KNN-KildareNet News got three shamrocks from Doras

An INDEPENDENT internet news service for and about Kildare. sited on the County Kildare Community Network. All content © Telling Tales Ltd. Phone 045 481090 or 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; email tellingtales@yahoo.com SCROLL for LATEST stories. EARLIER stories of this and previous weeks are here For audios get REALPLAYER

Visit our flagship sponsor Intel Ireland

NAAS COURT HOTEL for AUCTION 28 July. Full details here Fairgreen St, Naas. Phone 045 897711.

Sewerage plans could 'destroy' Liffey near Ballymore - claim BALLYMORE EUSTACE, 23 July 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. The proposed 416-house scheme by Abbeydrive Developments in Ballymore Eustace has the capacity to ‘wipe out the Liffey’ in the area as a fishery and an amenity, Tom Deegan of the Ballymore Eustace Trout & Salmon Anglers Association said in his submission to the An Bord Pleanala hearing on the project. He was objecting both to the housing development itself and the proposed sewerage treatment plant that the developers intend to build in conjunction with Kildare County Council. “At the end of the day, neither Kildare County Council nor Abbeydrive can guarantee a minimum dilution of the sewerage effluent form the proposed development,” he said. “The EIS accompanying the proposed development states that it will ‘significantly increase the foul discharge’ from the site. Without the guaranteed dilution, this development will pose a significant threat. Also, the document makes no mention of the ongoing effect that the phosphate discharge from the proposed 416 extra houses will have on the water quality of the River Liffey. We believe it will lead to enrichment and consequent deterioration of the water quality.” He based his claim on the fact that Ballymore is unique on the River Liffey in that if no compensation water is released, then no dilution of the sewerage effluent can be achieved. “All other towns and villages have the benefit of stream and river tributaries giving some measure of dilution.” In his evidence he noted that the ESB and Dublin Corporation are the only bodies who can control the level of water in the River Liffey below the Poulaphuca Reservoir. “The Liffey Reservoir Act 1936 is strong on protecting the water impounded in the reservoir for public water use,” he said. “It has little to do with protecting the river downstream of the reservoir as a fishery or an amenity.” CHAPMANS OF KILDARE Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND? ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615 A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

NAAS BLOOD CLINIC TIMES THIS WEEK The annual summer blood donation clinic takes place at the Town House Hotel, Limerick Road, Naas this Wed, Thurs and Friday - 21st 22nd and 23rd July Hours are for Wednesday and Thursday - 2.30 pm to 4.45 pm and from 7 pm to 9.30 pm Friday - 10.30 am to 12.30 pm Voluntary organiser Teresa Scanlon (Lakelands) asks for a good response.

Only half of Ballymore development traffic for Dublin - expert BALLYMORE EUSTACE, 23 July 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Only half of the traffic from the proposed Abbeydrive Developments scheme in Ballymore Eustace would be commuters to Dublin, a traffic expert told this week’s oral hearing by An Bord Pleanala - the Planning Appeals Board - on the company’s plan to build 416 houses in the village. Graham Delal, giving evidence for the developers, was rebutting a suggestion by consultant planner for the local ABCD residents lobby Michael O’Neill (pictured above in conference with his clients) that over 70% of the car traffic generated by the development would be Dublin-bound, and thus would add to congestion in the Dublin Metropolitan Area. He also rejected suggestions that accidents already occurring in the area were related to traffic to and from Ballymore Eustace, saying there was ‘no hard evidence’ produced by the objectors that any of the accidents they claimed were happening ‘related to traffic in or out of Ballymore’. He added that the area which most of the accident concentration appeared to be on was the Hollywood Cross, no arm of which went to directly to Ballymore On further questioning from Mr O’Neill, he admitted that he had not sought the accident information in the preparation of his submission, nor had he conducted an origin/destination survey of existing traffic in the village.

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Corporate Magazine Production & Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Ambassador will open festival MONASTEREVIN, 23 July 1999: by Brian Byrne. The US Ambassador to Ireland, Mike Sullivan, will officially open the 12th International Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival in Monasterevin this Saturday. The event starts at 3.30 and Ambassador Sullivan will also rename the lane leading to St Paul’s Secondary School as Hopkins Lane. In addition to the academic programme, festival events include an Art Exhibition, a concert in Moore Abbey on Saturday night, and a day in Maynooth University with a tour conducted by its president, Seamus Smith. A scholarship initiative for secondary schools in the area has worked very well, and among those who will be taking part in the festival are Derek Higgins, Aine McDErmott, Padhraic Kennedy, Paul Sammon, Deirdre Cahill, Monica Dempsey, Barry Walsh and Raymond McNamara. “This represents a unique chance to participate in international workshops and lectures with many distinguished guests and lecturers,” says Cllr Fiona O’Loughlin, scholarship coordinator. Further information on the programme is available from Richard O’Rourke at 045 525416 or Elaine Murphy at 045 521415.

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 at KNN , or phone 045 481090; fax 481091.

There 'will be development' in Ballymore - planner AMBASSADOR HOTEL, KILL, 22 July 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. No village or town in Ireland is set in the 60s or 70s, Kildare’s temporary senior executive planning officer told the An Bord Pleanala oral hearing on a controversial Ballymore Eustace housing development yesterday. “There has to be development, or else we will get closed, shuttered or deserted villages as are seen in France,” Michael Kenny said. He was responding to a question from consultant town planner Michael O’Neill, representing ABCD, the residents group appealing the Abbeydrive Developments permission to build 360 houses close to the village. Mr O’Neill had asked was there any strategic reason why Ballymore should develop. Mr Kenny said there WILL be development in Ballymore, but at the moment they were looking at one particular development which was ‘a substantial chunk all at one time’. Earlier, Mr Kenny had told the hearing that while the council had set policy for growth in various towns and villages, there was room ‘within an envelope’ for further growth on undeveloped land in Ballymore. “For landowners within that envelope there must be a level of hope that they would get development for that land, for whatever uses they feel will run.” Commenting on previous references from the promoter’s side which suggested that Johnstown, Kilcullen, Sallins and Ballymore were similar, Mr Kenny said Ballymore was significantly different from these. “Johnstown, for instance, is adjacent to one of the premier roads in the country,” he said, adding that Sallins had seen much development based on its proximity to a major road and railway and the existence of a large number of local authority houses. Much of the discussion during the questioning of the Kildare County Council group at the hearing centred around which development plans were involved in the processing of the original application, which was granted in January of this year with the proviso that only 360 houses be built over a seven-year period. A significant amount of the developers’ input referred to the 1999 County Development Plan. Mr Kenny said that the 1996 town development plan for Ballymore was the ‘primary one’ used at the time, as the 1999 County Development Plan had not yet been adopted. However, during the summing up, Mr Kenny pointed out that the developers appeared to have misinterpreted an element of the 1999 County Development Plan, which they had read as zoning for ‘urban development’. This was not the case, he said. CHAPMANS OF KILDARE Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND? ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615 A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

NAAS BLOOD CLINIC TIMES THIS WEEK The annual summer blood donation clinic takes place at the Town House Hotel, Limerick Road, Naas this Wed, Thurs and Friday - 21st 22nd and 23rd July Hours are for Wednesday and Thursday - 2.30 pm to 4.45 pm and from 7 pm to 9.30 pm Friday - 10.30 am to 12.30 pm Voluntary organiser Teresa Scanlon (Lakelands) asks for a good response.

Details of Ballymore housing development given at hearing AMBASSADOR HOTEL, KILL, 22 July 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. The Abbeydrive Developments plan which is subject to an oral hearing by An Bord Pleanal this week consists a scheme of mixed houses built on a 62.5-acre site. Project architect Diarmuid Herlihy detailed how the scheme would include water features of streams and lakes. (Abbeydrive principal Gerry Deane is pictured above with a plan of the project.) Mr Herlihy told the hearing that the original scheme had included provision for the building of social housing by the developer. “But subsequently Kildare County Council expressed a wish to purchase that particular property and develop the 26 houses themselves,” he said, adding that after consultation with the planners and at a public meeting, provision had been made for community facilities on the site, including a Library, a Montessori School, a social services centre, health clinic and some shop units. These, he said, are currently subject to a separate planning application. The development was based what Mr Herlihy called ‘The Cheshire Design Guidelines’ which adopted the cul-de-sac principle to reduce through traffic and produce internal small communities. “In excess of 30% of the development will be open space, a much greater proportion than normal,” he said, adding that three-quarters of an acres in total would be devoted to water features. “The proposal will fit very comfortably into the framework of Ballymore Eustace, the clusters of houses reflecting the rural ambience.” He noted that a series of courtyards through the development will allow parents to keep an eye on their children at play, and there would be pedestrian access from one cul de sac to another.

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more. A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

Corporate Magazine Production & Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Sports club lodge planning application NAAS, 22 July 1999: by Trish Whelan. Naas Sports Group have taken the next step to provide a proper sports centre for the Caragh Road sports grounds (above). Plans have now been submitted to Naas UDC for a single storey Sports Centre including sports hall, meeting room, six outdoor changing units, two indoor, storage, plant, with toilet facilities and a sewerage treatment plant; two outdoor five-a-side football pitches, floodlighting, access road and carpark provision for 100 carparking spaces at the sports grounds at Caragh Road. Naas Sports Group Ltd represents the various sporting groups using the Caragh Road sports ground, which is owned by Naas UDC. The proposals are a joint venture between the UDC and the Naas Sports Group, using funding committed by the UDC, funds raised by the group and the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation. Given the community nature of the project, the applicants have asked for a waiver of the planning application fee in respect of the application.

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND? ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615

River pollution being investigated NEWBRIDGE, 22 July 1999: by Brian Byrne. Kildare County Council is investigating ongoing pollution of the River Liffey at Ryston in Newbridge, where an oily discharge into the river has been causing concern to local residents for several months. The council say they are having difficulty locating the source of the oil, which is entering the river via an outflow pipe. They are investigating individual premises connected to the pipe. Meanwhile, council workers recently installed a series of booms and oil absorbent material at the mouth of the pipe as it discharges into the river in an effort to alleviate the discharge. The move has been welcomed by Kildare South TD Alan Dukes (FG), who has been making representations on the matter for some considerable time.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

Naas UDC 'cannot ask for judicial review' of development plan NAAS, 21 July 1999: by Trish Whelan. Naas UDC was told last night that it could not ask its legal advisers to conduct a formal study of the procedures used in the production of the 1999 Naas Development Plan to see if the plan is safe from a challenge for a judicial review. Town manager Terry O Niadh was responding to notices of motion concerning the plan. Cllr Mary Glennon (I) had put down a motion asking that the authority have its legal advisers conduct such an assessment, but Mr O Niadh said he had already taken legal advice on the possibility of the council having left itself open to such a review and he was satisfied that there was no basis for it. With regard to a motion from Cllr Pat McCarthy (LAB) that the council should ask for a judicial review of the plan, which was adopted on 29 May, shortly before the recent local elections, Mr O Niadh said that there is nothing to stop any individual member of the council from seeking a review, but ‘there is no provision in law for a corporate entity to seek a judicial review of its own decision’. Cllr Glennon said there was still ‘much objection’ to the plan ‘on the doorsteps’. She suggested there was a strong possibility that a citizen could institute the process for a judicial review. “I wonder do our legal advisers understand everything that went on in matters leading up to the plan’s adoption?” she asked. Terry O Niadh said that a judicial review is normally based on ascertaining if there was some flaw in the process of adoption. “We sought to ensure that there was no breach in the process,” he said. “We asked lawyers’ advice and were told we could proceed.” The motions were lost. Cllr McCarthy said he would ‘seek every opportunity’ that comes available to him to try and ‘bring the plan down’. “I believe it was a bad day’s work for Naas when it was adopted,” he said. Cllrs McCarthy and Glennon were elected on anti-plan platforms, as was Cllr Anthony Egan. Ms Glennon topped the poll in the election. CHAPMANS OF KILDARE Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

NAAS BLOOD CLINIC TIMES THIS WEEK The annual summer blood donation clinic takes place at the Town House Hotel, Limerick Road, Naas this Wed, Thurs and Friday - 21st 22nd and 23rd July Hours are for Wednesday and Thursday - 2.30 pm to 4.45 pm and from 7 pm to 9.30 pm Friday - 10.30 am to 12.30 pm Voluntary organiser Teresa Scanlon (Lakelands) asks for a good response.

Ballymore development 'should be refused' - DTO AMBASSADOR HOTEL, KILL, 21 July 1999: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. The proposal by Abbeydrive Developments to build a 416-house development at Ballymore Eustace should be refused, according to the Dublin Transportation Office. At yesterday’s oral hearing by an Bord Pleanala on proposal, planning officer Noel Sheridan of the DTO said that it did not fit with the Strategic Planning Guidelines view that developments outside certain designated growth centres, such as the Naas-Newbridge-Kilcullen triangle, should ‘be strictly devoted to local needs’, in order to meet the Dublin Transport Initiative’s goal of cutting down on the use of car travel into the Dublin Metropolitan Area. “The current proposal by Abbeydrive is not related to local needs, and would turn the village into a commuter town,” he said. In response to questions from barrister Eamon Galligan (pictured here on right with Newbridge solicitor John Reidy) and consultant Frank L Benson for the developers, Mr Sheridan said he had not formally assessed the proportion of any traffic from the proposed development which might go to Dublin. “But we are stating that it would be significant,” he said. Mr Galligan put it to him that he had given evidence to the hearing without having done the necessary research of establishing traffic flows, and suggested that in fact the development would provide homes for people working in the designated growth area of Naas-Newbridge-Kilcullen. The hearing continues this morning under the direction of ABP inspector Ben Cranwell.

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more. A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

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 at KNN , or phone 045 481090; fax 481091.

Newslines ... MAYNOOTH: An Bord Pleanala has turned down an appeal by the promoter of a ‘superdump’ near Maynooth. Permission for the dump had previously been refused to Thornton Recycling. There had been major lobbying against the proposal by residents of North Kildare and South Meath. NAAS: Kildare Failte is moving from its current promises at Clane to a location on Naas Main St opposite the Naas Court Hotel. A spokesperson said the move, due on August 1, would make the organisation ‘more accessible’ to those who used its services. CASTLEDERMOT: Contract documents are now being prepared for the new sewerage scheme for Castledermot, according to Alan Dukes TD. Consulting engineers have been asked by Kildare County Council to produce the requisite documents for the scheme, which will cost £2.437 million. NAAS: Naas man Donal McAlister has been appointed Retail and Marketing Manager at Dublin’s Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. He was previously employed with Clayton Love distribution, one of the principal players in the frozen food market, where his responsibilities included the development of well-known brands including McCain and Findus. Prior to this he worked with Gateway 2000. ROBERTSTOWN: The Robertstown Grand Canal Festa this year returns to its traditional format with such attractions as bottle stall, wheel of fortune, face painting, crazy soccer, tug-O-war across the canal, under 15s five-a-side tournament, street drama, poetry reading, children’s events, and musical entertainment. The event takes place on the Saturday and Sunday of the August Bank Holiday with ‘mystery guests’ arriving at 3pm on the Sunday to open the festival. Street entertainment from the Sean Norman Céili Band, Noble Paddy, the Robertstown Traditional Irish Group, and the Esker Riada Ceili Band. NAAS: Over 150 young footballers had their chance to play their own world cup series in the Naas AFC Mini World Cup which took place on Saturday July 10 at the Caragh Road Sports Grounds. Major John De Burgh presented his perpetual trophy to the winners of the U/9s which was captained by Barry Griffin, enjoying some spectacular football not to mention brilliant sunshine before the presentation.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

Ballymore development oral hearing gets under way AMBASSADOR HOTEL, KILL, 20 July 1999: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. The An Bord Pleanala oral hearing on the controversial proposed 416-house development in Ballymore Eustace heard today that it would become ‘a self-contained ghetto’ on the outskirts of a village that would be ‘incapable of absorbing it’. That was the view expressed by Allan Dukes TD (FG) who told the hearing that the Abbeydrive Developments project was of a size and density ‘totally out of keeping’ with a village like Ballymore. (Pictured above at the appeal are Ballymore activists Catherine Smith, Rosemary Martin and Rose O'Donoghue.) Earlier, the managing partner of the architectural group Architectural Design and Project Management, Diarmuid Herlihy, told the hearing that the original application for 507 houses had been changed to one for 416 after Kildare County Council had asked for further information. In addition, the developers had included provision for a Montessori School, a health centre and a small shopping development after consultation with the parish priest. Kildare County Council has granted permission for the development, but the appeal to ABP has been taken by ABCD, the lobby of local people incensed at the proposal. During the morning session, Cllr Timmy Conway (PD) outlined the objections of a group of members of Kildare County Council who are supporting the objections. Cllr Conway said that in the original rezoning for the site it had been the councillors’ intention that it be for a density of one house per acre, and he said that in no way could the proposed density (at 6.8 houses per acre) be catered for in Ballymore. Similar opposition was given by Emmet Stagg TD (LAB) who said it represented the supplanting of ‘a chunk of Dublin’s population’ on the indigenous people. “I live in Straffan, which is the only other village in Kildare not yet invaded by people from our neighbouring counties, and we’re now feeling very threatened in the light of what happened to Ballymore,” he said. Cllr Mary Glennon (I) said that providing a Montessori School that would cost £275 a month for each child was not going to solve the problems already being experienced by school and other facilities in the village. She said Ballymore was ‘under siege’, with its small school already ‘straining at the seams’. “Small communities like this need to be protected,” she added. “Every community needs new blood, but Ballymore has to be allowed to develop slowly.” Jack Wall TD (LAB) said he hoped that ‘common sense would prevail’, otherwise Ballymore will suffer from ‘developing before its time’. “It must be allowed to develop at a village rate rather than a town rate,” he said. Consultant planner Michael O’Neill for ABCD said his clients had been ‘incensed’ at how they had been treated so far by the planning system. “Ballymore must be considered to be a ‘rural hamlet’ and insulated from urban development,” he told the hearing, and then went on to note that the developers had provided a ‘carrot’ in a sewerage treatment plant. “The proposed development would be unintegrated and unsustainable and if town planning is to have any credibility the plant must be rejected and seen for what it is - a Trojan Horse out of whose belly 1,500 people will jump into Ballymore.” Members of ABCD also gave presentations. John White said the people of the village had been ‘sadly let down’ by a lack of consultation with them in the planning process. Marie O’Neill took issue with several aspects of the Traffic Impact Survey furnished with the proposal and noted that gardai in Blessington had provided accident figures which showed even the existing and growing traffic levels were resulting in increased accidents. She also noted that the only link with the town from the area of the proposed development was a bridge over the Liffey which was ‘already dangerous’ but whose character as the ‘focal point’ of the village had to be maintained. The hearing continues this afternoon, under the direction of ABP inspector Ben Cranwell. The developers are represented by barrister Eamon Galligan and Frank L Benson, while Kildare County Council is represented by a team under the direction of Mike Kenny, temporary senior executive planner. CHAPMANS OF KILDARE Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND? ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615 A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin  KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Listen to IRELANDWIDE - 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.

Caragh parish in danger of 'split' over field sale CARAGH, 20 July 1999: by Brian Byrne. There were appeals in Caragh last night for the community not to allow itself be ‘split’ over a planned sale of parish land. The calls were made at a public meeting organised by a group calling themselves ‘concerned parishioners’, many of whom are opposed to the sale of a 17-acre field which could be worth close to £4 million going on what an adjoining 10 acres recently fetched. The decision to sell the property was made recently by the Caragh Parish Finance Committee and Pastoral Council, following lengthy discussions on the issue. But a significant number of the nearly-300 people who attended last night’s meeting reflected a view that the matter should be put to a vote of the parishioners. However, parish priest Fr Jackie O’Connell (pictured above answering questions at the meeting) said he saw no way by which the decision could be changed. “I have carried out my duties properly in this matter. If the decision was reversed by somebody else, it would have major implications for me ... I might as well be working on my own, because parish committees would not be relevant any more.” Fr O’Connell said that while many offers for the property had been made over the years, it was only now that the committee felt the time was right to sell, and this was also the view of professionals in the property business who had been consulted. In response to suggestions that the field be swapped for another behind the school, he said he was legally bound to dispose of the property only by public auction. “I do not have the authority to make private deals,” he said. On several occasions at last night’s meeting the chairman, John McMahon, asked that contributors to the discussion refrain from making personal remarks aimed at Fr O’Connell. The field (pictured below) was bought for the parish in 1943 through subscription raised by the parishioners. The original trustees are all deceased and when Fr O’Connell was appointed four years ago he was instructed by the Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, Dr Ryan, to vest all parish property in the K & L Trust. He emphasised several times at last night’s meeting that any proceeds of the sale of parish assets could only be used for the benefit of the parish itself. CHAPMANS OF KILDARE Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND? ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615 A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin  KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Minister opens New Row apartments NAAS, 20 July 1999: by Trish Whelan. The 29 New Row Apartments and housing units built by Naas UDC to cater for local accommodation needs were officially opened yesterday by environment minister Noel Dempsey TD. The minister is pictured above with Naas UDC chairman Seamie Moore, Cllrs Willie Callaghan, Anthony Egan and Evelyn Bracken; and Kildare County Council chairman P J Sheridan. The apartments and housing units are predominantly in two-bedroom units with a number of three-bedroom units at ground level specifically geared to the needs of disabled persons and four senior citizen units. A new planted and floodlit courtyard forms a safe recreation and play area for residents and their children. The scheme is currently under consideration by the Royal Institute of British Architects as a candidate project for the RIBA 2000, Buildings and Built Environment Awards and has been of much interest to housing associations and local authorities here and in the UK as a model for future local authority developments in rural towns. UDC chairperson Cllr Seamie Moore said priority had been given in the design and construction of the development to the importance of establishing a sense of community. He commented that the Council’s policy is to use up spare space in the town for this type of housing wherever possible and he asked the minister to introduce new initiatives that would see more social and affordable housing in the area. This was particularly necessary he said ‘because of the pressures associated with increasing house prices in Naas which is already losing indigenous families to other areas where affordable housing is available ‘and this defeats the purpose of sustainable developments of the Naas community’. The blessing of the apartments was performed by local clergymen Reverend Michael Wooderson and Fr Ruairi O’Domhnaill CC. The oldest resident of the new complex, Sarah Dunne (left), has described her accommodation as a ‘little bit of Heaven’. Sarah told KNN that she had celebrated her 60th birthday while working at Murtagh’s Bar, her 70th in Sarto Road and her 80th last week in New Row. Meanwhile it has emerged that the New Row Apartments will have to be renamed because the address is causing problems with post office deliveries, with confusion between house numbers in New Row and the apartments. Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane said he is endeavouring to come up with an Irish name for the new block.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin CHAPMANS OF KILDARE Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

Annual blood donor clinic marks end of an era NAAS, 20 July 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. The annual summer blood donor clinic being held in Naas this week marks the end of an era for the service, as for the first time locally-born journalist Chris Glennon is not involved. He recently handed over the organisation of the Naas clinics to former UDC councillor Teresa Scanlon, ending a 42-year association with the operation. His first connection to the service was when he was a 17-year-old junior reporter with the Leinster Leader and he was asked by Naas solicitor Brendan O’Flynn to give some publicity to a new voluntary blood donation operation. “Prior to that, donors had been paid two guineas per donation, but the system was changed. In Naas, the first organisation meeting was in the courthouse and it was from that that they asked me to help.” He did more than just publicise it ... though too young to give blood himself, Chris organised a number of older colleagues from work to make donations at the first clinic, held in the old technical school on the Limerick Road. That bit of in-house organisation landed him with a bigger job as Brendan O’Flynn asked him to take over the whole thing for the following Easter clinic. Getting donors interested was a two-pronged exercise - first by writing cards to every adult in town, and then enlisting the help of the local clergy. “Fr J J Doyle was parish priest at the time and he gave us great support. And it all seemed to work ... I think people suddenly realised that this was a real community thing, doing something valuable for others and at the same time something which might someday benefit themselves or their families.” (more)

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

NAAS BLOOD CLINIC TIMES THIS WEEK The annual summer blood donation clinic takes place at the Town House Hotel, Limerick Road, Naas this Wed, Thurs and Friday - 21st 22nd and 23rd July Hours are for Wednesday and Thursday - 2.30 pm to 4.45 pm and from 7 pm to 9.30 pm Friday - 10.30 am to 12.30 pm Voluntary organiser Teresa Scanlon (Lakelands) asks for a good response.

Cleanup for Monasterevin aqueduct MONASTEREVIN, 20 July 1999: As part of the works currently being carried out to the lifting bridge in Monasterevin, it is planned to remove growth around the aqueduct, according to Alan Dukes TD (FG). It is expected that the clean-up works will be completed by the end of July. This follows representations by Deputy Dukes to the minister for the arts, culture, the Gaeltach and the islands, Sile De Valera TD. A full structural survey of the aqueduct will be carried out later in the year while the navigation is closed, to assess the full structural integrity of the aqueduct. "This news will no doubt be welcomed by the Monasterevin Tidy Towns Committee," deputy Dukes said this week. "They have been calling for some time now for clean-up works to be carried out around the aqueduct.

Ireland's only COMPLETE motoring magazine on sale now at all good newsagents. 'Simply the Best'

NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by emailing us at KNN

For Ireland's best motoring news and reviews, visit MotorWeb

Judicial review move for Naas development plan NAAS, 19 July 1999: by Brian Byrne. An attempt will be made this week to arrange a High Court review of the Naas UDC Development Plan. Labour UDC member Pat McCarthy (left) says there are a number of issues relating to what he called ‘the pushing through’ of the plan before the local elections which merit asking for such a review, and he has a motion on the agenda calling for one. “There are questions to be clarified about speople who say they didn’t get an oral hearing, and the printing of a booklet called ‘The Naas Development Plan’ before the plan was passed at all,” he says. “In addition, there is a possibility that an Environmental Impact Study on the plan should have been carried out under European legislation before it was passed.” Cllr McCarthy is one of three councillors elected as a result of opposition to the plan, which was the centre of some considerable controversy prior to its being passed. Four members of the new council supported the plan, while Cllr Charlie Byrne (FF) voted against it. Cllr Pat O’Reilly (FG) is new to the council and it is not known whether he would support Tuesday night’s motion by Pat McCarthy. CHAPMANS OF KILDARE Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND? ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615

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

ONE OF THE KILDARE WILD GEESE? Are you involved with any Irish organisations or groups abroad? Let us know where you are and what you're at by emailing KNN. And find out about your fellow wild geese.

KNN NEWSLETTER We are preparing a regular email newsletter to keep people up to date with main news and features from Kildare. If you would like to be on the mailing list, email us at tellingtales@yahoo.com

	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.)

PREVIOUS STORIES Previous news of the week, and access to weekly archives, are available here

Motoring News	Garda Patrol	Farming Info
Results are here. Coverage is here. Candidates details are here.	Kildare's Wild Geese	Upcoming Service

 

Produced by

PO BOX 106, NAAS, CO KILDARE, IRELAND.

All material on these pages © Telling Tales Ltd.

Links must be notified to tellingtales@yahoo.com