KILDARE SOUTH, 20 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. Alan Dukes is leaving politics after serving as a Fine Gael deputy in Dail Eireann for 21 years. He made his decision following his very narrow defeat for the third seat in Kildare South, by Labour's Jack Wall.

KILDARE GENERAL, 19 May 2002: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. It was a real nail-biting day at the counts in both Kildare North and South yesterday, as Alan Dukes (FG) fought Jack Wall (Lab) for the last of three seats, and in the north county Bernard Durkan (FG) had the same kind of contest with Paul Kelly (FF).

KILDARE GENERAL, 17 May 2002: by Bill Trapman. KELT, The Kildare Leader Company, has been approved to administer 5 million euros under the Leader Plus programme in County Kildare. This rural development programme runs up to December 2006. KELT is holding a series of Information Meetings to explain and publicise the Leader Plus Programme.

NARRAGHMORE, 14 May 2002: by Bill Trapman. Narraghmore Pipe Band returned to winning form on Saturday 11 May by taking first place in their grade at the Malahide Piping & Drumming Festival at Malahide Castle, Co Dublin.

NAAS, 10 May 2002: by Trish Whelan. A call for local residents to block the Naas By-Pass has been made by Naas town councillor Mary Glennon, in protest at the EPA’s decision to increase the Waste Licence for KTK Landfill Ltd (above) from 220,000 tonnes a year to 275,000 tonnes.

NAAS, 9 May 2002: by Trish Whelan. A decision on whether to allow Naas GAA use a pitch in Monread District Park (above) for juvenile training at weekends was deferred by Naas Town Council at its latest meeting.

Exhibition in Naas Library

MAYNOOTH & KILCOCK, 9 May 2002: by Bill Trapman. Money from Kildare County Council's parks budget is to be used to cut grass in pen spaces in Leixlip and Maynooth. The areas involved are those where it is not feasible for residents associations to cut, including the Leixlip linear park, the Black Avenue and the approach roads to the town.

MONASTEREVIN, 9 May 2002: by Bill Trapman. A strong and urgent plea to Kildare County Council regarding the extremely dangerous condition of the footpaths throughout St Evin's Park in Monasterevin has been made by Deputy Alan Dukes.

NAAS, 7 May 2002: by Trish Whelan. Plans for the long awaited new primary school on the Sallins Road will shortly go out to tender and it is anticipated the school will be finally open by September 2003.

KILDARE NORTH, 7 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. A 24-hour garda station in North Kildare looks closer now that local garda authorities have strongly suggested to the Garda Commissioner that such a station is required.

KILDARE GENERAL, 7 May 2002: by Trish Whelan. There are only two dog wardens for all of Kildare, which has a dog population of over 16,000.

CASTLEDERMOT, 7 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. Alan Dukes TD has welcomed the recent signing of contracts for the Castledermot Sewerage Scheme, and the fact that work on the project will very shortly commence.

KILDARE NORTH, 7 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. A grant scheme to help residents employ grass-cutting services for their open spaces in estates is to be proposed.

KILDARE GENERAL, 4 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. A total of 14 candidates are contesting the General Election in Kildare’s two 3-seater constituencies, six of them in Kildare North and eight in Kildare South.

NAAS, 4 May 2002: by Trish Whelan. ‘Residents Only’ car parking is to be established in Lakelands in a bid to prevent parking by staff and construction workers of Naas General Hospital in the estate. Naas Parking Bye-Laws are to be amended to allow this.

NEWBRIDGE, 3 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. The programme for the Bealtaine Arts Festival in Newbridge includes 'Warmth and Welcome Banners' produced by all the schools in the town. These have been specially commissioned by Bealtaine.

KILDARE GENERAL, 2 May 2002: by Trish Whelan. It could be your pet pooch that turns into a sheep killer when let out of the house.

NAAS, 2 May 2002: by Trish Whelan. The Naas Juvenile Gaelic Football Club want to use part of Monread District Park to train juvenile football teams.

KILDARE GENERAL, 2 May 2002: by Trish Whelan. Angry carers from all over Kildare have told politicians the time for talk was over and they now wanted proper recognition for the work they do.

NAAS, 1 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. A problem with disposal at the county landfill has upset Naas Town Council's tradition of providing skips to estates in the town to help residents and residents associations get rid of waste which had built up during the year, as well as material abandoned in estates such as A motorbike at Kingsfurze.

CELBRIDGE, 1 May 2002: by Brian Byrne. A Veteran Car and Motorcycle Rally held in Celbridge at the weekend brought back many nostalgic memories to many people, including this writer, as car models which many would have owned themselves were assembled at the Abbey.