KildareNet News is the INDEPENDENT internet news service for and about Kildare, located on the County Kildare Community Network.

Site best viewed with NETSCAPE browser and with the VERDANA font. All content © Telling Tales Ltd. Phone 045 481090 or 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

SCROLL for CURRENT stories.

EARLIER stories and ARCHIVES

KNN Special FEATURES

Visit our flagship sponsor

For audios get free REALPLAYER

KNN-KildareNet News was awarded three shamrocks by Doras

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

Funds needed for the Merry Widow

NAAS, 13 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. Naas Musical Society is on a major fundraising campaign to raise up to £30,000 for its next production, ‘The Merry Widow’. The next event in the campaign is a night with ABBAesque, in the Hotel Keadeen, Newbridge on Sunday 22nd August. The show kicks off at 9.30pm, doors will open at 8pm and tickets are available from Top Twenty, Naas and Newbridge. (Pictured above are members in a scene from their last production, 'Annie Get Your Gun'.)

The society was founded in 1995 and its first show was ‘My Fair Lady’ which was hugely successful and secured no less than four AIMS nominations. “Since then we have gone from strength to strength,” says chairperson Martina O’Kelly. “Our 1999 production of ‘Annie Get your Gun’ resulted in Tony McCarthy receiving nomination for Best Comedian for his portrayal of Chief Sitting Bull. But the cost of staging shows has risen dramatically in recent years. We are holding our first-ever Golf Classic in Killeen Golf Club on 24th September and we are depending on local businesses to sponsor each of the 18 holes at a cost of £300. This would include advertising, a team of four players and a meal, plus a great night of entertainment at the prize giving that night. Alternatively keen golfers can put in their own team at a cost of £160.00 (£40.00 per man). Forms can be obtained by ringing our President, Dave Smyth on 045 879754.”

The society’s open night will be held in the Town House Hotel, Naas on 6th September, where new members are extremely welcome. Rehearsals will commence the following Monday at the same venue. “Even if people can’t sing or dance, e have plenty of room for those who can swing a hammer or hold a paint brush! Back stage crew and front-of-house people are every bit as important as our actors and singers.”

Inquiries about membership can be answered at 045 871956.

CHAPMANS OF KILDARE

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.

DUCHAS CILL DARA 99
Kildare International Folk Arts Festival
"Celebrating 15 Years Of Cultural Exchange"
Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 August 1999

Newslines ...

SALLINS: A planning application has been lodged for a £150 million housing, business and retail development at the former Eurowest site. It will include 235 residences in a mix of housing and apartments and, later, a hotel, business park and retail centre. A marina on the Grand Canal is also proposed.

KILDARE GENERAL: Kildare County Council is considering the recruitment of full-time firefighting personnel following increasing difficulties being experienced in maintaining numbers of volunteers. The current level of 53 is about 10 members short. If the proposals from chief fire officer Michael Fitzsimons work out, there would be full-time day crews in Naas, Newbridge, Athy and Maynooth.

MONDELLO PARK: The annual Truck Show at Ireland’s only purpose-built racing circuit takes place this weekend. Events on Saturday through Sunday will feature the Patrick Bourny Stunt Show which includes doping ‘wheelies’ with a truck. Up to 20,000 people are expected for the festival, which up to yesterday at some 160 trucks entrentered - ‘way up on last year’ according to organiser Debbie Thompson (left).

ATHY: A clean-up session of the Barrow flowing through Athy last week ‘netted’ over 50 shopping trillies and 1,000 beer cans. The operation was organised by UDC councillor Clifford Reid and some 60 people took part.

KILDARE: A school for farriers is to be set up at the Racing Apprentice Centre of Education (RACE) in Kildare town and will be operational by the end of the year. The facility will train four farriers a year and will mean that apprentice Irish farriers will no longer have to sit their examinations in England.

MAYNOOTH: A Maynooth man has been appointed as chairperson of the National Anti-Litter Forum. He’s Robert Rowan, an environmental consultant and one of the designers of the Government’s current environmental and anti-litter policies.

LEIXLIP: Seven potential car park sites have been identified in Leixlip, three of them in public ownership and any one of which could fill the town’s needs for the forseeable future, according to the Leixlip Parking Study. It was produced by consultants P H McCarthy & Partners. The sites are opposite the Rye Vale Tavern, land behind the Captain’s Inn, land from Main Street to Leixlip Bridge, land behind houses in Mill Lane, land between Captain’s Hill and Silleachain Lane, land near the Health Centre Car Park, and the Leixlip Hotel Car Park.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

Women in business told 'remember the grass roots'

NEWBRIDGE, 12 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. “Always keep your feet firmly on the ground and don’t forget the grass roots - the people who help you on your way.” That was the advice given yesterday to a group of women working in business in Kildare from Anna Mae McHugh, managing director of the National Ploughling Association. She was guest speaker at the first annual business luncheon of the Kildare branch of Network, the organisation for women in business, which was held in the Red House Inn. (Pictured above at the lunch are Deirdre Horan of Horan’s Bakery in Kilcullen; Sheila Deasy of Deasy’s Photographic from Newbridge; and Clare Lammas from the Kildare Business Centre, Bank of Ireland.)

“It’s important that you bring people with you, sharing your successes and failures, then you have a team effort,” Anna Mae (pictured on left with Paula Hynes, branch president of Network) said, recalling that the National Ploughing Championships had become the success it is partly because it brought all the friends together that ‘miles can keep apart’ for the rest of the year. She noted that anyone starting out a new venture should discuss their plans with others before launching it.

The Kildare branch of Network was set up in January of this year and now has 50 members. In addition to a series of regular seminars on various topics - recent ones have included time management and communications - there is a strong social element to the organisation. “One of the great advantages is that you’re meeting other women like yourself, who are perhaps coming up against similar situations in their work, and we can discuss them over a drink after a seminar,” says Paula Hynes. “We also have purely social functions - a recent Race Evening, for instance, was really enjoyed by all.”

Membership of Network is not restricted to proprietors of a business, but is open to any woman working in a business, the professions or the arts. Paula Hynes says the organisation helps to develop further the natural networking skills of women, and also provides them with the facility of having someone to talk to if staying overnight on business in a strange town. “Every member has a directory of othert members, and the deal is that if one member gets a call from a member from out of town, they come and meet them.” (Pictured above, organising registration for the luncheon, are Barbara Hennessy and Louise Byrne from Naas.)

Network also gives women in business the support of a large group of like-minded people - there are 1,600 members nationally - who can help with practical advice should a member have a particular query on any aspect of business or work. “There is likely to be somebody else out there with similar queries and we can put them together,” says Paula Hynes.

Membership costs £80 for the calendar year. Anyone wishing to join for the rest of this year can avail of a reduced fee of £40.

Pictured below at yesterday's event are (back) Marie Gallagher, Bank of Ireland Kildare District Office; Geraldine Dowling, Pan Veterinary, Kildare town, and Marion Dunne, Bank of Ireland Kildare Town. Front, left to right: Marie Flanagan from the Silken Thomas, Kildare; and Caroline O’Farrell, Naas Business Services.

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP

Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

 THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO

THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE

Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

KNN is a completely INDEPENDENT professional news service for County Kildare, with no affiliations to any network, authority, group, party or other organisation. The service is operated by Telling Tales Ltd, Naas, Co Kildare, under the editorial direction of Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan. It is our policy to report accurately and fairly on any subject, and we offer right of reply to anyone who has differing opinions to those expressed in any story. Any such opinions published on KNN are not necessarily the views of KNN's proprietors or any network on which we are hosted or to which we may be linked. Email us, or phone 045 481090; fax 481091.

'Bird power' drives in charity donations for children's hospital

MONDELLO PARK, CARAGH, 12 August 1999: by Trish Whelan. ‘Bird Power’ under the guise of four lady drivers from County Kildare yesterday handed over a cheque for £7,565 to Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin, the proceeds of their stint in a 24-hour sponsored race at Mondello Park Racing Track held from July 23-25.

A total of 33 teams took part in the Citroen 2CV race, a Mondello initiative which was celebrating its 11th anniversary. The cars were all pre-1983 and drove on average around 1,000 miles in the course of the event.

The ‘Bird Power’ team consisted of Jacqueline Taylor from Mondello Park, Nellie Travers from Clane, and sisters Denise and Jennifer Ryan from Athy. “We decided to enter the race to support a good cause and we picked the Childrens’ Hospital in Crumlin,” said Jacqueline. “We didn’t worry about winning - our hope was to finish the race because it was the first year we had entered.”

The four took turns at driving the Citroen special around the track with Denise and Jennifer doing maximum 3-hour stints. “We had a bit of flooding in the carburettor in the last six hours and had to change the engine but we were delighted to finish in 26th place,” they told KNN, adding that actually driving on the day seemed a lot less tiring than preparing for the event! On the night stint, Denise said the laps seemed to go by faster in the dark.

The team had a fundraising target of £4,000 but actually reached £7,565, after paying all expenses in preparing the car. All four agreed the trip had been great fun and very worth while. So much so that they’ve now bought the car in order to compete in next year’s event - for this year’s race they’d been given a loan of it.

Much of the cost of preparing for the race was borne by sponsors who included Mondello Park, Heat Merchants, VHI, Zanussi, Racing Green Ireland, Master Mariner, RaceTec, and Des Ryan International of Old Court, Athy, who sprayed the car.

Pictured below are the full team: Bob Copeland (Dunboyne), Jimmy Cummins, team manager Clane; Jacqueline Taylor, driver; Mrs Patricia Ryan; Brendan Travers, sub manager; Des Ryan, mechanic; and Tony Burke from Enfield, a team supporter. Front - Jacqueline’s son Paul; Bridget and Sean Butler (Donadea) who looked after the timings; drivers Nellie, Denise and Jennifer; Jonathan Taylor, MD of Race Tek who prepared the car, and his wife Anne (Celbridge).

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

 KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP

Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

 THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO

THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE

Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

More pipe bands for Duchas 99

KILDARE, 11 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. There will be an increased pipe band element in the Dúchas Chill Dara 99 - Kildare International Folk Arts Festival, which this year will be held from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 August 1999. The festival is organised by Kildare Town Twinning Association in conjunction with The Institute For International Cultural Exchange. International groups taking part will include Kandali - Folk dance Group - Estonia (pictured below), La Gantieirelo - Groupe Folklorique - France and Gruppo Folk - I Picciotti Missinisi - Italy.

Irish groups taking part will include St Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band, Landers Folk dance Group, Lord Edward’s Own Narraghmore Pipe Band (pictured above), Geraldine Folk dance Group, St Laurence O’Toole Clondalkin Pipe Band, Mary Byrne Dancers, Malahide & District Pipe Band, Hazel Flanagan Dancers, Rory O'Moore Pipe Band, Connolly Dancers, Newbridge Community Band.

IICE - The Institute for International Cultural Exchange first hosted an international group in Kildare in 1985. Since then groups have visited Kildare from the Basque Country, France; Villa Verde, Portugal; Burgsinn, Germany; Flanders, Belgium; Turku, Finland; Sardinia, Italy; Poznan, Poland and the Celtic Nations - Brittany, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Wales. The interaction between international groups, Irish groups, local people and visitors to Kildare who attend the festival, is what the event is all about.

This year’s festival will consist of a series of parades, concerts, recitals, seminars, workshops and pub sessions throughout the weekend, starting with the official opening in St Brigid's Church on Thursday 26 August at 7.15pm. A Friday Lunchtime Concert by the international groups at Market Square will be a new feature of the 1999 event.

A European Union Seminar will be hosted by Kildare Town Twinning Association on Saturday 26 at 2pm followed by a Music & Dancing Workshop at 3pm in St. Joseph’s Academy. All local dancers and musicians are invited to take part. On the evenings of Thursday 26, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 August, international and Irish folkdance and music groups will take part in a series of Open Air Concerts at Market Square from 8 to 10pm. On Sunday the festival parade will take place after noon mass in the Carmelite Church to Market Square, where participating groups will give their final performances between 1 and 4pm.

For further information contact Dúchas Chill Dara, Enterprise Centre, Melitta Road, Kildare. Phone 045 521190. Fax 045 521198. Email mdassociates@tinet.ie or check their website.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

 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.

Home-stay English lessons for foreign adults

MONASTEREVIN, 11 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. A Monasterevin-based couple have set up a business teaching English to foreign adults at their home in Mountrice Cross. The innovative scheme, which they call ‘Language for Life’ involves the students staying with Norman and Joan Simpson for their courses, which can be tailored to individual needs.

“We would like local people to know about Language for Life so that they can recommend us to their foreign acquaintances,” Norman says. “We would be very grateful if businesses and social organisations in Co Kildare which have established contact with foreign counterparts would email us with their contact email addresses so that we can offer these same people an add-on service. Foreigners coming to Co Kildare to a conference, seminar, cultural activity or to do a business deal might like to take a study-break while they are here, either before or afterwards.”

The couple are fully qualified and experienced teachers of English as a Foreign Language who feel that a rural homestay setting provides all the ingredients for a successful intensive course. Further information from their website.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

Ambulance officially presented

COUNTY HALL, 11 August 1999: by Trish Whelan. Kildare County Council chairman P J Sheridan accepting the keys of an ambulance from national Civil Defence chairman Michael O'Donovan, during the recent launch of the county's emergency response mobile HQ. The vehicle was provided to the Civil Defence just a month ago by the Department of Defence, which funds 70% of the Civil Defence budget.

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

KNN eDigest: We have a regular email newsletter to keep people up to date with main news and features from Kildare. If you would like to be on the mailing list, email us at tellingtales@yahoo.com

Naas canal branch 'filthy and no longer navigable'

NAAS, 10 August 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. The state of the Naas branch of the Grand Canal has become so bad that it is no longer navigable for leisure boats wanting to travel the distance from Sallins to Naas. That’s according Michael Culleton (82, pictured left) who has lived beside the canal lock at Odlums all his life and wants to see the amenity restored to its former glory. He told how two boats became stuck at the Mill level in recent weeks and were unable to travel the short distance to the Harbour in Naas. “Half way up the Mill level is as far as they can get.”

He blames water leakage from the lock gates (below) for a great deal of the problem both because it upsets the flow rate in the canal system and also doesn’t allow proper clearance of rubbish and algae growth over the top of the lock gates.

“The first lock in Naas coming down is littered with tin cans and rubbish behind the lock with no overflow to take it away,” he notes, recalling that several of the locks were renovated or replaced a number of years ago at considerable expense. He says the huge sum of money spent ‘has gone to waste’ because the system is not being maintained properly.

“They would want to dredge the whole thing,” he says, claiming that this had not been done for 30 years. He says the system keeps filling up with sediment which settles after coming through from the Oldtown Lake and its feeder system. “And there’s been an increase in the amount of stuff coming down from Naas with all the recent building in the area.”

Michael acknowledges that there was a recent attempt to clean some of the material at the far side of the Mill lock but he says it was abandoned because the digger being used wasn’t big enough to reach across. “A chap comes through on a motor bike to look after the locks every week and he regulates the overflow if he can, but you would want engineers here to properly repair the lock.”

Michael can clearly recall when the canal was a living lifeline to the commercial and social life of Naas and well beyond. He has a strong connection with that part of the canal history as he was employed at Odlum’s Mill from 1934 to 1984. “It went all the way up to Corbally Harbour near Kilcullen,” he remembers. “Barges would bring 45 tonnes of wheat at a time to the Mill before bulk lorries took over that business.”

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

BARGE TOURS

A unique way to enjoy an afternoon or evening. Sundays & Bank Holidays every hour from 2 pm.

Grand Canal Hotel & Barge Tours, Robertstown, Naas, Co Kildare.

 KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP

Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Have you checked in to our KNN Special Features pages? Visit regularly to read more about the people and places of County Kildare. If you have an idea for a feature, email us.

New speed limits imposed on Kildare's major roads

KILL, 10 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. A new speed limit has been established on the stretch of road that ‘has the highest accident rate in the county’ according to a spokesman for Kildare County Council. The 50mph limit begins at Kill and extends all the way into Maudlins at the Naas turnoff from the N7/M7.

Garda figures show that there were 85 accidents on the Kill-Maudlins Road last year, involving some 140 vehicles, and the new speed limit is in response to requests from the garda traffic corps.

The council says that a similar limit has been introduced on the N4, and a 50mph restriction is also planned for the Kildare-Monasterevin road between Kyle and Mayfield. “Drivers are simply going far too fast on that stretch,” the spokesman said.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

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.

'Floodlight all churches' - call

COUNTY HALL, 10 August 1999: by Trish Whelan. Kildare County Council should mark the advent of the Millennium by installing at least one floodlight outside all churches in the county. Councillor Rainsford Hendy said he wants places of worship for all dominations to be included ‘from a safety point of view and to mark the Millennium’. He said he could not think of any better way to mark the centenary of the birth of Christ and he believed it would be welcomed by all worshippers of all churches in the county.

“It’s something that would last way into the next Millennium,” he told a recent meeting of the Council. Councillor Emmet Stagg TD said it was a very worthwhile proposal. He told how the Church of Ireland in Maynooth was floodlit with cooperation from the ESB. Councillor Sean O Fearghail also supported the proposal and asked that the county manager bring a report before members in the near future.

 THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO

THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE

Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

KNN is a completely INDEPENDENT professional news service for County Kildare, with no affiliations to any network, authority, group, party or other organisation. The service is operated by Telling Tales Ltd, Naas, Co Kildare, under the editorial direction of Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan. It is our policy to report accurately and fairly on any subject, and we offer right of reply to anyone who has differing opinions to those expressed in any story. Any such opinions published on KNN are not necessarily the views of KNN's proprietors or any network on which we are hosted or to which we may be linked. Email us, or phone 045 481090; fax 481091.

Continuing urban renewal in Newbridge

NEWBRIDGE, 10 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. The footpath between the Town Hall and the Garda Station in Newbridge is to be repaved as part of the continuing urban renewal in the town. In addition, the area in front of the new public toilet will have additional paving. All the footpath work will be laid in two-tone cobble-lock bricks, while the Town Hall forecourt will be finished in Castle Stone as already used in works in the George's Street pedestrian precinct.

The work around the new toilet - which has just recently been brought into operation - will include providing access for people with disabilities.

These works, along with the the development of the new Arts Centre and housing developments in the old Barracks area bring Kildare County Council’s investment in this part of Newbridge to £4.6m over the last seven years.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 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?

Are you involved with any Irish organisations or groups abroad? Let us know where you are and what you're at by emailing KNN. And find out about your fellow wild geese.

Town being mapped for disability access guide

NEWBRIDGE, 9 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. A full mapping of Newbridge Town Centre is being undertaken next weekend by the Newbridge Access Group in association with the Kildare Network for Disability and the Geography Department of Maynooth University. The survey is being carried out with a view to developing a Good Practice Guide for town planning in relation to access by people with disabilities as well as making a map of the town for such people.

The survey will involve the Main Street and Eyre Street and all the linking streets, including those recently in some controversy over vehicular access limitations following rebuilding in the Urban Renewal Scheme. Leading the work will be Rob Kitchin of the Department of Geography at National University of Ireland Maynooth. He is pictured above on the right with Claire Kenneavy of Network and Frank Mulcahy of the Newbridge Access Group, during a reconnaissance of the area.

There will be a meeting for people who want to help with the survey on Tuesday evening the Parish Centre, Station Road. The mapping proper begins at 10am Saturday.

 KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP

Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

Naas man's sons in US rally drama

NAAS, 9 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. The two rallying sons of Martin Allen, formerly of Naas, escaped without injury when their car rolled five times in the Maine Forest Rally in New England last week. The rally is the biggest in the US and Marty and Stewart Allen were enjoying a good season up to then. They’re currently rebuilding the Mazda car, but the incident 'set them back a few weeks'.

"All the safety systems worked," says Martin, who was born and raised in Pacelli Road where his mother Maidie still lives. His wife is the former Anne Casey from Prosperous. Martin surprised Maidie back in February when he arrived on her doorstep with his brother Colm (US) and daughter Marie (UK) for an unexpected birthday party. The family will be back in Naas in mid-August prior to Marty beginning college in Waterford Institute of Technology.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality

Great Southern Hotels

Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

BARGE TOURS

A unique way to enjoy an afternoon or evening. Sundays & Bank Holidays every hour from 2 pm.

Grand Canal Hotel & Barge Tours, Robertstown, Naas, Co Kildare.

KNN eDigest: We have a regular email newsletter to keep people up to date with main news and features from Kildare. If you would like to be on the mailing list, email us at tellingtales@yahoo.com

Planning lobby says county planner 'will be missed'

KILDARE GENERAL, 9 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. The Kildare Planning Alliance has congratulated former county planner Philip Jones (left) for his efforts ‘to put planning in the county on a sound and transparent basis’ during his 13 years with Kildare County Council. The alliance was commenting on Mr Jones’s new appointment as a senior inspector with An Bord Pleanala, which he takes up this week (see KNN story last Friday).

“This was, and is, a difficult task, conducted during a difficult period after the passage of the excesses of the 1985 County Plan,” noted the organisation’s PRO John Sweeney. “Mr Jones, however, always brought a professionalism to planning matters which earned him the respect and admiration of many, including the Kildare Planning Alliance. The recent debate over the County Plan saw him argue bravely, and often alone, against the excesses proposed by some councillors. His successes were achieved largely as a result of his unparalleled knowledge of every part of the county and his ability to argue successfully for the primacy of the public good over individual rights on several crucial occasions.”

IS KILCULLEN DYING?

Brian Byrne has some thoughts on his home town as it faces enormous changes

 KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP

Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

First annual lunch for women's business organisation

KILDARE GENERAL, 9 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. The Kildare Branch of Network Ireland, the organisation for women in business, is holding its first Annual Business Luncheon in the Red Hosue this Wednesday. The guest speaker is Anna May McHugh - managing director of the National Ploughing Association and winner of the 1998 Irish Person of the Year Award.

“This is an ideal opportunity to invite business guests, potential Network members, partners and friends to the luncheon,” says branch president Paula Hynes. “It will be an opportunity to meet other Networkers, to socialise or just to enjoy a pleasant lunch and to listen to our guest speaker.”

The fee for the lunch is £20 and bookings must be made by today (Monday). Phone 877107.

 THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO

THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE

Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Have you checked in to our KNN Special Features pages? Visit regularly to read more about the people and places of County Kildare. If you have an idea for a feature, email us.

Naas horse helps with Ireland's jumping result

NAAS, 9 August 1999: by Trish Whelan. Ireland finished in joint second place with Britain in Friday’s Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show, thanks to two clear rounds by top-class showjumper ‘Cruising’ from Kill, near Naas.

The grey stallion, owned by Mary McCann of the Hartwell Stud, was ridden by Trevor Coyle who lives in Portadown, Northern Ireland. The partnership has been hailed as one of the best combinations in the showjumping world having also recently won the prestigious Grand Prix at Aachen, Germany - the only combination to have three clear rounds. The new stars of Irish showjumping will perform at the European Championships in Hickstead this month.

Other members of the Irish team included Marion Hughes (Kilkenny) on Heritage Charlton, Jessica Kurten (now living in Germany) riding Paavo and Capt G Flynn riding Carraig Dubh.

In the competition, Holland reigned supreme taking the Nation’s Cup for the first time in the history of the Aga Khan Cup; Ireland and Gt Britain in second place; Germany fourth, followed by France, USA and Italy.

Cruising is by the legendary stallion Sea Crest (an Irish Draught) while his dam was the Irish thoroughbred Mullacrew, which jumped for the Irish Army with Capt John Ledingham. He presently covers about 200 mares each year.

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

by Liam Cahill

The seminal account of the Limerick Soviet

Available here

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.)

PREVIOUS STORIES: Earlier news of the week, and access to weekly archives, are available here

 

Motoring News

Garda Patrol

Farming Info

Results are here.

Coverage is here.

Candidates details are here.

Kildare's Wild Geese

Upcoming Service

 

Produced by

PO BOX 106, NAAS, CO KILDARE, IRELAND. All material on these pages © Telling Tales Ltd.

Links must be notified to tellingtales@yahoo.com