Noise levels on M4 'exceed WHO and EU' standards KILCOCK & MAYNOOTH, 20 April 2000: by Brian Byrne. Levels of noise pollution from the M4 motorway bypassing Maynooth and Kilcock are way above both EU and World Health Organisation recommended levels for homeowners near the carriageway. And one local representative is calling on Kildare County Council to erect noise barriers on the road to deal with the problem (pictured above is a recent presentation on the motorway extension plan to Kildare County Council). Cllr Senan Griffin (left) also wants the designers of the proposed extension to the motorway to look at their plans in the light of this fact and make whatever changes are required to ensure that a similar problem does not occur. The councillor says that noise levels in Carton Court and Greenfield estates, and in all homes in between that lie close to the motorway, have been recorded at 65 decibels in daytime and 60Db at night, against an EU standard of 50Db and WHO recommendations of 45Db in such situations (ED: the Db measurement is exponential, so a 10Db increase represents approximately a doubling of noise level). “The noise levels are at their worst between the Hewlett Packard bridge and the Rathcoffey bridge,” Cllr Griffin told KNN (audio here). “If this was a factory, as a council we would be bringing the owners to court on behalf of the people living around it. Putting up barriers would be expensive, but we must do it.” Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

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Councillors, officials, clash on 'affordable housing' NAAS, 20 April 2000: by Trish Whelan. Naas councillors have clashed with officials over the future of five acres of land on the Blessington Road zoned for housing under the 1999 Naas Development Plan. A motion before Tuesday’s UDC meeting in the names of Cllrs Timmy Conway, Seamie Moore, Willie Callaghan and Evelyn Bracken sought agreement ‘that the 5 acres belonging to the community of Naas on the Blessington Road is for affordable housing only and that plans for these houses be drawn up immediately’. Officials had said that the UDC’s first obligation was to provide social housing for those on its waiting list and the five acres - and other lands coming to the UDC from the Development Plan - will have to be examined as part of their housing strategy. Cllr Conway (right) said the land was ‘absolutely dedicated’ for affordable housing as people from Naas are being driven as far away as Carlow to be able to afford a house. “We zoned 10 acres for affordable housing in the Town Development Plan and have a duty by that. It’s essential that the young people of Naas be able to work and rear their families here.” He went on to say that Naas people are being driven out by people coming from Dublin, with more money. “I will not accept the situation that it is being thrown into the whole realm of social housing,” he told officials. Cllr Evelyn Bracken (left) said the high cost of houses in Naas is preventing young people from getting married. “They’re the people we have to look after,” she said. Commenting on the length of time it is taking to have the land transferred to the Council, Cllr Anthony Egan said he hadn’t expected it to take almost 12 months. Cllr Willie Callaghan (right) said he has been 'inundated' with queries from couples trying to buy a house. “We put our heads on the chopping block and made a committment to the people of the town to provide houses for them, and I’d hate to go back on that promise,” Cllr Seamie Moore said. The motion was unanimously approved.

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Caragh Road residents at odds with UDC NAAS, 20 April 2000: by Trish Whelan. Members of the Residents Association representing Caragh Court/Green/Meadows say they are frustrated with Naas UDC over the lack of action on a number of issues in their area including the ongoing situation at Pairc na nOg, traffic on the Ploopluck Bridge and the completion of the Caragh Road footpath. They also want to meet with the architect for the Caragh Road UDC housing development and councillors on concerns they have about the overall development and want to know when a required report on the proposal will be available for public inspection. They have made their feelings known in a strong letter to Naas UDC signed by Residents Association chairman Alan Hore. The residents note that work has stopped on the new footpath (above) since November last and they want confirmation if particular objections have now been resolved. They say it is essential that the footpath be completed before work finishes on the new Sports Complex in August. Residents cannot understand why this stalemate still exists and say if they do not get a satisfactory response soon, they intend to take the matter to the highest level ‘before a serious accident occurs’. “We hope a rumour about the o development of a roundabout and a new bridge next to the Ploopluck Bridge is not holding up the work,” Mr Hore wrote. The residents have told town clerk Declan Kirrane that they are compiling a report, in conjunction with all local residents associations, to investigate why the Pairc na nOg area has become an ‘unsightly mess’ in so short a time, and they intend to submit this report to ALL interested parties up to and including ministerial level. The report will look at the history of the area, with photographic evidence of the continued demise of Pairc na nOg, as well as their hopes for its future. The sssociation has welcomed the proposed linear park from Jigginstown to the Harbour and say they will include their own ideas and proposals in the report. “We would ideally like a playground incorporated into the plan, as this is the central location for all estates in this side of town, including the new developments,” said Mr Hore. They also want the UDC to contact Duchas/Inland Waterways, ‘or whoever is directly responsible’ to clean up the canal, which has not been cleared since the huge invasion of traders in November and they have offered to lobby to have this done. “The area is continually being used as a dump by local builders and by Naas UDC. Why does the council not feel any embarrassment about this mess? The UDC is in fact, on a daily basis, making things worse,” says Mr Hore. The residents again state that the best option to alleviate traffic problems on the Caragh Road is to complete the proposed ring road from the Caragh Field development across the canal through Jigginstown to the Newbridge Road. “We know that certain councillors may object to this idea and see the outer private ring road as the solution. However we both know that the Caragh Fields link road exists in the development plan and the primary issue is finance,” the letter says. Residents claim the Ploopluck Bridge (above) is a danger to the public and highlight how a child returning from school was ‘glanced’ by the public bus as it was crossing over the bridge. They say it is simply too narrow for both traffic and pedestrians and must be replaced by ‘a more modern solution’. They want a pedestrian bridge as a matter of urgency and say simply putting traffic lights on the bridge is NOT a solution as this will only back-up the traffic on the road. They also point to a significant increase in the volume of heavy goods traffic during the construction works in the Caragh Fields and feel that this will continue after the works are completed. “We cannot afford to wait for a fatality and the pedestrian bridge should be made a priority,” they have warned. They also want to know if the open space outside the Caragh Court boundary wall is to be incorporated into the road re-alignment and roundabout as proposed. “If so, there will be safety implications which will require a more substantial boundary wall to protect all residents, especially children.” The residents say they are vulnerable to passing traders using this space, and other open areas along the Caragh Road to the bridge, as a temporary halting site. “This would cause a serious obstruction to residents exiting the estate and would cause great unrest in our locality.” They want temporary embankments to be provided in this area, perhaps utilising material from the Caragh Fields development which could be done quickly and at low cost. But the matter is urgent as the ground is drying out. They also want an update on when the UDC plans to take over the estate.

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

Notes ... Notes ... Notes ... KILDARE GENERAL: Kildare County Council is supporting An Taisce's National Spring Clean - an anti-litter initiative which will run for the month of April. The council will provide heavy-duty gloves and heavy-duty refuse sacks to individuals and groups involved, sponsored skips to tidy towns committees/community groups/residents associations carrying out specific litter removal, and additional free materials and information can be got if you register your clean-up event with An Taisce by ringing the National Spring Clean hotline at 01 4541802 or logging on to An Taisce's website at www.antaisce.org/nsc LEIXLIP: The issues of Doctors Lane in Leixlip were discussed at the recent area meeting of local councillors, with the attendance of Kildare’s Chief Fire Officer. Engineer Charlie O’Sullivan said it would be later this year before he could allocate an Engineer to detailed project design on this and he did not anticipate work would be done until early next year. Cllr Catherine Murphy pointed out that repeated commitments were made to the residents in the lane and that further delay was unfair on them. “I do accept the problem with understaffing and have been saying this myself for a long time now,” she said. NAAS: What promises to be a colourful and interesting exhibition on the Easter 1916 and War of Independence takes place in Naas Library on Wed and Thurs April 19 & 20. It includes Michael Collins letters and photographs; a letter from Roger Casement and a collection of Irish Army and Garda memorabilia (including the singing cowboy Gene Autry’s Stetson!). The exhibition will be open until 8pm on Thursday April 19. NAAS: Over the past three months, Naas Residents Forum has initiated the installation of over 130 panic buttons in Naas and surrounding areas. These sytems are available to anyone over 65 years of age and were purchased with the help of a grant provided to the Naas Residents Forum by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. Assistance in the operation of the scheme was given by Sgt Mary Corcoran of Naas Gardai and the Health Board. A Lo-Call phone number is available, 1890 456 999 for anyone requiring an application form and information booklet. NEWBRIDGE: Newbridge Town Commission made a presentation to Terry O Niadh after their recent meeting, to mark their appreciation of his work while town manager over the last six years. Pictured above are chairman Cllr John O’Neill presenting flowers to Terry’s wife Noreen during the event. CELBRIDGE: The controversial traffic lights system in Celbridge was turned off on WEdnesday, and the markings involved have been changed. According to Cllr Kate Walsh, local people are ‘delighted’ with the decision, but want an alternative traffic management system devised as soon as possible. STRAFFAN: Speed limit areas for Straffan have been revised. The changes include the extensions of the present 30mph limit from Walsh’s shop to within 75 metres of the K Club entrance, from Church View to Paddy Winter’ home, and from Coarsemoore to Bob Travers’ home. The provision of a 40mph limit at a point north of the second K Club entrance is to be examined, and a new 40mph limit is to come into force from the Clane Road to the existing 30mph limit near the school. NAAS: If you can accommodate two or more members of a Gospel choir made up of young adults who will be visiting the parish from England on Holy thursday evening and leaving early on Easter Monday, please give your name to Fr Ruairi (tel 897260) or the Parish Office (tel 879730). The choir will be taking part in many of the ceremonies over Easter and will require B&B from host families for four nights and an evening meal for two nights. They will be out for most of each day. CELBRIDGE: Castletown Estate in Celbridge is to be taken in charge by Kildare County Council, following negotiations between officials and the developers, Castletown Homes. Work has already begun on repairing roads and dealing with water leaks, and the developer has paid an initial sum of £50,000 towards the works. Deputy Emmet Stagg says he is satisfied that a 28-year-old problem has been resolved. CELBRIDGE: The order allowing Kildare County Council to advertise an intention to compulsorily purchase land in Celbridge, so as to facilitate the completion of the town’s Ring Road (above), will be signed today (Tuesday). The road has been held up due to failure in negotiations with the owners for a voluntary sale of the land. NAAS: Preparations for this weekend's Naas Easter Parade are almost complete, but organiser Cllr Willie Callaghan says there is still an opportunity for anyone wanting to take part with a float or parade segment. "We're expecting that it will end up bigger than last year's event," he told KNN at the weekend. The event will have an international flavour with participation by the Dillingen Band (left) ... Naas is twinned with Dillingen in Bavaria. The parade moves off from the Blessignton Road at 3pm on Sunday. STRAFFAN: A new main drain is to be constructed along a 90-metre section of road in Straffan to help deal with a persistent flooding problem which caused problems in the village. A survey recently carried out showed that the drain had collapsed in a number of places. The move has been welcomed by Deputy Emnmet Stagg. NAAS: The Mega Twinning Concert organised by the Naas Town Twinning Committee, takes place on Easter Monday, April 24, at 8pm sharp in Tougher’s, Naas. It promises to be a great night out with entertainment by Naas Musical Society, Nas na Riogh Dancers, Mona Conroy and Showstoppers, the 48-strong Dillingen (Bavaria) Pipe Band in Naas for the Easter weekend and taking part in the parade on Easter Sunday. Tickets at £5 are available from Pat at 875928 or from Orla at 866263.

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Fears of losing 'community' land at Magee to refugees KILDARE, 19 April 2000: by Brian Byrne. There are real concerns in Kildare that the complete site of the former Magee Barracks will be taken for use as a refugee accommodation centre, following what seems to be very strong pressure from the Department of Justice on the owner of the site, the Department of Defence. These concerns were reinforced by a comment from the minister for defence, Michael Smith TD, on a recent visit to Kildare, where he said that ‘circumstances beyond our control’ might ‘make impossible’ the original plans for the site, which included that 20 acres be given for community use, as agreed with local representatives when he was seeking rezoning of the balance of the site for industrial use to make it more saleable. And the virtual ‘appropriation’ of the full barracks area by the Department of Justice in recent weeks with a view to accommodating 400, or even more, refugees in addition to the 250 Kosovars already at Magee since last year now threatens to have Kildare as the town with the greatest concentration of refugees in the country outside Dublin. Local representative Cllr Sean O Fearghaill has appealed for consultation on the matter between the departments concerned and local interests, as a complete lack of such consultation is fanning the fears of Kildare people that what has been a ‘success story’ in accommodating refugees into the community will be ‘turned into a failure’. “We have a long tradition of accepting non-nationals in Kildare, going back to the Second World War,” he told KNN (audio here). “we don’t have to prove our bona fides, our history speaks for itself. But what we want is a situation that is manageable, and we don’t want it to become a failure by virtue of an overconcentration of asylum seekers in any one location.” Cllr O Fearghail criticised the new Refugee Directorate set up to oversee the implementation of the Government’s refugee policy as ‘not doing its work very effectively’ as far as Kildare is concerned. “They’re the people who should be consulting ... it shouldn’t be up to local representatives to be fighting to get the kind of consultation and agreement that we have been fighting about over the last number of weeks.” Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

Kildare has many authors of both fiction and non-fiction. We have a special page available to promote their work, which you can access here. Please support those of your county people who travel the long and often lonely road of the pen and typewriter to tell you stories.

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New housing schemes 'will be award-winning' NAAS, 19 April 2000: by Trish Whelan. The architects of the Naas UDC schemes of affordable and social housing on Caragh Road say they hope they will be delivering an ‘awarding-winning’ project to the council. This was stated by Denis Cogan and James Kelly to a recent meeting of the UDC when they outlined their plans for the schemes. Denis Cogan is a former architect with Kildare County Council, and is now in private practice. The project involves building 63 affordable houses and 52 social housing units on the site over the next two years. The schemes, to be completed under one contract, will go to tender in June and work is expected to begin in August. The first phase of low-cost private houses will be completed in August 2001 with the next phase completed inside two years. Members were told that each of the schemes will have its own identity. In the presentation the architects said the layout will be in terraces to meet Department of the Environment criteria. The houses will come with a variation in texture and tone and will provide a palette of different colours. A footpath to the canal will eventually meet with a linear footpath to town. Plans are also underway for a distributor road and new bridge over the canal to Jigginstown Park which will provide access for the development to the Newbridge Road. UDC officials said they were also endeavouring to facilitate the proposed 58-house voluntary housing scheme and Naas Sports Group who will be sharing the entrance on the Caragh Road with the new development. It’s believed Naas UDC is the first authority to build a scheme of ‘affordable houses’ and the plans are currently on display in Naas Town Hall.

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Warning on Leixlip parking plans LEIXLIP, 19 April 2000: by Brian Byrne. The public and the business community of Leixlip will not be ‘fobbed off’ with ‘excuses and inefficiency’ over the completion and implementation of a an integrated solution to the parking crisis in the town, according to local representative Cllr Paul Kelly. Welcoming the the passing of the new Leixlip Parking Bye-Laws at Monday’s meeting of the council, Cllr Kelly said last night that ‘this was only the first step’. “While I’m relieved that the Council has finally approved them, I’m very frustrated at the time it has taken – we had hoped to have these bye-laws in place by last Christmas,” he said. “The public, the councillors, and the town commissioners, gave their support to this scheme on the basis that the Council would press ahead with their efforts to provide a proper, adequate car park in the town centre. "We’re still waiting for the consultants’ report on the options and the costings for this. Then we will be demanding that the Council make the necessary finance available – as well as the will to put the proposals into effect. The county manager would be wise not to underestimate the depth of feeling here in Leixlip.”

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

Litterers of Council's 'front yard' to be prosecuted COUNTY HALL, 18 April 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. People who ‘dumped’ recyclable waste in Kildare County Council’s car park are to be located and prosecuted. The material was stacked around the recycling facility in the car park at some time over the weekend, despite the fact that the bins into which they should have been put were all nowhere near full. Included were bottles, cartons and other recyclable cardboard, and drinks cans. The unsightly mess greeted officials and councillors as they arrived on Monday morning. “It is absolutely irresponsible,” Cllr Senan Griffin (above, with some of the waste) told KNN after the monthly meeting of the council. “Here we are trying to promote a better image for County Kildare, and providing a recycling service that people have requested ... and some people don’t even have the decency to use it properly.” In the last several weeks, council staff have been undertaking a major initiative on litter control, and many roads throughout Kildare have been cleaned up. What happened at the weekend is a virtual slap in the face for this effort. But the material included several names and addresses on cartons and envelopes, which will help to trace the perpetrators. It is possible that those whose names appear in the waste employed a third party to dispose of their material, but under current regulations the originator of the waste is responsible for any nuisance it causes. “It is absolutely disgraceful what was here when we arrived this morning,” county secretary Tommy Skehan said last evening. “I can promise you that we will find those responsible and prosecute them.” Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

Kildare has many authors of both fiction and non-fiction. We have a special page available to promote their work, which you can access here. Please support those of your county people who travel the long and often lonely road of the pen and typewriter to tell you stories.

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

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Scouts clean up historic graveyard NAAS, 18 April 2000: by Trish Whelan. Cub Scouts in the 4th Kildare Scout Unit spent last evening cleaning up the Workhouse Cemetery Graveyard beside Kildare County Council offices. The initiative is part of April Spring Clean Week, and up to 50 scouts and leaders cleaned the area and planted flowers. The Workhouse was set up in 1839 with a capacity for 550 ‘paupers’ and had to be enlarged from 1846 onwards to a point where it accommodated almost 1,400 people. The Workhouse Cemetery was opened in January 1848 and in the months up to August of that year, 127 people died in the workhouse, one in three of which were infants and children. By August 1853, 814 people had died. Burials continued up to the 1950s. “Apart from the cleanup, it gave us an opportunity to show the youngsters an important part of Naas’s history,” leader Jo Coy said last night. “Even adults don’t know much about it, we’ve found ... when I rang somebody in Kildare County Council to see if they would cut the grass, I was asked ‘where is it?’” The 4th Kildare Scout Unit is the largest in the region, with over 300 members and a waiting list for membership. It is 60 years old. Above: a group of scout leaders. Right and below: some of the scouts working on different areas.

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

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Notes ... Notes ... Notes ... NEWBRIDGE: Newbridge Town Commission made a presentation to Terry O Niadh after their recent meeting, to mark their appreciation of his work while town manager over the last six years. Pictured above are chairman Cllr John O’Neill presenting flowers to Terry’s wife Noreen during the event. CELBRIDGE: The controversial traffic lights system in Celbridge is to be turned off on Thursday, and the markings involved will be obliterated during Thursday night. According to Cllr Kate Walsh, local people are ‘delighted’ with the decision, but want an alternative traffic management system devised as soon as possible. STRAFFAN: Speed limit areas for Straffan have been revised. The changes include the extensions of the present 30mph limit from Walsh’s shop to within 75 metres of the K Club entrance, from Church View to Paddy Winter’ home, and from Coarsemoore to Bob Travers’ home. The provision of a 40mph limit at a point north of the second K Club entrance is to be examined, and a new 40mph limit is to come into force from the Clane Road to the existing 30mph limit near the school. NAAS: If you can accommodate two or more members of a Gospel choir made up of young adults who will be visiting the parish from England on Holy thursday evening and leaving early on Easter Monday, please give your name to Fr Ruairi (tel 897260) or the Parish Office (tel 879730). The choir will be taking part in many of the ceremonies over Easter and will require B&B from host families for four nights and an evening meal for two nights. They will be out for most of each day. CELBRIDGE: Castletown Estate in Celbridge is to be taken in charge by Kildare County Council, following negotiations between officials and the developers, Castletown Homes. Work has already begun on repairing roads and dealing with water leaks, and the developer has paid an initial sum of £50,000 towards the works. Deputy Emmet Stagg says he is satisfied that a 28-year-old problem has been resolved. CELBRIDGE: The order allowing Kildare County Council to advertise an intention to compulsorily purchase land in Celbridge, so as to facilitate the completion of the town’s Ring Road (above), will be signed today (Tuesday). The road has been held up due to failure in negotiations with the owners for a voluntary sale of the land. NAAS: Preparations for this weeken's Naas Easter Parade are almost complete, but organiser Cllr Willie Callaghan says there is still an opportunity for anyone wanting to take part with a float or parade segment. "We're expecting that it will end up bigger than last year's event," he told KNN at the weekend. The event will have an international flavour with participation by the Dillingen Band (left) ... Naas is twinned with Dillingen in Bavaria. STRAFFAN: A new main drain is to be constructed along a 90-metre section of road in Straffan to help deal with a persistent flooding problem which caused problems in the village. A survey recently carried out showed that the drain had collapsed in a number of places. The move has been welcomed by Deputy Emnmet Stagg. NAAS: The Mega Twinning Concert organised by the Naas Town Twinning Committee, takes place on Easter Monday, April 24, at 8pm sharp in Tougher’s, Naas. It promises to be a great night out with entertainment by Naas Musical Society, Nas na Riogh Dancers, Mona Conroy and Showstoppers, the 48-strong Dillingen (Bavaria) Pipe Band in Naas for the Easter weekend and taking part in the parade on Easter Sunday. Tickets at £5 are available from Pat at 875928 or from Orla at 866263.

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

LISTEN TO the weekly roundup of Irish views and stories presented by Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan and broadcast from Vancouver on the Celtic Voices programme carried by Canada's largest independent radio network. You can stream it at 56k, or download to listen to later. Changed every Sunday.

Karen begins her summer of sprint for Olympics NEWBRIDGE, 17 April 2000: by Brian Byrne. The Karen Shinkins Sydney 2000 Olympic Fund sprinted off to a flying start in Newbridge Credit Union at the weekend when friends and supporters of the 23-year-old came out to wish her well. Karen is one of very few Irish athletes who have already achieved the standard for this year’s Games, most recently reflected in her finishing fourth in the recent European Indoor Championships at Gent in Belgium. Karen (pictured on left with her father T J) has been running since she was seven, when she participated in the Community Games at local level. She became All-Ireland champion over 100m and 200m while a teenager and member of Newbridge Athletic Club under the coaching of Paddy Lawlor. At the same time she won Irish Schools titles in the 200m for the Holy Family Secondary School in Newbridge. Since 1997 she has consistently won indoor and outdoor titles in Ireland and competed for Ireland in countries such as Estonia, Spain, Lithuania, Hungary, Finland, and Belgium. While studying for her honours degree in Business and Marketing at Waterford Institute of Technology, Karen also won the Irish University title. On Saturday she headed off to Poland for three weeks of training at the Polish Olympic Training Centre. After that she will train in Ireland and Spain or Portugal before beginning a summer of racing in Spain, Poland, Turkey, Morocco, Dublin, Portugal, Antrim, Sweden, Offaly, and Britain prior to heading to Australia for three weeks of preparation for the Olympics. Cmmr Pat Black with Deputy Sean Power and Karen, at the fundraising launch. “The Olympics are the ultimate for anyone who is serious about their sport,” Karen told KNN at the Newbridge campaign launch (audio here), which was jointly organised by the Town Commission, Credit Union and Newbridge Community Games. “I’m competing with the best in the world, so I have to train like the best in the world.” She acknowledges that her current full-time commitment wouldn’t be possible without support from Government sports grants, local business people, and Kelloggs, and that this does place a bit of extra pressure on her. “I want to do well because there are people out there who have done so much to support me, but in the end you have to put things like that aside and when the day comes I just do my job.” According to Karen’s father T J Shinkins, they still haven't really got used to the fact that she is actually headed for the Olympics. “At the moment it still feels like community games, a local event ... I suppose as it gets closer the hype will increase. Athletics has always taken over our lives - we're always rushing somewhere with her and it has always dictated things that happen in the house” Michael Donoghue, chairman of Newbridge Community Games; Cmmr Murty Aspell; Teresa Harrison, treasurer, Newbridge Community Games; and Joe Murphy, director, Newbridge Credit Union. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

Kildare has many authors of both fiction and non-fiction. We have a special page available to promote their work, which you can access here. Please support those of your county people who travel the long and often lonely road of the pen and typewriter to tell you stories.

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

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Naas Superloo site is chosen NAAS, 17 April 2000: by Trish Whelan. People wanting to spend a penny in Naas will soon be able to use a new Superloo to be located adjacent to the Court House (right) on Main Street. The facility will be located behind the phone box and will replace the existing public toilets in the lane beside the Town Hall. Town clerk Declan Kirrane told members of Naas UDC that ‘because of problems normally caused by these more traditional public toilets that have to be maintained to the highest standards acceptable to all users and visitors, it is difficult to keep to a high standard of cleanliness.’ He said the Superloos have been growing in popularity over the last few years and the company supplying them recommends they be located on the principal streets of towns to avoid problems of anti-social behaviour and loitering. A number of locations had been investigated - at Poplar Square, Market Square and the area at the Court House. However, Poplar Square was found to be unsuitable as it was close to existing buildings and would be a very prominent feature in the Square. This also applied to Market Square, where it would interfere with the view of St David’s Castle and the Presbyterian Church. “You wouldn’t want it as the most prominent monument on the Main Street,” Mr Kirrane said. But he said the Court House would be a very good location for the public notice board which will be part of the Superloo. The necessary Part X procedure will take six weeks and it was agreed to place an order in conjunction with this procedure to save time. So the new loo could be in place by the summer.

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Evening of music and reflection NAAS, 17 April 2000: by Brian Byrne. A evening of Easter Meditation held in the Church of St David’s in Naas at the weekend had as special guests the Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Petr Kolar, and his wife Jaroslava. The Czech connection were two violinists from that country, Petra Loxova and Antonin Prihoda, who teach at the Herbert Lodge Arts Centre on the Curragh. The event was presented by the centre with the help of the Arts Department of Kildare County Council, as well as parisioners who gave biblical reflections during the service. Among the attendance were Cllr Seamie Moore, chairman of Naas UDC, and Cllr Timmy Conway. The music included pieces written by Antonio Vivaldi and Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu, as well as the premiere of part of a new Violin Conerty by Dublin-based composer Stephen Parker, who also played during the event. Pictured are Leo Marian Vodika; Keith Armstrong, Naas; Petr Kolar, Czech Ambassador; his wife Jaroslava; and Seamie Moore, chairman of Naas UDC.

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