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Naas Chamber starts Millennium early

RED HOUSE, NAAS, 10 December 1999: by Trish Whelan. Over 220 business people and their guests began their Millennium celebrations last night at the Millennium Gala Business Dinner organised by Naas Chamber of Commerce and Industry which took place in The Red House.

Guest speaker, An Tánaiste Mary Harney TD (pictured above with Tom Clarke, President of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, and President of the Naas Chamber Mary Bhogal), addressed guests and Ambassadors and Diplomats from America, Britain, China, Egypt, India, The Netherlands and Russia. CCI's Tom Clarke was the second guest speaker.

Pictured below are Ann Mullaly from Newbridge, Kate Conway, Naas, and Betty Cremins from M&L Shoes, Naas.

Mary Bhogal said the large attendance was ‘an endorsement of the Chamber’s work in serving the business community of Naas’. She said the location of Naas makes it an ideal location for business, with easy access to markets and ports all over the country and while Naas Chamber looks forward to maximising every opportunity to the town under the new National Development Plan, it will not allow the town to lose its identity because of its promixity to Dublin and will work to ensure the town gets its fair share of development.

She told of plans by Naas Chamber to appoint a full time Development Officer in the coming year and of its ambition to become a member of CCI’s accredited Chamber Network

Pictured below are Naas businessman Dermot O'Rourke, Kevin McCarthy, IDA Regional Manager, and Cllr Timmy Conway MCC.

Tánaiste Mary Harney TD told of growing up in Newcastle, near Rathcoole, when Naas had been her local business town. She also addressed the guests on the subject of the national economy.

CCI President Tom Clarke said it had been his 22nd Dinner since being elected President in May! He said companies join Chambers because they want their issues of concern to be addressed through an organised structure. “The Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organisation in the country, with 10,000 members in its 59 affiliated Chambers. It’s the nearest business organisation for Irish companies ... we now want to ensure it’s the best.” He also spoke on the need for businesses to train employees in technology and welcomed Naas Chamber’s commitment to employ a full time director in the near future.

Pictured below are Hugh McGlynn and Brendan Ronan, both from Toughline Ltd, Naas; Fiona Ronan, Joan McGlynn and Ray Lowney, Meritor.

Pictured below are Richard M Mills, Economic Officer, US Embassy; with Tony McAllister, Meritor; and David Hinchcliffe, Group Financial Director, Meritor HVS Ltd, UK.

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.

GARDA PATROL ADVICE OF THE WEEK

Shopkeepers - don't let cash accumulate in tills during the busy Christmas rush. Empty excess notes regularly and put them either in an inaccessible underfloor safe or a bank night safe. Also, do not go to night safes unaccompanied, and try and make sure you go at irregular times. Check area carefully before leaving your car to deposit money in a night safe.

Is there a tunnel under St Martin's Avenue?

NAAS, 8 December 1999: by Trish Whelan. Could an underground tunnel which runs from St David's Castle via Naas Town Hall yard to the ruins of Jigginstown Castle be responsible for much of the subsidence problems in a number of houses at opposite sides of St Martin’s Avenue in Naas?

The underground passage is referred to in ‘Memoirs of an Irish Surgeon’, by Dr Jack Gibson who lives in St David’s Castle. In fact he said there are many such passages from the castle leading in all directions. It was common in those times for escape tunnels to be constructed for times of great danger. The castle had been built to protect the Pale of Dublin and was once the venue for a meeting of the Irish Parliament.

The reference to the tunnels appears to substantiate local knowledge of a tunnel heading in the direction of Jigginstown and which was in fact entered by some local people following the subsidence of a fire engine in the Town Hall yard into a hole in the ground in the fifties. One of those people described it as being a well-built brick tunnel and said the darkness of it ‘had put the fear of God into him’.

Paud O’Flynn, a former resident of the old jail on which the estate is built has said the subsidence, at least on the north side, is unlikely to be caused because of underground cells, as is believed locally. “There were only cells on the other side of the jail as the north side was a parade ground and my father had to take a pick axe to the concrete to turn it into a garden.” There is also evidence of subsidence on the roadway between both sides of the estate.

The residents of a number of houses in St Martin’s Avenue have been trying to have major cracks in and around their homes repaired by the UDC for several years but the UDC say that it is not their problem as the owners bought their houses out from the council.

Their difficulties were highlighted on KNN earlier this year. As late as last week, Cllr Evelyn Bracken asked that the issue be highlighted once more because the situation as it stood was most unfair to the owners who had bought their homes from the council in good faith.

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Spike seeks waiver for dog track

NEWBRIDGE, 7 December 1999: by Trish Whelan. Newbridge Town Commissioner Spike Nolan is making representations on behalf of Newbridge Greyhound Racing Company for a waiver to be granted on a financial contribution sought by Kildare County Council of £6,094 which the authority could incur in respect of the provision of services to facilitate the proposed £2m upgrading of the local greyhound track.

He said the track has been part and parcel of the town since the turn of the century. It had earlier been located at the GAA football stadium, in the town centre but had relocated in 1960 to Cornelscourt north of the town.

Commissioner Nolan was chairman of the Kildare and |West Wicklow Greyhound Trainers Association for many years and said it was through the work of the greyhound trainers and owners that they got their present location. “The stadium is an important centre and amenity for the people of Newbridge and surround areas, attracting hundreds of punters two nights a week while also providing local employment.”

He said he feels that the waiving of the planning levies would be much appreciated and would contribute in no small way to the goodwill of the community and of all involved in the redevelopment and upgrading of the track.

He has written to the county manager seeking the waiver.

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Kildare Planning Alliance rejects rezoning 'stitch-up' for Celbridge

CELBRIDGE, 8 December 1999:

Dear Editor,

Recent comments concerning the failure of the developer to meet his planning conditions in respect of the Celbridge Relief Road raise the prospect of a planning nightmare both for the town and the residents who have bought houses along the ill-fated road, says Kildare Planning Alliance. This development was opposed by the Kildare Planning Alliance as premature, pending the completion of the Celbridge Interchange road, and events now have vindicated this stand.

The granting of permission to a developer who had not control over the lands in question was a major blunder. The problem created raises a number of important issues.

Firstly, assertions that the developer was in a position to complete the relief road, the basis on which planning permission was granted, have now proven false. It is now possible that as a consequence of this, the planning permission may be considered null and void, since it was based on an attempt to do something outwith the control of the developer. If an individual applies for and is given planning permission to build a one-storey house - and subsequently builds a skyscaper – it would seem logical that the particular planning permission granted cannot be considered valid.
In this case an undertaking was given that an amenity called a ring road would be completed before houses alongside were occupied. This amenity was to be provided in lieu of development levies by the developer concerned. This has not happened, though many of the houses have now been built, sold and occupied. This raises the alarming prospect that all of the houses completed and occupied along the partially finished road may require a new planning permission, or at least may require to apply for retention. Kildare Planning Alliance calls on Kildare County Council to clarify the legal status of this situation immediately. If the absence of a valid planning permission for these houses is in fact the current situation, Kildare Planning Alliance believes legal difficulties may arise for any householder wishing to sell their property. Indeed householders may even already have recourse to damages for the situation they now find themselves in, should it turn out that they have no valid planning permission. In addition, they may have recourse for damages, having been sold a house on the understanding that an amenity which was promised prior to their occupation has not been delivered.

Secondly, ‘solutions’ to the problem involving land rezoning swaps are not acceptable. Any proposals which might arise involving new rezonings by Kildare County Councillors in return for the acquisition of the remaining land by the developer concerned would be condemned be condemned out of hand by Kildare Planning Alliance. The rezoning of other lands in return for the ‘ransom strip’ at the end of the road would open up a vista of widespread contravention of the Celbridge Development Plan. Kildare Planning Alliance will vigorously oppose any attempt at any material contravention being proposed as part of such a deal and will support its constituent organisation Celbridge Watchdog Committee in its efforts to ensure this does not occur. The solution to this problem is not to enrich the two landowners concerned further at the expense of the community of Celbridge which have through their elected representatives made a contract with Kildare County Council for the future development of their town. That contract was called the Celbridge Development Plan and specified no further residential rezonings for the duration of the Plan.

The only ethical solution to this problem is for the compulsory purchase of the remaining land by Kildare County Council and its full reimbursement by the developer of the ring road. Failing this approach, Kildare Planning Alliance will oppose any attempt to do deals which are not in the best interest of the people of Celbridge.

John Sweeney, PRO, Kildare planning Alliance.

Himalayan Handicrafts exhibition

NAAS, 8 December 1999: by Trish Whelan. Linda Behan, Sarto Road, with her cousin Shirley Moody (right) viewing the many items at the Himalayan Handicrafts annual exhibition of crafts from Nepal in Naas Library in support of the Nepal Leprosy Trust which provides medical, rehabilitation and employment for many affected by leprosy and especially women in Nepal.

The event opened on Friday night and will run until Saturday 11 December. The handcrafts on display include hundreds of Christmas presents reasonably priced, with beautifully crafted batik and wool wall hangings, jewellery, leather, handmade paper, and a collection of silk and coushins.

The exhibition was organised by Joanie Reilly (below) from Naas with the aid of a core group of friends.

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Builder 'must be removed' from Pairc na nOg

NAAS, 8 December 1999: by Trish Whelan. Residents of the Pairc na nÓg area in Naas are demanding the immediately removal of a builder and his machinery from the temporary compound at the playground and that the area be returned to its original state.

This was the concensus of an inaugural meeting of about 20 residents from estates in the area, held in Naas Town House Hotel. Estates represented included St Gabriel’s Place, Caragh Green, Caragh Court and Sarto Park.

They also want Dúchas, the heritage body, ‘called to heel’ to do its job in maintaining the canal. The group is also seeking the continuation of a permanent walkway along both sides of the canal bank from the Harbour to the old Jigginstown Bridge, to link up both sides of the town, for children to use to avoid the town. While it was agreed that the hard tennis courts should come out, Pauline Shine from Sarto Park said they had been in great demand, especially during Wimbledon and ‘people had paid to have them installed’.

It was agreed the top priority was to have the area cleaned, with the removal of the compound, and a low but secure wall and railing provided to prevent future incursions, together with some tree planting. It was also suggested that neighbouring estates could take responsibility for the playground area, designing and maintain the park. “We need a good strong Residents Association, with clout, should the need arise.”

Speaking on traffic, Ann Butler from Caragh Court said it’s ‘like Heuston Station’ with the amount of cars now going over the Caragh Road bridge. She said councillors think ‘nothing through in this town. And it’s chaotic since they closed off the Harbour. It’s all a disgrace.’

It was pointed out that other contractors in the town were able to operate without being provided with a builders’ lot by the UDC and the meeting chairman Tony McAllister said the machinery could be moved to the end of Sarto Road as the area is blocked off with work on the pedestrianisation of The Harbour area. “That’s where he’s working ... and that’s where he should be,” he said.

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Naas 'must take responsibility' for traveller accommodation

NAAS, 8 December 1999: by Trish Whelan. Naas will have to shoulder some of its responsibility in providing traveller accommodation and should strive to have a united community of all different demoninations, race and background, a delegation from the Naas Equality for Travellers (NET) told a recent meeting of Naas UDC.

“We have not really welcomed and fully accepted even one traveller family among us who are unable to provide their own accommodation,” NET secretary Elizabeth Trappe told councillors. She said Newbridge, Monasterevin, Athy and Maynooth have made some effort to accommodate travellers but said ‘Naas has failed up to now to officially provide even one unit of accommodation for them’. She said the term ‘residential caravan park’ is a more acceptable name than a halting site. She said the community of Naas have two choices: “We can continue to fortify the town with boulders and fence off the grass verges ... or we can all sit down together and decide together how we can provide living facilities for travelling families which can give them comfort and dignity worthy of the 21st century.”

NET chairman Sean Hanrahan said he hoped the delegation ‘would change minds and hearts here tonight’. He focused on the Lynch family who have been parked in the carpark behind the Town Hall for three years, who he said have kept the site clean and tidy and are ‘good neighbours’. He wanted to know when they will be given a house.

Traveller Elizabeth McDonagh is vice chairperson NET and told the UDC of the hardships of live on the road. For the past nine months the McDonaghs have been living in two caravans on the Rathasker Road with no toilet facilities, or electricity. The seven children range from 20 - 5 years, the eldest is employed locally while the younger ones attend local primary school. Mrs McDonagh said she did not want her children facing life on the road as she had had to.

“We have settled in well and have made friends and socialise locally,” she said adding that she would ‘love to stay in Naas.’ The family want to be accommodated in a permanent, one-family halting site as some of the older sons are approaching marriageable age. They want to stay together and do not want to move in with other traveller families, Sean Hanrahan told the meeting.

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Sod turned for £37m Naas Hospital

NAAS, 7 December 1999: by Brian Byrne. The official turning of the sod for a new £37 million Hospital at Naas was performed yesterday by finance minister Charlie McCreevy. The project will bring the total number of beds to 159, from the present 125, which include 30 for psychiatric patient use.

In addition, the facilities will provide for a new A&E department and a new out-patients department, a Department of Physical Medicine, a 7-room Radiology Department which will include CT scan equipment, a Day Hospital in a Department of Medicine for the Elderly, three new operating theatres, a 4-bed Intensive Care Unit and a 6-bed Coronary Care Unit.

The chairman of the Eastern Health Board, Ivor Callely TD, said the care provided at Naas General Hospital had been ‘second-to-none’, but the board had been concerned for some time about the infrastructure in which such care was delivered. “I believe we will all be proud of the new hospital and the facilities which it will provide for treatment of people of the area,” he said.

Minister McCreevy said the upgrading of the facilities will put Naas Hospital ‘on a par with anywhere in Ireland’ and in a position - in partnership with Tallaght and St James’ hospitals, to cater properly for the needs of the people of County Kildare, West Wicklow and Dublin South-West.

Pictured above at the contract signing in the old church are chairman of Kildare County Council P J Sheridan and the hospital's assistant administrator, Patricia Kelly. The new hospital will stand on the original site of the Naas Workhouse, built in 1840. It evolved to a County Hospital, then to an acute hospital. Three of the original buildings, including the chapel, are part of the original structure.

Pictured below are staff nurse Dora O’Brien; staff nurse Nora Donagh; director of nursing, Naas, Teresa Coman; Sheila O’Connor, representing Friends of Naas Hospital; Catherine Collum, consultant radiologist and Patricia McCormack, consultant physician and geriatrician. Friends of Naas Hospital have raised almost £300,000 over the last 10 years towards the purchase of modern equipment in the hospital.

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St David's bell rung for first time in decade

NAAS, 7 December 1999: by Trish Whelan. The bell of St David’s Church of Ireland in Naas rang out officially last Sunday evening for the first time in some 10 years, following the installation of an electric system funded in part by the town’s UDC.

The bell dates from 1674 and was cast by Salisbury bell-founders William Cory and Roger Purdoe. The current bell-tower was constructed by the Earl of Mayo in 1774.

The bell had not been rung in the last decade for safety reasons, but following a suggestion from UDC chairman Seamie Moore that some funds would be available to allow it to be rung electrically so that it could be used to ring in the new millennium, the Rev Michael Wooderson investigated the possibility and found it could be done.

“Without the grant from the UDC we would not have been able to undertake this, as there are more pressing needs for our own funds,” he told a group of Naas people who asembled last Sunday night for an Advent Carol Service, following which Cllr Moore pressed the switch to ring the bell.

The ecumenical service was the fifth of its kind since it was inaugurated by Keith Armstrong. Rev Wooderson also thanked Michael Weedle and his choir for their contribution to the evening.

 

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Power station will use 'relatively little' water

DUNSTOWN, 7 December 1999: by Brian Byrne. The proposed gas-fired power station at Dunstown Wood near Two Mile House will use 240 cu mts of water a day when in operation, according to the operators, a consortium of Bord na Mona, Elf Gaz and Finnish company Fortrum.

This compares to a 7,000 cu mts/day usage by Intel, and a quota of 22,500 cu mts/day from the Ballymore Treatment Plant for the mid-Kildare region.

Kildare County Council Planning Department says they understand that the 240 cu mts/day ‘will not be all the time’. The plant does not use water for cooling, and so does not have a high consumption compared to traditional peat-fired stations.

The proposal for the 400Kv station has raised anger in the locality from residents who say they fear pollution and diminished value to their property.

 

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Brendan moves to new appointment

COUNTY HALL, 7 December 1999: by Brian Byrne. Former Kildare County Enterprise Officer Brendan McGrath has taken up a new post as Community Enterprise Officer with Meath County Council. He worked with Kildare County Council for six years prior to the move. Brendan had earlier worked with Roscommon County Council.

He lives in Newbridge, from where he will commute to his new job.

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Kilcullen man's new book

KILCULLEN, 7 December 1999: by Brian Byrne. Well-known radio personality Donncha O Dualaing (above right) launched the first book by Kilcullen journalist James Healy at a recent function in Berneys of Kilcullen. ‘Laughing on the Inside’ is a compilation of of the author’s ‘While I’m at it’ column in the Leinster Leader. The book is illustrated by Medbh Hourihane.

The event included readings from the book by members of Kilcullen Drama Group, as well as music suited to the occasion by local musicians.

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SOLD!!!! 1993 Suzuki Swift. 62K on clock. Two owners. Price £3,400 including stereo. Immaculate condition.

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1967 Classic VW Beetle. Fully restored and undersealed. Porsche wheels (originals available). Beautiful condition - must be seen to be appreciated. Engine perfect. Phone 045 860287.
Fax details to 045 481091 or email (pictures should be in JPEG format and sent as attachments). Ads will be left up for one week unless renewed.
1991 Renault 5 Campus. Pristine condition. Red with sunroof. £1,950 ono. Phone 0502 23571.

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1990 Renault 19 Van. Due for the new National Car Test in March 2000. £900. Phone 086 2633298.

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