ATHGARVAN, 19 January 2001: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Athgarvan GFC has come under heavy fire from the Department of Defence because it is trying to complete its development plan by putting in a car park.
Contractors who began work on the 50-space car park today were threatened with a £10,000 fine by two Curragh Rangers, and officers of the club were later officially told that the work must stop, by Department of Defence official Hugh Crawford (pictured left laying down the law to the club officials).
But the club, which leased its grounds from the Department in 1982 for a period of 21 years, is adamant that the car park was included in the permission given both by Kildare County Council and the Department of Defence.
"It is clearly marked on the plans which were agreed to by the Department," says Ben Snell, development chairman of the club, which is over 100 years old and caters for more than 250 members, the bulk of them youngsters. "The only reason we didn't put it down before was because we hadn't the money, but we've now been given a generous donation for the job by a benefactor."
This afternoon, on his third visit to the site today, Hugh Crawford handed over a fax from the Department calling on the club to stop work immediately, as it allegedly is a breach of a section of the lease.
"But we have a letter from the then Minister for Defence, David Andrews, in 1993, which gives us full permission to do all our development," Ben Snell says. "And our clubhouse was officially opened by another minister, Paddy Power, so the department must know our plans well."
Hugh Crawford also told Ben Snell and fellow club member Pat Fitzgerald that the work was in breach of the National Monuments Act and the club could be 'taken to task' by Duchas. "And I will give evidence against you if they take you on," he added. "You are breaking the law and deliberately flouting it, and have deliberately carried on despite being told to stop." He also said that no digging can take place on the Curragh without an archeologist being present.
The 5-acre club ground is the only recreational facility for young people in the Athgarvan area, and it is also used by the pupils in the adjoining Athgarvan National School both for matches and other training. "We haven't even a shop or a Post Office in the village now, with a growing population ... we're actually very deprived," Ben Snell says. "We're the only facility. We have over 100 youngsters here for training every Saturday morning because there's nothing else for them to do in the village."
The club also believes the stone chippings car park they're putting in would make things safer for the pupils in the school, as parents could park there instead of on the road when dropping off or collecting their children. "We're even prepared to allow them access to and from the school through our site," he says.
The trustees at the time of the signing of the lease included the late John Keogh, then county finance officer in Kildare County Council, Joe Farrell and local builder Peter Byrne.
Club officals today pointed out the irony of the Department rolling out the big guns against them, when it was itself guilty last year of unauthorised dumping at the back of Donnelly's Hollow, below the pitch site. That particular work, involving the filling in of a gravel pit with material from McKee Barracks in Kildare Town, has been suspended pending a decision next week on a planning application to Kildare County Council.
The club is finally benefiting from its work with youngsters, as this year is the first in its history to have a Minor team.
Three counties join in planning alliance
KILDARE GENERAL, 19 January 2001: by Bill Trapman. The inaugural meeting of the Kildare Meath Wicklow Planning Alliance was held on 17th January 2001, in Maynooth, Co Kildare. This is a unification of three individual Planning Alliance groups, representing the hinterland areas of the Dublin Region, under one alliance.
The reason for the establishment of the Kildare, Meath, Wicklow Planning Alliance is in response to the widespread breaching of the Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area, in relation to the development plans which are being proposed for the counties concerned.
The Single Objective of the group will be to ensure that the Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Region are fully implemented.
KMWPA will not be party politically aligned. Further information from Mike Parle at (01) 624 4654 or (01) 825 2599 Fax: (01) 624 4050.
Other contacts are Jim McGrath Spokesman South Meath Planning Alliance - 01 825 2189; Judy Osborne Chairperson Wicklow Planning Alliance - 0404 40523; Aidan Keane Chairman Kildare Planning Alliance - 01 628 7504.
Naas ICA marks 30 years with craft exhibition
NAAS, 17 January 2001: by Trish Whelan. Naas ICA Guild marked its 30th birthday with an exhibition of craft work in Naas Library, which was formally opened by national ICA president Breda Raggett (pictured above left with Naas ICA Sandra Butler).
Ms Raggett told the Naas members: “I know exactly how it feels to have your piece on show; the absolute pride and self satisfaction in doing your own thing and seeing it all come together.”
Before cutting the tape, she told how the organisation is undergoing huge change with the emphasis on a more modern image and how the whole aspects of craft had changed since she had learned to knit in school.
This quantum leap was clearly demonstrated by the huge variety of work on show, from glass engraving, needlework, lace, tapestries, bedspreads, cushions, Christmas decorations, candle making, paintings, ornaments, to intricate pictures made from recycled sweet wrappers!
A teacher of crafts herself, Breda said she had discovered her talent was in using her hands and it was through experience gained at the ICA’s An Grianan and country markets that she had achieved her teacher’s certificate.
Breda Raggett also reflected on the huge change the ICA had made to the lives of women in Ireland since its foundation 90 years ago, long before the arrival of national radio.
The national president took the opportunity to introduce a ‘new look’ ICA booklet, costing £2, which details services at An Grianan and stressed that you don’t have to be a member to enjoy what the centre has to offer. She added that the ICA is also trying to attract people who just want to stay, and do nothing ‘so long as they don’t look for room service’!
Ms Raggett received a warn welcome from local guild president, Sandra Butler and the large number of guild members (and the one man who braved the situation!).
The Naas Guild meets in the Credit Union building at 8pm on the first Tuesday of every month.
The 30th anniversary craft exhibition sponsors included AIB, ACC Bank, First Active, Naas Credit Union, Superquinn, SuperValu, Champion Naas, Dara Cinema, KP Hopkins, McDermot Fencing, Sarah Flood’s and QK Cold Stores.
Racecourse denies speculation that festival meeting is in danger
PUNCHESTOWN, 16 January 2001: by Trish Whelan. The Punchestown Festival WILL take place from April 24-27, according to Richie Galway, Punchestown racing director.
His statement followed speculation in local pubs that the Festival meet due to take place from April 24-27 would have to be cancelled due to the condition of the track.
Fears had been multiplied because of the number of transferred meetings this year regarded as ‘critical’ by racing fans as they are seen as an indication of form in the lead up to Cheltenham, Fairyhouse and the Punchestown Festival.
“We were obviously very disappointed to lose our four January/February meetings but this allows us the opportunity to concentrate our efforts on the Festival and ensure every piece of ground we have available, on either track, can be used at the Festival,” Mr Galway explained.
He said remedial work is continuing on the main track and two affected areas - directly after the finishing post and before the turn for the back straight and ‘it should be all right so long as it is not raced on between now and April’. He said no problems had been encountered on the Festival round when it was raced on on October 8.
Racing fans had criticised the use of mole drains to aid drainage on the track. However Richie Galway says this is a recognised form of racecourse drainage that has already been undertaken at Punchestown as well as at Leopardstown, Fairyhouse, The Curragh and Naas. “It was the culmination of a drainage scheme planned after the very wet Festival of 1998 to ensure that if such circumstances were ever encountered again, we would be in the best position to race without any problems.”
He blames the complications following the mole draining to the unprecedented heavy rainfall. A total of 3.5 inches of rain had been recorded at Punchestown from October to December of 1999, but some 14 inches had been recorded for the corresponding time in 2000.
Richie Galway also moved to reassure local annual badge holders (Punchestown, The Curragh and Naas) that their badges CAN be used at all transferred meetings. These include DownRoyal on January 20 and Fairyhouse on February 10 & 11.
Badge holders say they were unaware of this when a recent fixture was moved to Thurles.
Kilcullen transformation causes some unease
KILCULLEN, 16 January 2001: by Brian Byrne. Work has begun on a number of building projects which will transform the village of Kilcullen over the next three years.
Residential developments at Castlemartin (above) and on the north bank of the Liffey at O’Connell’s Field (below) will add almost 400 homes to the town, and planning permission has already been given for further developments which will effectively double the number of houses in the village in the next few years.
There are currently some 900 houses in Kilcullen, which has not had this kind of development before because of a lack of sewerage and water services. With the completion last year of a new sewerage system, shortly to be linked to the expanded Osberstown Regional Treatment Plant, a rush of development has been made possible.
There is some disquiet locally about the sudden increase in the pace of development, with a number of locals wondering if the existing infrastructures of Kilcullen can cope. However, a public meeting last November attracted only a small number of people, and few searching questions were asked.
A major retail/residential development is also mooted for the Square area (below), which is expected to include a hotel, a number of new pubs and shops, off-street parking and apartments and town houses.
Catherine Murphy not to contest next General Election
LEIXLIP, 15 January 2001: 4pm by Bill Trapman. Kildare Labour councillor Catherine Murphy, has announced that she does not intend to stand at the next General Election. Cllr Murphy was due to join Deputy Emmet Stagg on the Labour Party ticket in the Kildare North three seat constituency as part of the Labour/Democratic Left merger agreement.
Cllr Murphy said that having reviewed past figures for the Constituency it is clear to her that it is not possible for Labour to win two out of three seats at the next election. “Had I pressed my claim on this occasion to run it would result in a highly competitive situation between myself and Deputy Stagg,” she said, “ instead of using the short time before the next election to work together on issues that are of importance to the Kildare North Constituency and indeed to the wider Labour constituency.
"I have taken the time since the Local Elections to reflect on my position and believe what is important in politics is the issues rather than the individuals. I believe this initiative has the potential to assist positive political action within the Labour Party in Kildare on issues that I have felt are of importance to the County, such as an end to the discrimination of counties like Kildare in relation to the Local Government Fund and a better system of planning which would be in the interest primarily of our communities rather than the construction industry.
"With the goodwill and assistance of the Labour organisation, and an agreed package of measures, I hope it will be possible to emerge once again as a candidate in a future General Election."
Meat factory layoffs 'causing devastation'
KILDARE, 15 January 2001: by Brian Byrne. A series of layoffs at Kildare Chilling factory (above) because of the BSE situation is having a ‘devastating’ effect on employment in the Kildare town area, according to Deputy Jack Wall, who has called on the Government to get the agreement of the European Commission to providing a beef intervention scheme.
And he says that in a time when the world is in a crisis of drought and hunger it is ‘unbelievable’ that meat is being destroyed in the current scheme, without examination as to whether it is in any way unfit for human consumption.
Deputy Wall made a specific call on ministers Mary Harney TD and Joe Walshe TD to investigate ‘as a matter of urgency’ the ‘employment chaos’ which has been caused by the BSE crisis.
Workers in other meat plants throughout the country have also been laid off in the wake of a consumer backlash against beef and the refusal of countries which have been traditional markets for Irish beef to take meat from a number of EU countries.
'Fast-track' Monasterevin station - call
MONASTEREVIN, 15 January 2001: by Brian Byrne. A call for a speeding up of the process to reopen Monasterevin Railway Station has been made by Senator Sean O Fearghaill, who said this week that the Arrow service should be extended to the growing numbers of commuters in the town ‘sooner rather than later’.
The Government has agreed in principle to reopen the station, following many years of representations from the people of Monasterevin. Minister Mary O’Rourke has appointed a ‘top-level’ group to assist Iarnrod Eireann to expand the rail network and they are due to report back within three months.
Monasterevin has a population of around 2,000 people and is projected to double in size within five years. It has been designated an urban renewal centre and according to Senator O Fearghaill, more land is to be zoned in the town for residential and industrial use.
When the station is opened and the Arrow commuter service extended to it, Dublin will be a 45-minute train journey away.
“The rejuvenation of the rail services to south Kildare will form an important part of the group’s final report and I expect they will benefit from the £1 billion which is to be invested in the rail network as part of the National Development Plan,” Senator O’Fearghaill said.
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Help with Kilcock connection?
13 January, 2001: Dear Editor, Yours Sincerely, Roland Byrne |
24-year wait for footpath 'disgraceful'
NEWBRIDGE, 15 January 2001: by Brian Byrne. Waiting for 24 years for proper footpaths must be something of a county record, according to Newbridge Town Commissioner Pat Black, who says that’s just what the occupants of more than 400 homes have had to do.
The footpath on the Tankardstown Road near the Dominican College are in a ‘third world’ condition, the commissioner says, and he believes it is nothing short of a disgrace that Kildare County Council hasn’t dealt with a matter first raised in 1977.
“Since then, more than 400 homes have been built in this area, and more are planned,” he says. “It’s bad enough for people in the whole of their health to have to make their way along here, but what about young mothers with buggies and elderly people trying to walk up to the town? Maybe the Celtic Tiger finds it OK, but tigers are used to jungle tracks.”
Cmmr Black raised the matter again at last month’s Town Commission meeting, and he was supported in his call for action by Cmmr Spike Nolan.
International exhibition for Athy Library
ATHY, 15 January 2001: by Brian Byrne. Athy Community Library is to host an exhibition based on an international youth project which involved more than a million children from 91 countries.
‘Children of the world illustrate the Bible - Book of 1,000 Tongues’ is an Israel-sponsored initiative in which children from many different nations and faiths submitted entries to a drawing competition.
This exhibition presents a sample of entries from the project and will be held in Athy Library from 23-27 January.
Meanwhile, membership of the Library is now free to children and young adults up to the age of 18. Household membership costs £10 a year, and up to 20 items may be taken out per family at any given time.
Single adult membership is £5, allowing up to five items to be borrowed. Senior Citizens and unwaged can join for £2 a year. Items which can be borrowed from the library include books, books on tape, CDs, videos and magazines, and the loan period can be up to three weeks.
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LEIXLIP: Leixlip's new Library may be up and running within a year, according to latest news. The building, which will be on the Newtown House site where the current library service is located, has undergine the tender process and a buildir is expected to be on site in early Spring.
Newtown House itself is to be handed over to a local community group.
LEIXLIP: A new Bill which will ensure the control and supervision of individuals and firms providing security services by setting up a Private Security Authorityhas been welcomed by Fianna Fáil Councillor Paul Kelly.
"This Bill represented progress on yet another commitment in the Government’s legislative programme, and will help maintain and improve standards within the industry," he said.
LEIXLIP: An NTL proposal to dig up Leixlips Main Street to lay communications cable has been described as 'madness' by Cllr John McGinley.
"This arises because the Government will grant a Communications licence to anyone who wants one and the Council then have to give them permission to dig the streets," he said at a recent Leixlip Area Committee meeting. "If the Government set a realistic cost for the Licence there would not be so many people interested."
NAAS: Concern would like to thank all who collected and contributed to their Christmas street collection which totalled £2,633. This did not include money from the sponsored fast.
NAAS: Naas UDC hopes an allocation of £5,000 to fund a five-year plan for the Tidy Towns would be a template for future improvements in the town. Litter contributed to marks being lost in the Annual Tidy Towns Competition this year.
NAAS: The Knights of Saint Columbanus wish to thank everyone who contributed to their collection on behalf of Sr Mary Jo Hannon and her mission in Lesotho. The total raised was £1,100 which has been forwarded to Sr Mary Jo in total.
NAAS: Nas na Riogh Singers are looking for tenors and basses for the new season. If you are interested, please contact John at 045 877919..
LEIXLIP: Leixlip Area councillors are to meet with Kildare's county manager this month to see if there can be a faster way to progress negotiations with the ESB for land proposed for a town car park. Last month the councillors were told that CPO procedures had been initiated.
