NAAS, 23 February 2001: by Trish Whelan. County Kildare Failte can’t do much to bring people to Naas if it is just another dull town cribbing at the tourist body. That’s what the new chairman of Co Kildare Failte bluntly told last week’s meeting of Naas UDC when he stoutly defended the organisation against previous criticisms by UDC chairman Cllr Pat O’Reilly.
Co Kildare Failte were making a presentation to the Council as a follow up to an earlier request that the UDC provide them with some funding.
Cllr O’Reilly had said he was not going to ‘welsh’ on his remarks that the organisation was not being active enough in promoting Naas. He said it had been ‘genuinely well intentioned criticism’ and Naas UDC had played its role in helping to promote tourism.
“We would not rule you out for a grant for the coming year,” he told the deputation of Sean Cleary, Margaret Edghill (marketing director) and Karen Gorey (development director).
Cllr O’Reilly told how hoteliers, restaurants and B&Bs in the town had found it necessary to produce their own advertising brochures to promote their businesses.
CKF chairman Sean Cleary said the organisation had held its AGM since the previous furore had occurred and a new committee was now in place. The idea, he said, was to ‘package what we have to offer and to see how other things can be developed into a better tourism product’.
Margaret Edghill (marketing director of Punchestown) told councillors: “You have to look at the global picture, and not just Naas.” She said plans include for a new brochure, a mobile display unit and a web site. She told how CKF had exhibited at a number of trade fairs at home and abroad and outlined plans for the new advertising campaign. Ms Edghill said the organisation has very limited resources and relies on grant aid and on members’ subscriptions.
Kildare County Council recently handed over £55,000 to CKF to promote the county in 2001. An earlier grant of £25,000 had already gone on paying staff, light, heat, and rent.
She said it will be three years before the marketing plan sees results. The new brochure, available in May/June, will provide a complete information pack on where to stay, eat and sleep as well as attractions available. She said CKF will not be doing a brochure on Naas but were trying to get people into the county, and keep them there. “Our major areas of strength are racing and key visitors. The bottom line is that people stay a night and move on.”
Karen Gorey (Robertstown self catering village), said the tourist organisation would be open to suggestions and would be willing to work to bring people into Kildare and into Naas.
Councillors felt there was scope for both to work together. It was pointed out that Naas had held an international street festival and enjoys ongoing twinning arrangements. Cllr Seamie Moore said he would like to see a gap in the summer season being promoted. “We have a big population with very little happening over the summer.”
Sean Cleary said a lot of festivals are contrived and have no connection with where they are held. “It’s super imposed on a town. It should have some link to be associated with. So many are the same they’re becoming a bit of a bore.”
Cllr Mary Glennon believed the canal in Naas to be ‘completely under utilised’. “Between the UDC, Duchas and Co Kildare Failte we could promote a boating and walkway industry in Naas.” She referred to the large number of boats moored at Sallins at weekends. However it was pointed out that the high number of locks between Sallins and Naas was a problem for boaters.
The lack of parking bays for visiting coaches in Naas was highlighted by Cllr Charlie Byrne who raised a laugh when he said ‘we’re here every night trying to keep people on the motorway!’. He said if people can’t find a parking space, they’ll just move on. He pointed out that there are no restaurants open on Sunday mornings in the town. He believed Naas has a long way to go before it can become a tourist attraction.
Cllr Timmy Conway said the deputation had been like ‘a breath of fresh air’. He said he had had ‘disagreements with other people in Co Kildare Failte’ and was delighted to see new people on the committee.
Chairman O’Reilly called it a ‘useful exchange’. He said the major beneficiaries would be the commercial communities of Naas and it was important that the Chamber of Commerce would play a major role. “I think there could be a greater imput from such people,” he said.
Unruly UDC over VEC school move
NAAS, 21 February 2001: by Trish Whelan. Naas UDC last night failed to produce a united front for a proposed move of St Patrick’s Community College to a new site at Oldtown, despite pleas from the chairman and Cllr Timmy Conway (right) that a signal of support was needed.
The discussion, on Cllr Conway’s motion that the council support the move to Oldtown, at times became unruly and led to the chairman suspending the proceedings. “You’re more like a crowd of kids,” Cllr O’Reilly said at one point.
In the course of the debate, Cllr Seamie Moore (left) made a personal attack on Cllr Pat McCarthy, accusing him of having a ‘vested interest’ in his opposition to the motion because he, Cllr McCarthy, was in dispute with the VEC over his employment*.
(*Cllr McCarthy was formerly employed as a VEC instructor at the Army Apprentice School at Devoy Barracks, which was closed down by the Army prior to the sale of the property.)
Cllr McCarthy retorted that it was a ‘simple fact’ that any such matters were being dealt with at national level by his union, and he wished that Cllr Moore had [on another occasion] ‘been more straightforward with facts that had to be dragged out of him’.
Earlier, Cllr McCarthy (right) had said he was not prepared to support the proposal at this stage, because it was committing the council to two material contraventions. “I see a need for a community college on the Sallins Road, but I have reservations about giving up the site on the Newbridge Road, currently zoned for educational use,” he said. “That area of town is growing as well, and there are a number of questions I would like to see answered before I would be prepared to vote for this motion.”
Cllr Moore accused Cllr McCarthy of ‘demonising’ what he called ‘every good proposal’ brought to the council table relative to development on the Sallins Road. “It’s wrong,” he said. “This particular school needs every positive support it can get and the upgrading of the school to a community college will be a great benefit.”
Cllr Conway said finance minister Charlie McCreevy was ‘pushing’ the minister for education to make the move happen, and said it was ‘vital’ the UDC ‘row in behind’ the VEC while minister McCreevy was ‘in the position he is now’.
Cllr Evelyn Bracken, a member of the VEC, said the school had ‘gone a bit derelict’. “That’s why they’re not getting the students,” she said. “We want to go to a new area where there would be a bigger catchment.”
Cllr Charlie Byrne (right) said he would be backing the minister’s decision whatever way it went, but he wanted to know the decision first.
Cllr Mary Glennon (left) said she was ‘totally in favour’ of the school ‘having a new image and start’ but asked that the motion be deferred until full details were available.
“I’m not putting my name on anything until the fine print is sorted out,” she said. “It’s a marvellous concept but I am against signing a ‘blank cheque’ or blank legal document for anyone.”
Cllr Willie Callaghan said ‘further clarifications are ongoing’ and he supported the motion saying it ‘would help with the negotiations with the minister’ and that the ‘vibes coming from Naas’ on this move would be important. Cllr Anthony Egan said he would have no objection to giving support if he knew the exact details. “As these are not available, I’m not giving them carte blanche,” he said.
Cllr Glennon asked that the word ‘Oldtown’ be left out of the motion and recalled to the meeting the situation that the GAA found themselves in when dealing with the developer of the demesne. She aimed her comments directly at Cllr Moore. “Where were YOU, Seamie Moore, when the GAA was shunted out?” she asked. “Sitting on the fence! They are in a complete and utter mess.”
The chairman then suspended the meeting.
The row developed further during the suspension period with Cllr Glennon storming that the previous Council had 'sold Naas a pup.' Cllr Conway then hurled back: "What have YOU done?"
“I got more votes than you anyway,” she retorted.
When proceedings resumed, Cllr O’Reilly appealed to the councillors to ‘take the heat out of’ the discussion and work as a team. “If the minister is in doubt about the commitment of Naas, the monies won’t be available,” he suggested, asking that they give him a signal that the ‘community is behind the project’.
The vote was carried by 5-1, Cllr McCarthy against and Cllrs Glennon, Egan and Byrne abstaining.
Work begins on Monasterevin Railway Station
MONASTEREVIN, 20 February 2001: by Stephen O'Rourke. The first stage of the reopening of Monasterevin Railway Station has begun, with the arrival of Galway-based contractors Coffeys on the site.
The station has long been a cause of campaign for its reopening, and a commitment was given to do so by the Government last year. The work of Railway Action Committee in reaching this stage is well documented on their site.
Political support finally came after a number of very high-profile protests by local people under the direction of the Railway Action Committee (below).
Kildare Youth Conference drew support from all over county
NAAS & KILDARE GENERAL, 19 February 2001: by Trish Whelan. The Kildare Youth Conference in Naas last week afforded close to 100 young people from schools around the county a chance to voice their views on issues which affect young people today.
The conference, organised by Naas Youth Parliament and held in Naas Town Hall, was the first of its kind in Ireland. It marked another first for the group which was the first Youth Parliament to be established in the country.
The event was chaired by well known broadcaster Vere Wyn Jones who commented positively on ‘the intense level of commitment and maturity of the young people involved’. He said it was ‘a clear example of what a huge resource we have in our young people and their potential in terms of national and local democracy’. He added that the conference should be copied on a national scale if the Government is serious about including young people in politics.
Naas UDC chairman Cllr Pat O’Reilly wished the conference well and said he was delighted that such an historic event was taking place in the town.
The chairperson of Naas Youth Parliament, Marlene O’Connor said young people have a very important role to play and members of the Parliament were role models for younger students. She said they should be advising Naas UDC of what young people are thinking about.
Parliament secretary Ger James said he had benefitted enormously from his time on the Naas Parliament. He believed such Parliaments should be set up all over the county.
Topics for discussion included refugees, suicide, and drugs - issues that affect young people and their future.
Joan Conlon of Kildare Community Services spoke on supports provided for asylum seekers in Ireland. She said the difference between having the Kosovars and asylum seekers in Kildare town was that refugees had full status and could work while asylum seekers are on direct provision and are not allowed access to training or work opportunities until processed.
Suicide counsellor Jean Casey discussed the situation of young people committing suicide. Her suggestions are to be adopted as policy so as to help young people with problems.
Participants also took part in a number of workshops which included youth pressure, racism and anti-racism, social issues, the future development of Kildare, and a teacher’s workshop.
The Naas Youth Parliament was founded in 1995 by local Councillor Timmy Conway who has supported each group since then.
The idea was based on the youth parliament he saw during his stay in the US. He was so impressed with the way that parliament could pass its own laws that he then set up the Naas Youth Parliament which is comprised of students from the secondary schools in the town. These are elected by fellow students and meet every week in the Council Chamber of Naas Town Hall. The meetings are short and to the point, lasting about thirty minutes during the lunchtime break. The rest of the week is spent working on the projects discussed.
The aims of the Parliament are ‘to give voice to the dreams of youths so they may take root in reality’. The long-term objective is that there be a youth parliament established in every town in Ireland, with national status.
It is a non-profit making, non-partisan organisation aimed at targeting the needs of young people.
Participants were asked to take time to complete a survey on their views on issues in Kildare. Questions related to facilities for young people, third level education opportunities, suicide, if drugs are a problem for in their areas, sports, smoking, crime, the environment, and their future employment prospects.
They were also asked for their opinions on asylum seekers/refugees coming to their own areas and if they believed the needs of young people are being taken into consideration by the people who make decisions. They were also asked how they see County Kildare developing over the next 20 years.
Cllr Timmy Conway, who heads the Kildare County Development Board, said the conference was a very important forum for the Board, providing the views of young people. He said the Youth Parliament will now keep in touch with all the participating schools.
Tuttys and Hederman's Yard up for sale
NAAS, 19 February 2001: by Trish Whelan. Keen interest has been expressed in two prime sites at Naas railway bridge for sale by public tender.
The 1.5 acre sites, zoned retail/commercial, include Hederman’s Yard and Tutty’s shoe factory (above) as well as the access lane from Friary Road. Tutty’s are to locate to another premises.
The sale is being handled by Jordan Auctioneers, Newbridge, and the closing date for receipt of tenders is March 14.
Hederman’s Yard (below) was previously under consideration by Naas UDC for use as a town centre car park.
Sharp fall in Kildare unemployment
KILDARE GENERAL, 19 February 2001: by Trish Whelan. The level of unemployment in Kildare has fallen dramatically since the present Government took office, according to Senator John Dardis (PDs).
In June 1997 there were 7,270 people on the Live Register in County Kildare - today there are 3,359. In just over three years the number of people on the dole in Kildare has fallen by 3,911, a drop of 55%.
He said the target to reduce the rate of unemployment to 7% has been reached and passed 18 months ahead of schedule. Unemployment is now at 4%.
Jobs are now being created at the rate of 1,000 a week and unemployment has halved since the Government took office, the Senator said.
Youth unemployment in Kildare has also experienced a sharp drop, down from 1,750 in June 1997 to 628 today - a drop of 65%.
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MONASTEREVIN: The 14th Gerard Manley Hopkins International Summer School promises to be the most International so far, with participation from 24 countries.
Poets giving readings will include Roger McGough, the famous Liverpool writer well known for his songs and involvement with the pop group The Scaffold. Thomas Tidholm, one of Sweden’s best-known writers will also attend.
Lectures on Hopkins will feature a star-studded group including Enda McDonagh, Francesco Marronni (Italy) and Kunio Shimane (Japan). Sculpture, Art, Photography, Music, Poetry, great people and good fun are all the hallmarks of the School.
Further info from Breda at 086 3055524.
BROWNSTOWN: The installation of a new public footpath at Brownstown, The Curragh, aligning Curragh View Estate to St Brigid’s Tce has at last been given the go ahead.
“A minor obstacle with the Department of Defence, as the path will be on Department property, has been resolved,” states local Labour Cllr Jim Keane.
Cllr Keane used some of his allocation from Discretionary Grants for footpaths to carry out this necessary work.
He is delighted that pedestrians will now be able to travel to and from local shops on this heavily trafficked road with a degree of comfort and safety.
Brownstown Community Council, who have consistentlylobbied Cllr Keane on this matter, are delighted with the outcome.
CELBRIDGE: The further allocation of £3.5m to the construction of the Celbridge interchange by the National Roads Authority has been welcomed by Deputy Emmet Stagg.
The Deputy said this, together with funding for design work and land acquisition provided last year, means that construction work will now start on the interchange in the near future. Tenders for the project were invited last year and the appointment of a contractor is imminent.
Deputy Stagg reiterated that the interchange scheme would be completed as one project with connections to Celbridge, Intel and Hewlett Packard.
Construction work will take approximately two years.
THE CURRAGH: Labour’s Senator Jack Wall has welcomed the commitment from the Minister for Defence, Michael Smith TD, to refurbish a number of facilities for members of the Defence Forces at The Curragh.
“As Labour spokesperson on Defence I have been pursuing this matter with the Minister over a number of months. It is essential that members of the Defence Forces have proper training and recreational facilities. It is vital for morale and recruitment,” Mr Wall said.
Current projects in this year’s programme include the new dining complex for NCOs mess; an upgrade of Connolly Officer’s mess; upgrading of blocks at Clarke Barracks for accommodation purposes; and the planning of the upgrade of the Officers’ mess kitchen at Ceannt Barracks.
He added that, given the resources available to the Government now, there is no reason why members of the Defence Forces have to tolerate inadequate facilities and said he will continue to press the Minister on the matter.
