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Naas resident wants football pitch restored to community

NAAS, 20 MARCH 1999: by Trish Whelan. A Naas resident whose home overlooks Pairc na nÓg near the Caragh Road Bridge is demanding that Naas UCD keeps its promise to restore the area of the football pitch to its former condition. The area is presently being used as a builder's compound while remedial works are in progress to a number of houses in the area. Building supplies and machinery are being stored on the site.

Tony McAllister from St. Gabriel's Place told KNN the work was supposed to have been finished around June of this year but now with the news that eight houses are to be demolished and rebuilt said it looks like they are going to be there for a considerable length of time yet. He has asked Naas UDC to follow up their initial comments that the ground would be restored to its former condition. "It's like this for a year now," he said, not relishing the prospect of his ugly view for much longer.

According to town clerk Declan Kirrane, the remedial works on the houses that don't have problems are due to finish in May. "I don't know if, when we get to build the other eight houses, the builder will continue to use that particular compound."

 

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

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NAG AGM takes place next week

NEWBRIDGE, 20 MARCH 1999: by Brian Byrne. The AGM of the Newbridge Access Group is to be held in Hotel Keadeen next Thursday. The event, which starts at 8pm, will includ a discussion on the theme of 'Lifetime Homes'. Speakers from the DraWare Group are Finnoula Rogerso and Ruth Morrow.

The proceedings will be 'signed' for those with hearing difficulties. Further information from Ger McLoughlin at 432166.

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CHAPMANS OF KILDARE

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Dukes warns against Kildare towns becoming part of Dublin conurbation

KILDARE GENERAL, 19 MARCH 1999: by Brian Byrne. Kildare South Fine Gael TD Alan Dukes has strongly criticised the ideas underpinning proposed development in County Kildare to cope with he calls 'Dublin's overspill'. In particular he says he is concerned at the concept of joining Naas/Newbridge/Kilcullen together in planning terms, and Kildare Monasterevin. "I don't like that way of thinking at all," he says. "Each of these towns has individual character and individual needs and I would object very much to these being tampered with. I want to see the individuality of each town being respected."

He was speaking on a proposal that a number of towns around the capital city would be developed in a £1 billion plan currently under consideration by the Government, based largely on the concept of these becoming 'dormitory' towns for Dublin. The plan proposes strategic planning guidelines up to 2011 and suggests dividing 'Greater Dublin' (which includes counties Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow according to consultants Brady Shipman Martin) into separate metropolitan and hinterland areas. "Inevitably there will be people coming to live in these towns who do work in Dublin, and they are welcome, but we don't want to see these towns become just a part of a greater Dublin conurbation."

Deputy Dukes said he felt Kildare's planners and elected representatives are quite aware of the dangers and are working to make sure that their own plans are not swamped by those of the three Dublin county councils. And he warns bluntly that a limit may well have to be put on the size of Dublin, in the not-too-distant future.

RealAudio: Alan Dukes on planning for Kildare towns.

 

Factory shop at The Maudlins Industrial Estate, Naas. The most delicious of gifts from our finest Irish chocolates range are selling around the world from our website.

 

 

Switch-on for Castledermot soon?

CASTLEDERMOT, 19 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. The 'age of enlightenment' is getting closer to Castledermot, according to a spokesman for Kildare County Council. In short, the new traffic lights could be switched on in three weeks (see previous story this week). The delay, according to the spokesman, was due to a request by gardai that special signage for the lights be put in place before they began operation.

These signs have now been delivered and will be put in place over the next couple of weeks, and after that the lights will be switched on. Townspeople have been looking for the lights for 16 years. They were finally installed last September, as part of a major reworking of the junction with the Athy Road in the centre of town.

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New Row people recall the past

NAAS, 19 March 1999: by Trish Whelan. New Row 'was a great place to live' according to many at a special evening organised recently by Naas Local History Group to recall memories of growing up on the Row and of the families who had lived there. It was a time to remember old friends, local shops and the alleyways where some did their courting ... or fighting as youngsters. "Tonight is a very special night for Naas," said chairman Ger McCarthy."It's also for newcomers to learn what Naas was like in the 40s, 50s and 60s." Of the 65 families who previously lived on New Row, only five remain.

Moira Heffernan recalled stories of when she lived at Mulhall's - a shop where the House of James now stands. She said people had supported each other and New Row had been a great place to grow up. Paddy Sourke from Our Lady's Place backed up many stories with tales of his own.

Paddy Behan, St Martin's Avenue, spent his youth in New Row and said his childhood would have been similar to that of his parents'. He spoke about families who lived on Rathasker Road, The Harbour and of the four families who had lived on Well Lane (on the site at the new apartments). He said it had been a busy area of the town with Conyngham's bakery, Wallace's coal yard, Mrs Miley's fish and grocery shop and Lendrum's saw mills at Market House while the crane at the Canal Stores was used mostly for taking heavy goods from the boats for local trade. He said families had collected sawdust from the mills for fires and displayed a replica of what a saw dust fire looked like. "Food for animals, including the pigs, was boiled on these as well as the Christmas Pud."

Former residents recalled included wheelwright Joe Martin who had given everybody lessons in history. "That's where you heard about the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima," recalled Paddy Behan. "But our big novelty was when the wheel would be wheeled down New Row to Well Lane to be dropped into the river to swell." He said with the affluence of the 1990s, people tend to forget how poor people had been in the 40s and 50s when rabbit was the staple diet. Families had also kept ferrets and dogs for hunting and 'pooching' had provided a livelihood for many. "Bicycles would be laden down with pairs of rabbits which were brought to Gibbon's poultry shop on New Row (now Donegan's). A rabbit was 1/6d or 2 for 2/6d."

Ger McCarthy, who had lived near Murtagh's Corner (Finan's) on Main Street, recalled the families who lived in the area with a large 1930s aerial photograph of the entire area while Seamie Moore, born on Corban's Lane before the family moved to the canal banks near the Gas Works, told how there were 65 boys in his class, with the one teacher. He recalled families in the area and the people who had worked at the Gas Works and Odlum's and how the first water safety lessons had taken place on the canal near his home.

Such was the interest in the evening, Cllr Paddy Behan said it was hoped to follow up with another talk, later in the year.

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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.

Councillor hits out at 'unasked for' news media pressure

NAAS, 18 March 1999: by Trish Whelan. Naas UDC councillor Charlie Byrne has strongly criticised the news media for putting him into 'a position he didn't ask to be in' concerning allegations of bribery relating to the Naas draft development plan. His comments came following a suspension of standing orders at this month's meeting of the UDC during which a newspaper article in last week's Sunday Independent was debated.

The matter had been raised by by Cllr Seamie Moore who said he believed it was important for the Council to reflect on the article as 'there was high suspicion that something unlawful was going on - and this was not the case'. "Decisions and recommendations [in the plan] were made solely on the needs of the town". He told the meeting he had not 'been intimidated'. (See box below from KNN datelined November 17 1998).

In the article Cllr Byrne had been quoted as saying he had been offered money by 'two' people to support their applications for rezoning but had said 'no thanks, there'll be none of that for me'. He had subsequently voted against the plan. At Tuesday night's meeting he said he did not believe it was a matter for 'any Flood Tribunal.' He said the media had come to him, and 'these people have no regard for me or my family for the stress and strain they have brought upon me'. He said it was not the type of publicity he wanted ... or needed. (Cllr Byrne appeared on radio and television programmes during the last few months following his allegations of being put under serious pressure by developers during the discussions on the Naas plan.)

Cllr Sean English said the issue wasn't about councillors .... but about developers. "It's a criminal offence to offer a bribe to an official or to an elected councillor and this message should go out 'loud and clear' to developers." Cllr Teresa Scanlon said the matter was 'about alleged attempted interference with our local democracy.'

Cllr Byrne said he was prepared at any time to face any allegation that has been made for or against him. "I did not go to the media ... the media gave me the facts and asked me to deny them. I didn't ask to be in this position." He said any problem he would have had with the development plan he would have addressed through the official lines.

Cathaoirleach Paddy Behan said he was 'saddened' by it all. He did not believe that 'any councillor at any time had done anything to benefit themselves, as every councillor strives to do their utmost for the benefit of the town'. "Personally nobody has ever come to me offering a brown envelope. I took nothing and was offered nothing, apart from something that was supposed to be for the benefit of the town. Last week I was offered a building for a heritage centre in return for rezoning - a long term ambition of mine - maybe some people would describe that as social bribery. Business people, if they think they can get some advantage, they're going to do anything they can. You have to be fairly tough in this business, and you have to be able to say 'no'. "

Town manager Terry O Niadh said it was a very sensitive issue and Cllr Byrne had suffered much stress. He agreed with Cllr English that the 'offender is the person who offered inducements and not the person who refused to take it'. "I don't think any councillor should be examined or embarrassed. It is appropriate that it is referred to the Flood Tribunal because it's wrong for any public representative to be offered something. It's to his credit he refused it. The financial inducement clearly didn't work because Cllr Byrne voted against everything."

'Intimidation and verbal abuse' condemned

NAAS, NOVEMBER 17, 1998: A strong criticism of what he termed 'personal intimidation and verbal abuse' was made by Naas UDC member Seamie Moore at the start of the Monday meeting on the Naas Draft Development Plan. He said he had suffered this from members of the public in the gallery following the previous meeting and, while acknowledging their legitimate right to have concerns, he personally would not be intimidated. His remarks were supported by several other councillors - Evelyn Bracken said they were making their decisions for the people of Naas, Willie Callaghan said it was an 'absolute disgrace' and that the councillors were 'only doing their best', and town manager Terry O Niadh said any further such incidents would 'not be tolerated' in the precincts of the Town Hall. Cllr Teresa Scanlon also deplored such intimidation, but noted that what they were doing 'was going to affect Naas for the next 100 years'. "I think that people have a right to talk to councillors and express their feelings," she said.

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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.)

 

 

 

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Griffin calls for '£100 sites' to be made available by Kildare County Council

KILDARE GENERAL, 18 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. Maynooth councillor Senan Griffin has called for a change of policy by local authorities, particularly Kildare County Council, to allow people in certain categories to buy sites for affordable housing. He says those in an income band of roughly between £15,500-£24,000 who cannot expect to get mortgages, and are yet earning too much to qualify for council housing, could be sold sites for as little as £100 by their local authorities.

"These would be fully serviced sites, on which they could build homes designed by the council for just £65,000," he says. "Each site might cost the council £4,000 in total to develop, but under a particular scheme available at the moment, the difference - including any interest that might levied on the council - will be made up by the Department of the Environment." He says that Kildare County Council should have up to 200 sites available for suitable applicants. "There is plenty of servicable land available in different parts of the county, and all it needs is a willingness on the part of the local authority to take advantage of the money which the Department of the Environment is willing to give at the moment."

Cllr Griffin said the land for such housing should be provided by developers seeking rezoning. "I have advocated in council that 20% of any such development approval should be for land for the council," he said.

RealAudio: Cllr Senan Griffin talks about affordable sites.

 

Priest tricked into knife, gun, attack

SALLINS, 17 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. A Sallins priest who was held up at knifepoint in his home on Tuesday said he was tricked into allowing two men into his home because they were able to give him the name of a parishioner who was supposedly sick.

"Once I let them in they demanded money," Fr Colin Swan told KNN. "One of them held a knife to my face and when I told them I only had personal money, they brought me upstairs to get that. Then the other produced a gun, but I managed to set off the alarm and they ran away."

Gardai are asking for help with the incident, which happened just before 7am.

RealAudio: Fr Swan talks about his ordeal.

 

Athy Heritage Centre receives first award

ATHY, 17 March 1999: The Athy Heritage Centre has received its first award with a commendation in the Interpret Ireland Awards 1998. Theaward was presented by Mary Kennedy of RTE at a function in the National Gallery, was accepted by the Chairman of the Athy Heritage Company, Terry O Niadh. Other award winners included Bru na Boinne in Co Meath and the National Gallery of Ireland.

The Interpret Ireland Awards are given in recognition of outstanding practice in the provision of visitor attraction facilities and the judges were especially impressed by the restoration work carried out in restoring the ground floor of the 18th century Town Hall and the quality and presentation of displays in the Centre.

The centre, opened in May 1998, tells the story of Athy through artefacts, display panels and multimedia technology. Anglo-Norman Athy, Antarctic Explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, World War 1, the Gordon Bennett Motor Race and the Grand Canal are just some of the themes. The centre also operates as a Tourist Office and Gift Shop. Open 7 days a week, Monday to Saturday 10am-6pm, Sundays 2-6 pm. Last admission one hour before closing. Admission: £2.00, Concessions: £1.50, Children: £1.00, Family: £5.00. Further information from Mark McLoughlin.

 

Istabraq carries home first Irish honours

NAAS & CHELTENHAM, 17 March 1999: Yesterday afternoon the streets of Kildare's towns were distinctly quiet, and even traffic seemed to be a considerable degree less dense than usual. No, it wasn't an early Punchestown, but something almost as important - the beginning of the three-day festival of racing at Cheltenham. For those who couldn't go in person, the local pubs were the place to cheer on Istabraq with Charlie Swan up, carrying Ireland's flag of pride for the festival to win the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in what commentators described as a 'race of perfection'. Here's how the the stalwarts of The Five Lamps in Naas saw Istabraq passing the post.

Rugby fans? ... check in to Naas Rugby Club's home page for the latest news on the club's activities

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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

 

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Hopes that lights will soon be on

Dear Editor,

I am a property owner in the Castledermot area to where I make my annual pilgrimage for a couple of months peace and contentment. I am always appalled at the condition of the village green and its surroundings (ancient plastic shopping bags flailing in the trees near Copes, etc). When home (Castledermot) last Autumn I was just delighted to see the traffic lights being installed and looked forward to a safer street crossing for all our 800+ inhabitants and numerous visitors in the future.

Needless to say, I was shocked to read in KNN that as of the present moment there is not a flicker of light yet emanating from these very expensive poles. I hope and pray that by this year's visit, again in the autumn, that the town will be getting its money's worth in lights! The town folk have to endure a lot of traffic hardships and deserve at least this measure of safety.

Lucy Whelan.

PS: Kudos to KNN for such a newsworthy Internet site. I 'hit' it very frequently for all the happenings around Kildare.

 

Kildare/Wicklow orchestra members play in North Wales

NAAS & NORTH WALES, 17 March 1999: Seven students of St Mary's College in Naas are among the members of the Dunlavin Youth Orchestra who are in North Wales over the St Patrick's Day holiday, following a very successful performance at the recent Youth Orchestras Festival in the National Concert Hall. The orchestra has many members from mid-Kildare, and they'll be playing with Welsh school orchestras in Llangefri and Colwyn Bay over their four-day trip, which will also include trips to Snowdon Mountain and the Llechwess Slate Caverns.


The orchestra is directed by Dorly O'Sullivan of Grangebeg, Dunlavin, and the trip has been made possible by donations so far totalling almost £2,000. Pictured with Dory are Alice Kelly, Aisling Nugent, Miriam Harney, Julie Tracey, Aoife Britton, Anna Deegan and Helen Harney.

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Check in with Farm.ie for Brendan Burke's top farming news and views

 

Over £5m due to Kildare County Council in development levies

COUNTY HALL, 16 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. Kildare County Council has £5,143,531 in outstanding development levies due from developers, or 43% from a total levied of almost £12 million over the years 1995-98. The largest amount not yet paid is in Newbridge, where more than £1.7 million remains outstanding, or 62%. Other figures include Kildare at £801,551 (71%), Leixlip at £704,177 (25%), Maynooth at £531,746 (39%), Celbridge at £411,954 (30%), Clane at £258,586 (74%), Kilcock at £267,385 (67%), Monasterevin at £297,175 (81%), and Sallins at £147,996 (11%).

The figures were given to Cllr Catherine Murphy after repeated requests to officials since shortly after she was elected to the council. "The council as a whole actually backed me in the effort since 1995, but I've had a motion down just short of two years ... I wouldn't take it off until I got the answer."

Cllr Murphy says she was given a variety of excuses as to why the figures could not be ascertained, including shortage of staff and, most recently, the breakdown of a printer. She told KNN that there could be a number of reasons why the levies have not been collected, including developments not going ahead, agreements with the council of payment by instalment, 'or simply that the council is not as efficient as it could be in collecting outstanding levies, because of lack of staff or whatever'. "As far as I'm concerned, this is money that should have been used already in providing infrastructure for developments," she said. "People are really frustrated at how they're being treated ... all they see are houses and no services for them."

The levies are demanded from developers as conditions for planning permissions and are meant to be used for the provision of water, roads, open spaces, sewage, car-parking, footpaths and public lighting.

 

Waiting for the red light in Castledermot

CASTLEDERMOT, 16 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. Residents of Castledermot have a brand new set of traffic lights and a brightly-painted box junction in front of them ... and they'd really love it if somebody came along and switched on the lights. They've waited 16 years for them, and when they were installed last September they thought their days of having to scoot across the road between whizzing cars and trucks were over. Not yet though.

The nice new lights are sheathed in plastic refuse sacks (so they don't get dirty?), and the traffic still whizzes through. A member of Kildare County Council's Roads Department told KNN he 'really didn't know' when pedestrians would be able to stop the traffic with a push of a bright green button.

"Maybe they're millennium lights, and the switch-on will be part of the council's millennium celebrations," one Castledermot wag told this news channel. Sure, what's another year?

 

Timmy flies the flag in Denver

NAAS, 16 March 1999: Naas's poet-laureate-at-large Cllr Timmy Conway is the city guest of the Mayor of Denver in Colorado, USA, Wellington M Webb (pictured right with HIS flag) over the St Patrick's holiday. He has brought the new Naas flag with him for the occasion, and will no doubt be displaying it at whatever celebrations take place in that city on St Patrick's Day.

Timmy is also representing the Hopkins Society and will be doing readings from his own extensive poetry collections during the week.

Factory shop at The Maudlins Industrial Estate, Naas. The most delicious of gifts from our finest Irish chocolates range are selling around the world from our website.

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CHAPMANS OF KILDARE

Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

 

Three selected for FG in Newbridge Town Commission race

NEWBRIDGE, 16 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. Three Fine Gael candidates have been selected to contest the election to Newbridge Town Commission in June - incumbent Spike Nolan and newcomers to the fray Brian Maginn and Christy Murphy (pictured above). At a selection convention last night veteran commissioner and Kildare councillor Nolan said he had no doubt that 'if we all get together and work as a team, we'll get three seats on the commission'.

Brian Maginn is a local businessman with strong family connections to Fine Gael who has worked in the family business in Newbridge and on the Curragh since 1976 and who has a degree in marketing. He told the meeting that he believes the future development of Newbridge 'has to be carefully monitored'.

Christy Murphy is an accountant who also has a keen interest in how the town of Newbridge should develop. "I don't want to see us go the way of Naas," he said in his address to the convention. "Newbridge has to be grown in an organised fashion."

Spike Nolan said that 'Newbridge is booming, but there's still a lot to be done and I'm very glad that I didn't "take the shillings"', referring to the gratuity on offer for local representatives who decide not to run for election again. He recalled the days when there were three FG councillors on the commission - himself, Nancy Moore and Alan Rae. "For a long time after that I was there on my own, and it can be a very lonely place with all those Fianna Faillers sniping at you," he said.

Convention chairman Cllr Senan Griffin complimented Newbridge as a town that 'thinks for itself, works for itself and projects itself'. And he cited particularly the work of the Newbridge Access Group in bringing forward a programme for people with disabilities which succeeded eventually in having the county council make equality of access a part of its own policy. "I can recall arguing in my own town of Maynooth over access matters, and while all the excuses in the world were offered for not doing what was necessary, in the end they were done," he said, adding that it was all due to the example shown by Newbridge.

Kildare South Fine Gael deputy Alan Dukes said the party now had 'an extremely good team' in Newbridge, one which it could be 'proud to market'. And he roundly condemned 'smart-ass journalists' who sneered about 'gobshite' county councillors. "They have no idea of what they're writing about, and none of them would ever be elected if they ran for local office," he said. "And I have no doubt that all that these people have written is no addition to the totality of wisdom. If I was ever to be given a licence to hunt, it would be to eliminate such people."

Deputy Dukes said that no elected organisation is 'Mickey Mouse', and that all such democratically elected bodies had influence. "Politics is about influence, and it would be my wish that local politicians should have more real power, particularly in respect of planning. I know this goes against the conventional wisdom, but such matters should always be dealt with by people who are accountable, who can be thrown out by the people if they're not working for the people."

 

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LOOKING FOR PROPERTY IN LEINSTER?

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Major conference on children from deprived backgrounds

KILDARE GENERAL, 16 March 1999: A conference aimed at parents and professionals who live and work with children from backgrounds of deprivation is to be held in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, on 22 May. 'Challenges and Opportunities' is being organised by The Parent Network for the Post Institutilised Child (PNPIC) Ireland. Many young children who enter orphanage/foster care are functionally delayed because of neglect, poverty and lack of stimulation, but the organisers say that with appropriate stimulation and intervention, many improve significantly while in placement or adoptive homes.

Unless properly identified, many children will not receive appropriate help, they say. But even children who suffer from disorders that are not fully remediable may benefit socially and emotionally if they receive appropriate support and assistance. 'Challenges and Opportunitie' will focus mainly on post-institutionalized children, but the information disseminated at this conference will benefit anyone working with children who have had multiple stresses in their environments.

Guest speakers include Dr. Dana Johnson, MD Ph, D.(Paediatrician) (USA); Dr. Ronald S. Federici, Psy. D (Psychologist/Neuropsychologist) (USA); Susan Hough, M.A. CCC/SLP (Speech Pathologist) (USA); Marcia Goble M.S. OTR/L (Occupational Therapist) (USA); Theresa Kollar, M.S. OTR/L (Occupational Therapist) (USA); Teena McGuinness, Ph.D RN (Attachment specialist) (USA); Thais Tepper & Lois Hannon, co-founders of PNPIC USA and adoptive parents

PNPIC is a nationally and internationally recognized group of parents who have joined forces with professionals to provide the most comprehensive information to families having adopted children. Further details from PNPIC IRELAND, 21 The Grove, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. Phone and fax: 01-6272037 Email: pnpicireland@tinet.ie

 

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KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL NOTICES

Loss of water and reductions in pressure will continue to occur in parts of mid- and north-west Kildare between 11.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. on even calendar days in Zone A and locations in Zone B on odd calendar dates.The areas (and all areas surrounding) are as follows - ZONE A: Ardclough, Ballymore Eustace, Brannockstown, Celbridge South, Clane, Johnstown, Keatings Park, Kill, Naas, Prosperous, Sallins, Rathangan (East). ZONE B: Allen, Allenwood, Brownstown,Calverstown, Carbury, Drehid, Kilcullen, Kildare, Newbridge, Nurney, Prosperous (West), Robertstown, Suncroft.

Customers are advised to ensure that water-dependent appliances are adequately protected.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

NAAS PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP are looking for donations of toys in a reasonable condition. Toys may be left at the Parish Centre (Sallins Road) on Tuesdays between 10.15am and 12 noon.

COUNSELLING THERAPIST - Peter O'Rourke, Counselling Therapist, will be available at Ballycane Parish Centre. For appointment tel. 896481 or 087/2278190.

KARE - JOB COACH/COMMUNITY FACILITATOR TRAINING COURSE - This 40-week course - run in association with FAS - starts in April 1999. All successful course participants will receive a certificate in training and continuing education from the National University of Ireland (NUI) Maynooth. Ideally candidates should be unemployed 18 to 25 years old. FAS allowance available. Apply to Mairead Kavanagh, KARE, 1 Limerick Lane, Newbridge. Tel. 431203.

NAAS ICA wants to borrow '60s clothing for a competition. If you can help, please telephone 879836.

Young entrepreneurs show their business stuff

KILDARE GENERAL, 15 March 1999: by Trish Whelan. Mini companies from Scoil Mhuire in Athy and St Mary's College, Naas, have won the regional final of the Young Enterprise Ireland Awards and the county final of the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme respectively.

'Porkies' mini company from Scoil Mhuire were represented by Evelyn Quinlan, Joanne Malone, Charlene Molloy, Helen Noud and Derek O'Driscoll (pictured above with Kildare team captain Glen Ryan and Mary Kane of Young Enterprise Ireland). The team now goes on to the national finals while best Kildare company in the Young Entrepreneurs competition, 'Tastes of Naas' with Susan Walsh, Niamh Dunny and Niamh McCabe (pictured left) from St Mary's College, Naas, also won a multi-media computer for their school, courtesy of competition co-sponsors Hewlett Packard. The awards were presented by Glen Ryan who said the event was 'a great competition which encourages people to put their ideas together and on public display'.

It was the fourth year for the Kildare County Enterprise Board to be involved in the Young Entrepreneur competition and its second year with Young Enterprise Ireland. In all, some 11 schools took part in the events, representing 34 projects and 200 students. "Everyone who took part is a winner," said Brendan McGrath of the Enterprise Board adding that the creativity gets stronger each year.

County Council chairman Cllr Jim Reilly congratulated the participants, schools and parents who had all helped instill a spirit of enterprise culture in the young people. He also complimented the Kildare County Enterprise Board for their involvement. As chairman of Kildare County Council he will be encouraging greater participation in all such events in the county.

Other prizes: Best Business Report and Interview - Naas CBS, Apollo Publishing. Best Business Performance - Scoil Mhuire, Clane, Practical Limited. Intermediate Section - Runners Up: G & A's Gallery, St Mary's College, Naas. Kildare Company of the Year Runners Up: 'More' from Holy Family Convent, Newbridge. Highly Commended: 'Live Wire' also from Holy Family Convent.

 

Noted town planner for Celbridge renewal work

CELBRIDGE, 15 March 1999: Town planner Patrick Schaffrey has been appointed as a consultant to Kildare County Council to develop works for Celbridge under the 1999 Urban and Village Renewal scheme, the funding for which was announced last week. The £100,000 for Celbridge will be combined with a £250,000 Traffic Management grant and initially two new sets of traffic lights will be installed on either side of the town's bridge in two month's time. Most of the balance of the work will go towards renewing paths in character with a Georgian village.

Meanwhile, Cllr Catherine Murphy has ascertained that funds under the scheme which were not drawn down by Rathangan and Johnstown last year will remain available for the current year. Under this year's programme, County Kildare is getting £58,000 for Naas under the urban element, while the balance of the village element is being distributed as £50,000 for Kildare town and £28,000 for shop front improvements.

 

Representing KCC in the Big Apple

COUNTY HALL, 15 March 1999: Kildare County Council is being represented in this year's St Patrick's Day parade in New York by the cathaoirleach, Cllr Jim Reilly, and acting county secretary Seamus Stokes.

 KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP

Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

 THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO

THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE

Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

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.)

Factory shop at The Maudlins Industrial Estate, Naas. The most delicious of gifts from our finest Irish chocolates range are selling around the world from our website.

Strong support for objection letters to Naas draft development plan

NAAS, 14 March 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Several hundred people signed letters of objection to the Naas Urban District Draft Development Plan at a protest day held yesterday outside Naas Town Hall. The protest was organised by the Sallins Road Action Group, and according to a spokesman there was 'a steady stream' of Naas residents coming to sign all day. Many asked for an oral hearing on the plan, which is on display until the end of March.

A significant number of people also signed a letter of objection to the recent decision by Kildare County Council to approve the rezoning of agricultural land at Piper's Hill to industrial in the draft county development plan, a matter which has raised considerable controversy in recent weeks.

The letters of objection to Naas UDC outline environmental and infrastructural concerns, including the maintenance of a green belt, the preservation of the canal amenity, increase in traffic on the Sallins Road, and the need to retain the rural character of the Sallins Road area. There is also opposition to the siting of a new primary school at a site donated by a local developer, on the grounds that the planning officer has said it is 'not the most suitable' location. Kildare North TD Emmet Stagg (pictured left) also signed.

Meanwhile, UDC Cllr Evelyn Bracken has hit out at what she calls the 'dog in the manger' attitudes and 'private agendas' of objectors to the planning situation in Naas (see her open letter below).

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An open letter to Naas Planning Alliance

(On 9/3/99, along with other members of Naas UDC , I was invited to address/attend an 'open public meeting' to discuss and justify the reasons for the proposals as outlined in 'the plan ' - i.e. Naas Draft Development Plan.)


I am quite agreeable to attend, at any time, a public meeting of any grouping of residents of the Naas Urban area. I felt out of place at the public meeting held by Naas Planning Alliance (16th February'99) due to the fact that two-thirds, at least, of the attendance was from outside the urban area! I cannot see it serving any useful purpose in (again) addressing people from Kilcock, Clane, Ballymore, Two-Mile House etc (ably supported by Labour candidates in the coming local elections, from Straffan, Leixlip etc) on a subject that concerns residents of Naas Urban Area only!! However, I do accept the presence of Naas Labour Party candidates, and supporters, who were there in force at the meeting (16th. Feb.'99).

Over the past decade or so the population of Naas has been on the increase; dramatically so over the past 5 years. I now wish to emphasise that at no time did the then residents of the town object to the arrival of 'newcomers'. Now, however, we find that these 'latter day arrivals' form the bulk of the group styling itself Naas Planning Alliance, which is objecting to any further influx of people! It smacks of a 'dog in the manger' attitude!! It saddened me to see how people were misled by glib misrepresentation of the Draft Development Plan, at the public meeting on February16th '99. A few wise souls did comment that it was the best comedy show in town, on the night!

I feel assured that the sensible residents of Naas know that the majority of councillors, though welcoming new arrivals, seek the advancement of the town in positive terms and have no intention of damaging the town that is home to them, as it was to generations of their families before them. I write this knowing that a few members of this group (Naas Planning Alliance) are long-time residents and will resent my comments. They are in a minority, however, and most appear to have their own private agenda!

Is mise,

Evelyn Bracken, Independent (non-party) councillor, Naas UDC.

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