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New Leixlip H-P business enhances employment future

LEIXLIP, 16 April 1999: by Brian Byrne. A 200-job announcement at the Leixlip campus of Hewlett-Packard yesterday could be the start of a major enhancement of high-tech employment in the area. The Liffey Park Technology Campus launched by Tanaiste Mary Harney TD will initially be the home to Hewlett-Packard’s Outsourcing Services Division’s European Operations Centre, but further businesses may well be attracted which have a synergistic relationship with the computer industry.

Outsourcing Services is the fastest-growing division within the company, and provides information technology solutions for customers, including monitoring and management of a customer’s network and the diagnosis and solution of hardware and software problems at a remote distance. The management of such systems all around the world will be done from Leixlip.

Speaking at the launch, Hewlett-Packard Ireland’s managing director David Young said that it represented a significant step forward from the existing business of ink-jet cartridge manufacture at Leixlip. “Some 80% of those employed in this operation will be graduates, many of them to Masters qualification,” he said. “The business will be requiring software engineers and people skilled in networking and maintenance of remote servers.” He said he was aware of the ‘tightness of the market’ in finding enough such qualified people at the moment, but expressed his confidence that the company ‘could get what they need’. “And we will be continuing to support the universities and schools to help ensure a continuing supply of highly-educated young people,” he said.

The head of the Outsourcing Services Division (Europe) Achim Warnke said they had decided on Leixlip because of the availability of skills, the existence of the high-quality site already here, and cost competitiveness. Asked whether the operation could be easily moved elsewhere if lower costs were available in the future, he said no. “This kind of facility is extremely expensive to build and we would not easily move it,” he said.

Mr Warnke suggested that future businesses which might be attracted to the campus could include ‘data warehouses’ for managing the ever-increasing amount of information on the internet, and e-commerce businesses building on the rapidly-growing use of the internet for buying and selling.

New business manager (Electronics) for IDA-Ireland Myles O’Reilly said the success of the existing Hewlett-Packard operation at Leixlip since its establishment in 1995 had been ‘very important’ in the nine-month negotiations for the latest business. He also expressed his confidence in the ability of the operation to get the kind of people it needs. “The shortage of computer skills is a worldwide problem, but we in Ireland are better placed than most to provide people with these skills in the medium term,” he said.

RealAudio: David Young, Myles O'Reilly and Achim Warnke talk to Brian Byrne.

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615

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Greetings between clubs exchanged during twinning visit

NAAS & DILLINGEN, BAVARIA, 16 April 1999: by Trish Whelan. Good wishes from several Naas clubs and associations were passed on to their opposite numbers in Naas’s twin town of Dillingen during the recent twinning visit to the Bavarian town. Naas Twinning Committee chairman Pat O’Reilly said discussions have been held with many clubs in Naas which are interested in taking part in exchanges with Dillingen clubs.

Meanwhile, plans are already afoot for the colourful Dillingen pipe band (some of them pictured on left) to take part in next year’s Naas Easter Parade and a group of their young people, with adult supervisors, will come to Naas in August 2000 to experience the Irish way of life. It’s hoped this will be the start of many such exchanges.

Almost half the population of one area of Dillingen, c.1,100 people, have enrolled in a local sports centre where facilities include an indoor bowling alley, tennis courts, football, badminton and an athletic track. It was suggested that matches could be arranged between teams from both Naas and Dillingen. There are also a number of other such facilities in the town.

Dillingen also boasts two enormous gymnasiums (one to be officially opened at the end of the year - especially high for international badminton tournaments), with an ice skating rink which doubles for rollerblading in summer, a football stadium and a number of swimming pools.

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Power ratified for council run

NEWBRIDGE, 16 April 1999: by Brian Byrne. Kildare South Fianna Fail deputy Sean Power has been ratified by the party’s constituency organisation to run as a candidate in the fortcoming local elections. He will be based for the campaign in the Kilcullen area, joining Willie Callaghan from Naas and Liam Kelly from Kill in the contest for the Naas Area seats. If elected, he will replace his father Paddy, who is retiring. A brother, J J Power, is currently also a member of the council.

The party’s decision to run Sean Power has caused some unrest in the Naas area, with UDC councillor Charlie Byrne feeling aggrieved that a local commitment that two candidates for the county council elections would be from Naas has not been carried through. He blames a ‘whispering campaign’ against him for the Fianna Fail Headquarters decision, a campaign based, he says, on his opposition to aspects of the current Naas Draft Development Plan.

 

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PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING

Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP

Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential.

Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

NAAS BAPTIST BIBLE CENTRE

Everyone is invited to study God's Word, the Bible, with us, Sunday evenings 6.30, 45 Jigginstown Park. We are presently studying the life of Christ. Contact Rev Roger Parrow 045 894771. (Advt.)

by Liam Cahill

The seminal account of the Limerick Soviet

Available here

Naas jobs training offer from German twin town

NAAS & DILLINGEN, BAVARIA, 15 April 1999: by Trish Whelan. The Glasveredelung Dillengen factory which employs some 130 people in Naas's German twin town, has offered the possibility of bringing trainees from Naas for work experience in the factory which processes sheet glass into items of furniture, bathroom furnishings, items for use in industry and plate glass windows for some of the most famous buildings in Europe.

The offer has come from Herr Matthias Pachmann (pictured above) who personally conducted a tour of the factory and showrooms for the Naas twinning delegation last weekend and later presented each person with a glass momento of the visit. Other industries in Dillingen include the giant Bosche factory which manufactures dishwashers.

Meanwhile, the Naas twinning delegation were the first Irish group to visit the nuclear power station outside Dillingen - the first commercial power station in Germany. It produces as much power as would satisfy’s Ireland’s needs. Over 800 people are employed at the station (91 are women) which produces 30% of the Bavarian power requirement. Some 2,000 more jobs spring directly from the station and 250 of the 800 employees have third level education.

Water for use in the station is sourced from the nearby River Danube. Pictured (below) in protective gear during the tour are Willie Callaghan, Timmy Conway, David Gibson, Cait Cusack, Gunni Schulz, Trish Whelan, Anne Behan, Alice Gibson and Paddy Behan.

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615

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Newbridge parking problems under review

NEWBRIDGE, 15 April 1999: by Brian Byrne. A ‘comprehensive review’ of the traffic by-laws is under way in relation to a number of streets in Newbridge, following requests for action by a number of town commissioners at recent meetings. Town manager Terry O Niadh told this month’s meeting of the commission that a preliminary report had already been furnished to him, and he had asked for further information.

“I know that this matter may not be proceeding as quickly as commissioners might wish, but these things do take time,” he said, and also gave an assurance that any matters which had been raised by this particular commission would be addressed, ‘and addressed seriously’ by the authority even after the current body’s replacement after the June elections.

Cllr John O’Neill said the traffic situation had deteriorated further in Francis Street since the matter had been last raised, and he said he was ‘very perturbed’ about the possibility of a fire breaking out in the area. “At the moment there is no possibility of a fire appliance getting through the street quickly in an emergency.

Meanwhile, a Parking Study for Newbridge has been endorsed by the Naas Area Committee of Kildare County Council and has been distributed to the members of Newbridge Town Commission for their consideration. The matter will soon be put to a public meeting in Newbridge for submission and comment by relevant interests.

At the monthly meeting of the commission there was a spirited discussion on why members of Newbridge Chamber of Commerce had been given the opportunity of seeing the salient details of the study while attending the area meeting, prior to it being presented to the commissioners.

Cllr John O’Neill expressed his surprise that the Chamber members had returned to the meeting after the tea-break. But he said it was a ‘very comprehensive’ report.

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Maynooth strategy document will address problems of growth

MAYNOOTH, 15 April 1999: by Brian Byrne. A document to be issued to each house in Maynooth by Maynooth Action Strategy over the next two weeks is aimed at addressing the problems which may come from the expectation that the town’s population will have trebled between 1986-2006. These could include traffic congestion and a lack of amenities and leisure facilities and the the breakdown and erosion of the sense of community.

MAS was formed to address these issues, and is doing so with strategy partners the Chamber of Commerce, the Community Council, the National University of Ireland Maynooth and St. Patrick’s College.

The document, The First Steps, is a follow on from the Choosing a Future document which was circulated last year. The First Steps takes the original strategy and develops it into a series of projects to re-establish the character of the town, develop its commercial potential and enhance the lifestyle and wellbeing of all elements of the community.

Since June of last year a cross-community panel of 30 people have met regularly to discuss topics ranging from the positioning of bus stops to the provision of relief roads, from the development of tourism to the promotion of the arts. The groups contacted and met a variety of bodies in the course of the process, for example Kildare Country Council, local Councillors, Bus Eireann, Iarnrod Eireann and tourism interests.

Some 30 projects or projects groups which make up the proposed strategy will be listed in the First Steps document under the broad headings Physical, Commercial and Social/Amenity. Preliminary work is already underway on some of the projects. An arts Forum has been formed and is in the process of creating structures to develop and support performing and visual arts, this will include a local drama group. Funding has been obtained for the preparation of a restoration and conservation plan for Carton Avenue. Funding has been applied for to develop a computer based Community Access and Information facility. Iarnrod Eireann have agreed to provide additional parking at the train station on land which will ultimately link with the realigned Bond Bridge.

The First Steps is being produced to inform the community and to help them get involved in the process. Responses from a questionnaire with the document will be used to structure a series of consultation workshops in the weeks following publication. First Steps will be launched by Dr Susan McKenna-Lawlor, a veteran of many different launches, in the Glenroyal Hotel on April 20th. The document will be distributed to each house in the town over the following days.

 

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COMMUNITY NOTICES

RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS UMBRELLA GROUP - The next meeting of the recently formed umbrella group for Naas Residents Associations will take place at 8.30pm on Wednesday 21 April in The Monread Lodge. Representatives of all estates and areas of the town are welcome to attend.

PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES - The Naas parish pilgrimage to Lourdes, takes place from Monday May 17-22 and will be led by Fr. Moling Lennon. Cost is £390, including coach to and from Dublin; flight; full board; insurance; levies etc. Further details from Abbey Travel, Naas, latest booking date is April 25.

13-16 YEAR OLDS - WANT TO BECOME A LIFEGUARD? - If so, go along to Naas Swimming Pool on Saturdays from 7-8pm (6 weeks - £10). Boys and girls, no previous experience necessary. Kildare Water Safety.

LEARN TO DANCE - Take to the floor every Friday evening in the CBS Secondary School Naas. Salsa 7pm; Jive and Rock and Roll 8pm; Ballroom 9pm. Further details from Kieran & Breda Kelly at 866083.

KILDARE SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP - KSBSG is a team of people who have been specifically trained to help those who have been bereaved by suicide or by tragic sudden death. It is a non-denominational service. A rota of trained facilitators are available to conduct group or one-to-one sessions at the Parish Centre in Ballycane (tel. 895629) every Thursday evening from 8pm. Alternatively, an appointment may be made in confidence by contacting tel. 086-8554852.

UDC SKIPS IN 1999 - Naas Urban District Council will provide skips to Housing Estates to assist with their estate maintenance/management during this year. Applications will be considered on a first come first served basis and should be made by Residents Associations in writing to the Town Clerk's Office, Naas UDC, Town Hall, Naas. There will be a limit of one skip per estate at present but an extension of the scheme may be announced later.

Major benefits for young people from twinning

DILLINGEN, BAVARIA, 14 April 1999: byTrish Whelan. Young people and their organisations in Naas are likely to be major beneficiaries of the formal completion of the twinning process of the town of Naas with Dillingen an der Donau in Bavaria, Germany, which took place last weekend in Dillingen. The event was attended by 160 invited guests, including town officials and representatives of local clubs and organisations.

But with the formalities over, Mayor Hans-Jürgen Weigl (pictured above during an exchange of presents with Frau Michaela Probst, chairperson of the Dillingen twinning committee, and her Naas counterpart, Pat O'Reilly) said the real hope for the success of the partnership lies with ‘young people.’ He hoped what had happened would ‘be the root of a tree which would grow and prosper.’ UDC cathaoirleach Cllr Paddy Behan was lavish in his praise of German friendship and hospitality over the three-day visit and thanked the host families who had opened their homes to the Naas delegation. He said twinning is ‘the sharing and diversity of each other’s way of life and cultures and that Ireland and Germany had much in common’ and he praised both twinning committees and town clerks for their endeavours to bring it to fruition.

Pat O’Reilly said he believed the twinning’s success will come through the involvement of voluntary groups. He said he was ‘enthralled’ by the facilities available in Dillingen and believed ‘the future lies in co-operation between both towns.’ He said the visit would not have been possible without the help and guidance of Naas teacher Orla O’Connell, who acted as interpreter and Naas resident Gunni Schulz, originally from Berlin. His counterpart, Frau Michaela Probst, said the exchange ‘opens many opportunities’ and she hoped many would avail of the opportunities presented.

The twinning came about through student exchanges between St Mary’s College in Naas and St Bonaventura High School in Dillingen, arranged by respective teachers Orla O’Connell and Sr Irenäa. So far, over 300 families from both areas have been involved in these exchanges.

Plans discussed included a Dillingen pipe band taking part in next year’s Naas Easter Parade and the arrival of a group of young people, with adult supervisors, for a holiday in August 2000 to experience the Irish way of life. It is also hoped that business, tourism, sporting and cultural groups, guides, scouts etc will follow suit and that schools in both towns will use the internet to keep in touch. It is also hoped to provide trainee exchanges between business interests in both areas. Cllr Timmy Conway suggested that the Naas Youth Parliament also become involved.

Festivities on the night included songs from St Bonaventura students and a local folk group, the singing of Irish and German songs led by Herr Xaver Käser, poetry readings by Naas UDC Cllr Timmy Conway and local author Herr Erich Pawlu. All in all, an important event in the history of both towns.

"Sehr geehrter Herr Weigel, wir sind wieder gut in Dublin gelaudet, leider regnet es hier sehr stark. Vielen Dank noch einmal für Ihre Gastfreundschaft.” - Paddy Behan, cathaoirleach Naas Urban District
Council

Pictured at the twinning ceremony in the Aula des Johann-Michael-Sailer-Gymnasium in Dillingen last weekend were David and Alice Gibson from Naas with their daughter Gwen and Mathias Heussler. Gwen recently completed her studies in business management in Kunzelsau in Baden-Wurtenberg in south Germany where she has been living for the past four years. David Gibson is a member of the Nas Na Ri Singers from Naas who regularly perform in Waldenburg.

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615

CHAPMANS OF KILDARE

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The most delicious of gifts from our finest Irish chocolates range are selling around the world from here.

 

Training workshop lease renewed

NEWBRIDGE, 14 April 1999: by Brian Byrne. Newbridge Town Commission has agreed to renew the lease of the Town Hall to Newbridge Community Training Workshop. The FAS-run operation will now continue to use the premises for another two years and nine months. The decision came after a spirited discussion at the recent monthly meeting of the commission, during which Cmmr Fiona O’Loughlin suggested that the lease not be renewed, but that the commission should help find another ‘home’ for the NCTW.

She said nobody would praise the work of the workshop more than herself, but that this was the third time the matter had come up since she had become a commissioner. “We should try and source a more permanent place for the workshop, possibly in one of the industrial estates,” she said. “I would like to see us perhaps use the premises to provide facilities for the young people of the town ... there are 6,000 of them and I believe there is an urgent need for an ‘umbrella’ premises for Newbridge youth organisations.”

There was strong support for the NCTW from all members, with Cmmr Ray O’Brien noting that the training programme had a 90% job placement record, while Cmmr Joe Kearns (pictured) said the skills that were coming out of it were ‘essential and of high quality’ and suggested that his fellow commissioners should visit the operation more frequently. Cmmr Colm Feeney remarked that the focus of FAS was due to change, with a greater emphasis on retraining for older people, mainly men. Cllr Spike Nolan said he had direct experience of the difference which the workshop had made to people coming from sometimes ‘difficult circumstances’. Cmmr Ray O’Brien expressed a fear that if the workshop ever left Newbridge, it ‘would leave the county’.

Town manager Terry O Niadh recommended that the commission should renew the lease, noting that FAS does not see the acquisition of permanent premises as an essential function in their responsibilities.

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Intel and Hewlett-Packard help local community group

LEIXLIP, 14 April 1999: Hewlett-Packard and Intel have got together to support the Leixlip-Confey Community Awareness Group youth premises project with a joint donation of £100,000, over two years. The first instalment of £50,000 was handed over by John McGowan, General Manager, Intel Ireland and Dave Young, General Manager, Hewlett-Packard to Gerry McDonagh, chairperson of the Leixlip-Confey Community Awareness Group at a ceremony at the Newtown House site, Captain's Hill in Leixlip.

The donations are conditional on the Awareness Group securing a site and planning permission as well as getting enough funding for the building of a premises. Both companies believe the development of such a centre will fulfil the function of providing a focal centre for local residents of all ages but must be sensitive to the legitimate needs of local residents in the area.

On behalf of Intel, John McGowan said: "We asked our Community Advisory Panel for their advice on a major project we could support and this is what they suggested. In addition, our annual Community Perception Survey has consistently underlined the need for a youth premises in Leixlip. We think this will benefit a large section of the local community." For Hewlett-Packard, Dave Young said: "Hewlett-Packard is committed to being an economic, intellectual and social asset in each community we operate. Through keeping in contact with local community groups we found that the greatest need they had was a community centre, which would provide facilities for adults and young people alike. We believe that this project has a long-term value for all the community."

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Concern about development

Dear editor,

I am very concerned by the proposed Naas Town Development Plan. I have recently been to an oral hearing in the Town Hall to air my grievances and I do not feel convinced that these hearings are anything more than a ploy by the UDC to mislead people into thinking that they may be listened to.

We the people of Naas elect these people into power and they are supposed to be public representatives. Well very few of our sitting Councillors are representing my view and I'm not the only one feeling this way.

The Councillors are making way for more housing developments which will be more of the all too familiar "exclusive" developments with "exclusive" price tags to match. The average worker can never even dream of purchasing homes at these rates, therefore the Councillors are actually creating a monster for themselves. The housing list in Naas is over 300 families, if the councillors keep making way for rich estates their housing list will more than double in the next few years!

I am asking our so-called public representatives to, for once, represent us and stop this mad rezoning! We the people of Naas do not want it. We the people of Naas cannot cope with a further population boom in our town.
Yours sincerely

Martina O'Kelly
Local Election Candidate for the Labour Party

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Naas twinning completed

NAAS & DILLINGEN, BAVARIA, 13 April 1999: byTrish Whelan. The return visit of the official twinning of Naas with Dillingen in Germany took place last weekend when a delegation of councillors and the Naas Twinning Committee visited Dillingen for the official signing ceremony. The first signing took place in Naas last October.

Pictured are Naas UDC cathaoirleach Paddy Behan with the Mayor of Dillingen, Bürgermeister Hans-Jürgen Weigl. (KNN will be reporting on various aspects of the twinning during the rest of this week.)

 

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Councillor decries 'opportunism'

CELBRIDGE, 13 April 1999: by Brian Byrne. A Celbridge councillor has expressed his ‘disappointment’ at the failure by some of his fellow councillors to allocate to Celbridge some of their share of a fund of £115,000 for footpath repairs. The issue came up at the Celbridge Area meeting of local councillors where each were allocated £22,500, by agreement, for disbursement throughout the area. "The town of Celbridge should be given its fair share of the allocated money,” Cllr Senan Griffin said, “given that Celbridge will be an area on its own after June 11.”

Cllr Griffin allocated his share as follows: Ingelwood, Celbridge; Quarry Lane, Celbridge; Castletown, Leixlip; Greenfield Lane, Maynooth; and Moyglare Road, Maynooth. He commented that the full £115,000 would be required to deal with footpaths for Castletown/Oaklawn in Leixlip alone. He suggested that a plan should be put in place for the ‘orderly’ repairs of all footpaths in Celbridge over a 3/4-year period. And he called on the county manager to make available to the incoming council a ‘similar’ amount of money to carry out repairs in their own areas.

In relation to the actions of those of his colleagues who didn’t disburse some of their allocation to Celbridge, Cllr Griffin said this represented ‘questionable opportunism’. “They are still the local elected representatives for the Celbridge Area until after 11 June. I believe they put their own sectional interests before the interests of the electorate on this occasion.”

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Ben Dunne to build hotel in Naas

NAAS, 13 April 1999: Businessman Ben Dunne is to build a 180-bedroom hotel and leisure complex on a site at Oldtown, owned by local businessman Jerry Conlon. The project is estimated to cost £15m and will be on 14 acres on the Sallins Road. It is understood that Mr Dunne will run the hotel and leisure complex under the name Westpoint, similar to his operation of the same name at Blanchardstown, while Mr Conlon will operate the conference business.

Mr Dunne is on record as saying that while the project will attract customers from such premium enterprises as Goffs in the locality, it will also be very anxious to gain the custom of local people.

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YOU COULD BE GETTING YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS HERE TO A SOPHISTICATED (AND RAPIDLY GROWING) KILDARE AUDIENCE AT HOME AND ABROAD

Email us at KNN for full details, or phone 045 481090

Train plans 'not to affect Kildare, Newbridge, commuters'

KILDARE SOUTH, 13 April 1999: by Brian Byrne. Plans by Iarnroid Eireann to run the 1815 Dublin-Waterford train non-stop to Athy should not affect passengers to Newbridge and Kildare who currently use the service, Fine Gael local election candidate Fionnuala Dukes has ascertained. The proposal is included in a draft summer schedule, but the company has informed Mrs Dukes that a new 1810 service from Heuston to Athlone will accommodate the County Kildare commuter towns.

Mrs Dukes made representations this week following concern expressed by commuters about the proposed changes. The schedule has not yet been given final approval, a spokesman said.

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Curragh aquifer cut proposed 'to save money' on aggregate - claim

KILDARE, 12 April 1999: by Brian Byrne. A claim that the controversial proposed cutting into the mid-Kildare aquifer was made partly to save money by providing aggregate to raise the Kildare By-Pass over the railway line south of Kildare is one of the contentions in the appeal to the European Commission that threatens to hold up the project for up to three years. The document claims that this became necessary after Iarnroid Eireann refused a proposal to tunnel under the railway line, on safety grounds.

The appeal is being made by the Natural Environment Group and is under consideration by Directorate General XI in Brussels since it was submitted almost 12 months ago by its chairman, Tony Lowes. It says the integrity of the most important gravel aquifer in Ireland and the major source of water for Pollardstown Fen (pictured above) is threatened by the proposed three-kilometre cut, and claims also that the Environmental Impact Assessment prepared for the development ‘did not properly assess’ the impact on the aquifer of the de-watering.

Tony Lowes pointed out that the development as proposed meant that community funding was to be used ‘to the detriment of the natural environment’ at a site protected under the Habitats Directive and the Ramsar Convention.

Mr Lowes is also a representative of An Taisce. He has also recently asked why a recommendation from the public inquiry into the motorway in 1994, that Kildare County Council ‘immediately design and implement’ a monitoring programme to evaluate the ground water conditions was not implemented until three years after the inquiry, and then only 18 months after a Ministerial Directive told them to.

Council officials said recently that they are shortly sending information to Brussels to answer questions raised by Mr Lowes.

(The full text of Mr Lowes’ appeal to Brussels is here.)

 

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Yamaha students show their prowess

NAAS, 12 April 1999: by Trish Whelan. Over 500 people attended the Naas Yamaha Music School annual concert of keyboard music in Ballycane School, an evening which also featured Newbridge tenor Owen Lynch as guest artist. More than 150 students from 18 classes showed their paces at the event, which was, as always, organised by John Ford of Top Twenty, Naas and Newbridge.

“The idea of the concert is for students to show their progress to friends and family. It always shows the enjoyment in learning which is a key element of the Yamaha method of teaching. Having lots of fun and a bit of craic is an important part of the system.”

Pictured above at the concert are Sinead Cahill, Caroline O'Leary and Rebecca Butler.

The concert was the 14th of its kind since John began teaching keyboard in Naas in 1985. Most of the students are from Naas and surrounding areas throughout the county, as well as a number from Carlow. A new term starts at the end of April. Contact 045 879297.

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Phone +353 (0)45 521714; Fax +353 (0)45 520186 Email mmcwey@tinet.ie

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The most delicious of gifts from our finest Irish chocolates range are selling around the world from here.

 

 VIOLET'S FLOWERS

Do you need to send flowers home for that special remembrance? Station Road, Kildare - Registered Teleflorist - Phone 045 522210

ONE OF THE KILDARE WILD GEESE?

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Cross & Passion sisters want contact with relatives

The sisters of the Cross and Passion Convent in Kilcullen are asking relatives of any religious who died as members of the Kilcullen community, and who are buried in the convent cemetary, to get in touch with them. The sisters have announced that they are leaving Kilcullen in September, and will be handing the convent buildings over to the Cross and Passion College.

Families who have already received a direct communication from the sisters can ignore this notice, otherwise they can get in touch with Caroline O’Farrell at nbs@indigo.ie

 

 

 

Fitzpatricks of Kildare info?

Dear Editor,

I would like to know something of the remainder of the Fitzpatrick clan still living in the area. My father was John and my mother was Catherine McGuiness. Both came from Kildare sometime around 1910.

Mary Ostberg (nee Fitzpatrick)

 Any organisation that wants to reach consumers will need to look at ways to promote their products/services via the Internet. And it doesn't have to be complicated. Find out why.

 

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