Athlete set to do well in world contest

NEWBRIDGE, 8 March 2001: by Arran Hussey. Newbridge sprinter Karen Shinkins (pictured left with her father) is well placed to impress at March’s World Indoor Athletics Championship. The 400 metres national champion, who competes for Dublin City Harriers, recently broke her own Irish indoor record two times within a fortnight.

Though only in her early twenties she has clocked up a number of appearances at major championships, including last September’s Olympics. Shinkin’s best international performance to date has been a fourth place in the 2000 European Indoor Championships. She is one of a number of young athletes from Co. Kildare to look out for this year and next: Andrew Walker and David Matthews being other notable members of this group.

Andrew Walker, who is also from Newbridge, won’t be a teammate of Shinkin’s in THIS month’s World Championship in Lisbon, Portugal. However, the former junior international will be hopeful of joining her at a major championship shortly. The 23-year-old is wintering in Australia as part of Kim McDonald’s group of runners for the second year in a row.

McDonald represents many top stars including Sonia O’Sullivan. Walker, a former University College Dublin sports scholarship holder, recently ran two personal bests for the 1500 mete in back-to-back races. His best is now 3 minutes and forty seconds. Barring the misfortune of injury, which has hampered him previously further progress in his times is likely this year. This would leave him well placed to represent Ireland at 1500m in the next European championships in 2002.

Other young Kildare athletes include 26-year-old two-time Olympian David Matthews. Matthews, who competes for the UCD Club, grew up in Leixlip and is a bank official with AIB in Dublin when not racing over 800 metres. He is not expected to compete until the summer where he will look to gain selection for August’s outdoor World Championship, to be held in Canada. Kildare Net News will update you on these athletes progress as the international running season develops.

APOLOGY In recent weeks we have been unable to provide our usual comprehensive daily news service on KNN. This is because of pressure of our other business interests. KNN is a non-profit operation which we do as our own version of a public service and because we enjoy it. However, we have to eat too and the businesses which allow us to do that need priority attention. Bear with us. We’re not going away. Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan.

Council takes FMD measures

KILDARE GENERAL, 8 March 2001: by Brian Byrne. Kildare County Council has announced further measures to help prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. The Council has decided in conjunction with the urban district councils of Athy and Naas, and the town commissioners of Leixlip and Newbridge to close all public libraries in the county, close the swimming pools at Athy and Naas, as well as the sports centre in Newbridge, and close cemeteries except for funerals.

The Council has asked members of the public to avoid non-essential personal visits to local authority premises: business can still be done by post, phone, fax and e-mail. Where visits are essential the public are being asked to co-operate in disinfection procedures.

All public meetings involving Council personnel have been postponed, as have all meetings of the Council and its committees.

Concern over Town Hall acoustics

NAAS, 8 March 2001: by Trish Whelan. Problems over bad acoustics, lighting and sound proofing in the Council Chamber in the Town Hall have been highlighted by Cllr Seamie Moore who has asked for support for a motion that the town clerk ‘advanced the re-organisation of the Council Chamber with plans to improve sound and acoustics’.

However, it was pointed out that this would involve a new suite of desks in the Chamber and getting rid of the existing antique oval table. This did not sit well with some of the members who expressed reservations. Officials are to investigate further.

Cllr Moore had asked the Council to prepare a bye-law to prevent rubbish being left on pavements and public places in the event of non-collection by commercial contractors. Officials said there was no objection to the principle of bringing in such a bye-law but pointed out that the real way to tackle the issue was through a recycling scheme.

Clane prepares for 'Me & My Girl'

CLANE, 7 March 2001: by Trish Whelan. Everything is at fever pitch in The Abbey, Clane, now that D-Day is drawing near for the Clane Musical Society’s production of ‘Me & My Girl’. The cast are certainly enjoying themselves as some change from gentry to cockney roles and others enjoy all the fun of upstairs/downstairs life.

Leads Aidan Donoghue (Bill) and Georgina Ireland (Sally) - pictured below - are thoroughly enjoying speaking to each other and everyone else in Cockney accents!

Patrons are in for another treat as The Abbey will have new seating for the show, thanks to the many groups involved in making the purchase possible. These include Clane Local Development Co Ltd which gave Clane Musical Society a grant of £3,000 to donate to Clane Community Council as its contribution the cost of the chairs.

PRO Gilíosa Kiernan says it’s a show not to be missed, great fun and up tot he usual high Clane standard. This was certainly the view of those who attended the launch night on Tuesday 27th February. Following a warm welcome and introductions by Gilíosa, chairperson Sadie O’Reilly narrated a synopsis of the show which included sketches and songs, compiled by Fiona White and directed by Kathryna Phibbs. Pictured above are the gallant lads who make up the mens' chorus.

The ‘Lambeth Walk Musical’, as it became known, is the story in which Bill Snibson from Lambeth, south London, inherits the title Earl of Hareford. Naturally, the estate’s snooty executors, the Duchess Maria and Sir John, are aghast. Bill takes his girlfriend Sally to view the ‘family pile’, which doesn’t go down too well with Lady Jacqueline, who already has her mince pies (Cockney rhyming slang for eyes) trained on him. The Duchess tries to coach Bill into being a proper English gentleman and break up his romance with Sally, but Sir John comes to the rescue! Do they live happily ever after? All the answers are in The Abbey from 17th -24th March!

Other members of the cast include Angela Clifford, Eamonn Rogers, Olive Mitchell, Brendan Farrell, Declan Adams, Eamon Clifford, Pat Costello, Sadie O’Reilly, Pat Reade, Fiona Shirran and Peter Davis. The production team include Arthur McGauran, Brian Brady, Deirdre Browne, Marie Cusack, Trish Fusco, Mary Doyle, and Tom Kavanagh. (Arthur, Deirdre and Brian are pictured taking time out above).

Tickets are available from Anne Noonan, 045 868735; or from Marron’s Pharmacy and Centra, Clane; Sizzers, Naas; and Gourmet Bakery, Naas. Tickets for Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th are £6. with students and OAPs £4. Tickets from Monday 19th - Saturday 24th, £8. Sponsors include Manzor’s Pub, Clane; AIB Clane; and Leinster Merchant Wines.

Naas man helps set up stand at Geneva show

NAAS, 7 March 2001: by Trish Whelan. A Naas man plays a key part in one of the most visual aspects of the international motor industry, and his work was part of the recent international Motor Show in Geneva.

Carpenter Colm O’Sullivan (Sarto Park - and pictured left) has been based in Frankfurt for the last ten years where the company he works for was responsible for erecting the stand Volvo stand at the Geneva show. This involved a huge amount of steel construction, flooring, two tier levels including offices and paneling - everything to show off the new models to the best advantage.

“It took 20 days to build the stand, working flat out 13 hours a day, or more, if it’s behind schedule,” Colm said. And of course what goes up, has to come down and Colm and the lads will have to dismantle their work after the show.

Colm has also worked on stands for other motor distributors such as Audi, Mercedes, and VW at various shows. He’s already looking forward to a work trip to the Tokyo Motor Show in October. Other jobs include setting up stands for the many book fairs around Frankfurt.

After completing a construction technician course in Ireland, Colm worked for a spell in England before heading for Frankfurt where he first started with renovation work. It’s also where he met his wife, Dana, who is Polish.

“A lot of people are involved in exhibition work, and you have to be flexible. This means being able to do all sorts of jobs from laying floors to working with metal,” he says.

And of course, he keeps in regular contact with his parents Jim and Ann O’Sullivan back in Naas who are looking forward to Colm and Dana’s visit to Naas in September.

Wants schools' support on litter

NAAS, 7 March 2001: by Trish Whelan. The amount of litter deposited outside McDonald’s, The Gem and the TSB was highlighted at a recent UDC meeting when Cllr Eibhlin Bracken (left) asked the Council to write to local secondary schools on the issue. She said the worst times are at lunch and at school closing time.

UDC officials said they would take the matter up directly with school authorities as well as working through the Naas Youth Parliament who have taken some initiatives regarding litter in the past.

Against closing off of laneway

NAAS, 7 March 2001: by Trish Whelan. Objectors to a proposal by Naas Developments Ltd to close off a public footpath which joins Blessington Road with Sunday’s Well housing estate could set a precedent for the closing-off of other such walkways in the town.

Denis and Frances Logan say their family finds it far safer to use this short laneway when walking or cycling from their home on the Tipper Road to the park in Lakelands and on to Ballycane Church than taking the Blessington Road which is ‘too dangerous and noisy’ for walking and cycling. They say “Naas is choked by traffic and this proposal would discourage people from walking and cycling.”

Ann Duffy from Sunday’s Well says she finds it ‘utterly contemptible’ that the Planning Act allows for one individual, or a company, to apply for planning permission to close a public footpath that has been in use for 13 years, without even the courtesy of discussion with local residents.’ She says the fact that it has been in use for 13 years must mean that it can now be considered a ‘right of way’.

Ms Duffy says the closure of the footpath would cause great hardship to all who use it, in particular the elderly, children travelling to and from most schools in the town, and mothers with buggies. She intends carrying out a door-to-door survey and to gauge public reaction to the plan by organising a petition against the proposal which would then be handed in to the Town Hall.

She says if the laneway is closed, it would add an extra half mile walk to the town and the resulting fallout would be that anyone who uses it for quick access to schools, church, shops would resort to using their cars. “The last thing Naas town centre needs are more cars looking for parking spaces!” She claims that the 20 yard laneway, which is flanked by thorn bushes, poses no threat to nearby residents from anti social behaviour.

Another Sunday’s Well resident, Kevin Kenny, says it is a well-used path and greatly facilitates pedestrian access to the North end of the town. It is also adjacent to a common pick up-/drop off point for bus routes that use the Blessington Road.

Ms Stella Fitzsimons, Sunday’s Well, says when she purchased the site of her house 12 years ago she was told that the laneway would always be in place. Another local resident, David Boyne, says his objection has the backing of 10 other residents with whom he has discussed the situation.

Builder's compound to be vacated end April

NAAS, 5 March 2001: by Trish Whelan. Remedial Works are expected to be completed in Sarto Park and the controversial builder’s compound at Pairc na nOg, (pictured above) vacated by the end of April.

The statement by Naas town clerk, Declan Kirrane, followed a recent meeting between Naas UDC and the contractor involved. Mr Kirrane is on record as having said it was the most difficult contract he had ever been involved with.

The compound has long been a bone of contention with residents of the area who claim it is a blight on their landscape. Last week, Cllr Pat McCarthy received the backing of UDC councillors when he asked that the Council’s solicitors be instructed to initiate legal proceedings to force an early completion of the scheme and the removal of the compound.

However the town clerk said there are certain difficulties involved in taking legal proceedings because of the form of contract used by local authorities.
Outstanding works include the relocation of the ESB meters in houses, the completion of works to footpaths and boundary walls together with road drainage and surfacing. Mr Kirrane said the ESB will be on site this Wednesday. He expected work on the meters to take about four weeks to complete. Excavations for the boundary walls and footpaths should be completed by Friday. The contractor would then be in a position to start reducing the size of the compound and clearing it off.

Mr Kirrane expected all works to be completed by the end of next month.

Row on length of time for transfer of deeds to UDC

NAAS, 5 March 2001: by Trish Whelan. A recent meeting of Naas UDC had to be postponed for a short while to allow tempers cool during a debate on the proposed town park at Oldtown Woods.

Cllr Pat McCarthy (left) had called for an early meeting between the UDC, Lehmex International (owners) and the life leaseholder of Oldtown Woods (Major John de Burgh) on the matter. Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane said he didn’t envisage such a meeting until everyone knew their rights in relation to the gardens. He said the transfer of ground to the UDC was progressing and a meeting could not take place until the claims ‘are enshrined into a legal document’. He said there are claims and counter claims being made and he was not privy to any of them.

Cllr McCarthy said he hadn’t agreed to defer his motion ‘indefinitely’. Chairman Cllr Pat O’Reilly (below right) said the discussion was ‘time wasting’. Cllr Mary Glennon then asked for a map of what would be handed over to the Council. She feared the UDC could get a swamp area. She wanted to know why the solicitors ‘can’t get their act together’ saying it is a simple transfer of deeds.

Cllr Glennon was supported in this by Cllr Timmy Conway who said it was an ‘utter disgrace’ that it was dragging on for almost three years. He blamed the Council’s solicitors and demanded that the documents be available at the next UDC meeting.

Cllr O’Reilly countered that the matter be left until officials have the information to hand but Cllr McCarthy said he was not satisfied with the response. At this, the chairman demanded: “You’re challenging my ruling, are you?”

“I am. Yes,” came the reply.

“You’re just looking for publicity,” countered Cllr Conway.

Cllr O’Reilly then left the chair saying there had been a vote of ‘no confidence’ in him. Vice chairman Cllr Willie Callaghan then took the chair.
However Cllr McCarthy again pressed that his motion of ‘no confidence’ in the chairman be put to a vote. This was refused.

Town manager Tommy Skehan then rowed in behind his town clerk saying Mr Kirrane ‘is working his butt off to get this up and running’. Cllr Anthony Egan believed there should be a time restraint on the deed transfer time.

“You’re looking for a row,” stormed Cllr Conway. Cllr Moore then proposed they agree the chairman’s decision to defer the motion.

Back in the chair, Cllr O’Reilly insisted on moving on to the next item on the agenda.

UDC to seek new consultant for Abbey Cemetery upgrade

NAAS, 5 March 2001: by Trish Whelan. Plans to clean up the Abbey Cemetery in Naas have been put on hold with the withdrawal of South Dublin Parks’ Department from its agreement to undertake the clean up job. Naas UDC will now have to find another way of taking on the work - which was the Council’s main Millennium Project, to cost £40,000.

Brandy and whisky bottles as well as beer cans are being left in the Cemetery, according to Cllr Charlie Byrne who asked that a ‘No Drinking in the Graveyard’ sign be erected. “Leave it sacred, as it should be,” he said. He said the gates are open and this could encourage people to go in and drink there. He said this wouldn’t be allowed in any other town.

Town clerk Declan Kirrane (pictured above right at the Abbey Cemetery gate) said he wanted the message out that it is the residents of Naas who are causing the litter. This was refuted by Cllr Eibhlin Bracken who said the culprits could come from outside the town.

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Around the County

GENERAL: Progressive Democrats senator John Dardis has welcomed the allocation of £74,588 for improvements of roads in County Kildare.

“This is a 20% increase over last year, and will help to improve the many local roads in Kildare which are desperately in need of funding,” he said.
Senator Dardis said he will work in the coming weeks to ensure that work commences on the local roads in most need of this money as soon as possible.

GENERAL: Deputy Emmet Stagg has called on the Director of Telecomm-unications Regulation to resist the attempt by Chorus to impose a monthly service charge of £2.50 on customers for maintenance.

“Chorus customers are already paying for service and maintenance in their monthly charge of £12,” he said. “Now they’re being asked to pay twice for this.”
Deputy Stagg noted that possible sanctions against Chorus would include the revoking, suspending or amending the company’s existing licence.

GENERAL: Deputy Jack Wall has called on the minister for the environment to draw up emergency legislation to ensure that planning applications can be processed during the foot and mouth crisis.

While he fully supports a directive of the county manager that their planners cease visits to any rural site during the crisis, he said this will put planning applications on hold, and could lead to lay-offs in the construction industry.

GENERAL: Senator John Dardis has called for the appointment of a secior government minister for food safety.
“The foot and mouth crisis has brought into sharp focus the huge importance of the food industry to the Irish economy,” he said. “It sends out all the wrong signals to have a junior minister dealing with such a strategically important industry.”
He said that a new department for Food Safety would have to operate independently of the Department of Agriculture.