Moldova

NAAS, 8 March 2002: by Trish Whelan. St Mary’s College teacher Orla O’Connell is fundraising to help young orphans in Moldova. She is involved through the ‘Hold her Hand’ project which is raising funds to help 200 young girls whose ages range from 4 to 25 years and who have either been orphaned or abandoned from an early age. Many suffer from severe physical or neurological difficulties. Full Story.

Minister to launch book on history of Naas CBS

NAAS, 8 March 2002: by Trish Whelan. A history of Naas Christian Brothers Secondary School will be formally launched by one of the school’s most famous past pupils, Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy TD. Full Story.

Furious row over Oldtown Gardens

NAAS, 7 March 2002: by Trish Whelan. Rows that have typified the business of Naas Town Council over the last year continued in a particularly nasty vein at the most recent meeting of the Council, this time - as in times before - over Oldtown Gardens (above). Full Story.

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