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Naas wants detail of Sallins Road improvement plans NAAS, 20 August 1999: by Trish Whelan. Naas UDC is to seek a report from Kildare County Council on its plans for improvements to the Sallins Road from the traffic lights at North Main Street to the UDC boundary. This follows a motion by councillor Pat McCarthy who said he wanted to know the authority’s plans for traffic calming measures, improvements to footpaths, pedestrian crossings, as well as the banning of heavy goods vehicles and improved safety measures for traffic movement at entrances to housing estates along the route, which because it is a regional road, is the responsibility of Kildare County Council. Councillor Timmy Conway had also sought KCC’s plans for the road and that the plans be costed to include a pedestrian crossing at Hollywood Park with a time table of achievement. This was agreed by Hollywood resident Pat McCarthy who said he had been seeking crossing since coming to live in the estate in 1972 - to no avail - while the population has increased ten-fold. He also called for improvements to allow for improved visability for cars exiting St Joseph’s Road and for improvements to the footpath from Fullam’s to the Main Street. Town manager Terry O Niadh gave a ballpark figure of £2m for the improvements. He said KCC has already committed £80,000 to improve the junction at Hennessy’s Garage and Monread. Pat McCarthy said he could not see why all the traffic from Drogheda to Rosslare has to go down the Sallins Road. He believed many lorries find themselves on the road because of inadequate signage at the Monread Road junction. He felt any widening of the roadway would make it into a speed trap. He also felt more attention should be paid to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists as well as local traffic. Timmy Conway referred to the proposed new road from Millennium Park to the motorway and said a lot of heavy vehicles will be coming off the Sallins Road when this is built. Mr O Niadh agreed the UDC could impose weight limits on heavy vehicles on the Sallins Road. He said the only money the UDC could raise is through levies on developments at Oldtown estate. Chairman councillor Seamie Moore added that the policy is dictated by Kildare County Council while Naas UDC produces the money! It was agreed that EU funding should be sought to pay for the necessary improvements. 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. Check out the weather here

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

Greetings to Kilcock from New Hampshire Dear Editor, We lived at Courtown Stud farm in Kilcock, that is the one Brendan O'Mahony owns. Then we moved here 13 years ago. I’m married to an airline pilot and I work in management for a huge corporation - we have two plants in Ireland one in Cork and a company called C-Fab in Tallaght - a computer enclosure and telcom company. I have travelled all over USA but live now about 45 minutes north of Boston in New Hampshire. Very much like home. I have watched that movie ‘Waking Ned Devine’ about 15 times. Just had some people over for a visit and they had not seen it. I get home about once or twice a year - I like it here but you cannot beat Ireland, no matter where in the world you go. The only thing I see now is it is changing, I know for the best, but I hope we never lose what we have and are known for. MBurke@apw-premier.com

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Most in Kildare very pleased at Leaving Certificate results KILDARE GENERAL, 19 August 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Yesterday was D-Day for the 2,314 Leaving Certificate students in County Kildare with the arrival of their results to secondary schools throughout the county. The air was full of nervous energy as students opened individual envelopes containing their results. Pictured above are a group of Newbridge College students - Orlane Powell, Sandra Parkinson and Aoife Lonergan - who seem well pleased, and (left) Peter Bradley with his father Niall - Peter is going to Chef School at Athlone IOT next month. At Naas CBS Secondary School were (below) Scott O’Connor, Naas; Colm Bissell, Caragh; Garrett Clancy and Marcus Connolly both from Naas. Colm said while he was ‘a bit disappointed’ with some results, he’s hoping for a third offer to study for an Arts degree in UCD. If not, he will consider repeating his Leaving Certificate. School principal Noel Merrick said the school’s results were ‘excellent’, and while many students achieved a number of ‘A’s ‘it’s the lads who were struggling that we’re really delighted got the exam’ and the results were a great compliment to the teachers. “We put a lot of work into meeting with pupils throughout the year and writing to their parents to encourage them ... and it works.” He said he was especially pleased with those who had completed their extra transition year, and a very strong pattern of success came through from that segment, where much work had been put into mini companies, work experience and personal development. For former pupils of Naas CBS Mr Merrick said the school remembers them in their good wishes. “We are very proud of all our past pupils and send them our regards. We would love to hear from them.” Outside St Mary’s College in Naas (above) were Debbie Campbell, Caragh; Caroline Maguire, Osberstown; Celine Kenny and Ciara Burke, both from Naas; and (back) Catherine McIntyre, Naas and Aoife Murphy from Ballymore Eustace. All said they were well pleased with their results. Aoife achieved 570 points. She intends studying medicine in UCD. Pictured left are Sinead Hanrahan from Haynestown and Laura Gibson from Naas - Sinead will study for a Science degree in UCD while Laura has chosen Arts also in UCD. School principal Marie O’Neill expressed herself ‘well pleased’ with the results. “I think the hard work paid off - it’s a tremendous achievement for everybody at their own level,” she said. Meanwhile, pictured (below) at St Patrick’s College in Naas were Noel O’Donoghue, Patrick Noone with his cousin Gavin Noone, and Denise Grattan. Gavin expressed himself delighted with his results. However he’s off to America for a year before any further study. Denise will study for a Maths degree, ‘hopefully in Limerick.’ Patrick intends studying in Carlow IOT to become an electrician. School principal Tom Keegan (pictured below discussing results with Michael Drewitt, Stephen Burke and Ronan Callaghan) told KNN ‘the basic message is there are people who worked well who got the good results’. He said ‘repeat’ students had fared exceptionally well with virtually all improving on previous results. He said the school is very strong in the practical subjects and maths. Over 90 pupils had sat the Leaving Certificate from the school where a ‘repeat’ course is limited to 40 pupils. Entry to the repeat course, which is orientated towards achieving honours in subjects, is by way of interviews. The one-year intensive study course is held in a self-contained unit for students who need to improve their points’ level for third level college or other career prospects. A wide range of subjects is on offer at higher level with Mathematics and Irish at ordinary level. The number of places in each subject is limited and the offer of subjects is conditional on a viable number of students in each class. Enrolment commenced on August 18. Further details are available from the principal or course coordinator at 045 897885. At Maynooth Post Primary School were (above) Jose Lorenzo, Roisin Farrelly, Alan Folan and Kenneth Pearson. School vice-principal Senan Griffin said some students had achieved exceptionally good results and the majority should be offered their chosen course. “Across the board we would be extremely pleased. But the important thing is to wish them well in their chosen careers.” Mr Griffin noted a considerable shift towards a career in Engineering with many students having indicated this in their first choices of careers. Finally, pictured (above) at St Woolstan’s College in Celbridge after receiving their results are Tanya Mahony, Straffan; Sandra Lewis, Sinead Heffernan, Emma Kenny, all from Celbridge and Catherine Courtney, Leixlip.

CHAPMANS OF KILDARE Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. A Great Tradition of Hospitality 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 CHAPMANS OF KILDARE Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. A Great Tradition of Hospitality 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

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.

Soccer club's achievement in Senior League is honoured NEWBRIDGE, 18 August 1999: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Newbridge Town Football Club have been presented with a silver tray by Newbridge Town Commission in recognition of their achievement in winnning the championship of the Leinster Senior League. The win was all the more remarkable in that they were the first team from outside Dublin to win the championship. Club chairman Jimmy Fagan (pictured here on the right with PRO Kevin Barry) says the win means the club has some difficult decisions to make. “We’ve now gone as far as we can without paying our players. The senior division of the Senior League is as high as you can go so the next step would be League of Ireland. Given that it costs £500,000 a year to run a Division One League of Ireland club we have to ask ourselves whether we want to go down that road.” He said the club now needs breathing space to make the right decision. With close on 200 members including two ladies teams as well as underage players the Newbridge club extends its facilities to other clubs for training purposes throughout the winter months. Plans include the extension of the footpath, stand seats along the front of the stand and the installation of two all-weather pitches. When formed 30 years ago, the club played at a location known as Ryan’s Field on the Station Road. Jimmy Fagan recalled how players would walk down College Park and up Eddie O’Connor’s Lane to the pitch. Facilities included a two-roomed cottage and a pump on the corner which was their ‘shower’ - it has now been moved to outside their new clubhouse as a memento of those early days. “We started off with only one team, but grew quickly. But when the Sports Centre was built in 1980 we had to move and were lucky to buy our present site from Newbridge College. We developed it from there with the help of FAS, without which we just wouldn’t be able to survive,” Jimmy told KNN. Jimmy Fagan said the win was a great morale boost for the club and the win ‘a fantastic achievement’. Pictured above right is club manager Michael Geoghegan with the tray presented by the Town Commission.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality 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

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Please tell your child to belt up! Dear Editor I write out of a sense of wonder at an incident that occurred to me last week especially in the light of the message that you had re road traffic incidents in the county. Last Sunday evening I came up off the slip road on the Athy side of Kilcullen. I slowed down to a stop and waited for the road to clear. The next thing I get a bang from behind and see that a green Passat has bumped into me. I get out and look at the damage. Nothing much, the advantages of a 12-year old car is that they have metal not Tupperware bumpers. I go to talk to the woman driver who hit me. "I was just ambling along and didn't realise you had stopped ... I thought that you were going to go through," says herself. I said little and let her say her few words, more concerned for the child that she was carrying unstrapped who evidently had been thrown in the impact. So all I said was that there was little damage done, be more careful in future and please strap the child in. I got back into my car and continued on to Naas (Loosing up the old neck as I drove, I got a bit of a jolt on impact) - incident all over in 3-4 mins. The woman drove behind me to Naas and we finally parted company at the traffic lights. Now the point of the letter. For safety's sake I would suggest that a ’98 top of the range Volkswagen Passat is not something that you just amble along in, not paying attention to the road. Note that I was stopped before she hit me. As for her making assumptions on my driving strategy at a stop sign, she said that she was ‘a mechanic not a psychic’. But what really gets to me is that despite the fact that her child had been apparently thrown in the impact and I had reminded her about the need to have the child strapped in, she came all the way the rest of the journey to Naas and I don't know how much further with the child still apparently free to move around the back of the car. So kids, for safety sake, If your parents don't want to keep you alive, do the safety job yourselves and strap yourselves in. You might want to show them the add on the TV at the moment which shows a child flying through the windscreen so they can see what you are depriving themselves of by your being strapped in. Coincidentally, this was the first advert I saw when I got home. John Kavanagh Kingsfurze, Naas

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Pipe band are world champions NARRAGHMORE, 17 August 1999: Lord Edward's Own Narraghmore Pipe Band became World Champions in Grade 3B at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow last weekend. It also won the drumming and ensemble prizes, making it the greatest achievement in the band's 83-year history. Earlier this year the band won its way into the history books in Ayr, Scotland by becoming European Champions. These two results, along with its other successes this season means the band will be upgraded to Grade 3A for next season. As there are no Grade 2 bands in the Irish Pipe Band Association and only one Grade 1 band, this is a considerable achievement. The bands next performance will be at the final open air concert at Dúchas Chill Dara '99 - Kildare International Folk Arts Festival, at Market Square, Kildare on Sunday 29 August from 1 to 4pm. Lord Edward's Own will perform alongside other pipe bands including Rory O'Moore, Durrow; Malahide & District and St Laurence O'Toole, Clondalkin - Grade 3B and Grade 1 bands. Also taking part in the event will be four international and six Irish folkdance groups. The band wishes to thank all those who support it, in particular Kildare County Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Cultural Relations Committee, whose funding has helped the band achieve world status. The band is now looking for corporate sponsorship to enable it to take part in as many international events as possible next year, in addition to its programme of attending local and national festivals and its commitment to participate in as many contests as possible in Northern Ireland. As membership of the band is open to anyone interested in learning to play pipes and drums and its members and trainees are not charged tuition fees, it provides a social, cultural and recreational outlet for young people in the region, who would otherwise not have such an opportunity. The band is already recruiting members for classes commencing in September. For further information contact Lord Edward's Own Narraghmore Pipe Band, Enterprise Centre, Melitta Road, Kildare. Phone 045 521190. Fax 045 521198. Email mdassociates@tinet.ie Visit our Website.

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

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Call for warning sign at Newbridge drowning tragedy spot NEWBRIDGE, 16 August 1999: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Residents of the Roseberry area of Newbridge have called for warning signs to be placed upriver of the spot in the Liffey (above) where a teenage boy was drowned last week, saying there’s a whirlpool and deep hole in the river that many new people to the town wouldn’t know about. “It’s dangerous for new kids who don’t know the area,” says Eileen McCormack, who lives across the road from where the tragedy occurred. “Any of the older kids around here know where to swim and where to avoid - and that you don’t go into the river up there.” Part of the difficulty is that youngsters can now more easily access the shallower part of the river above the dangerous area since a new estate was built behind College Grove (below). Prior to that it was more common for them to swim downstream of the hole where it is also safe, but now they can inadvertantly drift down on the current to danger. The only warning sign in the area is an ESB one which would only be seen by people coming directly from the road to a spot which used to be the main swimming area before building debris made it unpopular. “I think a sign across the river just before where it gets deep is needed,” says Connie Lawlor, whose back garden overlooks the spot where the drowning happened. “There’s a strong undercurrent in the deep area, and because the water is only waist-deep further up swimmers don’t realise the danger.”

A Great Tradition of Hospitality 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

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.

Animal cruelty incidence has reached 'alarming' proportions KILDARE, 16 August 1999: by Brian Byrne. Incidents of cruelty against animals in County Kildare is "widespread and very alarming" according to Paul Dempsey of the Kildare Animal Foundation Rescue Unit. The Foundation’s rescue unit has dealt with a total of 688 cases since it was set up in early December, including dealing with horrific abuse and neglect of horses, cattle, sheep, cats, kittens, dogs and pups. The callouts also included road traffic accidents in which animals were injured and the unit also responded to injured and distressed swans and other wildlife. (Pictured left is the founder of the foundation, Geraldine O'Hanlon) During this eight-month period the unit responded dealt with 143 dog/pup cases, 165 cat/kittens, 45 cattle, 57 horses, 47 sheep, 30 swans/cygnets, 64 wildlife cases and made 137 vet visits. In all 32 people were severely cautioned by the Gardai while two other cases are expected to go before the courts later this year. Some of the harrowing cases included the case of Juno, put into a shed when he was a puppy of three months old. He was over a year old when rescued and afraid of light. It was an ordeal for Paul to get him into the van and bring him to the vets to be examined. “Even a week later he is a new dog. He was afraid of open spaces and the staff at the foundation put him up the field with one of the older dogs to show him how to run and that it is OK to just run and run. It is tragic to see them take just a few steps and then stop, expecting an obstacle. It can take hours for them to get used to the idea of freedom.” A horrific case on the River Liffey in Sallins last week was was where Paul found a male swan which had been hung from a tree. On close inspection it was found that it had a hole in its wing which either was the result of a pellet gun or a cross bow. Paul is now seeking any information or help with this case from the general public. If anyone has information on this horrific case to please contact Paul Dempsey or Naas Garda Station. The Kildare Animal Foundation relies on the contributions of the general public to undertake its animal welfare work. Donations can be sent to Kildare Animal Foundation, Loughandy’s House, South Green Road, Kildare Town. Email: kaf@iol.ie and the foundation’s website is at: www.iol.ie/~kaf/

A Great Tradition of Hospitality 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

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

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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.

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. 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 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

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	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.)

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