New book on
Prosperous history
PROSPEROUS, DECEMBER
5, 1998: A new book on the parish of Prosperous was launched
last night at the famous Tom Dowling's pub in the mid-Kildare
village. 'Legacy of Memories II' was compiled by native of the
locality Paddy Behan and Thomas Hendy and was launched by the
Honourable Desmond Guinness. It features poems old and new of
the Allenwood/Prosperous area, as well as songs, prose and essays.
"Much of the content revolves around Pat Dowling's pub and
that's why we launched it there," says Paddy Behan, who
is also current chairman of Naas UDC. "There's a lot about
Christy Moore and the other musicians who established themselves
first there." Other pieces include one on living by the
canal, written by John Roddy whose father was a garda sergeant
in the area. "The importance of a collection like this is
that it puts together the social history of an area and leaves
a record for the young people coming along," Paddy Behan
says. 'Legacy of Memories II' is published by Millbrook Press,
Naas.
Breda lands
the dinner date of three decades!
NEWBRIDGE, DECEMBER 5, 1998:
Newbridge woman Breda Reid landed the date of three decades this
week when Gay Byrne said he'd have dinner with her. Lollipop
lady Breda is a well-known local writer and stalwart of Newbridge
Credit Union and the dream date came about when she successfully
tagged the person in the Gay Byrne Show Mystery Sound competition
as none other than Gaybo himself. In a subsequent telephone interview
on air Breda said she'd love to meet him for dinner, and Gay
said 'yes'. "But not until the New Year," he said.
"I'm totally booked up before Christmas." When he heard
that Breda's husband Fred was a plumber, Gay said he'd always
wanted to know a plumber. "He won't be coming along, Breda
said firmly.
Naas man's
album reminds of old names
NAAS & ESSEX,
DECEMBER 5, 1998: Former Naas man John McAllister's part-time
band 'Jordan' has had some some success on radio stations in
London and Germany, with an album they put together to help the
hospice movement. Compositions of John's on the album includes
'The Balad of John Doyle' which recounts the life of an uncle
of John's who was in the RAF. Another song, 'Furry Dice, is an
episode involving a Heinkel 75 with five people up - names in
the song well remembered around Naas include Jimmy Barry, Rita
King, Paul, Jolly, Smash and Yongo. John McAllister is a computer
programmer working in London. He came from 9 St Gabriel's Place
where his brother Tony still lives. Their sister Catherine is
married to local poet and politician Timmy Conway. John emigrated
in 1971, after working variously as a clerical officer in Kildare
County Council, as a temporary postman, and as a linesman with
the ESB. He lives in Essex. You can find out more about 'Jordan'
and hear samples from the songs at John's
website.
Ray
O'Brien (Motors) Ltd
 Newbridge,
Co Kildare
Main dealers
for Mazda cars & Mercedes-Benz commercials
Phone 045
431130
|
Disability
movement must consider 'political action'
NEWBRIDGE, DECEMBER
4, 1998: The movement supporting equality for disability in Ireland
will have to consider what kind of political action is appropriate
in order to effect change, a meeting organised by the Newbridge
Access Group was told last night. Dr Rob Kitchin of the Geography
Department in Maynooth University gave details of how a protest
which effectively closed the centre of Birmingham was immediately
the cause of a change in a £36m order for buses which had
no disabled access for ones that did. "You can take the
slow way, talking with successive ministers and Governments and
hoping for eventual change, or you can take the direct action
way," he said. "The movement will have to consider
this." Mick Power of the Newbridge Access Group said afterwards
that it was a 'challenging and questioning' session and put it
up to disabled people to go out there and tell people directly
of their problems and difficulties with issues such as access.
"It's too easy to take the gentle approach - disabled people
have to challenge the situation, he said." Pictured at the
meeting are (left) Dr Rob Kitchin and Ann Kelly; and (below)
Jim Buckley of Athgarvan and Edel Foley of Athy; and Ger McLoughlin,
PRO of the Newbridge Access Group.
RealAudio
: Brian Byrne talks to Ger McLoughlin, PRO of Newbridge Access
Group, and Dr Rob Kitchen.
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Cultural exchanges
can be arranged
KILDARE, DECEMBER 4, 1998:
The Institute for International Cultural Exchange (IICE), which
is based in Kildare Town, is now in the process of arranging
for Irish groups to take part in international festivals and
for international groups to take part in Irish festivals in 1999.
Groups are accommodated with families or in dormitory type accommodation
and can take part in concerts, parades, workshops, classes and
seminars. Groups pay their own fares and the organising committee
supply accommodation, breakfast, evening meal and transportation
during their stay. The minimum stay for a group is normally 5
or 6 days with some preferring to stay for 10 to 12 days, taking
in 2 festivals. IICE has established contacts with groups throughout
Western Europe, in Central & Eastern Europe and other parts
of the world and is now offering its services to festivals and
groups in Ireland and abroad. IICE has already arranged for groups
from Germany, Sweden, Italy, France, Poland, Finland, Portugal,
Belgium and the Celtic Nations - Cornwall, Brittany, Isle Of
Man, Wales and Scotland, to take part in Irish festivals. Interested
groups or festivals should contact Susan Feery, IICE, Enterprise
Centre, Melitta Road, Kildare, Ireland. Phone +353 (0)45 521190.
Fax +353 (0)45 521198. Email mdassociates@tinet.ie
Town Commission
to make motorway link submission
LEIXLIP, DECEMBER 4, 1998:
Leixlip Town Commission is to make a submission to the Environmental
Impact Study for the new motorway link which will service Hewlett
Packard and Celbridge. This was decided after this month's meeting
was told that any submissions or objections had to be with the
Minister for the Environment by December 23. Cmmr Jim Bardon
told his colleagues that he would be making a personal submission
because his property at Leixlip Gate was affected, and he would
therefore not be involved with the commission's submission in
case of a conflict of interest.
  Leopardstown
Tours
Ticknock,
Dublin 18
'The masters
of turf travel'
Phone 01
2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie
|
County could
face 'astronomical charges' for waste disposal
KILDARE GENERAL,
DECEMBER 3, 1998: The issue of a new landfill for Kildare 'must
be tackled head on' according to Cllr Rainsford Hendy, otherwise
the county will be 'under the thumb' of other local authorities
for waste disposal ... and they could be charging 'astronomical
sums' for their services. He was speaking after the presentation
by county engineer Jimmy Lynch of the critical situation with
the current facility at Silliot Hill, Kilcullen. "We have
to have some policy and we have to have it fast," he said.
Meanwhile, on a concern of Cllr John Dardis, who sought assurances
that two private sites close to Silliot Hill would not be used
when the dump was full, the county engineer said he could give
no assurances on any site. And Cllr Gerry Brady said the council
was now the 'laughing stock of the country' for 'not having the
bottle' to make a positive decision on the planning in relation
to the Kill Dump operated now by South Dublin County Council.
"We're now going to have to pay that authority to take our
refuse, even though we knew three or four years ago that we would
be facing this situation, and only now is it being dealt with
as a matter of urgency." (See other waste stories below.)
RealAudio
: Brian Byrne talks to Rainsford Hendy
Maynooth development
project 'could be jeopordised'
MAYNOOTH, DECEMBER 3, 1998:
A £35 million proposed development at the Mill in Maynooth
could be jeopardised by the 'demands of the planners' at Kildare
County Council, according to Cllr Senan Griffin. He said the
planners and the architects for the project should meet to sort
out the problems. "The current mill is a health hazard and
it is the view of a large number of residents that it should
be removed from the town," he said. "It is important
for the people of Maynooth that the project be advanced."
Leopardstown
Tours
Ticknock,
Dublin 18
'The masters
of turf travel'
Phone 01
2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie
|
Tourism brochures
planned
KILDARE GENERAL,
DECEMBER 3, 1998: Kildare Failte is planning a series of specialist
brochures for different types of attractions 'trails' in the
county. They'll include a 'Craft Trail', a 'Heritage Trail',
a 'Golf Trail' and a 'Fishing Trail', and the organisation is
currently in negotiation with the Kildare Leader company KELT
to have them produced. KELT recently supported a new brochure
(left) for Kildare Failte about Kildare generally, written and
produced by Positive Image.
Death of Winnie
Osborne
KILDARE GENERAL, DECEMBER 3,
1998: A minute's silence was observed at Monday's meeting of
Kildare County Council, when news came through of the death of
Winnie Osborne, a staff member of the council for more than 20
years. She was housing secretary and many tributes were paid
to her this week by members of the various local authority bodies
in the county.
Ray
O'Brien (Motors) Ltd
Newbridge,
Co Kildare
Main dealers
for Mazda cars & Mercedes-Benz commercials
Phone 045
431130
|
Road upgrading
'must be timed right'
CELBRIDGE, DECEMBER
3, 1998: The upgrading of Maynooth Road in Celbridge must be
timed properly in relation to the construction of the proposed
new motorway interchange which will serve Celbridge, Cllr Catherine
Murphy has said. She said she has been told by Kildare County
Council that it is 'not possible' to find funding for this road
in 1999. "It is not clear if funding for such projects will
extend beyond 1999, and we're facing a case of either retaining
a deficient road or having major roadworks ongoing when the interchange
is opened, which is just planning for chaos." The proposal
was costed in the 1994-1999 at £300,000. Cllr Murphy says
that in the context of our large Budget surplus, some of it could
be invested in projects like this one instead of paying off the
country's national debt.
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Kildare tourism
operators need 'change of mindset'
KILDARE GENERAL, DECEMBER 2, 1998:
Tourism amenity operators in County Kildare will need a change
of mindset over cooperative marketing, Kildare Failte board member
Gerry Ward said last night. He said it was 'disappointing' that
they appeared to have a reluctance to advertising each other's
projects and using combination ticketing in a 'clustered' amenity
network system, such as had been very successful in places like
County Clare. This approach had been a key recommendation in
Kildare Failte's five-year plan, which was now due for review,
he said. He made a presentation to Leixlip Town Commission at
their request, and said he would 'take on board' their comments
about North Kildare being 'badly serviced' by the county tourism
organisation. He rejected suggestions that there should be a
separate tourism entity for the area, saying that disunity in
marketing a region only brought confusion.
RealAudio
: Brian Byrne talks to Gerry Ward
Statue security
helps gardai in Leixlip
LEIXLIP, DECEMBER
2, 1998: The new sculpture outside the main car park in Leixlip
has already helped in a garda investigation, the town's commissioners
heard last night. According to Cmmr Paul Kelly, the video from
the security camera which had been erected to combat vandalism
in the area of the sculpture had captured an unrelated incident
which gardai were investigating. The statue depicts two figures
and a sword, and was created by sculptor Jarlath Daly. Its cost
of £22,000 was mainly financed by a grant from Kildare
County Council. Its official title is 'Confluence' ... but in
the true spirit of the 'Floozy in the Jacuzzi' it has been locally
named as 'The Piddler at the Middler', in a reference to the
Middle Shop pub across the road.
Development
plan situation 'bad for Kildare'
KILDARE GENERAL,
DECEMBER 2, 1998: The County Development Plan situation is 'bad
for Kildare', Clane Area councillor Sean Reilly said this week
after members of the council agreed that permission should be
sought to extend until the end of March the time to complete
it. He said that bringing it so close to the next local elections,
and with the revelation that town and settlement plans will not
be completed in the life of the present council, will open the
way to it becoming a 'political football' for every vested interest.
And he criticised what he what he called 'misinformation' in
relation to the status of the draft town plans. He said 'conflicting
legal opinions' were 'frustrating and unsatisfactory'.
RealAudio
: Brian Byrne talks to Sean Reilly
Ray
O'Brien (Motors) Ltd
Newbridge,
Co Kildare
Main dealers
for Mazda cars & Mercedes-Benz commercials
Phone 045
431130
|
Criticism
of County Development Plan situation
KILDARE GENERAL, DECEMBER 2,
1998: Members of Kildare County Council have trenchantly criticised
the revelation that draft or amended development plans relating
to several towns and settlements in the county are now not likely
to be adopted during the life of the present council. At this
month's council meeting they were told these plans could not
legally be finalised until the County Development Plan was completed.
Affected towns are Maynooth, Kilcock, Clane, Kill and Castledermot,
as well as a number of 'settlement' areas such as Straffan. The
advice came after members had agreed to a request from county
manager Niall Bradley for leave to seek an extension of the time
to complete the county plan - they agreed to an extension only
until March. Many councillors expressed considerable anger over
the situation, saying they appeared to have been getting 'conflicting'
and 'confusing' advice on the matter.
Community
Employment Scheme expanded
LEIXLIP, DECEMBER 2, 1998:
Intel Ireland has contributed £1,000 towards the funding
for Leixlip's Community Employment Scheme, which has just been
renewed and expanded. Town commissioner Colm Purcell reported
to this month's meeting of the commission that they could now
employ 18 people on the scheme, in a greater range of categories
than heretofore. He said this would encourage more people to
apply for the scheme, as there were now work possibilities which
would attract more people. There are currently nine people on
the scheme, seven outdoor and two administration ... but Cllr
Purcell highlighted a need for transport for the workers, as
supervisors were having to use their own cars to bring gathered
rubbish from one end of town to the other.
Recycling
target 'inadequate'
KILDARE GENERAL,
DECEMBER 2, 1998: The target to recycle 25% of Kildare's waste
in a new waste management strategy was described as totally inadequate
by councillor J J Power during the discussion which followed
Monday's presentation on the issue by county engineer Jimmy Lynch.
He said that in other countries they were able to recycle up
to 90% of waste and there was no reason why higher levels shouldn't
be aimed for in Ireland. Mr Lynch said the 25% was a Government
target. Other criticisms related to the search for a new landfill
- Cllr John Dardis said the exclusion zone of 200 metres from
a river 'defied any logic' and it should be at least 1,000 metres
and maybe 1,500; Cllr John McGinley said it was a 'very serious
situation' and suggested that when the council hadn't been able
to find a small civic amenity site for Maynooth in three years,
how were they going to be able to find and set up a landfill
in the same time frame?
RealAudio
: Brian Byrne talks to J J Power
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Kildare faces
refuse disposal crisis
KILDARE GENERAL, DECEMBER 1, 1998:
Kildare County Council is seeking facilities from neighbouring
counties to divert 45,000 tonnes of refuse from its almost-full
county dump at Silliot Hill, Kilcullen. The move is designed
to temporarily extend the dump's life from its expected end date
of December 1999. In the meantime, the county is looking at a
number of alternative landfill sites in Kildare, with a view
to building a 20-year facility. As part of a strategy to be published
in draft form early next year, the council will also attempt
to cut refuse tonnage by taking a number of recycling measures,
aimed at reaching a Government target of recycling 25% of all
refuse in Kildare.
RealAudio
: Brian Byrne reports on the situation
Major civic
development for Leixlip
LEIXLIP, DECEMBER 1, 1998:
A new garda station, library and civic offices, and community
& youth centre are now likely to come on stream at Leixlip,
following the decision of the Celbridge Area Committee that the
lands around Newtown House should be used for a three-phase development.
The project has been boosted by the decision of Hewlett-Packard
to match the Intel donation of £50,000 towards the project,
which has all-party backing. The proposal will now come before
a full meeting of Kildare County Council for approval. Chairperson
of the county Library & Arts committee Cllr Catherine Murphy
said the library development had been a long-standing objective
of the council and she also welcomed the decision to support
the more recent initiative of the community & youth facility,
as non-sporting youth activities have been identified as a top
priority in the area.
|
Any
company, individual or entity, with information they want to
make available to customers, suppliers, sales force etc. should
have a web site. Any organisation that wants to reach consumers
will need to look at ways to promote their products/services
via the Internet. And it doesn't have to be complicated. Find
out why.
|
Official offer
of Oldtown gardens is made to Naas
NAAS, NOVEMBER 30,
1998: The owners of Oldtown Estate in Naas have officially offered
the 18th century gardens and the woods on the property to Naas
Urban District Council. The offer is subject to the existing
terms of a lifetime tenancy held by Major John de Burgh and his
wife Clare. A majority of members of the UDC recently voted to
have lands at Oldtown owned by Lehmex rezoned for private housing
and commercial development in the Naas Draft Development Plan.
There has been some confusion recently over the legal status
of the gardens, and in a communique issued at the weekend Major
de Burgh and Lehmex say they have written to Naas UDC to arrange
a legal handover of deeds of the relevant property. In the meantime,
the company says, 'amicable discussions' are taking place between
the Major and Lehmex 'concerning the cost of maintenance and
development of the gardens', and also a schedule of 'open days'
for public tours of the gardens in 1999. In a letter to local
councillors Teresa Scanlon and Charlie Byrne, both of whom opposed
the rezoning, Brendan Colivet of Green Property Management says
the company will be happy to indemnify the UDC against any financial
obligation in the upkeep of the gardens, estimated to currently
cost some £50,000 a year to maintain.
RealAudio
interview: Brian Byrne talks with Major de Burgh
Alcohol control
measures soon ready for presenting
CELBRIDGE, NOVEMBER
30, 1998: Draft proposals for the control of alcohol in public
places in North Kildare towns are to be put before Kildare County
Council following their consideration by members of the Celbridge
Area Committee. The original proposals related to Celbridge,
but are now to be extended to Maynooth and Leixlip. The proposals,
sought by Cllr Catherine Murphy after representations from Celbridge,
will go on public display and submissions may then be made on
them by members of the public.
Leopardstown
Tours
Ticknock,
Dublin 18
'The masters
of turf travel'
Phone 01
2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie
|
Monasterevin
rail group finalising report
MONASTEREVIN, NOVEMBER 30,
1998: Monasterevin Railway Action Group is finalising a report
which will be presented to Iarnroid Eireann in January in a bid
to have their local railway station reopened. The report is based
around a survey of the area which shows that almost 300 Dublin-bound
commuters travel from Monasterevin each day - but they have to
drive to Portlaoise, Portarlington or Kildare to get a train
to Dublin. The survey also shows that 95% of them would use the
station in Monasterevin if it was reopened. It was closed in
1976, and earlier this year Iarnroid Eireann removed the platform,
ostensibly so that a rail maintenance machine could operate.
The action group dismiss research carried out by the company
claiming that there was no demand for the station to be reopened,
saying that it was simply carried out amongst travellers on a
railway platform in Dublin.
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Euro impact
seminar
KILL, NOVEMBER 30, 1998: The
implications of the arrival of the Euro on small business is
the theme of a seminar being organised by Kildare County Enterprise
Board for Tuesday. The seminar will offer practical advice on
what small enterprises should be doing to prepare for the European
Single Currency, which becomes a business reality on January
1 next. It's being held in the Ambassador Hotel, Kill, with a
starting time of 7.30pm. Further information can be had from
861707.
Water systems
need upgrading
SUNCROFT, NOVEMBER 30, 1998:
A call for the upgrading of water systems servicing Carna, Suncroft,
Kildoon, Nurney and surrounding areas has been made by Cllr Jim
Keane. He has tabled a motion to this effect which is due to
be considered at today's meeting of Kildare County Council. Other
motions include one from Cllr John Dardis that Kildare County
Council establish standards for 'disabled access on roads, pavements,
parkways and buildings' in the county, while Cllr Anthony Lawlor
says he has been waiting for 'months' for his motion on the need
for an 'urgent commencement' of work on Phase 2 of the Arthurstown/Turf
Bog Lane road at Kill.
Ray
O'Brien (Motors) Ltd
Newbridge,
Co Kildare
Main dealers
for Mazda cars & Mercedes-Benz commercials
Phone 045
431130
|
Stories for week ending 28 November
1998 are here
Stories for week ending 21 November
1998 are here
Stories for week ending 14 November
1998 are here
Stories for week ending 7 November
1998 are here
Stories for October 1998 are here
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